Entertainment

“Light Up the City” returns

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Tuesday, 02 December 2025

Written by Jamie Bishop

Downtown Fayetteville is preparing to welcome one of its most festive community traditions as “Light Up the City” returns this December, inviting residents and visitors to take an evening walking tour through the Cool Spring Downtown District. The annual event encourages local businesses to decorate their storefronts with holiday lights, themed displays, and imaginative décor, transforming the district into a glowing holiday corridor.
Hosted by the Cool Spring Downtown District, the initiative began as a creative way to connect families with the businesses that line Hay Street, Person Street, and the surrounding blocks. What started as a simple decorating effort has grown into a full holiday experience, with shops, restaurants and small boutiques using their windows as canvases for seasonal storytelling. Many businesses spend weeks planning their displays, treating the event as both a celebration and a chance to highlight the character of downtown.
The walking tour format is intentional. Instead of driving past homes or viewing lights from a distance, “Light Up the City” encourages people to slow down, explore on foot, and rediscover the district at an unhurried pace. Streets remain open, but the focus is on strolling, grabbing cocoa from a café, browsing local shelves for holiday gifts, or pausing to take photos in front of the most creative displays.
This year’s decorations are expected to range from traditional winter scenes to bold, modern interpretations. Some shops typically lean into classic pine-and-lights themes, while others incorporate unexpected color palettes, animated displays or playful elements designed to surprise passersby. Over the past few years, families have made the walk a seasonal tradition, returning annually to see how the storefronts change and which businesses push the boundaries of creativity.
“Light Up the City” not only adds holiday charm to the district but also provides a boost to local commerce during a critical shopping season. Small businesses often rely on increased December foot traffic, and the walking trail steers residents directly past shops they may not normally notice. Many storeowners extend their hours, offer warm drinks, or provide small discounts to encourage browsing. Restaurants and bakeries often see an uptick in evening diners who pair the holiday stroll with dinner or dessert.
For Fayetteville residents, the event carries a sense of local pride. It positions the downtown area as a place where tradition and creativity intersect and where businesses and residents take part in building a shared holiday atmosphere. The district’s walkable sidewalks, historic buildings and open gathering spaces serve as a natural backdrop for a winter light trail. A community voting part also adds an element of friendly competition. Walkers can select their favorite storefront, and the business with the most votes receives a community choice recognition in the new year. While the award is lighthearted, the excitement around the displays often motivates businesses to elevate their designs each season.
Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes, as the tour stretches across multiple blocks. Parking is available throughout downtown, though many families choose to make an evening of the event by arriving early for dinner or staying late for treats. As crowds wander through the lights, the atmosphere becomes almost nostalgic: holiday music drifting from shop doors, children pointing out animated window scenes and couples pausing for photos beside decorated trees.
“A stroll through downtown during 'Light Up the City' feels like watching Fayetteville shine from the inside out one storefront at a time,” – Jamie Bishop
For a city rooted in community, creativity, and seasonal tradition, “Light Up the City” remains one of Fayetteville’s most cherished ways to welcome winter.

Pearce’s Mill Fire Department to host Breakfast with Santa as community holiday tradition returns

