One trip to England gave this North Carolina town a Christmas tradition that’s lasted 75 years

The Pharrs’ English-Inspired Christmas Tradition in McAdenville

A trip to England in the late 1940s gave mill owners William and Catherine Pharr an idea that changed Christmas in McAdenville forever.

Back home in their small North Carolina textile town, they started the Yule Log Parade in 1949. Since 1950, local kids have pulled a special log on a sled through downtown streets to the Memorial Yule Log Fireplace.

The town believes this brings good luck all year.

Now, this quaint tradition draws huge crowds to “Christmas Town USA” where just 1,000 folks live but host over 600,000 visitors each holiday season.

The Memorial Yule Log Fireplace at Legacy Park still glows with the same warmth that started it all 75 years ago.

The Pharrs Brought Home English Yule Log Magic

William and Catherine Pharr took a trip to England in the late 1940s that changed Christmas forever in their small textile town.

They owned McAden Mills in McAdenville, North Carolina, which they bought in 1939 with family members.

During their travels, they watched a traditional Yule log celebration. The Pharrs liked the idea so much they brought it to their mill town, where they hired most locals.

These events involved burning big logs in fireplaces during winter, standing for longer days coming back and bringing good luck.

Small Town Started Big Tradition in 1949

McAdenville held its first Yule Log Parade in 1949, making it the oldest Christmas tradition in town. This celebration came seven years before the famous Christmas lights display began in 1956.

The Pharrs created the parade as a free community event to bring Christmas cheer to mill workers who didn’t have much money for holiday fun.

Local children pulled a log on a special sled through the town’s small downtown area.

Kids Took the Reins in 1950

Local children got to drag the Yule log through town on its sled starting in 1950. The parade started in front of the Pharr Office building on Main Street.

Adults and children walked together through the historic four-block downtown area. A local high school band played Christmas songs as they walked with the group.

This tradition gave kids a main role in the town’s biggest holiday event, creating memories that lasted for years.

The Log’s Journey Ended at a Special Fireplace

The parade finished at what is now called Legacy Park on Elm Street. This spot had the Memorial Yule Log Fireplace, built just for the yearly event.

The short downtown route let everyone join in or watch from nearby. Marchers passed old mill houses, churches, and the town center along the way.

The path stayed the same over decades, becoming a familiar tradition for many McAdenville families.

Lighting the Fire Became a Town Honor

Once everyone reached Legacy Park, workers put the Yule log in the open Memorial fireplace. A different local got to light the log each year, making it a special honor that moved among townspeople.

William Pharr himself lit the first logs during the early years. The lighting happened around 6:00 PM as crowds gathered around the fireplace.

People clapped when the log caught fire, marking the start of Christmas season in McAdenville.

The Burning Log Carried Special Meaning

Pulling the sled brought good luck to helpers for the coming year, according to town belief.

The fire stood for the light of Jesus Christ, linking the old European custom to Christian meaning. The event marked the official start of McAdenville’s holiday season each year.

European Yule log events stood for the sun’s return after winter’s darkest days, and McAdenville kept this tie to old traditions alive.

Hot Chocolate and Carols Followed the Ceremony

After lighting the log, the Christmas Town Festival began with food and shows for everyone. School and church choirs sang Christmas songs all evening.

Volunteers gave out free hot chocolate and popcorn to all who came. Santa Claus showed up for the children.

The fun usually lasted until around 8:45 PM with singing and neighbors talking with each other. The mix of woodsmoke and hot chocolate created a memory many locals linked with Christmas forever.

Lights & Music Filled the Streets During the Parade

A brass band played Christmas carols as people walked in the parade. Singing started at 5:30 PM before the parade began.

Church bells from McAdenville Baptist Church rang across downtown. The Historic McAden Mill Bell Tower played Christmas songs from its spot by the lake.

These music customs created a festive mood heard throughout the small town.

Christmas Lights Made the Town Famous Nationwide

The Yule Log Parade stayed separate from but added to McAdenville’s Christmas lights tradition that began in 1956.

Together, these two events brought about 600,000 visitors each year to a town with fewer than 1,000 locals.

The parade happened in mid-December, while lights shined from December 1-26.

Charles Kuralt showed McAdenville on CBS Sunday Morning in 1980, bringing national attention to both traditions.

The Pharr Family Kept Christmas Alive for Decades

Catherine Ann Carstarphen, daughter of William and Catherine Pharr, ran the events into her 80s. The Pharr/Carstarphen family paid for the lights and backed Christmas traditions for over 75 years.

Pharr Yarns owned most town property and paid for Christmas decorations. Community helpers worked with the company to keep traditions going year after year.

The tradition passed through three family generations while staying true to its humble start.

Modern Celebrations Stay True to 1949 Roots

The Yule Log Parade continues each year in mid-December, keeping the same basic format since it began.

Children still pull the ceremonial log through downtown on the vintage sled. The Memorial Yule Log Fireplace at Legacy Park remains the final destination for the parade.

The event stays free to attend, honoring the Pharrs’ vision of a community celebration anyone can join.

Visiting McAdenville, North Carolina

You can experience McAdenville’s European-inspired Yule Log Parade on Thursday, December 11, 2025.

Meet at 100 Main Street near the vintage sled at 5:30 PM for singing.

Children pull the log on the sled through historic downtown, led by the local high school band. The parade ends at Memorial Yule Log Fireplace at Legacy Park on Elm Street around 7:30 PM.

This free event continues with the Christmas Town Festival featuring school and church choir performances.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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