Hospitality

A Dickens Holiday returns for its 22nd year

By Staff Report, posted 4 years ago

A Dickens Holiday: A Unique Holiday & Shopping Experience is back for the 22nd year, complete with fun festivities in both November and December. 

The event, presented by the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, attracts attendees from across Cumberland County and surrounding areas, all the while supporting Shop Local initiatives in downtown shops and through local vendors. 

A Dickens Holiday always draws in big crowds as well as sponsorships from a variety of businesses. 

The Event Partners include Piedmont Natural Gas, H&H Homes and Cape Fear Valley Health. 

Supporting Partners are Truist (formerly BB&T), Fayetteville Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Cape Fear Eye Associates, P.A. and Systel Business Equipment. 

Friends of the Arts include the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, First Citizens Bank, Holmes Security Systems, City Center Gallery & Books, Valley Radiology, Lumbee Guaranty Bank, ERA Strother Real Estate and Callahan and Rice Insurance Group. 

Community Partners include the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council. 

This year, The Spirit of Dickens will take place on Nov. 19 and 20 and on Dec. 3 and 4. Downtown restaurants will have “festive feasts” and storefronts and windows will be decorated with Victorian holiday decorations. There will also be live performances from Michael Daughtry, David Nikkel, Coventry Carolers, Highland Brass Ensemble, and others.

As tradition goes, A Dickens Holiday will take place on Black Friday, Nov. 26, from 1-8 p.m. Attendees can stroll through through downtown Fayetteville, supporting local merchants and artisans, ride on a horse-drawn carriage or capture images for social media at a selfie station or with Dickens themed cut-outs. 

H&H Homes will host their Gingerbread Community of Hope competition once again at Capitol Encore Academy. 

Other forms of entertainment include musical performances, live chalk drawings and ballet excerpts from The Nutcracker, to name a few. 

As part of A Dickens Holiday, Dickens After Dark will begin at 5 p.m. This part of the event will include the traditional candle lighting and singing of popular Christmas tunes. 

To learn more, visit https://www.theartscouncil.com/

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT

In The Current Issue

Empowering Veterans: The 2026 Fayetteville Veterans Business Expo aims to close the opportunity gap

This is the first year of the Veteran Business Expo, and it grew out of Fayetteville PWC’s Economic Impact Program, which focuses on expanding access and opportunity in public-sector contracting while strengthening the local economy. It builds off th


Bee-lieve the hype: Local apiarists and entrepreneurs share handmade crafts and helpful knowledge about our most important pollinators

Lynlene Apiary and Crafts is owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Carolyn Kleinert and Jolene Kleinert. They are certified apiarists and sell honey, candles made with beeswax, soaps and other crafts at local farmers markets. Photos by GFBJ.Lynle


The Hive of Hope Mills: A community catalyst for connection and engagement

Kevin Grant, THOHM executive director, shared the story behind why he wanted to bring this venue to Hope Mills at the grand opening. Photo by GFBJ.The Hive of Hope Mills (THOHM) has been the vision of Kevin Grant, a local developer and the THOHM exec