Arts from their hearts: The arts inspire, enrich and entertain while fulfilling our hopes through self-expression

They could have danced all night.
And still, I’m sure, have begged for more.
When a group representing the Cape Fear Ballroom Dancers gathered for photos on a recent Thursday afternoon, the ladies came in glittery gowns and the gents, in a tux or jacket.
“Dancing is performance art,” says Drew Ziegler, an Army officer who at retirement presented his wife, Kalli, with a package of dance lessons. “We use our imagination, our creativity, and our self-expression to share the moment with others, with our dance partners, with our friends. Music and dance are an integral part of being human, as seen in every culture around the world.”
The dance club, which last month celebrated its 30th year, is one of 20 local arts organizations, venues and performance groups taking part in CityView magazine’s Food, Wine and Art celebration coming Oct. 12 at Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at Eventbrite.com. Proceeds benefit CityView News Fund.
The evening will feature — well, food, wine and art, with performances and presentations by local artists that promise inspiration, entertainment and just plain fun.
The idea is to bring people together to recognize the richness that the arts add to our lives. Music, dance, theater, film, books, visual art, and more give us time to reflect and gain perspective apart from the daily routine.
“Participating in the arts is for everyone,” says Lawrence Carlisle III, artistic director of the Gilbert Theater. “It helps you grow. It gives you joy. It takes what is formless and ephemeral and gives it shape and direction. It helps you express yourself and be cognizant of other people’s expressions. It builds empathy, which I think is something we could use a little more of in this world.”
Here’s a look at the organizations taking part in Food, Wine and Art.
Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County has a mission to connect communities, embrace diversity, promote creativity and advance economic development. Along with the N.C. State Arts Council, it provides grants to help arts agencies meet operating costs, artist support, technical assistance and more.
The council supports the Artists in Schools program, art exhibits, public art and more. The International Folk Festival showcases the diversity of the Fayetteville community with food, music, fashion and culture, represented best in the Parade of Nations.
Bob Pinson, president and CEO of the Arts Council, says the Army brought him to Fayetteville 34 years ago. After retiring from the 82nd Airborne Division, he wanted to help make the community a better place for all.
“Art is a common denominator in each of our lives,” Pinson says. “Just getting dressed in the morning and deciding what to wear is art in action. Our hope is that art will spark conversations and that through these conversations, we learn more about each other and have a better understanding of our world views.”
For more information, call 910-323-1776, email admin@theartscouncil.com or go to theartscouncil.com.
Cape Fear Ballroom Dancers promotes ballroom dancing, “an elegant, sophisticated, adult experience that in some ways reminds us of a better time.”
The club celebrated its 30th anniversary in September with a formal dinner-dance at Highland Country Club. Members take turns at the foxtrot, swing, waltz, cha cha, salsa, tango, and other dance styles. Newcomers are welcomed with a free dance lesson.
The club owns a broad selection of dance music from Glenn Miller’s 1940s, through the rock ’n’ roll 1960s, Latin standards, retro 1980s, classic beach music, and jazz. At times, some disco or country-western music sneaks in.
The club hosts a monthly dance party, usually on the third Saturday at Roland’s Dance Studio. “Dress up” themes celebrate Valentine’s Day, patriotism and Halloween. Tickets are $20, or $15 for members. A holiday formal, featuring music by the Duke Ladd Orchestra, is set for Dec. 20 at Highland Country Club. Tickets are $100 and $75.
“Quarterly, our parties are classy, formal dinner-dances,” says Drew Ziegler. “The gentlemen look dashing in their tuxedos, and the ladies are gorgeous in their long gowns or short cocktail dresses. With all the martini glasses, it has the look and feel of a James Bond movie. ‘Shaken, not stirred!’
“With social dancing like ours, there are no mistakes, no scorecards,” Ziegler adds. “Even if you’ve never danced before, nobody’s going to know. Just give it your best shot, be creative, have fun, and everybody will pat you on the back.”
For more information, call 910-987-4420, email info@capefearballroomdancers.org, or go to capefearballroomdancers.org.
Cape Fear Sound Barbershop is a mixed barbershop chorus that was formed in 2016. The 25 singers perform at community gatherings and in competitions through the Barbershop Harmony Society.
