This month’s Dining Guide features great places to eat on Bragg Blvd.

ANCHOR ALLIE’S
1204 BRAGG BLVD
Mon 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Tues-Sat 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
910-229-3490
https://tinyurl.com/5n7trfsp
Open 7 days a week serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. A laid-back, cozy and patriotic-themed restaurant with a great menu. Don't miss Siren's by Allie. The newly opened speakeasy-style lounge in the same building.

ON-AFTER
3004 BRAGG BLVD
Mon-Sun 7 a.m.-2 a.m.
910-758-9898
www.facebook.com/OnAfterH3
A lively bar and grill featuring exciting sports events and entertaining karaoke nights, offering a delicious menu that includes wings, tacos, and various other pub favorites.

DIRTY MYRTLE WING COMPANY
2918 BRAGG BLVD
Mon-Sun 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
910-491-0231
www.facebook.com/DMWCfayetteville
Newly opened and originating in Myrtle Beach, this restaurant serves chicken wings in 36 flavors covered in house-made sauces and rubs. Other menu highlights include Smash Burgers, Fried Gator Bites, and Crack Shrimp.

SAIGON BISTRO
1040 BRAGG BLVD
Tues-Sun 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
910-920-3578
www.skiplinow.com/shop/891861b
Charming Vietnamese café adorned with an intricate tin ceiling and Asian-inspired decor offers a well-known, traditional menu that delights patrons with familiar flavors and dishes.

THAI LANNA RESTAURANT
1342 BRAGG BLVD
Mon-Fri 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
910-677-0100
https://thailannanc.com/
Serving a delightful array of authentic Thai cuisine alongside a selection of popular Chinese dishes. Enjoy your meal by dining in, opting for takeout, or indulging in the enticing all-you-can-eat buffet experience.

MARYBILL'S CAFE
EUTAW VILLIAGE-801 ELM ST
Tues-Sat 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
910-221-1170
https://www.marybillscafe.com/
Breakfast and lunch offerings at this inviting and casual cafe include a variety of popular dishes, notably the delicious crabcake benedict and the hearty corned beef hash, both of which are customer favorites.

HIBACHI GRILL SUPREME BUFFET
3308 BRAGG BLVD
Mon-Sun 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
901-323-8188
hibachibuffetfayetteville.com/
Large all-you-can-eat buffet featuring an impressive selection of 250 diverse Chinese and Japanese culinary favorites, which includes a variety of sushi options and delicious hibachi dishes. Or you can opt for takeout.

TAQUERIA EL REFUGIO
5307 BRAGG BLVD
Mon-Sun 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
910-745-2105
This casual eatery specializes in serving delicious Mexican comfort food, featuring a variety of options such as tacos, tortas, and menudo, along with refreshing horchata.

MY HEAVENLY SWEETS
5224 BRAGG BLVD
Tues-Sat 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
910-835-1994
https://myheavenlysweets.com/
Puerto Rican bakery and restaurant, they serve breakfast favorites as well as 25 different sandwiches for lunch. Be sure to pick up one of their baked goods and a coffee.

New to the Neighborhood

MI CASITA
3140 RAEFORD RD
This beloved Mexican restaurant chain is getting a new location on Raeford Rd. It was slated to open in October and will replace the Tallywood location. For more information on the official opening date and hours visit www.micasitarestaurants.com

DAD BOD DIVE BAR
444 W RUSSELL ST
The Dad Bod Dishes food truck has grown and launched the Dad Bod Dive Bar where Bright Light Brewing Company once operated. They held their grand opening celebration on November 15. Learn more about their hours and offerings by following them on their Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/54wvw7y8

GANGNAM BBQ & HOTPOT
1800 SKIBO RD #300
Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun Noon-10 p.m.
910-758-8010
https://gangnambbqhotpot.com/location/
Located in the space that was previously occupied by Mongolian Grill, this new establishment is now serving a delightful array of Korean BBQ, hotpot, and sushi. Guests can also enjoy a variety of beverages, including flavored soju, traditional Korean rice wine, and refreshing bubble tea.

CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL
5460 Gruber Road, Fort Liberty
Mon-Sun 10:45 a.m.-10 p.m.
The Mexican restaurant chain Chipotle launched its debut outlet at Fort Liberty. The popular eatery, famous for its Mexican cuisine, provides multiple dining options including takeout and drive-through service.

The “Another Fork in The Road” Tour, which began in 2023, marks the 50th year that the band Kansas has been bringing its intricate, orchestral sound to rock-and-roll fans.
If you’re a rock aficionado and can keep track of the changing line-ups over the decades, you’re probably one out of 100, lead singer Ronnie Platt said. The hundred other fans won’t notice who’s in the band because Kansas always puts musicianship above players and personalities, and it’s no different today.
Whereas the lead singers of, say, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith may be household names, most would be hard-pressed to name the founding members of Kansas, despite their influential contributions to rock and roll. The band continues to rehearse its exacting compositions before every show, tweaking and drilling, sometimes changing things right up to that night’s show. For fans, aside from its more commercial hits, Kansas’ music is an acquired taste well worth cultivating.
The band will perform at the Crown Theatre in the Crown Complex, 1960 Coliseum Drive, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, as part of the local Community Concerts Series. Now in its 87th season, Community Concerts help to bring big name acts to Fayetteville, all for us to enjoy. Kansas is the latest to join the lineup, with ZZ Top coming up next in March.
You can expect two full hours of hits, fan favorites and deeper cuts Kansas rarely plays live. The band today consists of original guitarist Richard Williams; bassist and vocalist Billy Greer; lead vocalist and keyboardist Ronnie Platt; keyboardist and vocalist Tom Brislin; violinist and guitarist Joe Deninzon; and original drummer Phil Ehart. Williams missed a few shows because he and his wife, Debbie, didn’t know if their home in our western mountains still stood after the ravages of Hurricane Helene.
What the Williamses found out is what many of us have been rediscovering: knowing our neighbors is a beautiful and connecting thing. Everyone was helping everyone else. Ehart, sadly, has missed months of performances. He suffered a heart attack in February, so since March, drummer Eric Holmquist has been filling in while Ehart recovers. Ehart also manages the band.
Of note to our military community, Ehart was a US Air Force brat and instrumental in band members participating in United Service Organizations shows. He christened and organized the 1st Airborne Rock and Roll Division in 1984, which included fellow band members Williams and lead vocalist at the time, John Elefante. He assembled members from the Doobie Brothers, Pablo Cruise, Cheap Trick and others to form a supergroup.
They toured the 7th Fleet in the Indian Ocean and played for troops based in Korea, Okinawa, Diego Garcia and the Philippines. The following year, Steve Walsh replaced Elefante. You can find videos of Kansas-involved USO performances through at least 1988 on YouTube.
If you’re unfamiliar with Kansas’ music, the musicianship alone is worth the price of admission. The only element of the show prerecorded is the intro to “Throwing Mountains,” which contains some effects not easily reproducible on stage. Everything else is one hundred percent live, Platt emphasized. You won’t hear any prerecorded backing or click tracks. The band remains obsessed with emulating the studio albums as much as possible with some added live embellishments, of course. Fans can expect, though, to hear the songs they’ve come to love, the way they heard them initially recorded.
From its inception in 1970, you needed a scorecard to keep track of personnel changes within Kansas, but the music remained paramount, complex and unchanging. One of the most influential founding members of the group was Kerry Livgren who became renowned for lyrical exploration of spiritual subjects and complex musical arrangements. The first three Kansas albums failed to strike a chord with listeners, but the fourth, “Leftoverture,” included a last-minute addition written by Livgren, namely “Carry On Wayward Son." The song was the band’s first Top 40 hit, reaching No. 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.
The fifth album, “The Point of Know Return,” included another late addition: “Dust in the Wind.” It became Kansas’ highest charting hit, reaching the No. 6 position in 1978.
In 1979, Livgren culminated his exploration of religion by becoming a born-again Christian. In addition, Elefante and bassist Dave Hope also became more vocal about their evangelical Christianity. If you’re looking for a Christian rock-and-roll band before contemporary Christian rock was even a genre, Kansas is it. This did create a competition between then-lead singer Steve Walsh and Livgren, with Walsh gravitating toward more rock-n-roll sounds and themes and Livgren leaning into more progressive rock.
Although they were pulling in opposite directions, the chemistry of it created a perfect mix of both in the final product, Platt explained. When you go back and read the lyrics with a full understanding of the Bible, you’ll pick up more than you probably did when the albums were first released.
To that point, Platt, who is not a Christian, gives the same answer when someone asks him what he thinks such-and-such a song is about. Before he answers, he’ll ask, “What do you think it’s about?” Whatever their answer is, they’re right. Like visual art, interpretation of lyrics is open to the interpreter and where they are in life when they first hear the song. The artist might think they’re writing about a certain topic, but the listener applies his or her life experiences, emotions and understandings. For instance, Livgren wrote “Portrait” about Albert Einstein while he was in the process of converting to Christianity. The lyrics were and remain equally applicable to Jesus. In fact, when Livgren left the band and founded the Christian rock band AD, he recognized that and rewrote the lyrics and retitled the song “Portrait II.” Artists create in their subconscious and sometimes even if they’re consciously intending a secular meaning, positive forces can work through their unconscious mind, Platt agreed. “Hold On” and “Lonely Wind” are two other songs expressing human emotions but also pointing toward something higher.
Platt explained that he is such a hardcore Kansas fan, that when he sits down to write, some progression of chords will come to him and he’s not conscious of the objective. He’s writing from the heart and elements from various influences naturally come out in the final rendition.
It sounds like a Kansas song because he loves Kansas’ body of work. When he sings, it’s the same. He may be heavily influenced by his predecessor, Walsh, but also by Brad Delp (Boston), John Anderson (Yes), Lou Gramm (Foreigner), Steve Perry (Journey) and others, all simultaneously.
“You are a product of your influences,” he said.
Even if you’re not familiar with Kansas, you won’t soon forget the show. It’s one of the best in the business. It’s hard to explain the Kansas sound if you haven’t experienced it for yourself. Do listen to the band’s latest live album, “Point of Know Return Live & Beyond,” and yes, that is “Know.” Of course, any deeper implied meaning is for the listener to discern. You will hear a fusion of blue-based hard rock, progressive compositions, and a layering of sounds unique to the band.
Kansas must be doing something right. At 50, it has nine gold albums, three multi-platinum albums, one other platinum studio album, and one platinum live double album. Both “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind” were million-selling singles with "Carry On Wayward Son" being the second-most-played track on US classic rock radio in 1995 and No. 1 in 1997.
The group spent over 200 weeks on the US Billboard charts in the 1970s and 1980s. They played to sold-out arenas and stadiums throughout North America, Europe and Japan. As nice as the awards are, Platt will tell you, the best feeling is going out to a restaurant incognito after a concert and overhearing a concert-goer say, “I didn’t expect it to be that good.”

