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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14 UCW NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 4, 2018 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Each year, the Heritage Square Historical Society of Fayetteville presents A Christmas Tour of Homes. It is a one-day-only event showcasing some of Fay- etteville's finest, most decadently decorated homes. Sunday, Dec. 2, the society invites the public to enjoy this year's tour and cel- ebrate the beauty of the season. Stops on the tour include the homes of Jesse Byrd, Nancy and Murray Duggins, Nicole and Brian Raynor and the Heritage Square Historical Society of Fayetteville. It's a perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit or to enjoy a girls' day out — or both. It's become a tradition for many. "We've done this for 17 years," said Heritage Square Historical Society of Fayetteville President Elaine Kennebeck. "People come year after year and love it. We have big, beautiful homes in Fayetteville deco- rated to the nines." Even if decorating is not a priority, Kennebeck added that there are other reasons people go on the tour of homes. "Some go for decoration ideas, and some go for architecture. We have seven to eight garden clubs involved, and they each deco- rate a room in fresh greens. is year's theme is Santa Claus." Proceeds from the event benefit the historical society, which is the home of three unique historical homes located at 225 Dick St. e homes are e Sandford House, the Oval Ballroom and the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House. With histories woven into Fayetteville's earliest days, the historical society has taken on the task of preserving these structures and the stories that unfolded within their walls and on their properties. e Sandford House dates to 1797 and is said to have housed Gen. Sherman's troops when the Union forces occupied Fayetteville. e Oval Ballroom was once home to a socialite accused of poisoning her husband. Her 1850 trial was dubbed the "trial of the century." Property for the Baker-Haigh-Nimocks House was secured in 1781 on a 24-acre plot of land. It was headquarters for Gen. Sherman's troops during the Civil War. Formerly known as the Fayetteville Woman's Club, the history-focused group changed its name to better reflect its mission. "Our only mission in the club is to preserve and maintain these homes," said Kennebeck. "ere are so few historic homes left in Fayetteville. It is important with all the (historic) houses we are losing in this the city that we keep this property going." e society hosts a few fundraisers a year, but sharing the buildings with the public and helping people understand why the structures are important is a big part of what it does as well. "We rent out the property for wedding showers and things like that," said Kennebeck. "We have beauti- ful grounds. e property is for people to enjoy. Our rental fees are probably the cheapest in the area. If you are looking for an authentic Southern wedding, this is a great place. We have a full working kitchen, which caterers love. People can bring their own food. We are kind to the people who rent from us." Tickets for A Christmas Tour of Homes cost $20 and are available for purchase at Bell's Seed Store, e Pilgrim, and Heritage Square. To learn more or to purchase tickets another way, call 910-483-6009 or visit www.heritagesquarefay.org. Heritage Square Historical Society hosts tour of homes by STEPHANIE CRIDER EVENTS Christmastime is near, and to help bring in the spirit, Cape Fear Regional eatre presents the play "e Best Christmas Pageant Ever." e play has been a tradition of CFRT, bringing cheer to many, for 28 years. e show opens Dec. 6 and runs through the 22nd. It involves three casts of local chil- dren and plenty of hijinks, too. According to the play direc- tor, Brian Adam Kline, the show is based on six "misfits" who help depict an unconven- tional version of the Christmas story. e transformation the children undergo in the process is both heartwarming and hilarious. "e Best Christmas Pageant Ever" was originally written as a book by Barbara Robinson in 1971. It focuses on the Herdman family, which includes six rebellious, obnoxious and hard-headed children ranging from 8-13 years old. ey are known for their deviant and bullying behavior. In the play, Grace Bradley is tasked with direct- ing the church Christmas pageant. e Herdman children shock their peers by volunteering for the play. Accommodating the Herdman family proves to be more than Bradley, or the other children in the pageant, bargained for. Imogene Herdman portrays Mary, and her brother Ralph is Joseph. It astonishes and dismays the others when they learn that the two leads have never heard of the Christmas story. e community members' preconceived assumptions about the Herdman children exemplify our own prejudices and bias toward others. e play sheds some light on faulty human think- ing, like how people will often judge others based on their appearance, cultural background and more. In so doing this, we fail to look deeper into the heart of the individual and what motivates them. One important message the play depicts is to keep hope in humanity. e play also serves as a reminder that redemp- tion can be found in the most unexpected places and that often, the underdog has something positive to con- tribute to society. Although the Herdman children are ram- bunctious, deviant pranksters from a poverty-stricken home, they begin to learn comrade- ship and how to contribute to their community. Kline has worked diligently on developing the performance according to what the local community enjoys, and it goes without saying that the entire show from beginning to end creates a sense of harmony and brings about an element of cheer. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for children under 18. e play is family-friendly, Christmas themed and appropriate for all ages. ere are performances Dec. 6-9, Dec. 13-16 and Dec. 19-22. Military Appreciation Nights are Dec. 6-7 at the 7 p.m. performances. For tickets and information, call the box office at 910-323-4233 or visit www.cfrt.org. 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever' reveals the true meaning of Christmas at Cape Fear Regional Theatre by SHEILAH FULTON SHEILAH FULTON, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upand- comingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. STEPHANIE CRIDER, Associate Publisher. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Stops on the tour include the homes of Jesse Byrd, Nancy and Murray Duggins, Nicole and Brian Raynor and the Heritage Square Historical Society of Fayetteville.