Holiday Event Descriptions

Now in its fifteenth year, The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill will once again celebrate the Christmas season with enchanting decorations inspired by the traditional holiday song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. A vision of seasonal wonder will be displayed throughout the Inn including magnificently decorated trees, beautifully appointed holiday décor, and events to keep you and your little one's entertained.

Our Twelve Days of Christmas events have concluded. However, there is still time to view all the beautiful decorations displayed throughout The Carolina Inn. Join us anytime now through January 2nd.

View Holiday Brochure

Celebrate the holidays at Carolina Crossroads Restaurant with exceptional cuisine made by Executive Chef James Clark and his talented culinary team. Don't wait to reserve your table. Call 919.918.2735 or email crossroads@carolinainn.com for more information.

New Year's Eve Dinner
December 31st, 5:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. ~ View Menu
$75 per person ~ Four Course Menu Offered 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
$65 per person ~ Three Course Menu Offered 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Ring Inn the New Year
Celebrate the New Year in North Carolina at The Carolina Inn! This spectacular New Years Eve room offer includes a well-appointed room, late checkout, valet parking, four-course dinner, champagne, Prosecco, chocolate covered strawberries and welcome amenity.
Rates starting at $404.
Secure Your New Year's Eve Plans Today!

Romantic Resolution
Start the New Year off right by surprising your sweetheart with a romantic getaway at The Carolina Inn. The Romantic Resolution package includes a well-appointed room, late checkout, valet parking, Prosecco, chocolate covered strawberries, and welcome amenity.
Rates starting at $254.
Secure Your New Year's Eve Plans Today!

Afternoon Tea
November 25th - December 30th, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Everyday, except Christmas Day. Limited Seating. Reservations Required.
Royal Tea $34
Add a special touch to your afternoon respite by treating yourself to a glass of sparkling wine with a tantalizing selection of sweets, tea sandwiches, scones and tea.
Classic Tea $25
Indulge in three assorted tea sandwiches, savories and sweets per person, chocolate covered strawberries and scones.
Little Prince and Princess Tea (Age 7-12) $21 and (Age 4-6) $17
Our Tea Hostess and Pastry Chef Sara Thomas will gladly adjust their menu to flatter the tastes of our young patrons. We welcome children to experience the grace and charm of our Afternoon Tea and partake in this cherished tradition.

Prices listed are per person. Service charge and tax added separately. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance directly by calling 919.918.2735 or by email at crossroads@carolinainn.com. We will accommodate last minute reservations if space is available and can be made until 10am the day of. Please call at least 24 hours to cancel an existing reservation to avoid charges on your credit card.

Please call 919.918.2735 or email crossroads@carolinainn.com to inquire about holding your next special event at Carolina Crossroads Restaurant. Our elegant Private Piedmont Dining Room is an ideal setting for all occasions from bridal and baby showers to birthdays and casual gatherings of family and friends. We can tailor our Afternoon Tea menu to suit your group's needs and make your special occasion in Chapel Hill a memorable one.

Gingerbread House Village Display
December 1st - January 2nd 2013
Relish the festive display of the 10th Annual Gingerbread House Competition entries. Contestants from Chapel Hill and surrounding areas will showcase their creativity and imagination with their edible masterpieces this holiday season.

Competition is open to amateur and professional bakers alike, with separate categories for youth and adults. Registration form and registration fee is due Friday, November 23rd. Due to space limitation, limited entries will be accepted. Gingerbread houses will be judged by our Pastry Chef, Sara Thomas. The winner will be announced on Monday, December 23rd at 4 PM, immediately following our gingerbread making class including our Facebook and Twitter pages and at www.12daysevents.com.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 Gingerbread House contest.

Youth Competition
1st Place : Patrick Noonan
2nd Place: Kaitlyn Beal

Adult Competition
1st Place: Ann Bailey
2nd Place: Robin Bilodeau

Elf on the Shelf
December 1st, 10:00 AM. Limited Seating. Reservations Required. Ages 3 - 12. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Ring in the holiday season with a special visit from Santa's Elf. Kids of all ages will be treated to a reading of The Elf's Story as well as the opportunity to write a letter to Mr. Santa Claus. Holiday goodies and games will entertain all.
$60 Elf on the Shelf Package ~ Includes Book & Elf
$25 Child Without Christmas Tradition Package
$15 Adult Without Christmas Tradition Package
Sold Out

Have you ever wondered how Santa knows who is naughty and who is nice? The Elf on the Shelf® - A Christmas Tradition is the very special tool that helps Santa know who to put on the Naughty and Nice list. This interactive holiday hide-and-seek tradition is perfect for children and families of all ages.

The tradition begins when Santa sends his scout elves out to Elf Adoption Centers. Waiting for their families to bring them home, these patient elves hibernate until their family reads The Elf on the Shelf®, gives their elf a very special name, and registers their adoption online. Once named, each scout elf will receive its Christmas magic and become a part of the family's Christmas each and every year.

Excellent listeners and even better observers, these scout elves are the eyes and ears of Santa Claus. Although they cannot be touched, or else they may lose their magic, the elf will always listen and relay messages back to Santa. Taking in all the day-to-day activities around the house, no good deed goes unnoticed; these scout elves take their job seriously.

Each night, after the family goes to bed, the scout elf uses his magical Christmas powers to fly back to the North Pole. Once there, the elf will make his or her daily report to Santa and visit with elf friends where they will tell stories about their beloved families, play with the reindeer, and of course, sneak some of Mrs. Claus' cookies!