(After 50 years, the band Kansas knows a thing or two about putting on a show. It’s arguably one of the best in the business. Don’t miss the chance to see them right here in Fayetteville. Photos courtesy of Michael Fleishman, Community Concerts)

Head out to the seventh annual Holiday Highlander at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom! This exciting event kicks off on Dec. 7 at 8 a.m. and promises to be a day filled with thrilling athletic competitions. Modeled after the traditional Highland Games of Scotland, the Holiday Highlander features events such as the Caber Toss, where athletes throw a giant log into the air; the Sheaf Toss, involving a pitchfork and a 20-pound bag; Keg Runs, and more.
Spectators can look forward to an action-packed day as they cheer on the athletes competing in these challenging events. Whether you're a fan of Strongman competitions or just love the spirit of the Highland Games, the Holiday Highlander VII offers something for everyone.
If you are looking to compete in the Highland Games email theholidayhighlander@gmail.com for more information. Something important to keep in mind: Every single competitor participating in the competition must don a kilt as part of the requirements.
The Holiday Highlander is more than just a competition; it's a charity event that supports Continuing the Mission (CTM), a North Carolina 501(c)(3) organization.
“CTM Assistance Dogs are trained to perform tasks that help Veterans navigate daily life living with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries or military sexual trauma. The Holiday Highlander event has raised enough money since its inaugural event in 2018 to sponsor seven dogs: Sonny, Tippette, Jonesy, Boss, Gil, Scotty and this year RK - each named after Veterans and Active Duty Service Members close to our mission,” Kendra Danzer, Holiday Highlander founder and athletic director, explains.
“My husband (Willie) and I are strength athletes; he competes competitively in Highland Games (for the last 14 years) and I am a professional strongwoman who competes in Strongman Events and Highland games. We love strength sports and knew we wanted to use our own passion for the purpose to grow the sport, introduce more strength sports options to the community and raise money for a good cause,” says Danzer.
This year's event aims to continue this tradition of giving back to Veterans. By attending and supporting Holiday Highlander VII, you contribute to a worthy cause that makes a real difference in the lives of those who have served our country.
Participate in the 13th Annual Green Beret Jingle Jog
In addition to the Highlander events, the 13th Annual Green Beret Jingle Jog will also take place at Dirtbag Ales. This popular 5K Walk/Run and 10K Road Race starts with setup at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 8:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to dress in festive costumes, and strollers and pets are welcome.
The Jingle Jog is a fantastic way to get some exercise while supporting a great cause. All proceeds from the race will benefit and support Green Berets and their families, ensuring that the Special Forces community continues to thrive. Registration costs range from $10 to $40, and more information can be found at https://sfachapter100.org/jingle-jog/.
Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom will be buzzing with activities throughout the day. From the moment the event begins at 8 a.m., there will be food trucks offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Various vendors will be on-site for your shopping pleasure, and there will be music playing throughout the afternoon.
Don't miss the chance to take pictures with Santa in the taproom and enjoy multiple performances by the Cross Creeks Pipes and Drums. Their shows will open the event, feature a mid-day performance at 12:30 p.m., and close the day in the later afternoon.
One of the highlights of Holiday Highlander VII is the opportunity to meet the CTM Assistance Dogs. These incredible dogs are trained to help Veterans with PTSD, TBI, or MST navigate daily life. Make sure to visit the Continuing the Mission tent to say hello to the pups and learn more about their training and the critical role they play.
While the event is free to the public, donations to Continuing the Mission are highly encouraged. Your generous contributions help ensure that more Veterans can receive the support they need through these specially trained assistance dogs.
“Our hope is, that we are creating connectedness through this event that may increase a sense of community for Veterans and Service members and their families. We personally might not be that connection, but through this event, and partnership with Continuing the Mission, we are creating connections for others to increase resiliency and reduce the risk of suicide. Empowering communities through Strength Sports has become our mission and our why,” concludes Danzer.

(Participants in the Holiday Highlander VII compete for glory in several of the events held throughout the day. Photos courtesy of Holiday Highlander VII)

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and Cumberland Choral Arts are once again coming together to present Handel's Messiah, a cherished holiday tradition in the Fayetteville community. Known worldwide for its powerful 'Hallelujah' chorus, Handel's Messiah is a fixture of the holiday season, bringing joy and inspiration to audiences year after year.
FSO's Executive Director, Anna Meyer, expressed her excitement about continuing this beloved tradition.
“The Fayetteville Symphony looks forward to Handel's Messiah every year. It has become a beloved holiday tradition in our community, and we love sharing the stage with CCA. All are invited to attend this fabulous concert,” she said.
The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of talented musicians and leaders, brings a rich history of musical excellence to the stage. Their collaboration with Cumberland Choral Arts, known for their exceptional vocal performances, creates a powerful and memorable rendition of Handel's Messiah.
"Over the years, the Cumberland Oratorio Singers/Cumberland Choral Arts organization has offered Messiah as a gift to the community," added CCA Director Dr. Michael Martin. "The way our organization connects to the Fayetteville community is vitally important and my effort is always to keep that spirit every time we perform it."
Students from The Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra and Campbellton Youth Chorus will also contribute to the evening's performance, showcasing the next generation of talented musicians and adding an extra layer of depth to the concert.
Handel crafted Messiah, an oratorio in English that chronicles Jesus Christ's narrative, during 1741. Messiah premiered in Dublin on April 13, 1742, followed by its London debut approximately one year later. Though initially met with moderate public interest, the oratorio's popularity grew steadily until it became one of Western music's most recognized and performed choral compositions. The 'Hallelujah' chorus stands as one of Baroque choral music's most celebrated pieces and the composition's most universally recognized segment. Although originally intended for Easter celebrations, Handel's highly accessible Messiah has evolved into a Christmas season tradition as well.
Mark your calendars for Dec. 7 at Seabrook Auditorium, located at 1200 Murchison Road. The doors will open at 6 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Attendees can also enjoy preshow music from students of The Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra and Campbellton Youth Chorus starting at 6:30 p.m.
This concert is free to attend, but reservations are required. Tickets can be reserved online here: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36404/production/1208235. You can also obtain tickets by contacting the FSO office at 910-433-4690, or by registering at the door the night of the concert. Due to high demand, it is highly encouraged to register ahead of time to secure your seat in the auditorium.
Also, be sure to mark your calendars for the Fayetteville Symphonic Band's highly anticipated Holiday Concert, which is scheduled to take place on December 3rd. Under the expert direction of conductor Daniel McCloud, the Fayetteville Symphonic Band will present a delightful and festive concert that is completely free of charge. This joyous event will be held in the beautiful Huff Concert Hall, located at Methodist University, providing an excellent venue for enjoying the holiday spirit through music.
The Fayetteville Symphonic Band is an integral program of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, designed to be inclusive and accessible to the entire community. It warmly welcomes community members of all ages, as well as students, to participate and play in the Fayetteville Symphonic Band. This initiative not only fosters a love for music but also encourages collaboration and camaraderie among musicians from diverse backgrounds. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to experience the magic of live music and celebrate the holiday season with the Fayetteville Symphonic Band! For more information on the Fayetteville Symphonic Band and more up-and-coming shows visit: https://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/fayetteville-symphonic-band/

Fayetteville’s oldest dance studio, the Blume School of Dance, is rigorously preparing for its upcoming holiday performance of The Nutcracker. Now in their 70th year of business, this year will mark the 55th time they’ve delighted the community with the classic presentation.
The performance also pays homage to the studio’s founder, Charlotte Blume, whose legacy lives on in the standard of excellence dancers expected from her. Charlotte Blume was a school teacher by trade and, according to Dina Lewis, Executive Director of the Blume School of Dance, “wanted so greatly for everyone to experience the arts.”
Since Charlotte Blume’s passing, some parts of the show have seen changes. Lewis noted the addition of a fog machine, snow machine, and backdrops. But the music and choreography have remained much the same.
“I try to be just a caretaker of her work,” Lewis remarked. “I’m just trying to keep it moving forward.”
Observant attendees will notice elements of Charlotte’s legacy sprinkled throughout the performance. Lewis detailed props and costumes that serve as reminders of her history, including two Dewdrop costumes with refurbished, light pink tutus that were Charlotte’s; a stool that Charlotte used while teaching, which is positioned on stage during the opening act; and a red dress that belonged to Charlotte which will be worn by one of the dancers. According to Lewis, the red dress is always worn by a dancer who “exudes the character that Charlotte had.” Lewis described that character as diligence and focus embodied by the phrase “work, work, work.”
Charlotte Blume’s meticulous preparation of costumes is another aspect of her legacy. Lewis says that Charlotte believed every costume was important.
“It has to fit the color scheme. It has to fit the child. It has to fit the child's coloring. She wanted everything to be just so. And that's really what we've tried to keep on and keep alive. Its that part of Charlotte, that perfectionism.”
Lewis makes sure that the dancers understand the studio’s history, and talks frequently to them about Charlotte. She added that they expect their students to be not only exceptional but want them to demand excellence of themselves. She pushes the dancers to find what they’re truly capable of, saying, “Show me what I know you have in you.”
Dancers for this year’s Nutcracker are aged six to eighteen and have been preparing for this performance since early in the year. Auditions took place in May, dance camps were held in June and July, and rehearsals started in August. Lewis described a “nonstop” schedule that sees many dancers in the studio 5-6 days a week.
While some adaptations are made for the dancers as they prepare for the Nutcracker, it doesn’t ease their workload. Lewis said they “adapt and make it even more difficult for them and see what they can accomplish on stage.”
Nevertheless, the dancers are disappointed when the performances end.
“They are sad because they want to keep dancing the Nutcracker for the rest of the season,” Lewis explained. “They absolutely love it.”
She says they hope the production is an opportunity for attendees and dancers to create consistent memories and traditions.
“I hope they can see every child's glimmer in their eyes, their pure satisfaction. They are performers, and they are performing for their community, and they are very much about giving back that art, that excitement for the season, and hoping that they have fulfilled some type of memory for the community.”
Tickets for Blume School’s public presentation of The Nutcracker on Dec. 14 and 15 can be purchased through the Crown Complex at https://bit.ly/40UaA1C. The same production will also be performed exclusively for students at Cumberland County Schools on Dec. 6 (sold out), 9 (sold out), and 13. Students include public, private, and home school groups, as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Tickets for exclusive student showings can be purchased by contacting Dina Lewis at 910 600-9204.

(Photo: Dancers with the Blume School of Dance have been preparing for their roles in The Nutcracker. Photos courtesy of the Blume School of Dance.)

