Arts Council retires ‘A Dickens Holiday’ for more inclusive ‘Holidays on Hay … A Season of Light’

[Fayetteville, North Carolina] – After 22 years, the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County (Arts Council) has retired the name ‘A Dickens Holiday’ for the annual event that takes place throughout Downtown Fayetteville on the Friday after Thanksgiving. ‘Holidays on Hay…A Season of Light’ will premiere in its place on Friday, November 25, 2022.

Continuing the ideals of creating a unique holiday and shopping experience, the rebranding of the event helps to reposition the holiday festivity by broadening the appeal of its programming to be a more inclusive, engaging, and memorable experience for all to enjoy. These efforts embrace the Arts Council’s commitment to providing quality, culturally enriched programming that welcomes all communities throughout the region to participate.

‘Holidays on Hay…A Season of Light’ will continue to mark the beginning of the holiday season attracting patrons to merchants and restaurants in the Historic Downtown Fayetteville area to celebrate their holidays with friends, food, fun, and fellowship. The marketplace will be filled with artisans selling their unique handcrafted holiday arts & crafts trinkets, treats,

and treasures.

Bob Pinson, Interim President of the Arts Council, says “’Holidays on Hay…A Season of Light’ maintains the original mission of creating an event that is an economic engine to downtown while expanding on the unique aspects of arts, culture, and history that comprise the many distinct populations of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.”

Planning for ‘Holidays on Hay…A Season of Light’ is currently underway at the Arts Council, along with the Cool Spring Downtown District, the Downtown Alliance, and others in the community. More information about the event will be available on the Arts Council’s website in the coming weeks.

For inquiries regarding Event Partnerships and Media, contact:

Christy McNeil

Director of Marketing

ChristyM@theartscouncil.com

910-460-5724

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About the Arts Council of Fayetteville | Cumberland County

The Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization based in Fayetteville, NC that supports individual creativity, cultural preservation, economic development, and lifelong learning through the ARTS. As a primary steward of public and private funding for arts, cultural, and historical activities in the Cape Fear Region, all affiliated programs of the Arts Council exemplify our 5 core values: Excellence, Accountability, Transparency, Collaborations, and Innovation. theartscouncil.com

In the year 2021-22, the Arts Council distributed almost $1 million in grant funds and allocations to Cumberland County arts and culture non-profit organizations, artists, and municipalities.

Grants, programs, and services of the Arts Council are funded in part by contributions from community partners, and through grants from the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. ncarts.org