Fayetteville Arts Council grant to support Museum of the Cape Fear programming

A recently awarded grant will support a holiday program series that has become its own tradition.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County awarded a $15,000 grant to the nonprofit support group of the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR). The funds will support a holiday series that provides visitors the chance to celebrate Halloween and Christmas as early 20th century Americans did. Museum staff will host two programs in October and two programs in December under the series umbrella of "History Live." Both months will feature seasonal night tours for a small admission fee and stand alone, single-day events that are free and open to the public.

"We want to share our local history with the community in fun and engaging ways." Museum Educator Mary Cooper said. "The 'History Live' series helps the museum achieve this goal."

The fall fun begins the third weekend in October with "Hallowe'en Revels: Historical Night Tours," which invites guests to attend a period-themed Halloween party at the family home of local business owner E. A. Poe. Tours will feature scripted and improvised performances from Fayetteville's Sweet Tea Shakespeare, as well as period costumes and decorations. The Hallowe'en Revels: Historical Night Tours are scheduled for Oct. 16, 17, 29 and 30. Tickets are $10 per person.

The family-focused "Trick or Treat at the Poe House" will be held Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees can enjoy self-guided tours of the 1897 Poe House, an all-ages Halloween Dance Party, a clown entertainer, and early 20th century Halloween craft activities. Children and adults are encouraged to attend in costume and participate in the Costume Parade. Admission to "Trick or Treat at the Poe House" is free.

The December programs kick off with the all-ages "Holiday Jubilee" held from 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6. Participants can enjoy period Christmas decorations, self-guided tours of the 1897 Poe House, seasonal musical performances from local groups, and early 20th century craft activities. Admission is free.

Rounding out the holiday season, the 1897 Poe House will host Holiday Theatrical Night Tours the second and third weekends in December. Tour goers will attend a 1917-styled Christmas party, which provided a brief respite from "The Great War" in Europe. Tours will again feature scripted and improvised performances from Sweet Tea Shakespeare, performances in period costumes and historically accurate decorations. The "Christmas on the Homefront" theme will allow guests to experience how Americans at the beginning of the 20th century celebrated Christmas while contextualizing the global events of the time. Tickets are $10 per person. Night tours will be held Dec. 11, 12, 18 and 19.

"The past can often feel distant and unfamiliar, but history comes alive when it is experienced rather than simply observed," Cooper said. "By combining careful historical research with engaging storytelling, the 'History Live' program series invites visitors to step into the past, meet the people who lived it, and connect with their stories in a meaningful and memorable way."

The museum is located at 801 Arsenal Ave., in Fayetteville. Regular admission to the museum is free. For more information about the museum and its programming visit museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov or call 910-500-4240.

About the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex
The Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex is located on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues in Fayetteville, NC. The Complex is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday. The museum operates under the Division of State History Museums, Office of Archives and History, within the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. To learn more about the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, visit MuseumOfTheCapeFear.ncdcr.gov.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.