“Christmas is a day that holds all time together. Christmas is not a time nor a season but a state of mind.” Alexander Smith

It’s time to celebrate Christmas magic at the 2024 Christmas Market at Dirtbag Ales. The Christmas Market takes place from Dec. 13 to Dec. 15 at 5345 Corporation Drive, Hope Mills. Food trucks, vendors, and music are features for each day. The Market will be open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 14, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 15.
Several food trucks will be on hand to deliver tasty goodies to market attendees.
Authenique Café, Beefy Buns, Kono Pizza, R Burger, Sweet Goose, Taco Arepa, Tombachi, and Vagabond will all be at Dirtbag Ales throughout the three-day event.
The Bavarian Brass Band will be playing Friday, Dec. 13 beginning at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 14, market-goers will be serenaded with Christmas Carols by Fayetteville Sound from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and again from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Bavarian Brass Band will be taking the Dirtbag stage from noon to 2 p.m., and 80s Unleashed will break out Christmas classics from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bella Venti will close out the musical guests on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Family fun is available at the Mrs. Claus Kids’ Craft Corner.
Christmas Markets originated in Europe as sale fairs and markets that provided citizens with supplies for the winter. The oldest Christmas Market in the world is Striezelmarkt. It holds the distinction of being one of the world’s oldest markets of its kind, having been initially established as a one-day event in 1434.
“[We want to] shout out to our sponsors: Black Hive Ink, Metronet, Reverie Goods and Gifts and The Renaissance Day Spa & Alternative Wellness. Without them, our market would not be possible,” said Dirtbag Ales on their Facebook page.
Experience over 80 vendors, artists and seasonal edibles, sing and listen to international Christmas music. General admission is free. For more information, visit the Dirtbag Ales website at https://dirtbagales.com/.

(Graphic courtesy of Dirtbag Ales Facebook Page)

Step into a world of yesteryear at the 1897 Poe House located at 206 Bradford Ave, where the charm and elegance of the Victorian era come to life. From now through Jan. 8, the Poe House will be adorned with elaborate decorations that capture the spirit of a Victorian Christmas. Each room is thoughtfully decorated to transport you back in time, offering a unique and enchanting holiday experience.
The highlight of the season is the Annual Holiday Jubilee, taking place on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This festive event is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of a bygone era, with a beautifully decorated house serving as the backdrop for all the festivities.
No Victorian Christmas would be complete without the joyous sounds of carolers and choruses filling the air. During the Holiday Jubilee, enjoy live performances by Fayetteville’s own Coventry Carolers and the Fayetteville Sound Barbershop Chorus. These talented groups will perform every 30 minutes on the front porch of the Poe House, adding a melodic touch to the festive atmosphere.
As you listen to the harmonious voices, warm up with complimentary hot cider and cookies provided by the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation. These delightful treats will keep you cozy as you enjoy the musical performances.
Get into the holiday spirit by crafting your own Victorian scrap ornaments. This hands-on activity allows visitors to create beautiful Christmas decorations inspired by the Victorian era.
Using images cut from postcards and magazines, participants can embellish their creations with wire tinsel, spun glass, colored cellophane, crepe paper, and
cotton batting.
This family-friendly activity offers a glimpse into the past, as Victorian ladies and children would often create these intricate ornaments to decorate their homes. Take home a piece of history and a unique keepsake from your visit to the Poe House
Visitors can look forward to a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. During the Holiday Jubilee, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be set up on the 2nd floor of the Museum of the Cape Fear building. This is a perfect opportunity for children to share their holiday wishes and for parents to capture the moment with free photos.
The warm and welcoming presence of Santa and Mrs. Claus adds an extra layer of magic to the event, making it a must-visit for families looking to create lasting holiday memories.
Admission to the Holiday Jubilee is free and donations are gladly accepted.
Enhance your visit by taking a guided tour of the festively decorated Poe House. Costumed guides, dressed in traditional Victorian clothing, will lead you through the house, offering insightful commentary on the history and holiday traditions of the era. These tours are available on select dates: Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 4, 11, 18, 29, and Jan. 5 during regular tour hours.
In addition to the guided tours, the Poe House is open for regular tours Tuesday-Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.; Saturday on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday on the hour from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Don't miss the chance to explore this historical gem, beautifully decorated for the holidays.

(Photo: The 1897 Poe House is ready to welcome guests for the holiday season. Photo courtesy of 1897 Poe House)

There might be many traditions at Cape Fear Regional Theatre, but one has been 33 years in the making. This year, like so many years before, the actors at Cape Fear Regional Theatre will be performing The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. The Herdsman will return to the stage to remind audience members of some bigger themes of the holiday season.
However, there will be a main difference between this year and the previous years — the venue. The folks at Cape Fear Regional Theatre are now performing at 1707 Owen Drive with an audience present on three sides of the stage.
“There is something exciting about the new space … but the meaning of the story has been very impactful to the community and the kids that are in the show,” says Director Jennifer Sell.
Beside Sell sit two child actors, Annie Bir, who plays Maxine, and Maryn Hammond, who plays Alice. The two are from the “Nutmeg” cast. The show will have four different groups of child actors to allow more in the community to participate. Of course, the names of the groups even bring the sense of the holidays, with names like Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove, and Ginger.
Even at their young age, Hammond and Bir have both been part of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for years.
“It's been fun for even the kids that have done this year after year,” says Sell.
The two kids nod in agreement. Bir has been doing this for four years and Hammond has been doing it for six years.
The show will have a cast of 160 kids. Sell admits there is always some chaos to expect with so many kids but it's organized chaos, she says laughing. And it was from the beginning, says Ashley Owen, the marketing director for Cape Fear Regional Theatre.
“The audience process is bananas,” Owen says.
They ended up auditioning more than 200 kids during a 3-day period and then Sell sat down and reviewed schedules, particularly school and extracurricular, with this many school-aged kids involved to figure out how to cast the members. Owen says it requires a lot of strategy to cast for this particular show.
For other parts, like the mother in the play Mrs. Bradley, played by Amber Dawn French, it is a little bit easier as the adults remain the same through the different casts. French, who has played this same character for many years, says that her character changed for her during the first three to four shows.
“But I think it’s been pretty consistent once we landed on that. We fell in sync,” French says. “Being able to be consistent is important for Mrs. Bradley who is sort of a grounding figure in the show.”
French says being on her “own game” and knowing about the children’s parts is an important part of the show for her. She will work with all four groups of child actors. The different groups rehearse on different nights of the week. When the performances begin, they will all perform on their regular evening night and then alternate on the weekend.
The stage for the actors will include the audience being on three sides of the stage and the folks have transformed the first few rows into church pews.
“You’ll literally be in the church,” says Owen.
The biggest thing, though, Sell says, is what the new cast of kids bring to each show. Even Hammond and Bir, who have been in the show years before, are playing new parts. Sell says the new cast brings a new spin to the show each year. But again, the venue itself will be something very noticeable for both the audience and the cast.
“The new space is very intimate. It feels very cozy to me. It’s going to be nice to have a Christmas festive show in that space. It makes the audience feel like they are on stage with you,” French says.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will run from Dec. 7 to Dec. 22. They will host military appreciation nights on several dates to include all the different casts. Tickets will range from $11-$16. For more information about the performance, visit www.cfrt.org.
“It’ll be nice for people to be able to see it,” Sell says. “Getting away from the presents and decorations into something that has a little bit of a deeper meaning.”

(Photos courtesy of Cape Fear Regional Theatre)

In anticipation of freezing temperatures, Cumberland County, in partnership with the City of Fayetteville, will open government facilities as warming centers for residents who do not have access to heat and need a place to get out of the cold.
When temperatures are anticipated to be at or below freezing, the following locations will operate as warming centers:

• Cumberland County Department of Social Services Auxiliary Lobby
Location: 1225 Ramsey St.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Masks or face coverings are encouraged for those with preexisting conditions.

• Cumberland County Department of Public Health First Floor Lobby
Location: 1235 Ramsey St.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
*Masks or face coverings are required in some areas and immediately following a COVID-19 infection or close contact. Citizens with preexisting conditions are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering.

• Cumberland County Public Libraries
Location: All eight Cumberland County Public Library locations will be open as warming centers.
Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Headquarters Library, Cliffdale, North Regional, and Hope Mills branches are also open Sundays, 2 to 6 p.m. To find your local library, go to
cumberlandcountync.gov/library.

• Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) Lobby
Location: 505 Franklin St.
Hours: Operating hours for FAST are posted at fayettevillenc.gov/city-services/transit/about-fast/operating-hours-schedules.

• Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Center Lobby
Location: Recreation center locations, contact information and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/.
Hours: Recreation center hours, contact information and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/.
Stay informed by visiting the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov/emergencyservices/cooling-warming-centers or County social media pages by searching for CumberlandCountyNC.

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped business leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head up the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative that isn’t really a department but could do some good — as long as its leaders carefully study past efforts at reform.
I don’t just mean federal efforts such as the moderately successful Greenspan Commission on Social Security and the largely unsuccessful Grace Commission, both created in the early 1980s at the behest of President Ronald Reagan. Some states have achieved big regulatory and budget reforms, including our own.
In 2009, state General Fund spending accounted for 6.2% of North Carolina’s gross domestic product. This year, it’s 4.5%. If policymakers in Washington could manage the same percentage-point change in federal spending as a share of GDP, that would slash annual deficits by more than a quarter, or about $450 billion a year.
It wouldn’t happen overnight, however. While some of North Carolina’s budget restraint occurred during a fiscal crisis precipitated by the Great Recession of 2008-10 — when Democrats, not Republicans, ran the General Assembly — most occurred over the next dozen years, with GOP majorities in both chambers.
Conservative leaders didn’t stomp in with reckless abandon, whacking state programs and laying off large swaths of public employees. Instead, they employed formulas and targets. They capped annual spending growth at the combined rate of inflation and population growth. Within that cap, they raised spending on high-priority programs and offset that with savings elsewhere.
Furthermore, when state lawmakers began large-scale tax reform in 2013, they phased in rate reductions over time, using “fiscal triggers” to ensure that tax revenues kept growing at a sufficient rate to fund core public services.
And when they began thinning the state’s regulatory thicket, they did so in stages, in a series of annual reform bills, rather than attempting some sort of comprehensive package in one fell swoop.
In other words, North Carolina’s fiscal and regulatory reformers played the tortoise, not the hare.
Does that strategy sound too timid, or at least too boring, for the likes of Musk and Ramaswamy? Perhaps it is, but history suggests that it’s the only approach likely to accomplish lasting results.
There’s no shortage of good ideas for reforming federal regulation and shrinking the federal deficit. Plenty of experts inside and outside government, from members and staffers on Capitol Hill to fiscal analysts with vast experience in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget or other agencies, have assembled long lists of actionable ideas — and are currently sharing them with the leaders and soon-to-be staffers of DOGE.
What disappointing efforts such as the Grace Commission and the 2010 National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (co-chaired by North Carolinian Erskine Bowles) lacked was a realistic strategy for translating ideas into policy.
No wasteful program exists by accident. Some interest group lobbied for it, and will lobby vociferously to protect it.
Musk and Ramaswamy predict that many of their ideas can be implemented through executive action, without a vote of Congress. That’s possible — but it’s not really where the fiscal action is. For example, while downsizing the federal workforce may be a good idea, the federal payroll represents only about 4.3% of federal spending.
The vast majority of federal expenditures consists of interest payments, national defense, and transfer programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. The first category is inescapable and the second rising in priority as the world gets increasingly dangerous.
Campaign rhetoric aside, there’s really no way to shrink federal deficits by a noticeable amount without taking on the entitlement state.
Which brings us back to formulas and triggers. No serious person, not a single one, favors immediate, large-scale cuts in such programs. The only viable strategy is precisely the one that, in a different context, North Carolina pursued: phasing in reforms over time, giving affected parties time to plan and adjust.
Easier said than done — but it can be done, as our own case demonstrates.

