While it’s the best time of year to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket, a hot drink, and a movie, December also ushers in many opportunities for warm connections with each other.
With several holidays and celebrations this month—like Bodhi Day on December 8, Hanukkah, which starts on December 14, Christmas on December 25, and Kwanzaa, which starts on December 26—“The Holiday Issue” magazine immerses you in the spirit of the season.
Our cover story highlights the sparkly holiday light shows happening across our county: Segra Stadium’s Fayetteville Holiday Lights event, Christmas in the Park at Arnette Park, Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s Holiday Lights in the Garden, and Sweet Valley Ranch’s Festival of Lights. All of these events have dates throughout December.
A local military family celebrates Christmas with a unique tradition rooted in faith. Lori Hawkins, a former master trainer for the Army Reserve Command, and retired Col. Leonard Hawkins set out across their home and yard a collection of more than 40 nativity sets in different sizes, shapes, and materials from across the world. What began as a family tradition now brings joy to friends and neighbors alike, who gift them unique nativities they find during their travels.
If you’re shopping for gifts or want to dine out for your holiday celebrations, we’ve got a guide to the new businesses where you can do just that. For shopping, there’s The Little Trunk, Chapter House Books, Cavender’s Boot City, Bound and Vine. And for dining, there’s Snowy Town and Bounty Farmhouse Kitchen & Tap. For even more places to shop and dine, check out our 2025-2026 DestinationFAY magazine.
This month, our columnists share what the holiday season means to them. The first writes a letter to Santa with all his wishes for the Greater Fayetteville area and Cumberland County. Another reflects on the Christmas memories her children remind her of. The next shares her seven holiday book recommendations for families. And our bilingual columnist shares what December means to her and an end-of-year tamale recipe.
Our December To-Do List is sure to keep you entertained, with a Methodist University Chorale & Orchestra concert, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever shows by Cape Fear Regional Theatre, a Cumberland Choral Arts and Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra performance, and much more.
We also have a photo gallery of Cumberland County Veterans Council’s 2025 Veterans Day Parade, which took place on November 1 in downtown Fayetteville.
As this December magazine shows, whether you celebrate the holidays in December or not, there’s plenty the Greater Fayetteville area offers the community. We hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for reading!
Read CityView Magazine’s “The Holiday Issue” December 2025 e-edition here.
