Where to Dine for a Thanksgiving Feast

Pine Crest Inn 

Pinehurst Resort

Pretend to be the chef (your secret is safe with us!). There are many places offering to-go orders for you to enjoy at home. Be sure to order early![bg_collapse view=”button-red” color=”#FFFFF” icon=”arrow” expand_text=”Read More” collapse_text=”Read Less” ]

195 American Fusion

Beefeaters

Embers BBQ

Karefree Produce

Pik N Pig

Sweet Feed Southern Pines

Time & Place Catering

Willabee Market

Harris Teeter, Fresh Market, Honey Baked Home

Don’t forget about all our local bakeries, personal bakers, and food trucks for delicious desserts!

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Start the holiday season by joining in-person on Thanksgiving Day for the Blessing of the Hounds and Opening Meet. This beloved community event is a time-honored tradition in Southern Pines and the surrounding area and is a fun way to kick off the holiday season. The Blessing will begin promptly at 10:00 AM. Moore County Hounds is the oldest recognized pack of foxhounds in North Carolina and one of only a few remaining private packs. More info.

All aboard the Carolina Christmas Train in nearby Star, NC! Start the journey at the festive Carolina Christmas Village and enjoy a one hour and fifteen minute holiday-themed ride through the Sandhills. This is a great experience for all ages. While there be sure to check out Starworks, a creative community experience with high-end art creators.

Join the fun on one of the many holiday trolley adventures with Sandhills Trolley Company! Don’t miss the Holly Trolley Express Cruise, a family-friendly cruise with a reading of the Polar Express,  cookies and hot chocolate, and a visit with Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Or, enjoy the Festival of Lights Trolley Cruise. Even the biggest Grinch can’t help but feel the Christmas spirit as they cruise around town looking for the best holiday light displays in the Sandhills!

Nothing says holiday fun like a special Foodie Tour! Think beyond roasted chestnuts and fig pudding to the culinary delights the Sandhills has offer. Foodie Tours is cooking up something special and unique for the holiday season.

Agora Bakery: Seasonal Apple Cider, Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail, Espresso Martini, French Onion and Cranberry Apple Goat Cheese Salad.

Mason’s Deli: Spiked S’mores Hot Chocolate

Southern Supreme: Over 30 years of selling a gourmet nutty Fruitcake

Pinehurst Resort– Mile High Key Lime Pie

The Gravy Train The Gobbler Grinder

The Sandhills offers the perfect backdrop for your holiday party!

Private Room Space for groups

• Ashten’s, Southern Pines
• Bob’s Pizza, Vass
• Cagle’s Diner, Robbins. Up to 100
• Homegrown, Vass
• Macs Breakfast Anytime, Aberdeen
• Pine Crest Inn, Pinehurst
• Red Bowl, Southern Pines
• Southern Prime Steakhouse, Southern Pines
• Table on the Green, Southern Pines
• Valenti’s, Vass

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Hotels with onsite catering:

• Pinehurst Resort
• Pine Crest Inn
• Hilton Garden Inn- On Site Restaurant
• Mid Pines Terrace Room

Hotels that have meeting space 

• Hilton Garden Inn
• Homewood Suites
• Hampton Inn
• Days Inn

Larger Parties

• The Village Pine Venue
• The Fair Barn
• Rubicon Farm

Other possibilities for something outside the box:

• Soiree on South
• The Aberdeen Postmaster’s House
• Sandhills Woman’s Exchange
• Foodie Tour
• Trackside 360

Check out these local restaurants, breweries and more for their Holiday Specialty items.

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The Nutcracker Presented by: Taylor Dance November 24, 25, 26 @ Bradshaw Performing Arts Center at SCC.

Santa’s Magic Toy Bag Presented by: STARS Charter School November 29 & 30 @ Bradshaw Performing Arts Center at SCC.