Editor’s note: John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com).

(Photo: The North Carolina capitol building in Raleigh. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia)

There is no doubt that gun violence is an epidemic in America, with no town, city or metropolitan being exempt. According to the CDC, there were over 48,000 gun related deaths in the United States in 2023 and those most likely to be affected are teen and young adults, with rates being higher in the African American, Latino and Indigenous communities.
That makes the work of local nonprofit, DrumzUp GunzDown that much more important. The group focuses on mentoring youth in the community through the art of drumming, spotlighting the need for safe activities for local youth and helping families who have been affected by gun violence and advocating for gun control.
Founder Kandi Hoskins is no stranger to gun violence and it’s ripple effect in the community and the devastation it leaves in its wake. The organization was founded after the loss of Hoskins brother.
“The purpose of Drumzup Gunzdown is to make a change in our community to inspire and educate our youth on positive decision-making. We started Drumzup Gunzdown after we lost my brother to Gun violence … The purpose of Drumzup Gunzdown is to make a change in our community to inspire and educate our youth on positive decision-making,” Hoskins said.
Drumming has long been an activity that gathers and bonds people. Hoskins is a believer in the drumming and its ability to provide an alternative to vulnerable youth in the area. Providing an after-school activity and a safe space decreases the chances that they will pick up a firearm or have a firearm used against them. Drumming is also a great way to channel emotions and learn discipline.
“We want our community youth and everyone in our community to know that drumming is therapeutic and the type of music that we listen to can impact our decision-making. We want our community to know that whenever you’re stressed or dealing with any type of emotions, you can pick up a pair of drumsticks and create a beautiful sound. Those drumsticks will distract you because you’re creating a beat. In so many ways we’ve learned that drumming has helped those that have mental illnesses. We’ve learned that drumming is therapeutic, and we’ve also learned that drumming is something that people can do that can make them happy,” Hoskins said.
While teaching and mentoring is the main focus of the organization, DrumzUp GunzDown, hosts free community events providing a safe space for families to gather and have a great time. They also collaborate with other local nonprofits for fundraising events, helping bring awareness and resources to those who need them the most. Hoskins and the group have been active in the community talks about gun violence in the city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. They have hosted countless events bringing awareness to the areas with high firearm violence rate and the lack of funding that is allotted to programs to help combat the problem from the source.
With any organization working with the youth, it takes a village.
“I want to give a shout out to my family and our organization for believing in me to know that we’re not just doing this for our brother, but we’re doing this for all of those that have lost and loved ones. I also want to give a shout out to our community for standing behind us, believing us, and knowing that we really truly care about each and every one. Thank you.”
For more information on DrumzUp GunzDown, how you can get involved and their next event, follow them of their social media https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090423213986.

At 86 years old, Ridley Scott is showing no signs of slowing down. As the acclaimed director returns with Gladiator 2, a sequel to his 2000 Oscar-winning epic, Gladiator, Scott proves once again that age is no obstacle to creating ambitious, large-scale films.
Over a remarkable career spanning five decades, Scott has crafted some of cinema's most iconic films, moving seamlessly between genres and creating a legacy that blends artistry with blockbuster entertainment.
As a lifelong fan of Scott’s work, it’s hard not to feel immense excitement and admiration as he takes on yet another massive project. His films have a signature look and feel — an attention to detail, a sense of grandeur, and an exploration of humanity in the face of adversity. Watching Scott’s movies is like being transported to another world, and his unparalleled ability to create such immersive stories has solidified him as one of the most influential directors of our time.
Scott’s Hollywood journey began with Alien (1979), a groundbreaking sci-fi horror that introduced the terrifying xenomorph and catapulted Sigourney Weaver to stardom. Known for its claustrophobic atmosphere and meticulous practical effects, Alien showcased Scott’s gift for suspense and for designing visually striking worlds.
It quickly became a classic, setting the standard for sci-fi horror and securing Scott’s reputation as a director capable of blending cerebral concepts with terrifying realism.
Then came Blade Runner in 1982, a film that struggled initially at the box office but would ultimately become one of the most influential movies in cinema history. Set in a dystopian future, Blade Runner explored profound themes of identity, humanity, and technology. Scott’s hauntingly beautiful portrayal of Los Angeles drenched in neon lights and perpetual rain, captured the imaginations of generations of fans and filmmakers alike.
Today, Blade Runner is regarded as a sci-fi masterpiece, praised not only for its visual aesthetics but also for the questions it raises about what it means to be human.
For me, Legend holds a special place in Ridley Scott’s filmography, standing out as a mesmerizing fantasy that captures both the whimsy and darkness of fairy tales. Released in 1985, Legend is a visual feast, brimming with lush forests, mythical creatures, and an unforgettable sense of enchantment.
Scott’s meticulous attention to detail shines in every frame, from the shimmering landscapes to the haunting beauty of the sinister Darkness, brought to life by Tim Curry’s towering performance. There’s a delicate balance between innocence and menace that makes Legend feel both timeless and haunting. It’s a film that, for me, showcases Scott's ability to take viewers to otherworldly places, blending his masterful visuals with a story that’s both mystical and deeply human.
Scott didn’t limit himself to sci-fi and fantasy; his versatility is evident in Thelma & Louise (1991), a landmark film in feminist cinema. The road movie, starring Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, captured the trials and tribulations of two women pushing back against societal expectations.
The film received critical acclaim, earning Scott an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. Thelma & Louise showed that Scott was just as capable of handling complex, character-driven narratives as he was of orchestrating sci-fi worlds.
However, it was Gladiator (2000) that cemented Scott’s status as a director who could create a blockbuster on a grand, almost mythical scale. Gladiator was a cinematic spectacle, sweeping audiences into the brutal and beautiful world of ancient Rome.
The film starred Russell Crowe as Maximus, a betrayed Roman general who seeks vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family. Winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Gladiator was hailed for its epic storytelling, unforgettable score, and visceral fight scenes. For Scott, Gladiator was more than just a film—it was a modern myth that demonstrated his ability to balance commercial appeal with artistic depth.
Over the years, Scott continued to produce hit after hit. He ventured into horror again with Hannibal (2001), the intense war drama Black Hawk Down (2001), and the sweeping Crusades epic Kingdom of Heaven (2005). His Alien prequels, Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017), revisited the universe he’d built decades earlier, exploring the origins of the xenomorph and delving into existential questions about creation, faith, and fear.
Last year’s Napoleon (2023) marked Scott’s return to historical epic filmmaking, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the infamous French leader. Known for its breathtaking battle scenes and intimate portrayal of Napoleon’s complicated relationship with his wife, Josephine, Napoleon reaffirmed Scott’s masterful command of the historical genre and his ability to bring depth to larger-than-life figures.
Even in his mid-80s, Scott’s vision remains as sharp as ever, and his dedication to crafting visually rich and thought-provoking films is truly inspiring.
And now, Scott is back with Gladiator 2, one of the most highly anticipated sequels of the decade. While much of the plot remains under wraps, the film is expected to follow the story of Lucius, the young son of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen in the original), and feature a stellar cast, including Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and Denzel Washington. Given Scott’s skill at bringing history to life, fans are eagerly awaiting his return to ancient Rome, hoping to once again feel that mix of awe and adrenaline that defined Gladiator.
Gladiator 2 will be screening at the Cameo Art House Theatre, a perfect venue for fans to experience Scott’s work in a more intimate, art-house environment.
What makes Ridley Scott’s career especially remarkable is his constant evolution. While many filmmakers slow down as they age, Scott’s ambition and innovation have only grown. He embraces new technologies, experiments with storytelling techniques, and continues to attract top talent, proving that he is just as relevant and daring as he was when he made Alien and Blade Runner.
As a dedicated fan of Ridley Scott, seeing him still creating with such energy and enthusiasm is profoundly inspiring. His films don’t just entertain—they challenge, provoke, and transport us to worlds beyond our imagination.
Whether it’s the tension in a dimly lit corridor in Alien, the rain-soaked cityscapes of Blade Runner, or the thunderous clashes of gladiators in the Roman Colosseum, Scott’s artistry remains a constant reminder of the power of cinema. At 86, he’s a living legend, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in film and leaving an indelible mark on generations of moviegoers.
With Gladiator 2, Scott is once again proving that his creative fire burns as brightly as ever. The film promises to be a fitting addition to his legacy—an epic journey filled with drama, action, and the timeless themes that make his work so compelling.
Gladiator 2 fights its way into Nov. 21 at the Cameo Art House Theatre in downtown Fayetteville. Advanced tickets are on sale at cameoarthouse.com

(Graphic courtesy of the Cameo Art House Theatre)

'Tis the season to carve out some special moments to visit with Santa Claus. We have carefully compiled a comprehensive list detailing when and where you can find him during this festive holiday season. Whether you are looking to share your Christmas wishes or simply enjoy the magic of the season, our guide will help you plan the perfect visit with Santa. Don't miss out on this joyful experience!