Before the family awakes each morning, their special scout elf will fly back to their home from the North Pole. However, since these elves like to play games, don't expect to find them in the same spot! While some like to hide in the freezer (probably because it reminds them of the North Pole) and others prefer to sit on the fireplace mantle or hang from the chandelier, these elves love to play hide-and-seek with their families.

On Christmas Eve, the scout elf will listen for Santa's bell and then fly back to the North Pole until the next season, wishing every girl and each boy a Christmas of peace and a year full of joy. Join the tradition and get your own Elf on the Shelf® now.

Brunch with Santa
December 8th, 9th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Reservations Required. Reserved Seating. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Santa is coming to The Carolina Inn. A festive Carolina Inn Christmas brunch will undoubtedly usher in the Christmas magic for young and old alike. Magicians and face painters will be on hand to entertain everyone. Each child is welcome to sit on Santa's lap and share their Christmas wish list. Every child will leave with a holiday treat.
$30 Adults 13 and Up
$30 Children 4-12
Complimentary for Children 3 and Under
Sold Out

Breakfast with Santa
December 22nd, 23rd, 24th
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM. Reservations Required. Reserved Seating. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Santa is coming to The Carolina Inn. A festive Carolina Inn breakfast will undoubtedly usher in the Christmas magic for young and old alike. Magicians and face painters will be on hand to entertain everyone. Each child is welcome to sit on Santa's lap and share their Christmas wish list. Every child will leave with a holiday treat.
$25 Adults 13 and Up
$25 Children 4-12
Complimentary for Children 3 and Under
Sold Out

Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party
December 9th, 4:00 PM. Limited Seating. Reservations Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Join the Triangle Youth Ballet for their annual Sugar Plum Fairy Tea. Ballerinas will dance as you sample treats from the land of sweets. Enjoy Nutcracker story time. See a magic show and get your picture taken with the Sugar Plum Fairy! It's the perfect holiday gathering.
$20 Children and Adults Ideal for Children for 12 and Under.
Sold Out

Seasons Wreathing
December 10th, 7:00 PM. Limited Seating. Reservations Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Attention crafters and dreamers, alike! We will be hosting a wreath crafting class to assist you with proudly designing a handmade welcoming piece to hang in your home. We will be creating a medium sized ornament wreath! Price includes all materials and training. This class requires use of a hot glue gun and some patience, so adults or 15+ children only. The picturesque possibilities are limitless.
$45 Ages 15 and Up
Sold Out

Nine Ladies Tapping
December 12th, 7 PM. Reservations Not Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Join us for a lively presentation by Footnotes Tap Ensemble, a professional tap company based in Chapel Hill.
Complimentary

Suzuki Academy of North Carolina
December 16th, 2:30 p.m. Reservations Not Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Enjoy a holiday performance by academy students ranging in ages from 5 to 10 years old. Holiday classics will be performed by this talented string ensemble.
Complimentary

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
December 16th, 22nd, 23rd.
Limited Seating. Reservations Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
12:00 PM - 4 PM. Rides leave on the hour and half hour.
Nothing says Christmas like sound of bells on a horse drawn carriage. Enjoy the sites of Chapel Hill as you take a leisurely ride through the campus of UNC. Tours leave from Carolina Inn main entrance.
$10 Per Person.
Sold Out

Crafting Christmas Memories
December 17th, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Limited Seating. Reservations Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Christmas memories are irreplaceable, especially when they are with your children. We will be completing two Christmas crafts that will hold these memories for years to come. First, we will get trapped in a snow globe! This memento requires that you bring your favorite wallet size photo of your child; if possible, doing a winter activity. Next, we will design a keepsake ornament that your child can proudly display on your tree. This is a parent-assisted crafting class. Price includes all materials and class.
$25 Ages 5-12
Sold Out

The Carolina Inn Walking Tour and Lunch
December 28th, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. Limited Seating. Reservations Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
The Carolina Inn is a beautiful hotel, but it is also one of the oldest and most historic sites in Chapel Hill. Its walls hold stories of the history of the UNC-CH and North Carolina, dating back more than a century. Join the Inn's historian, Dr. Kenneth Zogry for a scrumptious lunch fascinating "behind the scenes" presentation. Explore our unique interiors as you meander through its corridors and discover the fascinating tales of people and events that have helped shape the community. Once you know its secrets you will realize what an endearing treasure that The Carolina Inn has become.
$40 Per Person for Lunch and Tour
Sold Out

Children's Etiquette Luncheon
December 22nd, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Limited Seating. Reservations Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
A five-course dining tutorial, taught by certified etiquette and protocol professional, Cecilia Budd Grimes. Children 8-12 will learn dining do's and don'ts. Each child will receive a certificate and The Little Book of Etiquette at the graduation ceremony following lunch. Sunday dress code applies; jackets for boys, ties not required.
$45 Per Child
Sold Out

Make Your Own Gingerbread House
December 23rd, 2 PM. Limited Seating. Reservations Required. Children Must be Accompanied by an Adult.
Just in time for the holidays The Carolina Inn is hosting a children's Gingerbread House Making Class. Join us for a cozy afternoon that begins with storyteller, Heidi Werner and her tales of Christmas magic. Each child will then be able assemble and decorate their very own Gingerbread House complete with an apron, chef's hat and all the holiday sweets and goodies that their imaginations can hold. At the end of the class, each child will take home a completed Gingerbread House and accessories. Join us as we announce the winners of our 10th Annual Gingerbread House contest.
$45 Ages 5-12
Sold Out

Christmas Eve Dinner
December 24th, 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. ~ View Menu
$60 per person

Christmas Day Brunch
December 25th, 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. ~ View Menu
$49.95 Adult 13 and Up
$44.95 Senior (60+)
$19.95 Children 7-12
Complimentary for Children 6 and Under