Bladen County

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS is returning to the Lu Mil Vineyard for the 2023 holiday season. Located at 438 Suggs-Taylor Rd, Elizabethtown, NC, the Festival of Lights will run Thursday–Sunday Dec. 7-10 and nightly Dec. 14–23.
New this year, the Dublin Motor Speedway property has been added on the Light Show route featuring LED figurines of stock cars, go karts and motocross riders. Other classic fixtures include the lighted windmill, the Wishing Well (all donations will be given to the Bladen County Hospital Foundation), the twelve days of Christmas LED ornaments and everyone’s favorite Christmas icons. Learn more at www.lumilvineyard.com.
Join the Elizabethtown community for CHRISTMAS AT THE FARMERS MARKET on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a kid focused
holiday event! Enjoy a day all about the kids out at the Cape Fear Farmers Market. There will be a magician, storytelling with BoBo the Elf, crafts and a Christmas Caroling open mic.
Parents can buy a ticket for their children to do cookie decorating and ornament making as they shop the downtown shops. Supervision is provided. Tickets are $20. Find out more at www.elizabethtownwhitelake.com.

Cumberland County

THE FAYETTEVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (FSO) in partnership with Cumberland Choral Arts (CCA) will present Messiah, a free admission community concert, on Dec. 16, 2023, at Berean Baptist Church. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Messiah is a special collaboration between the FSO and voices from CCA. This concert is their gift to the community and is free. Featured soloists are Caroline Vaughan, (Soprano), Brenda Vandervort-Miller, (Mezzo), Wessley Futrell, (Tenor), and Ramelle Brooks, (Bass). The performance will consist of selections from Handel's beloved Messiah. Reservations and tickets are not required.

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation’s CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK returned to the community on Sunday, Dec. 3, in Arnette Park located at 2165 Wilmington Highway.
A free drive-thru light show powered by Fayetteville PWC, this holiday tradition in Fayetteville featured a beautiful combination of holiday-themed displays, a festival of lights and a natural woodland spanning 100 acres adjacent to the Cape Fear River. Christmas in the Park is open to the public from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and will run Dec. 10 – 14 and Dec. 17 – 21.

Cape Fear Botanical Garden is hosting their “HOLIDAY LIGHTS IN THE
GARDEN” 2023 event from Dec. 1-21. Holiday Lights in the Garden presented by Cape Fear Valley Health is a mesmerizing spectacle, boasting an array of over one million bulbs in a kaleidoscope of colors, sizes and shapes, meticulously arranged to accentuate the beauty of plants, trees and every facet of the garden. The walk through is also interactive and features fun installments such as Santa and the Grinch, photo opportunities, holiday music, a vendor market for holiday shopping, craft activities and more! Learn more at www.capefearbg.org.

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS has returned to Sweet Valley Ranch for 2023! The SVR team has transformed their farm into a magical Christmas wonderland featuring over 1 million lights and over 350 animals. While the light show is a drive through event, guests can also head across the street to Tiny’s Winter Wonderland to enjoy visiting Santa, multiple vendors, a gift shop, amusement rides, food and more! The attraction will be open to visitors Dec. 8-10, Dec. 14-17, Dec. 21- 23 and their last day will be Tuesday Dec. 26. Find more information online at www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com.

Get in the holiday spirit at Segra Stadium in Downtown Fayetteville and enjoy tens of thousands of holiday lights! FAYETTEVILLE HOLIDAY LIGHTS will run nightly from Dec. 8- 23. The event will include tens of thousands of holiday lights around the stadium, with displays on the concourse and a path of walk-through lights on the warning track of the field. Opening night includes a fireworks display starting at 8:15 p.m. Patrons can also get their picture taken with Santa and participate in holiday crafts for free. Adult tickets are $10 and children tickets are $8 if you buy in advance!

Harnett County

THE LILLINGTON CHRISTMAS PARADE will be returning to Downtown Lillington along the front and main streets on Dec, 9 at 7:00 p.m. 

