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Tuesday, 06 October 2026
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Written by Jamie Bishop
On Oct. 10, vehicles at LaFayette Ford will become storybook scenes, candy stations and evidence that friendly competition can bring a community together.
LaFayette Ford will host its sixth annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 5202 Raeford Road. The free, rain-or-shine celebration will feature Truck or Treat, children's games and prizes, complimentary face painting, food trucks, first responders, vendors and nonprofit organizations. Costumes are welcome, and free parking will be available onsite.
The festival began in 2021 as Truck Day, during a season when the COVID-19 pandemic had canceled many events the dealership normally sponsored. Addison Fisher Cummings, LaFayette Ford's associate marketing director, said the staff missed interacting with the people and organizations beyond the dealership's doors.
The dealership had something many groups needed: outdoor space. LaFayette Ford invited nonprofits, first responders and food trucks to the lot, creating a place for residents to reconnect while supporting local work.
“We wanted to create a space for local nonprofits to share the good they are doing in our community, a space for local vendors to promote their businesses, and give back to the community through a food drive,” Cummings said. “All things we felt the community really needed during that uncertain time.”
As families and organizations returned, Truck Day grew into a broader fall celebration for employees, customers and neighbors.
Her grandfather, former LaFayette Ford owner Don Price, established the values behind the event before his death last year.
“Our family and community are the heart of our business,” she said. “I'm so glad that he got to experience the growth of our Fall Festival event before he passed. I know it would make him proud that we continue to carry his legacy on through this event.”
LaFayette Ford's Sales, Service, Parts and Business Office teams transform vehicles around secret themes and compete for bragging rights. Past displays included “Alice in Wonderland,” “Barbie” and a Candyland truck that made the Business Office a first-year contender.
Q98 will judge the entries for creativity and execution, with bonus consideration for employees who dress in character. The winning department will receive a catered lunch later in the month.
“The thing I love most about our dealership is that everyone who works there becomes part of a big family,” Cummings said. “And what family doesn't love a bit of friendly competition?”
The event's deeper competition is against hunger. Guests are encouraged to bring canned food for the Armed Services YMCA at Fort Bragg. The first 250 guests who donate a can will receive a complimentary lunch plate from one of the onsite food trucks. Each person must be present to receive a lunch ticket.
Cummings said the partnership is personal because many dealership employees are veterans or grew up in military families. The Armed Services YMCA supports military households through its food pantry, thrift store and New Parent Assistance Program. LaFayette Ford has also supported the organization's Month of the Military Child Kids' Bash and held a donation drive for its Baby Bundles program. This collection will help stock the pantry before the holidays.
Festival food options will include Allison's Fast Food, serving Latin American favorites; Harmon's Deutsche Küche, offering German cuisine; and Cornbread Kitchen & Smokehouse, serving Southern barbecue. Fancy Faces will provide free face painting, while Q98 supplies music.
Participants include Toys for Tots, Fayetteville Breast Cancer Center, Team Rubicon, Cumberland County Animal Services, Association of Fort Bragg Spouses and The CARE Clinic. A Fayetteville Fire Department truck, artisans and one of LaFayette Ford's mobile service units will also be displayed.
Family-friendly businesses and organizations may request free vendor space by emailing contactus@lafayettefl.com before Oct. 8. Food and face-painting vendors are already filled.
Cummings said success will not be measured only by crowd size. One family helped, or one pound of food collected, would still create a meaningful result. Her favorite moment comes when she steps back and watches returning guests talk, children laugh and donations fill the back of a Transit van.
“Any positive impact we can create in our community, no matter how small, is meaningful,” she said.
For a festival born during a time of distance, that closeness remains the point. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3Twufn9
(Photo: Employees at LaFayette Ford decorate a truck in a Toy Story theme. Photos courtesy of LaFayette Ford)
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Tuesday, 06 October 2026
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Written by Sheila D Barker
A young woman begins her journey as the Fool: inexperienced, curious, and still discovering who she is. Through challenges, uncertainty and moments of joy, she learns to trust herself and grow into her strength, awakening the High Priestess inside. Along the way, she explores self-image, societal expectations, perseverance and finding one’s place in the world.
That transformation provides the storyline for Tarot Card Belly Dance Showcase: The High Priestess Awakens, presented by Republic Belly Dance on Oct. 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the basement of the Arts Council of Fayetteville on 301 Hay Street.
For Republic Belly Dance owner Nita Moran-Fuentes, the evening brings together two personal interests: Tarot and dance. Her inspiration came while watching another dancer’s Tarot-themed showcase. She saw an opportunity to connect the individual cards through a single narrative, much as multiple cards contribute to one reading.
“Since belly dance is so strongly related to womanhood and women feeling empowered within themselves, I wanted the cards to tell the tale of how a woman may start her journey in life and grow into her strength,” Moran-Fuentes said.
A master of ceremonies, portraying a fortune teller, will introduce each performance and explain how its card fits into the maiden’s journey. That narration creates a shared storyline while allowing dancers to develop their own interpretations through movement, music and costume.
Moran-Fuentes carefully selected cards for the production but also welcomed performers’ suggestions. The Sun and Justice were among the cards dancers chose themselves, prompting her to adapt the narration and running order.
“Dancers are artists, and if they are inspired by a certain card, they are more likely to create an amazing performance,” she said.
That creative freedom extends to the visual details. Audiences can expect custom props, including illuminated wands and a scale, alongside costumes and music chosen to reflect each performer’s card.
Most participants practice fusion belly dance, combining traditional belly dance elements with modern music or movement influences. Traditional dancers will also perform, offering a variety of styles within the connected story.
Moran-Fuentes developed the narration and overall visual concept, with support from her troupe and other collaborators. Nikki Flynn contributed ideas informed by her experience in burlesque and theatrical performances. Ayanis of FLD Studios is helping direct decorations, while photographer and set designer Johnni helped refine the decorative vision.
Although the event embraces mystery and mysticism, Moran-Fuentes hopes audiences unfamiliar with Tarot will see its potential as a tool for personal reflection. For her, the cards offer a way to explore feelings and look inward.
The production’s emphasis on intuition carries into its message about confidence. “The storyline of this showcase pushes the narrative to listen to your inner voice instead of listening to what others tell you,” Moran-Fuentes said.
Through teaching dance, she has encountered women who struggle to recognize their own beauty and strength. She hopes the evening encourages them, and anyone watching, to see their potential.
“Everyone has greatness within; they just have to pull it out,” she said. The showcase also offers an opportunity to appreciate belly dance as an expressive art form, with storytelling and individual creativity at its center.
This will be the largest show Moran-Fuentes has hosted. Her previous events have been smaller and more casual, while her experience performing in larger productions, including a Dungeons & Dragons-themed showcase, helped shape her approach to this evening.
Admission is $10, and advance purchase is strongly encouraged. Tickets are available on Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/mrxz9hp6. At the time of the interview, Moran-Fuentes reported approximately 20 seats remaining. Tickets will be available at the door only if the event has not sold out; she said standing-room admission may also be available. Guests should check the Republic Belly Dance Facebook page for ticket information and availability updates at https://www.facebook.com/Fusion4Tribal/#.
Children are welcome and admitted free, but seating is limited. Parents should expect children attending free to sit in their laps; a separate chair requires a purchased seat. Moran-Fuentes describes the show as family-friendly and asks that children remain quiet during performances.
Guests should use the Arts Council’s rear entrance. A nearby parking deck and street parking provide additional parking options. Moran-Fuentes said the venue is wheelchair accessible, with elevator access to the basement. Seating will be close together, and only VIP seats are designated.
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