Nov. 23-Dec. 21 (Varies Times)
Santa on the Farm! at White Hill Farms, 5020 South Plank Rd., Cameron
Stop by and visit Santa on the Farm, where you can capture a wonderful picture with him. It's also a perfect opportunity for the kids to share their Christmas wish lists and dreams! For more information including times visit https://tinyurl.com/k8h9e3r3

Nov. 29-Dec. 23
Fayetteville Holiday Lights at Segra Stadium, 460 Hay Street
Segra Stadium hosts the 4th Fayetteville Holiday Lights. Experience a festive wonderland with over 2 million lights, a towering 40 ft. illuminated tree, captivating light shows, themed displays, Santa visits, holiday vendors, delicious treats, and countless surprises. For more information including tickets visit https://www.milb.com/fayetteville/events/holidaylights

Nov. 30 at 9 a.m.
Family Christmas Event at Bell's Seed Store, 230 E Russell St.
Santa and Mrs. Claus are visiting Bell's Seed Store from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a special event. Kids and grown-ups can share their wish lists and create unique Christmas ornaments using Polaroid photos taken with the jolly couple. The cost is $10 per person joining in the fun. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/5938t7x4

Dec. 6-22 at 5 p.m.
Holiday Lights in the Garden at Cape Fear Botanical Garden, 536 N Eastern Blvd.
Enter a magical, stroll-through paradise adorned with countless sparkling lights and stunning scenes that will whisk you into the festive spirit, complete with a Santa meet-and-greet. For more information including tickets visit https://tinyurl.com/z49m52tr

Dec. 7 at 10 a.m.
Photos with Santa at Dirtbag Ales, 5435 Corporation Dr., Hope Mills
Come by from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Santa pictures and family enjoyment! Instead of photo fees, they're requesting donations to Operation Red Wings Foundation. Please RSVP to help with attendance planning. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/2j8jhsk9

Dec. 7 at 9 a.m.
Breakfast with Santa at John W. Hodges Public Safety Center, 5788 Rockfish Rd., Hope Mills
Enjoy a tasty breakfast from Eggs Up Grill with pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. A photographer will be available to take pictures with Santa, or you can snap your own memorable photos. Tickets are $10 per person. For more visit https://tinyurl.com/58345y6v

Dec. 7 at 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast with Santa at 221 Mason St.
Savor brunch and snap photos with St. Nick. All funds support IORG Youth Group (Fayetteville #22). $8 per individual; $20 max per family. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/3stccy25

Dec. 7 at Noon
Holiday Vendor Market at Triangle Rock Club, 5213 Raeford Rd.
Spay Neuter Initiative Program is hosting a Holiday Market. Local vendors will offer crafts, gifts, and homemade treats. Visitors can take photos with Santa and bid on raffle items. All proceeds support our feral cat TNVR fund. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/5cd9y6uj

Dec. 7 at 11 a.m.
Paws Claus Pet Pics at Hope Mills Town Hall Gazebo, 5770 Rockfish Rd.
Capture a memorable photo of your pets with Santa. Professional pictures are available for purchase, creating a special keepsake of this festive moment. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/ye9dx9d5

Dec. 8 at 1 p.m.
Holiday Jubilee at 1897 Poe House, 801 Arsenal Ave.
Mr. & Mrs. Claus will be at this event for picture opportunities and holiday tales. Families can snap their own photos at no cost. Santa will also be set up within the Cape Fear Museum. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/42wm4ft2

Dec. 14 at 8 a.m.
Breakfast with Santa at Fascinate-U Children's Museum, 116 Green St.
Enjoy breakfast with Santa at the Children’s Museum. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/wrus9h6u

Dec. 14 at 9 a.m.
Cookies with Santa at Cameron Elementary, 2636 Hwy 24/27, Cameron
Come meet Santa, share cookies, and make Christmas crafts. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/yey97tk5

Open Now Until Dec. 24 (Various Times)
Santa's Workshop at 419 Cross Creek Mall
Experience the magic of Christmas at Santa's Workshop this year. Craft your wish list, capture a memorable photo with jolly old St. Nick, and send your letter straight to the North Pole. While booking ahead is suggested, walk-ins are welcome too. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/bdhz73c6

Santa isn't the only well-known character you can encounter during this festive season. Why not consider a delightful visit with Krampus, the mischievous creature known for his antics, or the Grinch, who famously stole Christmas? Both iconic figures have their own unique charm and stories. Here are some of their "sightings" that you won't want to miss.

Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
Pictures with Krampus at Dirtbag Ales, 5435 Corporation Dr.
Krampus is visiting Dirtbag Ales to chastise the mischievous and caution the well-behaved about potential consequences if they misbehave. Snap photos with Krampus between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Each picture costs $20 (cash only) and comes with a digital copy link. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/27k95n5m

Dec. 7 at 9:15 a.m.
Breakfast with the Grinch at 2505 Village Dr.
Free event for kids ages 3-10. Join in for a fun-filled day featuring exciting games, creative crafts, delicious snacks, and a special visit from both the Grinch and Santa Claus himself! For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/56vc8w6y

Dec. 21 at 6 p.m.
How the Grinch Stole Hockey at Crown Coliseum, 1960 Coliseum Dr.
Who knew the Grinch liked hockey? Catch a Fayetteville Marksmen game and get to meet the Grinch. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/ehsv43mm

A new mural at Fayetteville Technical Community College celebrates the spirit of the school through its dedication to a diverse student body and its commitment to the employment needs of the community.
The design team made each decision about artistic elements and colors with purpose. FTCC art instructor Katharine (Katey) Morrill began sending emails out on the idea in January. Sandy Ammons, executive director of the FTCC Foundation, applied for the initial grant and maneuvered expertly when additional funds became necessary.
FTCC alumna and artist Britney Deveault, who painted two other murals on campus, returned to lead the design collaboration. Three art students volunteered over 45 hours to complete the project. They contributed their time with no financial or grade compensation, outside of school hours and away from family. The result: A big, colorful, cheerful mural that, through art, shows FTCC’s contributions to its students and our community.
Prominent citizens came together in 1985 to establish the foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, established to raise money to cover any unmet needs on campus and to fund scholarships. Ammons initially secured a small grant from the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County.
First, a suitable wall needed to be determined, and then the design needed to be approved. The team—which Morrill emphasizes enjoyed a high level of give and take, everyone listening to input and contributing ideas—discovered that a section of the wall would be unsuitable for painting.
A different wall needed to be selected for the project, and then additional funding needed to be secured for a reworking of the design and additional paint. The work went from 80 feet long to 104 feet and the design expanded in proportion. Now, looking at the mural, one cannot imagine it without the returning troops and the American flag at the right-hand side of the work.
Ammons successfully moved the grant proposal from one funding option under the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County to another better suited to the expanding project.
In addition, the North Carolina Arts Council helped support the effort. Furthermore, the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and other community partners made contributions to see the project come to fruition. Finally, the FTCC Foundation itself awarded a mini grant for the artwork’s completion.
The design team made each decision about artistic elements and color with purpose. Of course, the high number of active-duty soldiers and veterans who go through the doors of FTCC are represented at both ends of the mural, starting on the left with paratroopers jumping over a rose, representative of one of many of the college’s specialties: horticulture and its must-see Fayetteville Rose Garden at 2201 Hull Road.
The welder reflects the numerous career paths involving welding, from steel fabrication to automotive pursuits. The geese/ducks represent our area’s rich flora and fauna. They share space with a computer operator, revealing how sustainable use of resources is not incompatible with conservation efforts and how technology can be harnessed for good in the constructive management of our natural environment.
Nursing and culinary arts represent two additional academic programs for which FTCC is renowned. And finally, we see the American flag and returning soldiers who may need a new career path after transitioning out, or new skills they can apply to their current active-duty positions.
Even the colors were chosen with care. Of the students who attend the college as a stepping stone to furthering their education at a four-year school, the majority end up at Fayetteville State University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, East Carolina University or North Carolina State University. The school colors of those universities are incorporated in the color pallet used in the mural.
Students choose FTCC for a variety of reasons. First, the college focuses on offering career paths that are marketable. For instance, Merrill stresses that the art department avoids the negative starving-artist mental image and instead teaches artists how they can build relationships within the community and treat their art as a business that can provide an abundant livelihood.
Students also come for the flexibility of after-hour class offerings. They could be holding down full-time jobs and raising families. Older returning students lend their wisdom to the collective student body, and people who take single classes are often in search of personal enrichment.
Plus, as Ammons adds, you cannot beat the affordability of a community college. FTCC offers over 280 course concentrations, culminating in associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. Financial aid is available, so whether you want to work in auto body repair or teach preschoolers, be a civil engineer or an electrician, a graphic designer or a dental hygienist, you can’t go wrong with the hometown technical college.

(Photo: The mural team shows off their work: from left, FTCC instructor Josh Deveault; FTCC art instructor Katharine Morrill; FTCC graphic design alumna Britney Deveault; and art students Sarah Johnson, Ryan Hauth and Kevin Elmore.)

Methodist University is unveiling a unique video art exhibit that is free and open to the public next month.
MU’s Division of Fine & Performing Arts will be hosting an Opening Reception and debuting a screening of The Passing by the late video artist Bill Viola at the David McCune International Art Gallery on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Additional screenings will be held Nov. 23 and Dec. 6, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and all the screenings/reception are free for anyone to attend.
Created by Viola — who died in July — The Passing hauntingly travels the terrains of the conscious, the subconscious, and the desert landscapes of the Southwest, melding sleep, dreams, and the drama of waking life into a stunning masterpiece.
Viola places himself at the center of the personal exploration of altered time and space by representing mortality in the forms of a glistening newborn baby, his deceased mother, and the artist himself, floating and submerged under water.
“The reconsideration of this vital work is of timely importance,” said Andrew Prieto, MU’s assistant professor of art and curator of visual art exhibitions, who organized the exhibit in collaboration with Electronic Arts Intermix and Bill Viola Studio.
“Not only due to the artist’s passing, but for its spiritual significance in these troublesome times. The Passing reminds us that our time here is finite and invites us to look deeper at our lives in the world around us.”
Methodist University’s Division of Fine & Performing Arts includes various undergraduate programs including Art, Art Education, and Graphic Design.
Since its opening in 2010, the David McCune International Gallery has been Fayetteville’s premiere art venue, featuring works from traveling exhibitions (Warhol, Picasso, Rembrandt, and more), fine art on loan from museum collections throughout the world, and work by Methodist University students.
Funding for this program is provided by The William Frederick Bethune Fund for the Arts of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc.
For questions regarding the exhibit, email Prieto at aprieto@methodist.edu.