The chorus meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at VFW Post 670, 3928 Doc Bennett Road. Rehearsals are open to new members; no singing experience is required.
“If you sing in the shower or sing with the radio in the car, you can sing with us,” says Jim Berube.
Upcoming performances are Dec. 3 at the Poe House and two Christmas shows at 4 p.m. Dec. 9 at Stadium Events Center, 421 Maiden Lane, and 5 p.m. Dec. 21 at VFW Post 670.
“The joy of music and sense of family our chorus provides for our members and the community we share it with is a lifeline for many,” says Berube. “It brightens the soul in times of darkness, gives a family to those who may have none, a sense of belonging to outcasts, and a purpose to those who feel lost. The arts in whatever form speak to you are a conduit to a new world of experiences, no matter your skill level.”
For more information, go to fayettevillesound@gmail.com or the chorus’ Facebook page.
Cape Fear Botanical Garden, founded in 1989, is a natural showcase on 80 acres nestled between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek.
“The garden offers engaging cultural programs to inspire and excite, educational activities to energize, and peaceful spots to refresh,” says Sheila Hanrick, director of marketing.
Halloween in the BOOtanical Garden is a popular program that will be Oct. 26-29 this year. Ticket information is at etix.com.
Christmas brings Holiday Lights in the Garden on select evenings Dec. 1-21. Tickets will go on sale Oct. 1.
Volunteers help with event set-ups, day-to-day operations and education programs.
“Cape Fear Botanical Garden is a gallery of living art,” says Hanrick. “Our natural background provides canvases of color, peace and comfort. Since our beginning, visitors have been drawn to the garden to wrap themselves in the sights, sounds and quietness of nature. Our human senses come alive in the garden as the stresses of life are traded for the calmness of nature.”
For more information, call 910-486-0221, email info@capefearbg.org, or go to capefearbg.org or its Facebook page.
Cape Fear Regional Theatre is a stage for all. A five-show mainstage season brings vibrant musicals and engaging plays to life. Sets, costumes, staging and choreography are all locally produced. The education department produce an array of programs including summer camps, day camps, and in-school initiatives, as well as outreach programs that extend a welcome to military neighbors and differently abled members of the community.
A major renovation will begin in summer 2024 that will dramatically improve the theater’s facilities, setting the stage for the next 50 years.
Upcoming shows include “The Addams Family,” Oct. 19-Nov. 5; “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Dec. 2-17; “Cinderella,” Jan. 25- Feb. 18; “King Liz,” March 21-April 7; and “Sister Act,” May 2-26.
Tickets range from $15-37 with discounts for military, seniors, students, and educators.
“The arts feed my soul,” says box office manager Janis Long, who has been with CFRT more than 25 years. “I’m able to see a much wider view of life than just my own experiences.”
For more information, call 910-323-4234, email info@cfrt.org, or go to www.cfrt.org. The theater is at 1209 Hay St.
Cape Fear Studios at 148-1 Maxwell St. in downtown Fayetteville has been active for more than 32 years. Its mission is to involve, educate and enrich Cumberland County and surrounding communities with the opportunity to create and freely view art.
A main gallery and a retail gallery showcase one-of-a-kind paintings, photographs, sculptures, pottery, wood and glass art, as well as hand-made jewelry by local, national, and international artists. Exhibits are at no cost to the public; educational opportunities include workshops, classes, and mentoring in pottery, painting, stained glass and photography.
The artworks at CFS represent styles and media including oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings; stained glass and glass mosaic art; 3D clay sculptures and pottery; hand-crafted jewelry; photography; wood art; and drawings.
Upcoming exhibits include works by high school artists, through Oct. 24; the 10th annual Alpha Romeo Tango (ART) Military Artist Exhibit, Oct. 27-Nov 21; a members holiday show, Nov. 24- Jan. 9; and the Cabin Fever Exhibit, Feb 23.-March 19.
“All of our members are lifelong artists who find immersion in art a great part of their lives,” says Steve Opet, board president. “Creating art brings fulfillment, a sense of accomplishment, a giving to the community, and enriches the lives of the artist as well as our community.”
For more information, call 910-433-2986, email artgallery@capefearstudios.com or go to capefearstudios.com.
Cool Spring Downtown District is a nonprofit organization formed in 2017 to create and sustain an arts and entertainment district in the city center. The office is at 222 Hay St.
