Call me old fashioned, but I think the holidays should be celebrated in their appropriate season. If you pay attention, there's a sweet rhythm to how the season begins, and that's especially true in Cumberland County. Earlier this week, city workers hung wreaths on all the light poles that line the main corridors of Cool Spring Downtown District, where I work and play. For me, that's one of those rituals that indicates tis the season.

Another ritual I enjoy is when our staff gathers around the table to prepare our annual holiday card mailing. This year, teachers and students from The School of Hope, a downtown school for children with autism, assisted us in prepping that mailing of 700+ cards. I can't tell you how delighted we were to watch these sweet kiddos as they joyfully went about doing their "jobs" for us. They were a simple reminder to me that we should seek joy in bite-size moments.

Since the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau can't mail everyone a holiday card, I'm sharing the contents of it right here, on the blog. You'll find more than 40 holiday events below, and they're some of our locals' favorite annual (and new) celebrations of the season, taking place in just about every corner of Cumberland County this season (2020). Also, as we're a diverse community comprised of many ethnicities and religions, you'll see I included 10+ major multicultural holidays coming up. I hope our "Season's Greetings" will inspire you and yours to embrace new holiday rituals and traditions right here, in America's Hometown!

1897-Poe-House-Christmas
1897 Poe House in Christmas Splendor

Shop for handmade gifts and artistic treasures at Cape Fear Studios’ Annual Members Holiday Exhibit Nov. 22 - Jan. 7 (closed Sundays & Mondays).

 

Kick-off the holiday season with the Town of Stedman during Christmas in the Park at Ernest Freeman Park Nov. 23.

 

Celebrate A Temptations Christmas with Dennis Edwards’ Temptations Revue, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and Reggie Codrington at Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Auditorium Nov. 23.

 
REFLECT ON THE MARTYRDOM OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR SAHIB NOV. 24.
 

Cheer as the Harvest Train Parade makes its way thru the Town of Falcon Nov. 26.

 

Marvel at the beauty of 1897 Poe House in Christmas Splendor at Museum of the Cape Fear Nov. 26 - Jan. 5 (closed Mondays & holidays).

 
GATHER LOVED ONES AROUND THE TABLE FOR THANKSGIVING NOV. 28.
 

Sign up now for the inaugural Fayetteville Turkey Trot at Segra Stadium to run/walk Nov. 28.

 

Say thanks to our military service members while joining them for a Thanksgiving Feast at Iron Mike Conference Center on Fort Bragg Nov. 28.

 

Bring your appetite and a dish to the table for a Hoppy Thanksgiving at Bright Light Brewing Company Nov. 28.

 

Be there when the puck drops for the Fayetteville Marksmen’s Thanksgiving Day Game at the Crown Coliseum Nov. 28.

 

Roll back the clock to the Victorian era at A Dickens Holiday in Cool Spring Downtown District Nov. 29.

 

Do not miss the Victorian Christmas Exhibit at The Market House Nov. 29.

 

Enjoy the ageless classic It’s a Wonderful Life at Gilbert Theater Nov. 29 & 30 and Dec. 1, 6-8 & 20-22.

 
OBSERVE THE SEASON OF ADVENT DEC. 1-24.
 

Revel in the season with the Town of Spring Lake during their Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Town Hall Dec. 3.

 

Listen to the sounds of a Holiday Concert by the Fayetteville Symphonic Band and MU Concert Band at Methodist University’s Huff Concert Hall Dec. 3.

 

Participate in Fort Bragg’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Main Post Parade Field Dec. 4.

 

Discover joy with Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s performance of Behold: A Folk Christmas Cantata at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Dec. 5-7 & 12-14.

 

Make a new family tradition of the longstanding Singing Christmas Tree production at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church Dec. 5-8.

 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas at the Lake in the Town of Hope Mills Dec. 6.

 

Partake in a Renaissance-style dinner engagement with the Yuletide Feaste at Haymount United Methodist Church Dec. 6 & 7.

