Christmas Carolers from First Flight High School performing in Duck on Saturday.
Here on the Outer Banks we know the holiday season is officially here when the Village of Duck lights its crab pot Christmas Tree on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The capper to a weekend filled with Christmas traditions and a small town feel, it's a quintessentially Outer Banks way to welcome the season.Friday evening kicks things off in Manteo with their tree lighting, which is a marvelous way to spend a few hours listening to some fantastic choral music from the Manteo High School choir and sipping hot chocolate. Of course Santa is on hand and he come back Saturday morning for the town's parade.Up in Duck things start mid afternoon, and this year the First Flight High School advanced choir was on hand to stroll along the boardwalk singing Christmas Carols. It's a rare treat indeed to hear traditional music performed so well.Local charities are on hand as well. Food for Thought, the folks who have made it there mission to make sure that no school child goes hungry during the year held a raffle. The event has always been very dog friendly and with the Outer Banks SPCA on hand to see if anyone would like to take a dog home, this year was no exception.Maybe the lighting of the crab pots is supposed to be the highlight, but the real excitement comes when-with fire engine sirens blaring-Santa arrives via fire truck. The Duck Santa may be the best ever; he is wonderfully patient with children, speaking directly to them and he looks the part, complete with a real white beard.