Its more than 50 events each year include New Year’s Eve Night Circus, Juneteenth Jubilee, and monthly Fourth Fridays.
Its Ambassador Program provides concierge services on the street, including cleaning and street maintenance, public space management and outreach to the unsheltered.
The free District Trolley runs on a 25-minute circular route from downtown to Haymount from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Upcoming activities include Zombie Walk, 6-10 p.m. Oct. 27 downtown and holiday carriage rides, Nov. 24.
For more information, call 910-223-1089, email info@coolspringfay.org, or go to visitdowntownfayetteville.com.
Cumberland Choral Arts has been “Serenading the Sandhills Since 1991” when Alan Porter, choral director at Methodist College, brought together a group of singers to perform Mozart’s “Requiem” to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. The singers decided to keep singing and founded Cumberland Oratorio Singers.
The ensemble’s three concerts per season included choral masterworks, including Handel’s “Messiah” as a sing-along concert. As it branched out to perform jazz, gospel and Broadway music, the name was changed to Cumberland Choral Arts. Tickets are generally $5 to $15.
Today, the nearly 100-member chorus performs four to five concerts per season and collaborates with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra for “Messiah.”
In 2015, the Campbellton Youth Chorus was established for singers ages 9-16.
In May 2022, CCA was invited to sing at Carnegie Hall — truly a bucket-list item, says Sandy Cage, president of the board of directors. A European tour is planned for spring 2024 with concerts in Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague.
The 2023-24 season includes “Mass of the Children” by John Rutter, Oct. 7 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church; “The Messiah,” Dec. 16 at Berean Baptist Church; “Lift Every Voice and Sing: A Musical Journey Through Black History,” Feb. 17 at Seabrook Auditorium; “Seven Last Words of Christ” by Richard Burchard, March 23 at Haymount United Methodist Church; and “Colors!” May 17, E.E. Smith High School.
“I am part of a family of singers,” says Cage. “Once a week we share more than music; we get to know each other, encourage each other, smile and hug and form real friendships. Singing, listening: It’s healing, calming, encouraging, enriching, challenging, and fun.”
For more information, call 910-303-0463, email cumberlandchoralarts@gmail.com, or go to CumberlandChoralArts.org.
Cultural and Heritage Alliance encourages all forms of art created and shared by indigenous artists. The Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County recently awarded the alliance two grants to support the annual Africa World Peace Festival and a collaborative series titled “Book Black Women Inc. Presents,” curated by Book Black Women founder Ayana Washington.
The Africa World Peace Festival features master drummers and traditional dancers to foster a better understanding of the influence of diaspora cultures. Book Black Women Presents is a series of four programs, each focused on one element of art and featuring Black female artists.
“I love bringing all types of art together,” says Isabella Effon of the alliance. “I love watching emerging artists find their place in this world and witnessing how that art affects the public. … Art will feed your soul like nothing else on Earth.”
For more information, call 910-728-2186, email cultureandheritage@gmail.com or visit cultureandheritagealliance.org.
Dance Theatre of Fayetteville was created to promote interest in dance, including classical ballet and creative dance. The nonprofit organization provides opportunities for locally trained dancers to perform in the community.
The theater will perform “The Nutcracker” Dec. 1-3 at Huff Concert Hall at Methodist University. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $9 for children.
For more information, call 910-850-6363 or email dtfnutcracker@gmail.com. The theater is at 330 McArthur Road.
Fayetteville Community Concerts was founded in 1935 and is the oldest arts organization in Cumberland County. It is dedicated to bringing quality concerts to Fayetteville, with past performers including Hall & Oates, Chicago, Martina McBryde, Olivia Newton-John, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole and Kenny Rogers.
Each year, Community Concerts honors artists with local connections with induction into its Performing Arts Hall of Fame. Honorees have included actress Elizabeth MacRae, musician Milton Smith, the 82nd Airborne All American Chorus, choreographer Charlotte Blume, and Olga “Bo” Thorpe, founder of Cape Fear Regional Theatre.
It awards college music scholarships annually to promising high school graduates.
For its 88th season this year, Community Concerts will present Gladys Knights on Nov. 10; Josh Tuner on Dec. 2; Air Supply on Jan. 20; and “Rollin’ on the River: The Best of Tina,” a tribute concert, on March 23. All concerts are held at the Crown Theatre.
