Entertainment

26 years of A Dickens Holiday in historic downtown

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Tuesday, 18 November 2025

Written by Dr. Shanessa Fenner

Christmas will always be my favorite time of the year. There is something so captivating about watching the Christmas tree lights, my Black Santa figurines and the gas fireplace roaring while Babyface’s Christmas album plays in the background. A lot of us will never outgrow loving Christmas, and this is why A Dickens Holiday, which will take place Friday, Nov. 28, from noon to 9 p.m. in the heart of historic downtown Fayetteville, is so successful.
“A Dickens Holiday is a celebration of the opening of the season of the holidays downtown,” said Elaine Kelley, chair of A Dickens Holiday Committee. “It started out as a traditional thing to try to get people to join us downtown on what is known as Black Friday.”
She added, “It turned into a tradition of holiday shopping, community and fun.”
The day-long Fayetteville tradition includes businesses with seasonal specials, shopping with artisan street vendors, carriage rides, people dressed in Victorian costumes, selling of handmade goods and holiday treats, characters from Charles Dickens’ book, A Christmas Carol, including Ebenezer Scrooge, the ghost of Marley, Tiny Tim, The Cratchit Family, the Queen and her court, holiday music, contests, performers, local kids from dance and theater groups, carolers, specialty events and more.
“You can come at 1 p.m. to the Hay Street United Methodist Church to hear Dr. Elliot Engel, professor, talk about A Christmas Carol and how it transformed to what we know as Christmas today,” said Kelley.
“You can attend A Royal Tea and Tour of the Sandford House, which is the Heritage Square Historical Society’s property, and have a tea with some light things to eat, get a tour of the facilities and take pictures with Queen Victoria.”
The horse-drawn carriage ride is an event favorite, and reservations fill up quickly.
“You pay for the carriage ride that lasts about 15 minutes in downtown Fayetteville," said Kelley. "You can have between 4 to 6 people in your carriage and have a lovely time together.”
With any great event, there is great food.
“There will be hot cocoa, apple cider stops and an area where there will be food trucks,” said Kelley. “In addition to our restaurants that are always going to be open, many of them have specialty items just for A Dickens Holiday.”
Kelley added, “You can get everything from street food to being able to sit down or grab a quick bite all the way through the day and into the evening.”
Step into the Fezziwig Ball at A Dickens Holiday. Come dressed in Victorian attire and enjoy afternoon dance instruction with Jeremy Gershman and the Cape Fear Heritage Dance Club at Volta Space from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and an evening celebration at Skyview on Hay Street from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
There is a gingerbread house contest that will run the entirety of the day, and public voting takes place between noon and 7 p.m. Come dressed in holiday attire or Victorian attire and enter the Photo Contest for Best Dressed. Vendor booths will also be judged for the most festive and creative décor.
“We had lots of Cumberland County Schools that participated, and it was just so much fun to see the creations that students, young adults and professionals had made,” said Kelley. “We will also have Victorian llamas, a magician, a balloon twister and picture opportunities with Father Christmas and the llamas.”
She added, “The gingerbread house contest and the costume contest winners will be announced on the Person Street stage between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.”
The most popular attraction of the event is the Candlelight Procession that will begin at 5 p.m.
Cape Fear Valley Scottish Clans and Cross Creek Pipes & Drums will play and lead the procession. “Thousands of people light candles and we walk down the street to the lighting of the Christmas tree and have a small ceremony,” said Kelley. “It is just a magical moment, and if you have not been there before, you will find that this is the thing that you will remember above all.”
Kelley added, “After that, we are going to have Elves’ Night Off, where Santa’s helpers, who are so tired from working and need some time off, come down and spend the evening enjoying our nightlife. We want to encourage everyone to go to the Segra Stadium and see the Holiday Lights. The evening will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display in Segra Stadium at 9 p.m.”
“This event has had a 26-year run, and we have enjoyed anywhere between 18,000 to 21,000 people through the course of the day,” said Kelley. “We are looking forward to celebrating the holidays in full force, and this year’s event is spread throughout downtown Fayetteville on Hay Street, Franklin Street, Person Street and Maxwell Street.”
The event is free and open to the public; however, there are some special ticketed events that cost an entrance fee. The first 100 patrons will receive exclusive “Dickens Dollars” that can be used that day at participating shops. For more information, visit www.adickensholiday.com or email director@adickensholiday.com.