(Graphic courtesy of Methodist University)

Prepare to step back in time at the 25th Annual A Dickens Holiday on Nov. 29, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Carriage rides, cobblestone streets, twinkling lights, and the immersive experience of walking amongst actors in Victorian-era garb will delight and charm visitors.
The Downtown Alliance, in partnership with the Fayetteville History Museum, presents the event. It’s a rich and varied scene, and a fitting homage to the beloved Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Iconic characters such as Scrooge, Marley, and the Ghosts will wander the streets in costume, interpreting themes and portraying personalities as visitors take in scenes from the bygone era.
Elaine Kelley, Chair of A Dickens Holiday Committee, says you don’t want to miss a moment.
“Spend the day with us,” she entreated, “it’s well worth it.”
She recommends bringing family and friends and making the most of each opportunity. There will be food, shopping, activities, and more. It’s a one-stop shop for ushering in the holiday spirit, spending quality time with loved ones, chipping away at your holiday shopping, and enjoying the sights and sounds of a community preparing for Christmas.
Dress in your finest Victorian garb and attend the Royal Tea and Tour at the Heritage Square Historical Society, if you wish. The tea will begin at the Fayetteville History Museum, a Victorian train station. Visitors will hear its history and then travel via a decorated trolley to the Sandford House. Kelley says they’ll be ushered into the antebellum-era home and serenaded as they enjoy tea. There will be visits from historic interpreters (keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of Queen Victoria or another Royal personage!) and photo opportunities. Tickets to the tea are limited. There are four seatings of 24 seats each, and tickets are priced at $20.
A gingerbread house contest will also be in progress. The official press release described it as a whimsical competition that invites participants of all ages to craft stunning gingerbread houses that will bring out your inner architect and baker. Entry is free and winners can expect “fantastic prizes,” but only after their artistic masterpieces have been sufficiently admired by the community.
Anyone interested in a picture with Father Christmas can find him at the history museum where there will also be a magician performing awe-inspiring feats. Visitors may also spot a London bobby or two in uniform, strolling the event “enforcing public security.”
For those interested in learning more about Charles Dicken’s legacy, internationally renowned Dickens expert and guest speaker, Dr. Elliot Engel will present his lecture “A Dickens of A Christmas.” According to the press release, the lecture will explore Dickens’s life and literary works: “Dr. Engel’s engaging storytelling and deep insights will leave you with a renewed appreciation for Dickens’s timeless messages of hope and generosity.” The lecture will begin at 1 p.m. at Hay Street United Methodist Church.
When hunger strikes, there will be no end of treats to fill visitors' bellies or quench their thirst. Kelley said that among the usual dining options downtown, the parking lot behind the Art’s Council will also be “chock full” of food trucks. She said to look for local businesses that may publicize unique offerings for the day.
Kelley highlighted the opportunity visitors will have to keep their spending local, whether at the downtown shops, or in the artisan market, and said the event is an alternative to Black Friday shopping.
“We wanted to bring people downtown and give them the option to stay down here with us that day and shop and put your money in local stores.” She added that visitors often discover just how much downtown has to offer.
“They see new businesses,” she explained. “They feel a part of downtown. I think that they have a sense that they're welcome. They feel invited.”
She explained that her own involvement in the event began because she owns Turner Lane off Hay Street. Now on the committee, she highlighted just how many people help with the event. “We are a committee of many people within the community who have been involved in A Dickens Holiday over the past 25 years.” She added that it’s group effort that keeps the event going. “I’m certainly not the only person who is doing this. We are committee strong.”
Hattie Presnell, Historic Properties Coordinator for the Fayetteville History Museum agreed, “ It's all about community! We have a wonderfully talented and diverse group of individuals who come together to make this event happen. For many of our vendors, this is also their biggest event of the year, and they pull out all the stops!” She felt that A Dickens Holiday is an opportunity to support local businesses and see the incredible talent the community has to offer.
“Keep it local and shop local!” she encouraged.
This year, visitors may notice a new addition to A Dickens Holiday. During Dickens After Dark, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., “Elves’ Night Off” will bring visitors together to show off their elf attire, indulge in festive treats, and participate in exclusive activities suitable for all ages. The press release says Elves’ Night Off intends to continue the magic into the evening.
Despite the excitement of new additions, Kelley said one event remains the highlight.
“The iconic thing is the candlelight procession,” she explained. The candlelight procession begins at dusk. It’s a royal procession: bagpipes play in the background, visitors fill the streets and hold flickering candles, carols are sung, portions of Dickens are read, speeches are made, and the holiday lights lining the streets are ceremonially lit. It’s an event that symbolizes hope and unity within the community, according to the press release.
“It sort of brings in the holidays in full force,” Kelley said.
A Dickens Holiday is free to the public, thanks partly to many generous sponsors, including Dream Finder Homes, PWC, Moving with Meg Real Estate, City Center Gallery and Books, Cape Fear Valley Health, Draughon Brothers Inc., and more.
Kelley encouraged the community to enjoy the endless variety and charm available all day.
“I think it becomes a time where you can just enjoy the day with your family,” she described. "It’s an experience!”
For more information on A Dickens Holiday and the various ticketed events, visit www.adickensholiday.com

(Photo: Carolers sing during A Dickens Christmas in downtown Fayetteville)

Bring the family to Nazro Farms as they transform their farm into a winter wonderland for their 3rd Annual Christmas Market. Feel the festive cheer as you stroll through their beautifully decorated grounds, complete with twinkling lights and holiday decorations that capture the essence of the season.
“Nazro Farms, named after our grandfather, William Nazro Stewart, is an agritourism/Pumpkin Patch Farm located on 22 acres. Siblings took family farmland and made it into something for the schools, and community to enjoy,” Laura Cribb shares.
“Our Christmas market is the final event of the season, because we love Christmas, and it's always the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which happens to be Shop Small Business Saturday,” says Cribb.
This event is designed to provide a Hallmark Mo vie-like atmosphere, offering a peaceful and joyous escape for families and friends to enjoy together. From the moment you arrive, you'll be surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas.
Nazro Farms' Christmas Market is packed with fun activities for everyone. Children will love the playground and inflatable bounce houses, while adorable farm animals are sure to bring smiles to faces of all ages. Don't miss the chance to try out their hamster wheels and enjoy the inflatable slides.
Gather around for the magical light countdown as the day turns to night. At dark, the entire farm will be illuminated, including the animal houses and a stunning 35 to 40-foot tall tree of lights. It's an experience that will leave you in awe.
Support local businesses by shopping from a variety of vendors offering unique, handmade goods. From baked items and homemade bread to plants, elderberry syrup, and wellness products, there's something for everyone. You can even find real estate agents, permanent jewelry, chunky knit blankets, ornaments, and boutique items.
When hunger strikes, indulge in delicious treats from one of the many food trucks. Enjoy offerings from ThiccBurger, Cornbread Kitchen and Smokehouse, Cheap Eatz Food Truck, Poppy's Sweets and Treats, and Finn-Chie Coffee Shack. With such a diverse selection, you're sure to find something to satisfy your cravings.
Capture the magic of the season with special photo opportunities throughout the day. Santa Claus himself will be arriving around 4 p.m. for photos with children. There will also be a drop-off for letters to Santa, adding a special touch to your visit.
Other photo ops include the beautifully decorated old truck and various festive setups around the farm. Don't forget to take home a painted ornament as a keepsake of your visit.
Mark your calendars for November 30 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and make plans to visit Nazro Farms, located at 145 Bettie Hamilton in Spring Lake. The Christmas Market runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Santa arriving at 4 p.m. for photos. The event is free to attend, though there is a small fee for s'mores, hot cocoa, and ornament painting.
Be sure to bring some cash, as not all vendors may accept cards. Whether you're looking for a festive outing or a unique shopping experience, Nazro Farms' Christmas Market is the perfect way to kickstart your holiday season.

(Photo courtesy of Nazro Farm)

Hope Mills is excited to present an amazing lineup of festive holiday activities and events this season, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the spirit of celebration.
Christmas at the Lake-Dec. 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Mark your calendars for Dec. 6 and head to Hope Mills Lake for a magical evening as the community gathers to light up the town's Christmas tree. As the tree glows with festive lights, classic holiday music will fill the air, creating a picturesque setting.
Don't forget to bring your chairs and blankets to make yourself comfortable while you soak in the holiday spirit. This enchanting event is a perfect opportunity to kick off the holiday season with friends, family, and neighbors.
Hope Mills has planned a variety of activities to ensure there's something for everyone at the Christmas at the Lake event. This family-friendly celebration offers a chance to enjoy quality time with loved ones while engaging in festive fun.
Whether you're sipping on complimentary hot chocolate, enjoying seasonal desserts, or simply taking in the beautiful surroundings, there will be plenty of moments to create lasting memories.
No holiday event is complete without a visit from Santa Claus! Santa will be making a special appearance at Hope Mills Lake, providing the perfect opportunity for children and families to meet him and capture those cherished holiday photos.
Make sure to have your cameras ready as Santa spreads joy and listens to holiday wishes. These captured moments will be treasured for years to come.
Indulge in delicious treats and satisfy your cravings with a visit to the on-site food trucks. Household 6, Rolling Tacos, and Bus Stop Melts will be offering a variety of tasty options available for purchase.
In addition to these delightful food choices, complimentary hot chocolate and desserts will be served, ensuring everyone can enjoy a sweet treat while celebrating the season.
The sounds of classic holiday music will provide the perfect backdrop to this festive event. As the Christmas tree lights up, the music will enhance the warm, joyful atmosphere, making the evening even more special.
Let the melodies of beloved holiday tunes bring a sense of nostalgia and cheer, as you connect with the community and embrace the holiday spirit.
Holiday Market-Dec. 6 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Artist Village is thrilled to announce its exciting partnership with Hope Mills Parks and Recreation to host the much-anticipated Holiday Market on Trade Street! This festive market is set to take place on Dec. 6, perfectly timed to coincide with the enchanting Hope Mills Christmas at the Lake Tree Lighting ceremony. Additionally, it will occur just before the beloved Hope Mills Christmas Parade of Lights on Dec. 7, making it a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season.
At the Holiday Market, attendees can look forward to a variety of vendors showcasing their unique products. There will also be a designated performance area where local groups can entertain the crowd with live performances. For families, a special kids’ zone will be available, featuring engaging activities and fun crafts to keep the little ones entertained.
Vendors are encouraged to get into the holiday spirit by decorating their booths with festive lights and other holiday-themed decor. To add an element of fun, patrons will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite booths, creating a lively and interactive atmosphere for everyone involved!
Breakfast with Santa-Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Breakfast with Santa is an exciting event presented by Eggs Up Grill, and it will be held at the John W. Hodges Public Safety Center, 5788 Rockfish Road in Hope Mills. Attendees can look forward to a delicious breakfast catered by Eggs Up Grill, featuring a delightful spread that includes fluffy pancakes, freshly cooked eggs, crispy bacon, and savory sausage.
In addition to the tasty food, there will be a professional photographer on-site to capture the magical moments with Santa. Families can choose to purchase these memorable photos, or they are welcome to take their own pictures to cherish the day. This event is a wonderful opportunity for children and adults alike to enjoy a festive morning filled with joy and holiday spirit.
Tickets for this delightful breakfast are priced at just $10 per person, which applies to both children and adults. This makes it an affordable outing for families looking to create lasting memories together during the holiday season. Pre-registration is required and can be done online here: https://www.townofhopemills.com/452/Breakfast-with-Santa.
Paws Claus Pet Pics-Dec. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Bring your beloved fur babies to the charming Town Hall Gazebo, located at 5770 Rockfish Road, for a delightful opportunity to meet Santa Claus on Dec. 7, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. This is a perfect chance to capture a memorable photo of your pets with the jolly big guy himself. Additionally, professional photos will be available for purchase, ensuring you have a beautiful keepsake of this special moment with Santa and your furry friends.
Parade of Lights-Dec. 7 at 5 p.m.
Christmas Parade of Lights will kick off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. This festive event promises to be a delightful experience for all attendees. The parade will follow a route that stretches from Rockfish Elementary School to Hope Mills Middle School. Spectators can look forward to an exciting display featuring a wide variety of floats, colorful parade vehicles, motorcycles, tractors, and even horses, all proudly representing local businesses and organizations. Additionally, there will be several marching bands, adding to the lively atmosphere and festive spirit of the evening.
Santa & Sirens-Dec. 16, 17, 18,19
Parks & Recreation, in partnership with The Hope Mills Fire Department, is excited to announce Santa & Sirens! This festive event will feature Santa Claus himself driving through the lovely Hope Mills town alongside their dedicated firefighters on the evenings of Dec. 16, 17, 18, and 19. To ensure everyone can join in the holiday cheer, please refer to the maps for the pre-selected routes that Santa will be taking. See map here: https://tinyurl.com/2t7pjmtw. If your home is not located directly on one of these routes but you still wish to catch a glimpse of Santa, they encourage you to hop in your vehicle and make your way to the nearest route.
Santa will depart from the fire station promptly at 6 p.m. each evening, and his team will do their best to complete each route by 8 p.m. Be sure to listen for the cheerful sound of the sirens, as they will signal when Santa is on his way to spread joy and holiday spirit throughout the community!
Letters from Santa: Now thru – Sunday, Dec. 8
The Hope Mills Parks & Recreation team has special connections. They're in touch with the big guy himself: Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, St. Nick. They want to make sure your child's letter reaches the North Pole and gets Santa's attention. Even better, they'll ensure Santa writes back! Santa's replies will be sent out the week of Dec. 8.
Visit Hope Mills Parks & Recreation and drop your child's letter to Santa in the Red Drop Box outside the Recreation Center. Don't forget to include your return address so Santa can respond. The mailbox will be available now until Sunday, Dec. 8.
Parents must sign up online, and children must put their Santa letters in the Red Dropbox outside the Hope Mills Recreation Center by Dec. 8 at the latest. Sign up online here: https://tinyurl.com/4cc8zjyk
More information for any of the above events can be found at the Town of Hope Mills Parks & Recreation website here: https://www.townofhopemills.com/350/Christmas-in-Hope-Mills

