December 8th, 9th, and 10th
Two of Kingsport’s historic sites will celebrate the Christmas holidays in traditions that date as far back as the 1820’s when Richard and Margaret Netherland hosted friends and family for a lavish party complete with beautiful decorations, good food, and lively music.
Elizabeth and Caroline Burch will perform on Friday night; Poplar Hill Reunion Band will be featured on Saturday night; and the Ben Ellis Band will play on Sunday afternoon. Friday and Saturday nights Civil War re-enactors from the John S. Mosby Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans will portray living history characters from the area and will interact with guests as they tell about the area’s part in the war. Bill and Margaret Pettis of Rogersville will arrive in character as friends of Richard and Margaret Netherland. Tickets for the event are $10 per person (children six and under free with a paying adult) and are available at the door or in the visitors’ center cabin at the parking lot during the event.
On Sunday afternoon, December 10, from 2:00-4:00, Hammond House will host a Christmas celebration with Victorian era refreshments. John and Joy Mullen will provide the music and lead Christmas carols around the organ. Local Girl Scout troops will provide decorations and trim the tree.
Make plans now to attend these celebrations to enjoy the beautiful period natural decorations designed and provided by Kingsport garden clubs and volunteers, to partake of delicious food, and to hear seasonal music. Visit with living history characters from Kingsport’s past. All proceeds from these events go toward maintenance and restoration of the Netherland Inn and Boatyard complex and the Hammond House as well as toward adding to the historic campuses. In addition be being the birthplace of Kingsport, the Netherland Inn is the only site on the national Register of Historic Places to have been both a boatyard and a stagecoach stop.
For more information please call 423-677-3263 (Netherland Inn) or 423-245-5523 (Hammond House).