Welcome to
A DICKENS HOLIDAY
Free Admission
Join us as we Celebrate 26 years of Holiday Cheer!
Press release
Event Press Release 2025
For Immediate Release
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A Dickens Holiday Returns to Downtown Fayetteville November 28, 2025
- FAYETTEVILLE, NC — A Dickens Holiday returns to downtown Fayetteville on Friday, November 28, 2025, inviting the community to step back into Victorian times for one of the region’s most treasured holiday traditions. The day-long event blends shopping, food, music, and performance with beloved traditions like the Candlelight Procession and Lighting Ceremony.
Daytime Festivities Begin at Noon
- Downtown will bustle with holiday activity beginning at 12:00 PM, as businesses open their doors with seasonal specials, themed market vendors offer unique gifts, and a food truck court connects activities across downtown. Carriage rides add to the old-world charm, while roaming Dickens characters — from Father Christmas and London Bobbies to flower girls, Town Criers, and actors from A Christmas Carol — mingle with visitors. Victorian-costumed carolers and street performers complete the scene, filling the day with holiday cheer.
- Kick-off of this Dickens adventure begins at the City History Museum at the corner of Franklin and Maxwell Streets at noon and the first 100 patrons will also receive exclusive “Dickens Dollars,” a limited-edition downtown currency redeemable that day at participating shops.
Special Ticketed Events
- Alongside the free festivities, ticketed events provide unique Dickens experiences.
- Dr. Elliot Engel returns with his ever-popular Dickens lecture
- The Royal Tea Experience will once again welcome families to enjoy a Victorian-style tea service produced in partnership with the Heritage Square Historical Society
- New in 2025, the Fezziwig Ball, produced with the Cape Fear Heritage Dance Group, offers an evening of live music and traditional dance in full Dickens style.
Evening Traditions
- As evening falls, thousands join together for the beloved Candlelight Procession, carrying glowing lights through the streets of downtown. The walk leads to the Lighting Ceremony, when downtown shines bright with thousands of candles and twinkling lights — a breathtaking moment of sight and sound that marks the official start of the holiday season.
- Following the Lighting Ceremony, the celebration continues with Dickens After Dark, where the streets come alive with holiday music, dining, shopping, and contests. The Gingerbread House Contest, open to all ages and abilities, returns this year with houses displayed in advance and public voting from 12:00–7:00 PM on November 28. Winners will be announced at 7:30 PM on Person Street in a well-lit evening venue, giving extra shine to one of downtown’s most vibrant corridors.
- Guests are encouraged to come dressed in Victorian attire or holiday finery to enter the Photo Contest for Best Dressed. Vendor booths will also be judged for the most festive and creative décor, ensuring that every block of downtown sparkles with seasonal spirit.
Holiday Lights & Elf Season
- Segra Stadium will once again open Holiday Lights on the same evening, adding dazzling displays to Fayetteville’s holiday season.
- The night will conclude with fireworks launched from the stadium, visible across downtown. At 6:00 PM, A Dickens Holiday will also launch Elves’ Night Off, the kickoff to Elf Season — a playful evening adventure continuing every Friday in December until Christmas. Guests can pick up the Elf Season Guide at the Dickens Holiday table and use it to explore festive stops throughout Fayetteville’s Social District before celebrating as fireworks light the night sky.
A Community Tradition
- A Dickens Holiday is a downtown Fayetteville tradition, more than 25 years strong. Beginning in 2025, Downtown Creative Works, dba A Dickens Holiday leads production in partnership with the Downtown Alliance. Supported by local organizations, businesses, and volunteers, it remains a community-built celebration of the season.
Presented by Our Sponsors
- A Dickens Holiday 2025 is co-presented by Dream Finders Homes and Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, with sustaining support from PWC of Fayetteville, along with additional community sponsors to be announced.
- For contest details, tickets, and updates, follow A Dickens Holiday on social media and visit www.adickensholiday.com.
- Contact: Elaine Kelley, Chair- A Dickens Holiday Committee
- Produced by the Downtown Alliance
Get ready for a magical celebration!
"A Dickens Holiday"
A Magical Step Back in Time
Experience the charm of "A Dickens Holiday" in downtown Fayetteville, NC. Enjoy local shopping, unique gifts, a candlelight procession, Gingerbread House contest, costume contests, food and artisan street vendors, Guest speakers, Scrooge, Marley, and Tiny Tim and - not to mention, the Queen and her court. It's a festive event perfect for creating lasting memories with family and friends.
Celebrating 25 Years of Magic and Memories
A Dickens Holiday turns 26!
For 26 years, A Dickens Holiday has been a beloved tradition in the holiday season in the heart of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Inspired by the timeless tales of Charles Dickens, our event transforms downtown into a charming wonderland, complete with shopping, carolers, street performers, and holiday activities that would make even Scrooge smile. Originally conceived as a cheerful alternative to the Black Friday frenzy, A Dickens Holiday has grown into a cherished event attracting thousands of visitors each year. By highlighting our local shops and their unique offerings, we help keep the heart of our downtown Fayetteville vibrant and thriving.
The true magic of A Dickens Holiday lies in its ability to bring people of all ages together. From families delighting in festive activities to couples strolling and shopping hand-in-hand through beautifully decorated streets, the event fosters a sense of togetherness and joy. Children’s laughter fills the air as they engage in holiday crafts and meet beloved characters, while adults savor the warm aromas of seasonal treats and the twinkling lights that illuminate our downtown. Whether it's unique holiday gift shopping, local dance group vendors, the Gingerbread house contest, costume contest, carriage rides, educational and craft events, or the appearances of the Queen, the Bobbies, Scrooge, Marley, the Cratchits, and other characters—every aspect of the celebration is designed to evoke the warmth and wonder of the holiday season, ensuring every attendee leaves with cherished memories.
As we celebrate this milestone year, we invite everyone to join us in commemorating 26 years of tradition, joy, and community spirit. Whether you’re a long-time attendee or new to our festivities, A Dickens Holiday promises to enchant and delight, reminding us all of the magic that the season brings. Together, let’s celebrate the past, embrace the present, and look forward to many more years of holiday cheer in Fayetteville!
Our Co - Presenting Sponsors
Dream Finder Homes
Cape Fear Valley Medical Center
Help us Celebrate 25 more years of Holiday Magic
Help A Dickens Holiday continue each year. Your support makes it possible.