Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 10-16, 2018 UCW 15 CASEY SHAFFER, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com 910-484-6200. EVENTS Historic carriage rides offer a new perspective on downtown by CASEY SHAFFER When strolling through downtown Fayetteville, it's almost like taking a step back in time. The quaint local shops, the historic buildings, and, of course, the horse-drawn carriage rides. Run by the Cool Spring Downtown District, the rides run spring, summer and fall. There are two more regular tours scheduled for this fall – Oct. 13 and Nov. 15. For more than three years, S and S Carriage Rides has been meandering along the cobblestones of downtown, offering rides to couples, individuals and families. There is nothing like the nostalgia of hearing the clip-clop of the horse's hooves along the pavement. Not only are the rides a relaxing, unique way to enjoy downtown, they offer a great way for newcomers and visitors to learn more about the area. Over one-third of carriage riders are from out of town, with two-thirds of those being from out of state. That being said, the rides can even provide life- long citizens with surprising historical tidbits and narratives that aren't often heard. Dr. Hank Parfitt has been organizing the carriage rides since they started in Fayetteville, and it's easy to see his passion for the job. "We have a love for local history. We don't just rattle on, we relate the events to the people and the times," Parfitt said. His favorite part of the job is watching guests con- nect with Fayetteville. "You see somebody with that 'aha!' moment with a new historical fact," he said. "It's so much fun to see people respond like that. We are exposing people to the best side of Fayetteville." The carriage rides are not just a job for Parfitt, they are a part of his life. "All of our tour guides go to a one-on-one training session with the city histo- rian," he said. "We are constantly looking for ways to increase our knowledge." Parfitt is currently enrolled in American History courses at Fayetteville State University. In addition to the regularly scheduled monthly rides, there are themed rides that take place throughout the year. Themed rides are some of the most popular offerings, especially around the start of the holiday season with A Dickens Holiday tak- ing place in downtown Fayetteville the day after Thanksgiving. "It's a gentler, kinder way to start the season" Parfitt explained. "You can avoid the crazy chaos of the mall and Black Friday." The rides during A Dickens Holiday on Nov. 23 run from 1-9 p.m. Expect to see the drivers, car- riage and even horses decked out for the occasion. There is also a Halloween tour led by Count Dracula, a Christmas ride with Santa Clause and an Easter ride with the Easter Bunny. Valentine's day is also a very popular time of the year – the carriage drivers have seen their fair share of pro- posals and anniversaries. Mother's Day gets its own theme as well. Whether riders are seeking a romantic date, a charming family outing or a spur of the moment jaunt around town, they can relax and enjoy the beauty of downtown Fayetteville – and learn some- thing new – on a historic carriage ride. Carriage rides are offered throughout the year, with a small break during the colder months. Tours take place from 1-6 p.m., leaving from the Cool Springs Downtown District office at 222 Hay St. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $20 with a military ID and $15 for children under 12. To make a reservation, call City Center Gallery & Books at 910-678-8899 or visit www.sands- carriagerides.com/ or www.facebook.com/ Sandscarriagerides. Historic carriage rides are a fun way to get to know down- town Fayetteville's history. Bachtoberfest takes place at a local, private biergarten. Bachtoberfest celebrates music and good beer by STEPHANIE CRIDER The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra is committed to educat- ing, entertaining and inspiring the citizens of the Fayetteville, North Carolina, region as the leading musi- cal resource. Making first-rate music affordable takes some creativity, though. That creativity manifests in forms like the FSO's Bachtoberfest fundraiser, which is set for Thursday, Oct. 18, from 6-9 p.m. "This event helps support a lot of the things we do," said FSO CEO and President Christine Kastner. "Our ticket prices are (kept) low. They really only cover 20 percent of the cost of a concert, so we have to fundraise and get grants to cover the rest. "We want to keep ticket prices affordable, so we really can't go higher ... or it limits who can come to the shows. Our tickets for concerts and other events are $30 and below." Like its concerts, the symphony's fundraisers are inventive and fun. Bachtoberfest will take place in a local, private biergarten and will include delicious German fare prepared by the symphony's board members. Think bratwursts and German potato salad. Guests can wash it down with a sudsy brew and sample 10 craft beers. Bright Light Brewing Co., Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, Southern Pines Brewing Company and Healy Wholesale will pro- vide the evening's beverages. "There will be some games going on, too – relay races with a full beer stein and some of those kinds of fun games," said Kastner. FSO musicians will play music throughout the event. "There will be oompah music as well as jazz to keep the evening flowing," Kastner said. "The location has a fire pit, so you can make your own s'mores, too." Bachtoberfest is intentionally casual and laid back to make it inviting to people who may have preconceived ideas about the symphony. "People think of the symphony as formal and stuffy, and we are not," Kastner said. The FSO has another fund- raiser planned for November – Friendsgiving Brewery Tour, which will include tastings from Bright Light Brewing Co., Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom, Mash House Brewing Company, World of Beer and Paddy's Irish Pub. These fundraisers not only help keep ticket costs low, they support outreach initiatives like the Nov. 3 free children's concert, "Once Upon a Symphony." The concert is for young and special-needs children. "(The children) can move around as they need to and sit on the floor or the bleachers," said Kastner. "The whole program is kid-friendly. We will have music from 'Frozen,' 'Harry Potter,' 'Star Wars' and 'Superman.' It is a way for families to introduce young kids to the symphony." Tickets for the Oct. 18 Bachtoberfest are $75 per person. Call the symphony office at 910-433-4690 or go to www.fayettevillesymphony.org and click on the Support and Events tab, then Special Events. STEPHANIE CRIDER, Associ- ate Publisher. COMMENTS? Edi- tor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200.