Season tickets range from $200 to $525.
For more information, call 910-303-3513 or 910-323-1991, email billkirby49@gmail.com or visit community-concerts.com/.
Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra fills performance venues including Seabrook Auditorium at Fayetteville State University and historic St. John’s Episcopal Church on Green Street. The lineup includes season concerts, community concerts and student concerts.
The orchestra, which was founded in 1956, brings professional musicians from across the region to connect local residents with music from the world’s greatest composers.
The orchestra also partners with community organizations and schools such as Methodist University, Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Fayetteville State University, after-school programs, and Head Start.
The symphony’s 2023-24 concert lineup includes: “Spooktacular,” Oct. 28; Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” Nov. 18; “Holiday Pops,” Dec. 9; “Strings Serenade,” Jan. 20; “Blazin’ Brass,” March 9; the Kruger Brothers, April 20; and “Bad to the Bones,” May 11.
Single tickets range from $5 for children to $32 for adult general admission. Discounts are available for seniors, Cumberland County Schools employees, military personnel and college students.
For the second year, the symphony is partnering with local breweries for smaller performances. Orchestra musicians will perform at local pubs, bars and breweries where music lovers can have a beer or other favorite beverage. Admission to Symphony on Tap shows is free.
Upcoming venues include a string quartet at James Creek Cider House, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10; jazz trio at Heckler, 7 p.m. Feb. 13; violin and piano duet at Gaston Taproom, 7 p.m. March 15; Dirty Whiskey, 7 p.m. April 13; violin and piano duet, District House of Taps, noon May 5.
Call 910-433-4690 or visit fayettevillesymphony.org.
Friends of the Cumberland County Library strives to celebrate ideas, promote creativity, connect people and enrich lives.
The organization supports the library in fulfilling its literary, educational, technological, community and cultural purposes. Its volunteers enhance library services by encouraging gifts, endowments and financial support that would not otherwise be possible.
Benefits include members-only book sales and early notice of book sales and writer appearances.
Membership levels range from individual ($15) to corporate ($250).
Call 910-483-7727, Ext. 1304, email friendsofthelibrarync@outlook.com or visit cumberlandcountylibraryfriends.com/.
Fayetteville State University Department of Performing and Fine Arts offers bachelor’s degrees in music, theater and visual arts as well as a minor in dance. It also presents cultural programs including concerts, shows, and exhibits.
Upcoming programs include Fall Chamber Night, 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at Seabrook Auditorium; Symphonic Winds Concert, 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at Seabrook Auditorium; and the 2023 National Drawing Competition, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Oct. 24-Nov. 17 at Rosenthal Gallery.
“I have been around music and musicians for as long as I can remember, and I couldn’t do life without music,” says Amanda Virelles, associate professor of music. “Music has been part of my professional life and my personal life, both as a performer and as a professor.”
For more information, visit uncfsu.edu/about-fsu/events.
Gilbert Theater has been a part of the Fayetteville arts community for 30 years. With a commitment to live theater as an important part of the human experience, the company produces five theatrical works ranging from the classics to original plays and cutting-edge fare not found elsewhere.
Classes for both children and adults are offered. 
This season’s opening show is a past favorite: “The Rocky Horror Show,” running Oct. 6-22.
Artistic Director Lawrence Carlisle III says Gilbert Theater strives to be open to all. Performers or aspiring performers can check the company’s website or Facebook and Instagram pages for announcements about auditions.
“We love when new people come join us,” says Carlisle. “Come hang out and become part of the Gilbert family.
“The Gilbert has been involved in the arts to show that theater, performance and storytelling can start anywhere,” he adds. “It’s in our DNA. Stories teach us, inspire us, scare us, and, at their best, make us think about who we are and empathize with people that aren’t like us. Theater creates a space where it’s safe to talk about otherwise uncomfortable subjects.”
For more information, call 910-678-7186 or visit gilberttheater.com.
Gilbert Theater is at 116 Green St. above Fascinate-U Children’s Museum.
GroundSwell Pictures promises a captivating cinematic experience with the eighth annual Indigo Moon Film Fest, scheduled Oct. 13-15 in historic downtown.
