CHARLOTTE, NC — Each year, thousands of people from across the Carolinas and the Southeast visit the Billy Graham Library to experience Christmas at the Library. The Christ-centered festivities have become an annual Christmas tradition for many, with more than 530,000 visitors experiencing this seasonal celebration since 2008. The 17th annual Christmas at the Library runs Monday through Saturday, Dec. 2-23, 2024.

This year’s event will feature a new special exhibit titled “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;
• 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. As children, we grew up enjoying celebrating the coming of the Savior and what that means to the world,” said Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. “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 at the Billy Graham Library each year experience the retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ through a live nativity depicting the very first Christmas night. Live nativity animals for 2025 include camels, a donkey, sheep, goats, and a miniature horse. A petting zoo with selected animals will be available from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Horse-drawn carriage rides are available after 5 p.m. daily; adult tickets are $12 and kids under 12 are $6. Tickets can be reserved in advance at billygrahamlibrary.org/christmas-at-the-library.

Guests can also enjoy a beautiful light display across the Billy Graham Library property; a large, ornamented Christmas tree; Christmas story time for children; live music from carolers and local church groups; holiday shopping and more.

The Library’s operating hours during Christmas at the Library are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Christmas activities begin at 5 p.m. each evening. The Library is closed on Sundays. Admission and parking at the Library is free. Reservations are required for Christmas at the Library activities, including The Journey of Faith tour. Visit billygrahamlibrary.org for more information and to make reservations.

About The Billy Graham Library

The Billy Graham Library opened in 2007 and has since welcomed more than 2 million visitors from around the world. Admission to the Library and The Journey of Faith is free. For more information on the Library and upcoming events, or to schedule a group tour, please visit www.billygrahamlibrary.org. You can also stay connected with the Billy Graham Library on these social media sites: Facebook, X and Instagram; and on the Library blog.

MEDIA INFORMATION:

Media are invited to cover Christmas at the Library. To schedule a date and time, please contact Lisa Moseley at lmoseley@bgea.org or call (704) 401-2116.

*An online press kit with downloadable graphics, photos and video b-roll is available at https://bg.vault.theark.cloud/url/christmasatthelibrary.

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