 

Laugh at the antics in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at Cape Fear Regional Theatre Dec. 6-8, 12-15 & 18-22.

 

Take a stroll along the festively decorated trail for Christmas in the Park at Arnette Park Dec. 6-22.

 

Visit the magical wonderland aglow for Holiday Lights in the Garden at Cape Fear Botanical Garden Dec. 6-8, 13-15 & 20-23.

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Hope Mills Christmas Parade

Get active with the 9th Annual Green Beret Jingle Jog on the Cape Fear River Trail Dec. 7.

 

Watch the story of Jesus’ birth with Breakfast in Bethlehem at Lebanon Baptist Church in the Town of Eastover Dec. 7.

 

Experience a small-town celebration with the Hope Mills Christmas Parade 7.

 

Cherish quality family time during the Festival of Lights at Hope Mills Town Hall Dec. 7.

 

Rejoice with the Deck the Halls concert by the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra at Fayetteville State University’s Seabrook Auditorium Dec. 7.

 

Hop on one of the Carriage Rides with Santa in Cool Spring Downtown District Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 & 22.

 
SEEK WISDOM, COMPASSION AND KINDNESS ON BODHI DAY DEC. 8.
 
HONOR THE BHAGAVAD GITA WITH A CELEBRATION OF GITA JAYANTI DEC. 8.
 

Join in all the merrymaking for the Holiday Jubilee at Museum of the Cape Fear's 1897 Poe House Dec. 8.

 

Embark on an enlightening Historic Churches Bus Tour with the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum Dec. 9.

 

Sip on craft beer while you enjoy a German Christmas Market at Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom in Hope Mills Dec. 13 & 14.

 

Surprise the little ones with Breakfast with Santa at Fascinate-U Children’s Museum Dec. 14.

 

Pose for pictures and eat a tasty Breakfast with Santa at the Spring Lake Community Center Dec. 14.

 

Write your wish-list for a Breakfast with Santa at Hope Mills Fire Department Dec. 14.

 

Delight the kids with the Rotary Christmas Parade in Downtown Fayetteville Dec. 14.

 

Exult in the Messiah Sings! concert by the Cumberland Choral Arts at First Presbyterian Church Dec. 14.

 

Fall in love with the North Carolina State Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Crown Theatre Dec. 14 & 15.

 
PREPARE YOUR OFFERINGS FOR DHANU SANKRANTI DEC. 16.
 

Savor the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker at the Crown Theatre Dec. 17.

 

Create unforgettable memories with the family during Disney on Ice: Road Trip Adventures at the Crown Coliseum Dec. 19-22.

 
WELCOME THE WINTER SOLSTICE WITH YULE DEC. 21.
 

Treasure these times with family during the Spring Lake Winter Festival at the Spring Lake Community Center Dec. 22.

 
BASK IN THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS DURING HANUKKAH DEC. 22-30.
 

Worship with one of Cumberland County’s oldest congregations in a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Bluff Presbyterian Church in the Town of Wade Dec. 24.

 
REMEMBER JESUS’ BIRTH ON CHRISTMAS DAY DEC. 25.
 
APPRECIATE FAMILY, COMMUNITY AND CULTURE DURING KWANZAA DEC. 26 - JAN. 1.
 

Immerse yourself in a Kwanzaa Celebration at the Smith Recreation Center Dec. 29.

 

Ring in 2019 with the New Year’s Eve Flea Drop at Eastover Community Center Dec. 31.

 
EMBRACE THE NEW YEAR JAN. 1.
 

Keep your New Year’s resolution by joining one of the First Day Hikes at Carvers Creek State Park in Spring Lake Jan. 1.

Christmas in the Park
​Christmas in the Park

Are you planning a trip to the Fayetteville area over the holidays? Let the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (FACVB) guide you to our Accommodations, Dining, Shopping, and more. Additionally, you'll find all the above holiday events and more fun happenings on the FACVB's Calendar of Events.