(Top Photo: The Ghost of Christmas Present makes an appearance in Downtown Fayetteville. Bottom Photo: Marley's Ghost haunts the streets of Fayetteville during A Dickens Holiday. Photos courtesy of A Dickens Holiday)

Comedian Kat Williams brings laughter to Crown

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Tuesday, 11 November 2025

Written by Lena Simmons

“We laugh at our flaws so we can correct them later, or deal with their existence in peace. This is part of the magic of Black Folk’s comedy" —Johnny Silvercloud

Kat Williams’ Heaven and Earth tour will be at the Crown Coliseum on Nov. 14. The location is 1960 Coliseum Drive, Fayetteville. The Comedy show time is 8 p.m. The tickets start at $77.45 and up, according to seating. Tickets are available at Crown Box Office, Fort Bragg Leisure Service, and online at https://bit.ly/3LhkXqG
Humor and comedy serve as a powerful form of resilience by providing emotional relief, reframing demanding situations, and strengthening social connections. It acts as a healthy coping mechanism that allows individuals to navigate and bounce back from stress, trauma, and adversity more effectively.
Shared laughter is a social bond. It is a shared experience of unity, trust, and mutual support. This social connection is a key protective factor for mental health during challenging times, according to the website, Her Serenity.
The Grio describes Katt Williams’s comedy style is a high energy blend of observational humor, incisive social commentary and physical comedy delivered with a distinct, rhythmic cadence and flamboyant stage persona. He infuses sharp, astute commentary. His material covers a wide range of subjects: pop culture, everyday life, politics, and human relationships.
He is known to work off the audience’s response in the moment. He is constantly developing new material and often develops jokes spontaneously in front of large crowds. Mr. Williams employs various impressions and a story-telling format to make his points, reiterating punchlines for maximum effect. Kat Williams’ longevity in the comedy world is impressive. He manages to stay relevant and continues to perform all over the country.
Spend an evening with Katt Williams for a high-energy, physical performance and storytelling tour, Heaven on Earth on Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Crown Box Office, Fort Bragg Leisure Services and online.

"E.T." returns home to Big Screen at the Cameo

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Tuesday, 11 November 2025

Written by Adam Taylor

There are few moments in cinema more unforgettable than a bicycle soaring across the moon. Few melodies more instantly recognizable than those first shimmering notes of John Williams’ score. And few stories that have touched the human spirit quite like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Steven Spielberg’s 1982 masterpiece about a lonely boy, a stranded alien and the unbreakable bond between them.
Now, more than forty years after it first captured the world’s imagination, E.T. returns to the big screen for one special showing at the Cameo Art House Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 4:30 p.m. For longtime fans and new generations alike, it’s a chance to experience the wonder the way it was meant to be seen; in the darkened glow of a movie theater, surrounded by community, where laughter and tears can be shared freely.
The Movie That Sparked a Lifelong Love of Cinema
I still remember the first time I saw E.T. We rented it from our local video store being that I was born long after it had left the theaters. I can’t think of any other movie that made me fall in love with the movies, other than E.T. That spark, ignited in the glow of Spielberg’s storytelling, eventually led me to a lifelong career in film and the arts. I have seen the film at least once on the big screen when it was released in the early 2000s.
A Story That Touched the World
When E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial first premiered in the summer of 1982, few could have predicted its impact. Spielberg, already a household name after Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Raiders of the Lost Ark, crafted something quieter and more intimate. It was a film that looked at science fiction through the eyes of a child.
The story follows Elliott, a ten-year-old boy, played by Henry Thomas in one of the most authentic child performances ever captured on screen. Elliott discovers a small, stranded alien hiding in his family’s backyard shed. Elliott’s loneliness as a result of his parents’ recent separation, mirrors that of E.T., who has been accidentally left behind by his fellow travelers. What begins as a secret friendship soon becomes a journey of trust, courage and love that transcends not only age, but galaxies themselves.
Elliott enlists the help of his siblings. Older brother Michael played by Robert MacNaughton and younger sister Gertie, played by a then-six-year-old Drew Barrymore, help keep E.T. hidden from their mother. Their mother is played by Dee Wallace. The quest to hide him from the faceless government agents determined to capture him becomes most important. Together, the children must help their new friend “phone home” before it’s too late.
At its heart, E.T. is not just a science fiction story, but a film about empathy. It’s about seeing life through another’s eyes and about the universal longing to belong. Spielberg once described it as “a story about what happens when you’re lonely and you make a friend who changes your life.” That emotional truth, as much as the film’s special effects or thrilling sequences, is what has kept audiences returning to it decade after decade.
A Landmark of Film History
The success of E.T. was immediate and staggering. It became the highest-grossing film of all time upon its release, surpassing Star Wars, and held that title for more than a decade. Critics hailed it as an instant classic, praising Spielberg’s direction and the deeply emotional screenplay by Melissa Mathison.
The film went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Original Score for John Williams, whose music has become inseparable from the image of a bicycle silhouetted against the moon. Williams’ music, much like the film itself, walks the line between wonder and melancholy. That final cue when E.T. says goodbye and says “I’ll be right here” as he points to Elliot’s forehead, still gives me chills.
The film’s legacy extends beyond its box office numbers. It reshaped how Hollywood approached stories about childhood and imagination. It inspired countless filmmakers and artists like J.J. Abrams to Guillermo del Toro.
A Film That Still Speaks to Us
More than forty years later, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial remains timeless because it speaks to something deeply human; the ache of separation and the joy of connection. Its message, whispered through the stars, is one of compassion. That’s why audiences still gather, decades later, to relive the magic. In a world that often feels divided, E.T. reminds us that friendship, courage and kindness can bridge even the widest distance.
The Cameo Art House Theatre at 225 Hay St. invites the community to come home to the movies on Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m., to your memories and to that feeling of wonder that only great storytelling can bring. Bring the whole family. It’s for all ages. Tickets can be purchased online at https://ticketmesandhills.com/events/et-the-extra-terrestrial-1982-november-15th-11-15-2025