A Christmas Carol Presented by: Virginia Repertory Theatre on Tour, December 3 @ Bradshaw Performing Arts @ Sandhills Community College

Miracle on 34th Street Presented by: Encore Performing Arts Center Dec. 1, 2, 3 & Dec. 8, 9, 10 @ Encore Center in Southern Pines

A Christmas Story Presented by: Temple Theater November 30-December 17 @ Temple Theater in Sanford

Dickens and His Christmas Carol: An Original Take on a Timeless Tale Dec. 19, 20 & 21 @ The Village Chapel in Pinehurst

Enjoy the Christmas season at one of Moore County’s 733 farms!

Start the season by visiting Santa at White Hill Farm. Friday, Nov. 24th from 1-3 and Sat. Nov. 25 from 2-4pm. They also offer one of Moore Co.’s largest produce markets open year-round.

Choose the perfect Christmas tree at Doby’s Christmas Tree Farm located in historic Cameron. They open Thanksgiving weekend and sell out quick!

Enjoy cocoa & visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hayrides through the farm, or a barrel train ride with Mr. Grinch! Visit Kalawi Farm for these memorable moments Dec. 1 ,2, 3.

Highlander Farms has a drive-thru Christmas Light Show that is not to be missed. Meander around their farm as many times as you would like and top the night off with ice cream made on the farm or hot cocoa. Starts Thanksgiving weekend through Dec 28, Tuesdays-Saturdays.

Get into the old-time Christmas spirit with annual Christmas Open Houses at Moore County’s historic homes:

Step back in time and experience an 18th century Christmas at the NC Historic Site The House in the Horseshoe. Interpreters will portray members of the community who have gathered for a festive party during the holiday season among fresh greenery and candlelight. Saturday, December 2nd 3-6:30pm. $8 per person.

Travel back in time to the 1820s Bryant House and 1760s McLendon Cabin Sunday, December 3 from 1-4pm. Every Yule visitor can get a little taste of how early settlers celebrated Christmas. There will be hot cider, hot cocoa, cookies, and entertainment. Free.

Celebrate the spirit of the 1800s at Malcolm Blue Farm.  The farmhouse will be open and decorated in the fashion of the 1800s. Music and light refreshments will be provided. The pack house will be open with children’s activities such as letters to Santa with feather pens and making bird feeders. The museum will also be open to visitors. December 9, 2023 from 1pm-5pm. Free. 

The Shaw House Holiday Open House is Saturday, December 9th from 1-4pm. Enjoy old-time decorations, warm apple cider and homemade cookies in a 1700-1800s Christmas style. Free.

The Sandhills Woman’s Exchange, a 200 year old cabin in the Village of Pinehurst will host Guest Speaker Carley Sutton to speak about “Holidays Past in the Pines” on Wed. Nov. 29^th. They will host their holiday open house the week of Nov. 13-17, 10 am to 3 pm On Dec. 9^th from 9am to 11am Santa will be welcoming kids to share their Christmas wishes along with face painting and holiday music.

Walk the streets of Downtown Southern Pines and enjoy streets filled with community-decorated Christmas trees lighting the path.

The Williams family will host the Fourth Annual Christmas Lights Pop Up Festival! Dec 1 and 2; Dec 7, 8, 9, 5 pm until 9pm. Stroll through thousands of Christmas lights, visit with local artists and crafters for that one-of-a-kind Christmas gift, and enjoy a hay ride through the woods. 9348 NC Hwy 705 – Eagle Springs 27242. Free.

Candlelight Tour of Homes by the Episcopal Day School is Dec 3 1-5pm touring 5 beautifully decorated homes.

Enjoy Lights & Bites Walking or Foodie Trolley Tour while enjoying the sparkling lights of the season.

The Light Show Display at Aloha Safari Park in Cameron has over 2 million lights to enjoy!

For community light displays check out the Best & Brightest Facebook Page. A few favorites: Holly Jolly Lights in Pinehurst, David House Drive Thru Christmas Lights in Robbins, Highlander Farms massive drive-thru light display in Carthage and the Farley Family Light Show in Cameron.

Historical Home Tours in Carthage will be December 9th from 3-5pm.

It’s easy to support our local shops and artists, many of which carry goods made right here in Moore County.