It’s almost the most wonderful time of the year, and the signs are everywhere: wreaths hanging from the light poles, garlands popping up in shops and the mall, and the events spreading the holiday cheer are filling the calendar.
The Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual free Hometown Christmas event on Friday, Dec. 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Main Street in the town of Raeford. Kicking off the event is the Christmas Tree lighting at 5:30 p.m., followed by a street fair, visits with Santa, food and entertainment.
In years past the event has drawn 50-60 vendors to line Main Street with all kinds of holiday and season “swag.” Providing delicious goodies this year are C-Que, Goo-Ma & Yopa’s Kitchen, Toy’s Tastie Thai and Peace A Pizza. Chamber members Kayla Renee Cakes, Home Food Market, Raeford Hardware, Stewart’s Tavern, and The Weknd Warrior will be set up and ready to serve the public during the event. There will be an entertainment stage at Hoke Public County Library with various entertainers including school bands and choirs, performing from 5:30 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.
There is still time to sign up to be a vendor. If you are a member of the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce vendor setup is free. Adding a little friendly competition and festive fun is the addition of the Storefront Decorating Contest.
Stephanie Hendrix, Executive Director at the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce since April 2023 is excited about helping bring this local tradition to life this year and seeing the families enjoy the hard work that has gone into putting this event together.
“They say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life — and that’s absolutely true. It is a pleasure to get to work every morning and be able to put a spotlight on the businesses and events Raeford and Hoke County have to offer … The Raeford Hoke Chamber started the annual Hometown Christmas in 2015 as a way to give back to the community. The vendors on Main Street will be giving out information about their business as well as Christmas goodies (think hot chocolate, popcorn, reindeer antlers, etc.) from the Chamber building all the way down to the Hoke County Library. Mr. & Mrs. Claus will be available at City Hall for all the good boys and girls of Hoke County. We will also have a trackless train, hay rides, kids’ corner, and Christmas music filling the street,” Hendrix said.
This year is set to be an amazing one thanks to the work of the chamber and its members.
The chamber is constantly growing as the area is seeing an increase in development and investment. Hendrix said there are several benefits to joining the chamber.
“Joining the Chamber of Commerce is the best and most affordable way to receive support, marketing, and resources for your business,” she said.
For those interested in joining the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce and learning about the benefits of membership contact Stephanie Hendrix at info@rhchamber.com.

(Photo: The Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce's Hometown Christmas event will feature a train that drives around Main Street. Photo courtesy of Craig Knapp, Flickr)

Get ready to be amazed as you step into a winter wonderland at Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s Holiday Lights in the Garden presented by Cape Fear Valley Health System. This year promises to be bigger, brighter, and more spectacular than ever. This delightful event will run from Dec. 6 to 22.
This immersive, walk-through experience features thousands of twinkling lights and dazzling displays that will transport you into the heart of the holiday season. From the moment you enter, you’ll be surrounded by festive decorations and sparkling lights, creating a magical atmosphere perfect for celebrating with family and friends.
Meet Santa and The Grinch
No holiday event would be complete without a visit from Santa, and at Holiday Lights in the Garden, you’ll also get the chance to meet The Grinch! Capture festive photos, enjoy some mischievous fun, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Whether you’re on Santa’s nice list or The Grinch’s naughty list, this is the perfect opportunity to add some extra magic to your holiday season.
Interactive Displays and Animations
One of the highlights of Holiday Lights in the Garden is the array of interactive light displays and animations. These captivating features bring the garden to life, offering a unique and engaging experience for visitors of all ages. As you stroll through the garden, you’ll encounter animated scenes and interactive elements that make this event truly special and unforgettable.
Soak in the delightful sounds of joyful holiday music that fills the air, creating a festive atmosphere as you leisurely stroll through the dazzling lights that illuminate the surroundings, enhancing the holiday spirit.
Capture Cherished Memories
Holiday Lights in the Garden offers numerous special photo spots designed to help you capture the perfect holiday memories. Whether you’re looking to snap a picture for your family holiday card or simply want a keepsake from your visit, these photo spots provide the ideal backdrop.
Don’t forget to bring your camera and take advantage of these picturesque locations to create lasting memories with your loved ones.
Delicious Treats and Unique Gifts
As you explore the holiday lights, take a moment to indulge in some delicious seasonal treats and drinks. From hot cocoa to festive snacks, there’s something to satisfy every craving.
Additionally, be sure to visit the Vendor Market, where you can shop for unique holiday gifts. With a variety of vendors offering one-of-a-kind items, you’re sure to find the perfect presents for everyone on your list.
Tickets and Pricing
Tickets run between $4.52 to $15.82. Tickets can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/4e9usczc. Ticket prices vary depending on the day and time that you choose for the event. You will be able to review all the available options before purchasing your tickets.
Your timed entry slot helps control the wait for parking and entry. Once you have entered the Garden you may stay as long as you like.
Note that tickets for this event often sell out. Walk-up tickets may not be available so pre-purchase tickets to guarantee your spot.
Start a new family tradition or celebrate the holiday spirit with friends by kicking off your holiday celebrations at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden at 536 N. Eastern Blvd. in Fayetteville.

A former custodian at Cumberland County Schools is suing the Cumberland County Board of Education for unlawful employment discrimination, claiming he was fired after not being able to obtain a commercial driver’s license because of his disability.
James Weathers filed a civil lawsuit against the school board on Oct. 31 seeking damages, attorney’s fees “and further relief as the Court deems just and proper” for his termination, which he alleges was a result of his disability. Weathers is a disabled veteran whose medical conditions — including tinnitus, glaucoma and high blood pressure — prevented him from attaining a commercial driver’s license, or CDL, according to the lawsuit.
“[These] conditions substantially limit Weathers’s ability to see and hear, as well as the functioning of his circulatory system,” the complaint states.
Lindsay Whitley, CCS associate superintendent of communications and community engagement, told CityView that the school district implemented a policy change in 2013 requiring certain classified employees to obtain a CDL to be able to drive school buses. The policy change aligned with updated federal regulations requiring that all bus drivers hold a CDL, and was enabled by a 2012 edict by the district superintendent that established the CDL requirement for classified employees with dual roles, Whitley said.
In his complaint, Weathers argues that the school board’s policy violates the Americans with Disabilities Act, as not all employees may be eligible to receive CDLs because of certain disabilities.
“The Board’s policy disproportionately excludes qualified individuals with a disability from employment,” the complaint states.
Case history
The lawsuit states that Weathers was initially hired as a custodian at Westover High School in June 2019, and while employed there “had no performance issues and was rated highly on his regular evaluations.”
Whitley, speaking on behalf of CCS, confirmed Weathers was hired in June 2019, and said his “primary assignment was as a custodian with a secondary bus driving responsibility.”
Whitley said employees are informed of the CDL requirement at their start day and must sign a written acknowledgement of the requirement.
Weathers alleges in the complaint that he was informed in October 2021, nearly two and a half years after he was hired in his role as a custodian, that “he must get a commercial driver’s license (‘CDL’) and learn to drive a school bus, or he would be fired.”
The incident described in the complaint would have coincided with CCS’s school bus driver shortage that peaked in 2021, when the district’s school bus drivers protested for better pay and staged a walk-out.
Weathers claims that the board allowed him to continue working through the end of the 2021–2022 school year, but informed him he would be fired “after the school year ended because he could not get a CDL.”
Weathers’ position was terminated in June 2022 at the end of the school year, according to the complaint. CCS also confirmed Weathers was employed by the school district until June 2022.
CCS did not answer queries as to whether Weathers was fired for the reasons stated in the complaint, but acknowledged employees have been let go in the past because they did not obtain CDLs. Whitley told CityView that CCS employees are given the option to apply to other district jobs when this happens.
“Classified CCS employees who did not meet the CDL requirements necessary for serving as a school bus driver have been separated from employment, with the option to re-apply for other positions with CCS that do not require eligibility to serve as a driver,” Whitley said in an email to CityView.
A CDL is more challenging to obtain than a regular driver’s license, in part because it requires meeting extensive physical health standards, including for vision, hearing and blood pressure. CCS on its website notes that school bus drivers must also pass a DOT physical examination.
In the complaint, Weathers’ attorney argues “the circumstances of Weathers’s discharge raise a reasonable inference of unlawful discrimination” because he was ineligible to obtain a CDL as a result of his disabilities.
What’s next
On Nov. 4, the case was selected for mediation, according to court documents. Mediation is a process by which parties in a legal dispute attempt to resolve the conflict without a formal trial.
Board of Education Chair Deanna Jones declined to comment on the pending litigation and referred CityView’s inquiries to the school board’s attorney and to Whitley. Whitley did not directly address questions about the ongoing litigation, such as if the Board of Education’s plans to challenge this litigation or if the board anticipates it will get resolved in mediation.
“The lawsuit was just served yesterday, and we are still reviewing the allegations,” Whitley said in an email to CityView on Wednesday. “However, it is our normal practice not to comment on pending litigation.”

