Billy Graham Library’s 2024 Christmas Celebration Features New Family Exhibit ‘Christmas at Little Piney Cove’
More than 530,000 visitors since 2008 have enjoyed the annual Christmas celebration at the Billy Graham Library in North Carolina. This year’s event is being held each day of the week but Sunday through December 23.
New this year is a special exhibit called “Christmas at Little Piney Cove,” a reference to the log home in the mountains of North Carolina in which Billy and Ruth Graham lived for more than 50 years. Located in the library lobby, the exhibit highlights historic Christmas photos from the Graham family, along with seasonal cards, gifts and letters, including several never-before-seen items. Among the display highlights, visitors will see:
A Christmas ornament from Billy and Ruth Graham’s home;
Ruth Bell Graham’s Christmas card scrapbooks; and
Notes from former First Lady Barbara Bush, former First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson, Cliff and Ann Barrows and a quote from Johnny Cash, all in response to receiving Christmas popcorn from the Grahams.
“My mother absolutely loved Christmas,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “As children, we grew up enjoying celebrating the coming of the savior and what that means to the world. At the Billy Graham Library, we want to make the most of sharing the true meaning of Christmas — the good news that God sent his son, Jesus Christ, from heaven to earth to save us from our sins. That’s what Christmas is all about — God’s gift to us. We decorate the grounds with beautiful lights, have carriage rides and a live nativity. It’s a lot of fun, and we’re glad that it has become a special annual tradition for many families.”
Those who come to Christmas at the Library each year experience the retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ through a live nativity depicting the first Christmas night. Live nativity animals for 2025 include camels, a donkey, sheep, goats and a miniature horse. Guests can also enjoy a beautiful light display across the library property; a large, decorated Christmas tree; Christmas story time for children; live music from carolers and local church groups; holiday shopping and more.
More information is available at www.billygahamlibrary.org.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
