In Richmond County, Christmas events start right after this year’s late Thanksgiving.
From Friday on, Rockingham Speedway’s Holiday Lights Extravaganza will be back. It will run every day until December 29, except for Christmas Day.
People can use the drive-thru to get to the big oval, the apron, and the infield road course, which has more than 75 big light displays and a 50-foot Christmas tree.
Several businesses and nonprofits in the area decorated trees earlier this week that can be seen in the Papa Joe Hendrick Garage. Also, there is a 12-foot “giving tree” where toys for kids in need can be collected.
Along with the trees, the garage has cars from Warriors in Motion and the track’s Crown 9 Series. There will also be some stock cars there before the event starts.
Warriors in Motion is also collecting bikes for local foster children. The group will fix up any bikes that are in bad shape if they need to be.
In the garage, Santa’s Pit Stop will have snacks like cookies, donuts, muffins, hot cocoa, and coffee, as well as chairs and fire tables, holiday music, laser lights, and an interactive TV with a big red button that kids can press to see different winter scenes that can be used for pictures. Santa will be in the garage on the weekends to take pictures with kids and their families.
Tickets cost $30 per car and can be bought at thefoat.com, which is the speedway’s website. You can also buy tickets at the gate.
Sue Jarvis will continue a holiday tradition by performing Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” at 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 1 at the Derby Store (Triple L Farms).
Those planning to attend should Register to Marcia Lambeth at 910-995-6082 or [email protected].
Municipal tree-lighting ceremonies begin Monday, December 2, with Hamlet’s annual event at 5:30 p.m. at Main Street Park.
In addition to the lighting, there will be a live nativity and a performance by the Hamlet Senior Center Choir, followed by refreshments and the Polar Express Experience at the Hamlet Depot, where Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet children.
Hoffman’s annual event will take place the same evening at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, followed by refreshments at the town’s Recreation Complex. Due to the event, the town’s monthly meeting has been rescheduled for December 9 at 7 p.m.
Rockingham’s 33rd annual tree-lighting ceremony will take place on December 3 at 7 p.m., with the L.J. Bell Elementary choir performing Christmas carols. This year, Track Enterprises president Bob Sargent, who is also the promoter of the upcoming NASCAR weekend at Rockingham Speedway, will make the switch.
Hamlet will host its fourth annual Parade of Lights on Thursday at 6 p.m. The long-running parade was moved from the afternoon to after dark in 2021, with awards and food trucks along the way. Richmond County Hospice has won first place for best float for the past three years.
Ellerbe will light its tree on Friday at 6 p.m. as part of its annual Hometown Christmas celebration, which begins an hour earlier. In addition to the local shops, there will be hayrides to the nativity, food and craft vendors on Main Street, a game truck, a 360 photo booth, and free photos with Santa.
The first full week of December will conclude with the Hamlet Fire Department’s Breakfast with Santa from 8:30-10:30 a.m., followed by Rockingham’s annual Christmas on the Square, which will feature craft and commercial vendors, food trucks, music, and other activities.
The town of Dobbins Heights will hold its annual tree-lighting ceremony at Town Hall on December 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Santa will be at the Norman Stage on December 20 from 4 to 7 p.m., and there will be cookies, hot chocolate, cider, and small gifts for children.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office continues its Santa parades in three communities this year:
- Dec. 20 – Ellerbe at 3 p.m.
- Dec. 21 – East Rockingham at noon; Cordova at 2 p.m.
Also on Dec. 21, the Derby Store will host its annual Derby Christmas, a tradition dating back more than a decade, at 6 p.m.
On Dec. 23, Dobbins Heights welcomes back free sleigh rides from Gold Leaf Carriage, in addition to a toy drop and holiday meal, at the town park and community center.