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Tuesday, 02 December 2025

Written by Jamie Bishop

Holiday cheer will fill the truck bay of the Pearce’s Mill Fire Department as firefighters prepare to host their annual “Breakfast with Santa,” a family-centered event that has grown into one of the department’s most beloved traditions. The celebration will take place Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the station at 168 Dedication Drive, offering families a cozy and festive start to the holiday season.
Each year, the volunteer fire station undergoes a transformation as crews clear the trucks, set up long tables, and decorate the bay with garland, lights, and holiday colors. The normally utilitarian space known more for turnout gear and emergency radios turns into a warm gathering hall where neighbors share breakfast surrounded by the engines that serve their community.
The event centers on a hot, homemade breakfast prepared by department volunteers and members of the Pearce’s Mill Ladies Auxiliary. Pancakes, sausage, fruit, juice, and coffee are served family-style, with firefighters moving from table to table to offer refills and greeting guests. The setup is intentionally simple, mirroring a church or community breakfast rather than a commercial holiday program. Organizers say this down-to-earth approach is part of what makes the event feel personal and memorable for the families who attend.
As children finish their plates, anticipation builds for the arrival of Santa Claus. His entrance, often announced by the sound of a fire truck easing into the station, is a highlight of the morning. Children line up for photos, some clutching their wish lists or wearing matching pajamas, while parents snap pictures and enjoy the relaxed pace. Unlike the bustling environment of shopping malls or larger holiday events, Santa’s visit to the firehouse gives families time to slow down and enjoy the moment.
In addition to meeting Santa, children are invited to explore parts of the fire station under the supervision of firefighters. Kids look inside the fire trucks, try on firefighter helmets, and listen as volunteers explain how equipment is used during emergencies. These moments often spark wide-eyed excitement as children sit behind the wheel of an engine or stand next to tools they’ve only seen in books or movies. Parents frequently use the experience to teach children about safety and to introduce the people who protect their community.
The event also serves as an opportunity for the fire department to strengthen its relationship with residents. As a volunteer department, Pearce’s Mill relies on community support, and events like this help build familiarity and trust. Families who attend year after year often greet the firefighters by name, and the station becomes a place associated with celebration rather than just emergencies. Tickets are $10, plus a small processing fee, with proceeds supporting the Ladies Auxiliary and the department’s community outreach efforts. Organizers recommend that families arrive early, as seating fills quickly, and parking around the station is limited. Many families choose tables closest to the trucks, hoping to be first in line when Santa appears.
For Pearce’s Mill, “Breakfast with Santa” has become a seasonal favorite that highlights the spirit of community in southern Cumberland County. It offers a simple mix of warm food, holiday decorations, and neighborly fellowship, an approach that resonates with families looking for tradition without the rush and commercial pressure of the season.
Whether children arrive bundled in coats, wearing holiday sweaters, or still in their morning pajamas, the fire department welcomes everyone for a morning designed to bring people together. With the glow of Christmas lights reflecting off red fire engines and the hum of friendly conversation filling the bay, the event captures what many consider the heart of the holidays: connection, gratitude, and the joy of sharing the season with others.
For more information, visit their website at https://facebook.com/events/s/breakfast-with-santa-at-the-fi/3271315913020022/ or Pierce’s Mill Fire Department, 168 Dedication Dr, Fayetteville.

Dirtbag Ales presents Creepy Little Christmas Market

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Tuesday, 02 December 2025

Written by Tara Kamiya

Holiday shoppers looking for something a little darker than sugarplums and tinsel will find their match at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom this season, when the Creepy Little Christmas Market transforms the popular brewery into a crossroads of the strange and the festive.
Hosted by Dirtbag Farmers Market and Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom on Dec. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 5435 Corporation Drive in Hope Mills, the three-hour public event invites guests to “dare to deck the halls” with a twist. The market blends traditional seasonal cheer with eerie antiques, mystical curiosities and offbeat art, catering to those who prefer their Christmas spirit with a hint of the macabre.
Rather than rows of conventional holiday décor, visitors can expect vendors offering oddities, dark art, handmade curios and unusual gifts aimed at “the peculiar people” in their lives. From gothic ornaments and spooky home goods to arcane-inspired jewelry and collectibles, the event is designed for fans of the unusual, the occult aesthetic and the delightfully off-center side of the holidays.
In keeping with the laid-back community-focused atmosphere Dirtbag Ales is known for, the market is more than just a shopping experience. Attendees can enjoy live music while browsing the vendor booths, then step outside to visit a featured food truck for dinner or snacks. Families, groups of friends and craft beer fans are encouraged to linger, socialize and take in the offbeat holiday ambiance with a drink in hand.
One of the signature attractions of the evening will be the appearance of Krampus, the folklore figure often described as the dark counterpart to Saint Nicholas. Starting at 7 p.m., guests can pose for photos with the horned, hooved holiday creature, creating a keepsake that is more chilling than cherubic. Organizers say costumes are encouraged, and even “brave kids” are welcome to join the fun, making the photo opportunity a focal point of the night’s entertainment.
The Creepy Little Christmas Market also builds on the ongoing success of the Dirtbag Ales Brewery Farmer’s Market, which regularly highlights locally grown produce and artisan-made goods from around the Sandhills. On typical market days, visitors find everything from fresh vegetables to homemade jellies, jams and baked items in an open-air setting next to the brewery. Families can shop, listen to live music, let children play on the on-site playground and relax with a locally brewed beer.
That commitment to local producers and makers is central to the Creepy Little Christmas Market. The event is part of a broader collaboration between Dirtbag Ales and area farmers and artisans, who work together to showcase some of the region’s most distinctive products.
Organizers emphasize that the market is meant to be welcoming for the “whole crew,” including families, friends and four-legged companions, while also promoting an environmentally conscious, community-centered way to shop for the holidays.
The brewery itself has its roots in experimentation and camaraderie, a fitting backdrop for such an unconventional holiday gathering. The Dirtbag Ales story began when one of the founders, Tito, was serving in the U.S. Army and traded the promise of free beer for life in exchange for a friend’s homebrew kit. What began as late-night stove-top batches evolved into a homemade all-grain brewing system in a garage, and eventually into the full-fledged brewery and taproom that stands in Hope Mills today.
Those early days marked by trial and error, shared pints and a growing passion for craft beer, helped shape the laid-back, adventurous culture Dirtbag Ales is known for. The Creepy Little Christmas Market reflects that same spirit: a willingness to experiment, to give space to creative vendors and to offer the community an experience they are unlikely to find at a traditional mall or big box store.
Whether attendees have been naughty or nice, organizers say there will be something to discover, from stocking stuffers with a sinister spin to original, one-of-a-kind art pieces that challenge the usual red and green holiday color palette. With music, food, locally brewed beer and a looming Krampus ready for photos, the Creepy Little Christmas Market aims to prove that holiday magic can be equal parts merry and mysterious.

