Favorite Fayetteville holiday traditions: Charles Dickens, movie night at Segra Stadium & a Christmas pageant

Fayetteville, like every town, has its own unique holiday traditions. And the good news is there's still time to enjoy these family-friendly holiday festivities before Christmas Day.

From a movie night at Segra Stadium to a Victorian Metaphysical and Oddities exhibit, these are my favorite Fayetteville holiday traditions.

Holiday Lights in the Garden

Head over to the Cape Fear Botanical Garden for the annual "Holiday Lights in the Garden."

Walk through the garden and see thousands of lights, displays and animations while listening to your favorite holiday music. Santa and the Grinch will be there, and you can also buy gifts at the market.

You and your family can go see the "Holiday Lights in the Garden" until Dec. 21. You can buy tickets at etix.com.

The Cape Fear Botanical Garden is located at 536 N. Eastern Blvd. in Fayetteville.

Fayetteville Holiday Lights at Segra Stadium

You can see the Fayetteville Holiday Lights at Segra Stadium until Dec. 23 in downtown Fayetteville.

Get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy the tens of thousands of lights around the stadium and the holiday displays on the concourse.

The best part is you can bring the whole family to see the lights and enjoy a movie night at the stadium. Bring your blankets and snuggle up while watching Christmas classics like "The Santa Clause," which is showing on Friday at 7 p.m.

You can see the lights everyday until Dec. 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets for adults are $10 and $8 for children, and they're $2 more expensive if you purchase a ticket on the day of the event.

To purchase a ticket, go to tickets.com.

‘A Dickens Holiday'

One of the most well-known holiday traditions in Fayetteville, "A Dickens Holiday" is a fun and interactive experience in downtown Fayetteville.

The event features lifelike character actors, horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers and a "Ghost of Christmas Past" exhibit.

"A Dickens Christmas" takes you back in time to the Victorian era. Take a picture with Father Time and watch Queen Victoria herself lead a candlelight procession to the holiday tree lighting.

The festivities continue after annual the tree lighting with "Dickens After Dark." The after-hours event had shopping, live entertainment, tea leaf readings and a Victorian Metaphysical and Oddities exhibit from Garnet Skull.

Christmas in the Park

Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation’s annual holiday event, Christmas in the Park, is a festive drive-thru light show that’s run by PWC.

The free festival of lights combines holiday-themed displays and 100 acres of woodland. Visitors can enjoy the lights while driving through the park.

Christmas in the Park runs from Dec. 17 to Dec. 21 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, go to faypwc.com or call 910-433-1547.

Arnette Park is located at 2165 Wilmington Highway at Exit 100 off Highway 87.

PWC is also hosting its annual Christmas tree recycling event the week of Jan. 8, 2024.

Have your live Christmas tree on the curb by Jan. 7, 2024. Please remove all lights, stands and trimmings

Trees may be dropped at the Fayetteville Community Garden until Jan. 12. The Fayetteville Community Garden is located at the corner of Vanstory Street and Mann Street just off Old Wilmington Road.

The Poe House Holiday Jubilee

Every year, the 1897 Poe House hosts its annual Holiday Jubilee.

You and your family can head over to this historic Fayetteville home and check out the holiday display until Jan. 8, 2024.

It's open for tours from Tuesday to Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday hours are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tours of the house are free.

Fayetteville Rotary Christmas Parade

Obviously, the annual Christmas parade in downtown Fayetteville is a classic Christmas tradition.

More than 100 businesses and organizations participated in this year's parade, which included a homemade float competition, performers from local schools and Christmas favorites like Santa and Mrs. Claus and the Grinch.

'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever'

A Fayetteville classic, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" is now showing at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre.

This year is the 32nd anniversary of the production. This funny family show is about a couple who runs into some trouble while trying to put on a church Christmas pageant.

You can see the show until Dec. 17. Tickets can be purchased at cfrt.org.

The Cape Fear Regional Theatre is located at 1209 Hay Street.

What's your favorite Fayetteville holiday tradition? Email me at deyermann@wral.com.