Hoke County

The Second Saturday CRAFT FAIR CHRISTMAS MARKET will be taking place at the East Hoke Middle School Field located at 4702 Fayetteville Road Raeford on Dec. 9. This event will feature free photos with Santa, more than 50 vendors, food trucks, free kids activities, bounce house, live music and much more!

Southern Roots Creations presents: A VINTAGE ROCKFISH CHRISTMAS with Santa's Workshop event. This event will be held on Saturday Dec. 16 from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at 3174 Lindsay Rd. in Raeford. Get ready to experience the magic of the holiday season as Santa Claus and his workshop are coming to town!

Moore County

Highlanders Farm, a sixth generation family farm located at 5784 NC-22 in Carthage, NC has opened up their property to guests for the 2023 CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW. The show runs Tuesday-Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. and Thursday- Saturday from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Santa will be at the Farm on Tuesday’s and Friday’s and the ice cream shop will be serving homemade ice cream, cider, and hot chocolate. The show will run until Dec. 28. Learn more at www.highlandersfarmnc.com.

Join the Moore County Choral Society with Moore Brass and Percussion for their holiday concert “THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS” on Sunday, Dec. 10
at 7:00 p.m. This concert is an annual tradition that is sure to illuminate the season again this year featuring holiday favorites and new seasonal compositions! Tickets range from $10- $20 and can be purchased at www.Ticketmesandhills.com.

The Sandhills Trolley Company is hosting their HOLLY JOLLY TROLLEY! Join them on Dec. 9, 16 and 21 for fun family holiday time with Christmas carols, hot cocoa and reading of “The Polar Express” and of course Santa! Tickets start at $35. Find out more at www.sandhillstrolley.com.

Robeson County

THE 12TH ANNUAL ROBESON COUNTY CHRISTMAS SHOW will be taking place at the Carolina Civic Center Historic Theater located at 315 N. Chestnut Street in Downtown Lumberton from Dec. 9-16. This original heart-warming holiday musical revue for the entire family features the best regional singers and dancers. See the beautifully staged dancing of “The Civettes” as well as performances by the show’s youth cast and adult ensemble. The theater will be beautifully decorated for Christmas, and of course, there will be special appearances by Elsa, Frosty the Snowman, The Grinch and Santa Claus! Get your tickets at www.carolinaciviccenter.com.

Join the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina for the LUMBEE TRIBE WINTER SOLSTICE on Friday, Dec. 15 through Tuesday, Dec. 26. The drive-thru Christmas light event will once again be at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center from 5:30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. The Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center is located on Terry Sanford Drive in Maxton, NC. It is a wonderful  time for the whole family as we kickoff the Christmas Holiday season. **Goodies will be distributed only on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 (while supplies last).**
Luther Britt Park has partnered with  the City of Lumberton Recreation  Department to bring THE POLAR EXPRESS event to the Lumberton community. The event will take place  on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This event will feature a StoryWalk ® for the Book The Polar Express, a small train (available to enjoy between 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.), a visit from Santa and Mrs. Clause and s’mores. The event will be held at 671 Branch Street (off of 5th Street) in Lumberton.

Sampson County

The Town of Roseboro welcomes one and all to come out for ROSEBORO'S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE in Downtown Roseboro beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 8. It’s an event that's sure to spark a little Christmas spirit in all who attend. Santa will be available starting at 5:30 p.m. to see children. Food trucks will also be in town. Parade runs through downtown Roseboro.

Downtown Clinton is ready to welcome guests to their CAROUSEL AT THE CLINTON CITY MARKET event on Dec. 8 from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. and Dec.
9 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at 215  Libson Street. Also on Dec. 9, Clinton’s Christmas Parade will be taking place along the Historic District. The parade starts at 10:00 a.m., so make sure you find your seat along the parade route early! (Roads will close at 9:00 a.m.)

*EDITOR’S NOTE: The events listed were chosen to coincide with the publication of this issue of the GFBJ. Other holidays that took place in early December were highlighted in our Week Ahead and Weekender online newsletters.