Winter serenades: Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra showcases Fayetteville’s young musicians

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Tuesday, 02 December 2025

Written by Sheila D. Barker

This December, musicians from across the region will gather onstage for one of the most anticipated youth arts events of the season—the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Winter Concert, presented Sunday, Dec. 14, at 4 p.m. inside Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University, 140 Robert Johnson Dr.
The performance will showcase the remarkable talent and dedication of young musicians across five ensembles: the FSYO String Orchestra, FSYO Concert Band, FSYO Chamber Strings, FSYO Cello Choir, and the String Sinfonietta. More than just an afternoon of inspiring music, this concert is a celebration of growth, artistry, and the power of youth in the arts.
Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door.
For students, families, and lovers of live classical music, this concert offers a unique glimpse into the heart of the Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra —a program designed to enrich music education and provide young musicians with opportunities to share their artistry with the community. Unlike a single orchestra, FSYO is comprised of five ensemble groups, each tailored to different age groups, instruments, and experience levels. Through weekly rehearsals, sectional work, guest instruction, and live performance opportunities, students develop not only in musicianship but also in leadership, discipline, and collaborative artistry.
Participating in FSYO extends a musician’s training far beyond private lessons or school ensembles. Students learn to perform as members of a team, listening, blending, supporting one another, and rising to musical challenges together. With rehearsals held weekly for each ensemble, students refine their technique, deepen their musical interpretation, and gain valuable experience in preparation for public concerts such as this winter's performance.
The Winter Concert highlights each ensemble’s unique sound, from the soaring harmonies of the String Orchestra to the bold vibrance of the Concert Band. Chamber Strings will bring intricate, expressive repertoire to the evening, while the Cello Choir offers a rare opportunity to hear the rich, warm timbre of an all-cello ensemble. Rounding out the lineup, the String Sinfonietta—designed for younger and developing musicians—will show how FSYO cultivates talent from an early stage, preparing students to advance into the more challenging ensembles over time.
These ensembles are guided by an exceptional roster of artistic leaders. Youth Orchestra director Miss Kristin Stiteler, a lifelong educator and accomplished performer, brings more than 26 years of experience teaching orchestra and band. Her musical background spans violin, jazz saxophone, mandolin, and more—expertise she brings directly to the next generation of musicians.
Alongside her is Dr. Daniel McCloud, Youth Band director—an active conductor, percussionist, composer, and educator. His work with FSYO extends beyond directing the Concert Band; he also assists with the organization’s flagship orchestra and composes for ensembles nationwide. His passion for musicianship and performance strengthens the program’s foundations in technique, ensemble playing, and musical excellence.
Also central to the FSYO experience are Mrs. Laurel Wachtler, director of String Sinfonietta, and Mrs. Barbara Shipp, director of the Cello Choir. Both musicians bring decades of professional performance and teaching experience to the program, along with a shared commitment to nurturing young string players. Their mentorship helps early musicians grow into confident, capable performers ready to advance into higher-level ensembles such as Chamber Strings and Youth Orchestra.
With this concert marking the culmination of a semester’s work, FSYO is now preparing to welcome new musicians. Registration for Spring 2026 is open, with auditions scheduled for January 11 and 15, 2026. Students aged 7–21 are invited to audition for placement, and tuition covers participation in all ensembles a student qualifies for. Financial aid is available for those in need, affirming FSYO’s mission to make music education accessible to all. For more information on the FSYO’s program and the auditions for the new season, visit https://www.fayettevillesymphony.org/youth-orchestra/.
On Dec. 14, audiences will witness not only a performance but the remarkable journey of young artists learning, striving, and creating something beautiful together. Join the community in celebrating their achievements as the Youth Orchestra’s Winter Concert fills the hall with holiday warmth, passion, and symphonic sound.

(Photos courtesy of Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra)