Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009
NEW CASTLE, Del., Oct. 7, 2009 – Private homes in Old New Castle, some dating to as far back as the 1700s, and some of the finest music Delaware has to offer will be featured this year during the 9th annual Spirit of Christmas, scheduled to open its doors at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12, in Old New Castle, Delaware. Presented by the New Castle Presbyterian Church and the New Castle Visitors Bureau, many historic homes throughout the historic district of Old New Castle will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by the annual tree lighting ceremony on the Center Green at 5 p.m. The homes, including the Lesley Manor Mansion, will be open and free to the public.
Programs for self-guided home tours are available at the New Castle Presbyterian Church Christian Education Building on East Second Street, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Spirit of Christmas 2009 will support the Corner House shelter for homeless men, a mission project New Castle and Calvary Presbyterian Churches and Friendship House.
Celebrations of Christmas and the Holiday Season will take place throughout the town of old New Castle, including the private homes and museums open to the public and decorated for the season. The Meeting House and Christian Education Building of the 352-year-old New Castle Presbyterian Church, 25 E Second St., New Castle, DE, will host musical events throughout the day. Featured in the CE Building will be the fine art photography of Carlo Viola in new sets of greeting cards that will be available for purchase.
 |
 |
Featured events include hand bell concerts in the sanctuary at 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., followed by a choral concert by the New Ark Chorale at 3 p.m. The Celtic Harp Quartet of the Brandywine Harp Orchestra open the day’s concerts at 10 a.m., Melissa Heieie, Margaret Love, Kris McGuckin and Nancy Loux performing in the Meeting House.
 |
 |
 |
The New Castle Presbyterian CE Building will also host many events, featuring hand-made crafts and holiday decorations, fresh breads and soups for sale and a used books, CD and DVD sale. A special sale of “Look what $20 will buy!” will feature many gift ideas for $20.00 or increments of $20.00. Special craft items include Christmas Ornaments created from discarded earrings and purses, purses and more purses of all makes and models.
Carlo Viola, a fine art photographer, is a longtime New Castle resident and member of the New Castle Presbyterian Church. For this year's Spirit of Christmas celebration, Viola has created a series of three sets of blank note cards. Each set contains 6 never before exhibited images designed to inspire a closer look at historic New Castle and, perhaps, the wider world. For many years, Viola has captured the spirit of New Castle in simple images that honor the quiet moments and special places that are "waiting to be noticed.”
The town’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Center Green will be at 5 p.m. to conclude the festivities. A special holiday program will precede the tree lighting, including chorale groups from William Penn High School and best wishes of the season from friends of Old New Castle.
 |
 |
A Santa’s Secret Shop will be available for children to shop and to visit with Santa at Velocipede Bicycle Museum on Delaware Street. It is rumored that Santa Claus will also roam the streets of Old New Castle on Dec. 12th.
The New Castle Visitor’s Bureau will sponsor caroling around the town, with various restaurants open throughout the town during the day.
For more information, visitors are encouraged to call the New Castle Presbyterian Church Office at (302) 328-3279.