Shuck, slurp, socialize at Dirtbag Ales' oyster roast

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Tuesday, 11 November 2025

Written by Sheila D. Barker

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov. 22, as the team at Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom in Hope Mills is hosting its second annual Oyster Roast. This event is designed to bring together the local community for a relaxed and enjoyable afternoon, featuring delicious food, drinks, and great company in an outdoor setting. For anyone in the area or those looking for something unique to do, this is a gathering that promises to deliver a memorable experience.
The event will take place at the spacious pavilion on Dirtbag’s property. With plenty of room to move around and socialize, the location is ideal for an event of this kind. Attendees can look forward to an assortment of fresh oysters, roasted on-site to perfection, alongside an impressive selection of craft beers brewed right at Dirtbag. The casual, friendly atmosphere makes it a great place to meet new people or spend time with friends. Whether you are passionate about oysters or simply looking for a laid-back way to spend a Saturday, this is the perfect opportunity to kick back and have some fun.
One of the highlights of the event is the fresh oysters prepared right in front of the guests, which is not something often found at breweries. Pair these with a cold craft beer, and you have a winning combination. Dirtbag Ales is known for its welcoming vibe and dedication to fostering a sense of community, and this event captures that spirit perfectly. The brewery’s location in Hope Mills makes it easy to access while still feeling like a cozy gathering spot rather than a large, impersonal venue. For those who haven’t been to Dirtbag Ales before, this is also a fantastic opportunity to explore their taproom and enjoy some of their seasonal offerings or long-time favorites in a lively and festive setting.
If you’re planning to attend, here are a few tips to make the most of your visit. Arrive early to secure a good spot under the pavilion, as these types of events often draw a significant crowd from the local area. Seating may fill up quickly, so getting there ahead of time ensures you’ll have the best view and setup for the afternoon. Given that this is an outdoor event in late November, consider dressing in layers to stay comfortable. The evenings can get chilly in the Fayetteville and Hope Mills area, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outside. If you have dietary restrictions, such as a shellfish allergy, it’s worth reaching out to the brewery ahead of time to see what other options might be available or to plan accordingly. Parking can also be a bit tight, so it’s a good idea to leave a little extra time to find a spot and get situated before the festivities begin. Additionally, consider bringing along a reusable cup. This not only adds to the experience but is also an environmentally friendly choice.
Do you enjoy good food, fresh beer, and a chance to unwind in a welcoming space? Do you like the idea of supporting a local business that values its community? Dirtbag’s Oyster Roast is an ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon in the fall. Whether you’re a local who frequents the brewery or someone visiting the area, the laid-back atmosphere and festive vibe make it a standout event. The fact that this is the second year the Oyster Roast is happening speaks to its success the first time around. Guests can expect a well-organized and thoughtfully planned experience.
Head over to 5435 Corporation Dr., Hope Mills, on Nov. 22, and get ready for a day of fun. The event promises to be more than just a gathering—it’s a celebration of food, drinks, and community that is sure to leave a lasting impression. Whether you’re a fan of oysters, craft beer, or just looking for something fun to do, this is one event you don’t want to miss. Grab a few friends or come solo and enjoy the relaxed, friendly vibe that Dirtbag Ales is known for.