(File Photo)

It was a hot August morning when content creators Preston Griffin and his friend Sam Reid started their walk across Fayetteville. Griffin, the Fayetteville resident, was a guide in a video on Reid’s YouTube channel titled, “I Walked Across America’s Least Walkable City.”
Even after living in Fayetteville on and off for 16 years and trying to navigate it as a pedestrian as a teen, the almost nine-hour and over 16.5-mile journey for the YouTube video took Griffin by surprise.
“I was just taken back by the actual, real-life lived experience,” Griffin told CityView. “It is actually pretty mind-blowing to see the way that our city is set up and the way that it’s not pedestrian-friendly by any means.”
The City of Fayetteville has been trying to improve its lacking pedestrian infrastructure for over two decades. Residents like Griffin and a local urbanism advocacy organization hope their voices will speed up the city’s efforts to lose its title as the least walkable city in America.
Fayetteville’s title comes from Walk Score, a subsidiary of real estate company Redfin. Walk Score awards a given address, neighborhood or city a score out of 100 based on the number of walking routes to amenities like grocery stores, post offices and other errands. The higher the score, the more walkable the particular location.
The website gave Fayetteville a score of 21, dubbing it a “car-dependent city” where almost all errands require a car. Fayetteville ties as America’s least walkable city with Chesapeake, Virginia. However, Fayetteville has worse transit and bike scores and North Carolina had the worst average Walk Score of any state, Reid said in the video. Reid said he used both metrics as the tiebreaker.
Blisters, sunburns and a gallon of milk
From the start of the walk across Fayetteville, Griffin and Reid were without sidewalks. They walked inches from cars in grass and sand along 35 or more mile-per-hour roads. They got stuck in a small median while trying to cross Owen Drive and sprinted across other intersections to avoid oncoming traffic. They walked under the blazing summer sun the entire day, forgetting to reapply sunscreen and drink anything other than the milk they picked up as part of the video’s several challenges.
Griffin said the experience made him trace many of his bad pedestrian habits to growing up in Fayetteville. Even in a pedestrian paradise like New York City, the second most walkable city in the country according to Walk Score, Griffin said he jaywalks by default. He said it’s because he isn’t used to seeking out pedestrian infrastructure.
Fayetteville saw 80 pedestrian crashes across the city in 2023, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Non-Motorist Crash Dashboard.
“It almost feels normal in some ways, in the context of Fayetteville, to have to navigate some of the strange versions, or maybe even limited versions of pedestrian infrastructure that does exist and just kind of hoping that it does the job,” Griffin said.
Decades of pedestrian infrastructure planning
The City of Fayetteville has long tried to update its pedestrian infrastructure, with its first pedestrian infrastructure plan dating back to 2002. Among other recommendations, the 2002 plan included trails and sidewalks along roads like Honeycutt Road and Ramsey Street.
Seven subsequent plans, and the pedestrian infrastructure projects they created, followed before the city published its first Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan in 2018. The plan outlined several improvements, including adding sidewalks to the intersection of Raeford Road and McPherson Church Road.
The Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan is updated every five years. With most of the original plan’s long-term projects almost completed, the city has been collecting public input to inform its first update. The first round of feedback was in August and the second will be sometime in December, said Virginia Small, transportation planner for the City of Fayetteville. She said the final plan should be ready for presentation to the Fayetteville City Council by spring 2025.
The plan helps the city prioritize funding the projects residents want, explained John McNeill, the city’s senior project manager for traffic. While the city has found the money for its current slate of projects from city bonds and federal grants, McNeill said funding is the number one limiting factor. One foot of sidewalk can run the city anywhere from $50 to $100, he estimated. Projects on older streets can get expensive quickly since the city must tear up old infrastructure before shifting its placement and rebuilding it.
“There’s so much need,” McNeill said. “You can’t get enough funding to do it all at one time.”
Much of the need for sidewalks comes from territory annexed into the city in the “Big Bang” annexation of 2005. The annexation included areas in now-western Fayetteville that were built without sidewalks, explained McNeill. He believes that is likely one of the major reasons Walk Score ranked the city last for walkability.
The city’s “sidewalks-to-nowhere,” something Griffin and Reid ran across in their journey across the city, also play into the poor Walk Score. Gaps in sidewalks stem from development requirements, said Small.
Per city ordinances, sidewalks are required for all new development on public-facing streets except for agricultural and certain residential areas, along certain NCDOT roads and a handful of other places. However, Small said, there is no requirement for developers to build sidewalks that connect to the next one or the next major roadway.
“That’s why you may see sometimes there’s a gap,” Small said. “But that is also identified through our plan and through other projects that we have with the city.” Past city sidewalk gap-filling projects include intersections at Owen Drive and Melrose Road, Bonanza Drive and Santa Fe Drive and Skibo Road and Morganton Road.
Pedestrian infrastructure projects like these take years. Small expects to be long retired before any projects from the updated Pedestrian Plan are completed.
A newcomer’s push for walkability
Ben Hultquist, the founding member of Strong Towns Fayetteville, wants to keep the city and residents’ focus on walkability. Strong Towns is a non-profit organization advocating for more urban and pedestrian-friendly development. Hultquist and the Fayetteville chapter are pushing for denser construction, more sidewalks and bike lanes and slower roads throughout the city.
Hultquist, a brigade senior human resources noncommissioned officer with the Army, moved from Korea to Fayetteville four months ago. He founded the local Strong Towns chapter in October. He said he instantly saw the need for more pedestrian infrastructure the first day he arrived in Fayetteville. That day, he struggled to navigate roads with no crosswalks on his walk from the FAST Transit Center to his hotel. As a biker in Fayetteville, he said he is frequently yelled at by motorists as they pass inches from his handlebars.
“I was looking for some kind of advocacy organization to get involved to try to make this a more pleasant place, safe place for everybody, certainly myself included,” Hultquist said. “I couldn’t find any of those organizations, so I decided to start one.”
While Hulquist is often a pedestrian by choice, almost 6% of residents get to work by walking according to the county’s 2021–22 Community Health Needs Assessment. Six and a half percent of residents don’t have access to a car, according to 2017 data from the North Carolina Institute of Medicine.
Hultquist said he knows the pedestrian infrastructure that he and Strong Towns Fayetteville are pushing for — connections to grocery stores and neighborhoods, for example — won’t emerge overnight. But he is excited by what the City of Fayetteville is planning.
“They’re saying a lot of the right words, kind of moving in the right direction,” Hultquist said. “I think they just need a little bit more support from the residents.”
For Griffin, the experience he had in Reid’s YouTube video ignited a fire in him to improve Fayetteville’s pedestrian infrastructure.
A date for the next public feedback session on Fayetteville’s updated Pedestrian Plan has yet to be decided but more information will be announced once details are finalized, said Small. She said the session will be held at the FAST Transit Center.

UCW Editor's Note: This article has been edited for space. To read the full article, visit https://bit.ly/48OjjnY

Once upon a time, there was a tribe of superior people called the Greatest Generation. They kept themselves busy surviving the Great Depression and winning World War II.
When they weren’t otherwise engaged, they also generated Baby Boomers. The Greatest Generation has mostly gone to the Other Side. In their wake, they left a large cohort of aging Baby Boomers. Boomers began in 1946 right after World War II ended. The guys came home from the War and got busy with the gals. They created Boomers until 1964 when production ceased
Baby Boomers are easily identified as most are now free-range retirees. They appear in coffee shops resolving world issues and arguing over why NIL money and the Transfer Portal are spoiling college sports. Their hearing is impaired through long-term exposure to the calendar, loud rock music, and the Viet Nam war. They frequently receive funds from an obsolete concept known as a pension.
Male Boomers can be identified by the large trucks they drive, short pants with their belts up under their armpits, and memories of Grace Slick as a major babe. Female Boomers can be distinguished by annual shrinking in height, shopping at Outlet Malls, and enormous collections of shoes that procreate in their closets.
I am allowed to make fun of Baby Boomers because I am one. Being a retired Boomer is like the childhood period before school age.
It took me about 15 seconds to get used to it. You get to take naps. Play with your friends. Argue over which baseball team is best. Have ice cream when you want it. Retirement can create a sense of freedom like what the 43 escaped monkeys must be feeling who escaped the research facility in South Carolina.
Freed Rhesus monkeys got nothing on retired Boomers. Run Rhesus Run!
A recent fact-finding trip to Washington DC with another Boomer couple provided museums, sights seen, and dazzling costs of everything in the big city.
The National Zoo allowed us to almost see the new Pandas Bao LI and Qing Bao. Unfortunately, they are currently in quarantine. The National Zoo is free. However, it costs $30 to park your car.
The National Museum of American History has an exhibit called Entertainment Nation which produced an unsettling realization.
Boomers are now officially ancient history like the Aztecs. There is a display of toys Boomers played with in the 1950s. The objects are labeled like Medieval artifacts. Our toys are treated as relics from a distant forgotten past.
Like a 1950s Rosetta Stone, the curators try to understand how the childhood of Boomers led to America today. As Rod Stewart sang while gyrating in tight spandex pants: “Every picture tells a story/ Don’t it?” The picture which appears with this column makes one major point- Baby Boomers are an endangered species who are on their way out the door.
Kindly marvel at things that amused us mid-20th century before going back to Doom Scrolling on your Smart Phone.
In the display case, we see Howdy Doody suspended above the Howdy Doody TV Game box which shows Howdy, Clarabell the Clown, and a curious creature called Flub-A-Dub.
Mr. Dub deserves a thorough examination. He was a biological freak made up of 1950s genetic engineering gone horribly wrong, but in a cute way that appealed to kids.
Mix DNA from a duck-billed platypus, a giraffe’s neck, and a dachshund’s body, you get Mr. Dub whose favorite food was spaghetti. Next are the actual hat and coat of Captain Kangaroo, the Lord Mayor of the TV Treasure House.
He held court with Mr. Green Jeans, Mr. Moose master dumper of ping pong balls, Bunny Rabbit who tricked his way into carrots, and Grandfather Clock who kept falling asleep. The Captain’s best character was the startlingly weird Banana Man.
The Banana Man dressed like a hobo (Note: Back then they were called Hobos, prior to becoming called Homeless). The Banana Man wore a giant coat with enormous pockets from which he would pull huge bunches of bananas. When he pulled out the bananas he would intone in a very high voice: “OOOOH, BANANAS.” He was always surprised by the bananas. This was the height of humor for mid-century 6-year-olds. It remains pretty funny today.
The freak show that was the Boomers’ childhoods is completed with the mandatory set of Mickey Mouse ears and lunch box. Cookie Monster and his cookie appear. Mary Poppin’s headless dress rises over a framed picture of Bugs Bunny.
Who were the Baby Boomers? No one knows. They had goofy toys. Soon they will be dust in the wind. Their toys will remain as objects of curiosity from a bygone time.

(Photo: The National Museum of American History has an exhibit called Entertainment Nation, which holds artifacts from Baby Boomers' childhoods. Photo by Pitt Dickey)