This year’s festival will feature three days of enchanting storytelling and the magic of independent filmmaking. The lineup will include more than 60 films, filmmaker Q&As and other programs.
The opening night film is “Black Barbie,” a documentary that explores the intersection of merchandise and representation through the life story of Beulah Mae Mitchell. The documentary delves into the challenges and triumphs faced by Black women as they strive to have their voices and stories heard. It will be screened at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 and 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at Cameo Art House Theater downtown.
For more information, call 910-309-6580 or visit indigomoonfilmfest.com/.
Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex includes a regional history museum, the 1897 Poe House, and Arsenal Park. As part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the museum has a mission to collect, preserve and interpret the cultural history of southeastern North Carolina. The complex sponsors living history programs and festivals featuring music and traditional arts and crafts. The Poe House has been the site of Halloween tours, a murder mystery, and performances in the backyard by Sweet Tea Shakespeare.
The museum is at 801 Arsenal Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
Upcoming programs include:
“Halloween Revels: Moonlight Mischief at the 1897 Poe House,” 6-10 p.m. Oct. 19-21 and 26-27. Hosted in partnership with Gilbert Theater, the 30-minute journey showcases early 20th century cultural norms, music and poetry.
“Trick or Treat at the Poe House,” 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 28. Halloween fun for kids 12 and younger includes vintage carnival games, a dance party, and Joy the Clown. Hayrides in Arsenal Park will round out the fun.
“Holiday Jubilee at the 1897 Poe House,” 1-4 p.m. Dec. 3. Christmas with Victorian flair features the Coventry Carolers, tours of the decorated Poe House, and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Admission is free.
Current exhibits include “We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina,” running through Dec. 30. Presented by Preservation North Carolina, it traces the history and legacy of North Carolina’s Black builders and architects, celebrating the Black builders and craftspeople who constructed or designed many of North Carolina’s most treasured historic sites.
For more information, call 910-500-4240 or visit Museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.hov.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare strives to gather diverse communities around a common table to delight in the magic of story, song and stagecraft. Its shows are produced in Fayetteville and Raleigh.
Its mainstage performances of Shakespearean and other classic tales is presented in the style of immersive theater. The 2023-24 season will include “Julius Caesar,” Nov. 17-19 in the Mercedes of Fayetteville showroom, 420 Glensford Drive. Upcoming productions in Fayetteville include “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” “Blue Ridge Juliet,” “Everybody,” and “Twelfth Night.”
“Showcase” performances that are small-audience, one-night-only shows will include “The Seven Ages Speakeasy,” Oct. 14 at The TapHouse at Huske, and “Band of Brothers,” Nov. 9 at District House of Taps. Tickets are $10 to $30.
Sweet Tea Shakespeare’s youth company, Green Tea, will stage a family-friendly version of “The Merry Wives of Windsor” in late October and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in March, both at Capitol Encore Academy.
“Our performances at Sweet Tea are not mere fleeting moments of art; they are intimate gatherings, a synthesis of history, music, and the power of storytelling that brings us all closer in a world often fraught with distance,” Sweet Tea said in a statement. “We use art to bridge the gap between people, find the common humanity among us, and intentionally create belonging.”
For more information, email info@sweetteashakespeare.com or visit sweetteashakespeare.com/.
Tarheel Quilters Guild was started in 1981 and has grown steadily, with about 100 members today. The nonprofit organization’s primary objective is to promote and perpetuate the art of quilting.
Among its special projects are Valentine’s Day lap quilt donations for veterans at the Veterans Affairs nursing home and crib quilt donations to babies in the neonatal unit at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. ​
Other activities include:
Secret Quilters: Members bring a small gift for their “secret quilter” each month.  At the end of the year, the secret quilter is revealed.
Fabric exchanges: Members bring a fat quarter — a piece of fabric cut 18 inches off the end of the bolt. The winner of a drawing gets all the fabric in an assigned color or theme.
Sew Days: Quilters can bring their own projects, participate in group projects, or show up with questions.
Membership is open to anyone 10 or older. Quilting experience is not necessary.
Upcoming meetings are scheduled at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2505 Village Drive, Oct. 15, Nov. 19 and Dec. 17, all starting at 2 p.m.​​​ ​
For information, go to the guild’s Facebook page.