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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NOVEMBER 22 - 28, 2017 UCW 17 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Take a step back in time at A Dickens Holiday by STEPHANIE CRIDER COVER STORY STEPHANIE CRIDER, As- sociate Publisher. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. (910) 484-6200. With a bev y of activities to choose from dur- ing the holiday season, A Dickens Holiday is a must. From 1-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, downtown Fayetteville takes a step back in time, transform- ing Hay Street into a Dickensian-era wonderland. Scrooge, Jacob Marley and other characters from "A Christmas Carol" come to life and roam the streets, engaging visitors and reenacting scenes from the well-loved stor y. It's like a scene from a stor ybook as horse-drawn carriages roll past merchant windows decked out for the holidays. Artisans and vendors selling ever ything from decorations to warm cider fill Hay Street with the sights and sounds of Christmas. As the sun sets, ever yone gathers at the Arts Council for a candle- light procession to the Market House. Fireworks and continued festivities follow with the fun until the night concludes at 9 p.m. Tammy Rice is the interim marketing director at the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County. "I've been coming to Dickens since 2003," she said. "I have participated since 2012. I was the person who contracted performers and artists. I had the easy part. In this position, I am also trying to make sure the world knows about Dickens." And, like in years past, there will be plenty of performers throughout the event. There will be old favorites, and a few new things as well. "We have Highland Brass, the Coventry Carolers, John Tudor with Tudor Magic and juggler Tain Collins – he had a big crowd last year, and we are thrilled he is com- ing," Rice said. "We will have 'Christmas Carol' characters roaming the streets, too." A new item t his year t hat R ice is excited about includes a special k ind of vendor. "We have a special food vendor t his year – a food truck actu- ally – Mcdermott's Irish Pub. The trailer itself looks Victorian; it was an obv ious choice. There w ill be pub fare t hat people can enjoy. It w ill be parked outside t he A rts Council." She added that "Every year we try to do a make- and-take. This year it is fascinators (what women would wear instead of a hat because during that time they wore head coverings – they often include things like feathers and other fun items) and bou- tonnieres. It is a free experience. That is from 1-7 p.m. at the rainbow room." The list of activities and things to do at A Dickens Holiday is a long one. Attendees are invited to dress in period costumes. Visit Annie's Alehouse inside the Arts Council. Modeled after Victorian pubs, the alehouse offers entertainment, featuring music by Brynmor, and provides beverages like beer, wine and nonalcohol- ic cider. The pub is open from 1-9 p.m. While you are there, enjoy the "Reclaimed" exhibit hanging on the gallery walls. "What is new at the alehouse is we have a selection of seasonal craft beers this year," Rice said. "We also have live performances from 1-5 p.m. Then from 6:30-9 p.m. we have Bryn- mor. They are a Celtic rock band. We had then here a couple years ago, and everyone loved them." Gingerbread houses were brought to America in the early 1800s by German bakers. Now they are a staple for many during the Christmas season. Don't miss the Gingerbread Community of Hope on display at SkyView. Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and H&H Homes have come together to present this gingerbread community created by Fayettevillians. Carriage rides through town are a charming way to take in the sights and sounds of the festivi- ties. There are two choices. The Dickens Carriage Rides offer a ride in a decorated horse-drawn hitch wagon. They cost $10 for adults and $5 for children. Purchase tickets starting at noon the day of the event at 222 Hay St. Rides run from 1-9 p.m. The Queen Victoria carriage rides offer a more personal ride – and a longer one, too. These depart from the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum. Tickets cost $15 per person. Call (910) 678-8899 to make a reservation. The Victorian car- riage rides also run from 1-9 p.m. The second story of the Market House is open dur- ing A Dickens Holiday and features an exhibit called "This Victorian Life." Test your knowledge of the Vic- torian Era and try to identify household items from the past. The exhibit also displays literature from the time period, a Victorian Christmas tree and other holiday-related artifacts as well as military items. From 1 p.m. until dusk, Fascinate-U Children's Museum invites youngsters to create a Victorian ornament. Hang it on the community tree or take it home. It costs $2 per child and $1 per adult. At 4 p.m., in the Hay Street United Methodist Church sanctuary, enjoy a performance of Tuba Christmas. The 1897 Poe House is decked out in traditional Victorian-era holiday decorations. At 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. the public is invited for a free tour of the historic home. The biggest spectacle and most anticipated part of t he day is t he candlelight procession. Throughout t he day, merchants and t he A rts Council give out candles for t he procession. At about 5 p.m. ever yone is inv ited to gat her at t he A rts Council. At 5:30 p.m., t he procession to t he Market House begins. "It is a mag ical ex perience because dow n- tow n Fayettev ille is t ransformed into a scene out of Victorian England," R ice said. "Many of our vendors dress in costume, going so far as to make t heir boot hs look like a stall in t he st reets of Victorian England. The candlelight proces- sion is t he culminat ing ex perience. To watch all t hese people of all ages and to k now t he f irst candle is lit and t he f lame is passed f rom person to person, spreading t he light. It is metaphorical for what we hope to bring to t he cit y. It is just a mov ing ex perience. A nd t he t ree-light ing cere- mony is just one of t hose t hings where ever yone is gat hered toget her in good cheer. It's a moment of light ness." A f irework s display fol lows t he procession a nd t ree lig ht ing, but t he nig ht is st i l l young, a nd at tendees a re inv ited to stay unt i l 9 p.m. a nd enjoy t he fest iv it ies. Ca l l t he A r ts Counci l at (910) 323-1776 to lea r n more. Downtown Fayetteville is transformed into a Victorian-era celebration at A Dickens Holiday.