Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will be free to visitors who want to climb to the top on December 10/Kurt Repanshek file photo

Editor's note: The following is an unedited National Park Service release.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will be open to the public for a free climb on Saturday, December 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. This event is part of the OBXmas Weekends celebrated with the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.

Volunteers from the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society and Cape Hatteras National Seashore park rangers look forward to greeting locals and visitors at this event.

“This opportunity to climb Cape Hatteras Lighthouse free of charge is one of many ways to welcome in the holidays along the Outer Banks,” said David Hallac, superintendent of the Outer Banks Group that includes Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, and Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Children who wish to climb the lighthouse must be at least 42 inches tall, and children under 12 years of age must be escorted by a person at least 16 years old. Climbing the lighthouse is strenuous and is equivalent to climbing a 12-story building.