Against the Grain Shoppe in downtown Southern Pines sources more than 85% of their inventory in North Carolina.

Willabee Market in Vass invites you to join the movement to living a more eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle.

Twigg & Co has a plethora of local homemade goods made with love and passion.

Go directly to the source for the perfect one-of-a-kind present: Discover Seagrove , ArtWorks Vass, The Artist League, Starworks.

Get creative and make something yourself at Wine & Design, 9th of September or Hammer & Stain in Southern Pines. Art Works Vass also offers classes in stained glass, glass-blowing and more!

Enjoy these sounds of the season in the Sandhills:

SCC Holiday Concert – presented by Sandhills Community College (SCC) music students and faculty. Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 4pm at SCC.

Pinehurst United Methodist Christmas Celebration December 2nd at 4pm.

Carolina Philharmonic Holiday Pops is a festive holiday extravaganza of your favorites! December 6th & 7th, 7:30pm both nights at Owens Auditorium, Sandhills Community College.

Pinecrest Choral Holiday Concert, Saturday, December 9th at Pinecrest High School.

Moore County Choral Society presents The Light of Christmas Sunday, December 10th at 7pm.

Monday, December 11th @ 7pm at SCC Bradshaw Performing Arts Center The Carolina Philharmonic Junior Orchestra and Choir presents Oh, Watch the Stars for their Christmas Concert

Moore Philharmonic Orchestra proudly presents their 19th Annual Holiday Concert on December 16th at 7pm at Pinecrest High School Auditorium.

North Carolina Symphony Holiday Pops concert will be at BPAC at Sandhills Community College, Tuesday, December 19th at 7:30pm.

Santa makes many stops in the Sandhills.

One of the first places Santa visits is his favoriteThe Little Toy Shop in Southern Pines, the Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving. He makes his rounds to all the parades and you can follow along with our very own Santa of the Sandhills as he and other Santa’s helpers make appearances all over Moore County.

Weather permitting, Santa will make his grand entrance via airplane, the second Saturday in December around 3pm accompanied by his skydiving elves at the Pik n Pig in Carthage.

He will be so many places from the Sandhills Bowling Alley to the Carthage Historical Museum because Santa loves to spend time in the Sandhills.

Santa will make a stop at Sandhills Horticultural Gardens  Sun. Nov. 26th @ 1pm

Yates-Thagard Church offers a free Live Nativity Drama. A seven set/30+ minute walk-thru experience designed to immerse you into the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Dec. 1-3 & Dec. 8-10.

Christmas Eve candlelight service at 5pm & 7pm will be held at Pinehurst Fair Barn hosted by Pinehurst United Methodist Church on Dec. 24th.

Candlelight service 9pm at The Village Chapel.

Community Christmas Eve Service in Aberdeen is hosted this year by Page Memorial Church. This service combines several different churches and affiliations into one service.

Enjoy doing a (FREE) Scavenger Hunt! Work together as a team or compete against each other while learning something new about the Sandhills.

Looking for something fun to do with family or friends? Get nostalgic with Music Bingo at locations throughout Moore County, or join Rudino’s every Wednesday.

Pop Up in the Pines will be at Hatchet Brewing Sun Nov 19 & Sun Dec 17 11am-4pm. Over 70 vendors, food trucks, and live music! Shop Artisan Made Products, Locally Made, Boutiques, Food Items, & More!

St. John Paul II Christmas Bazar Sat. Dec. 2 10am-3pm featuring local vendors, food trucks, baked goods, holiday photo and more.

Holiday Pop Up Shop Dec. 3, 12pm-4pm at the Rec Room

Have fun with your furry companion at Jingle Tales & Ales Mini Market

Claus-mopolitan Crawl Ladies night – Shop, Sip, and Support Local! Head to Downtown Southern Pines Wednesday, December 4th to celebrate the Christmas season. Enjoy a signature cocktail and special holiday discounts at EACH participating business.

Get into the festive spirit by visiting Carolina Hotel for the Festival of Trees. It is a great place to take the first photos of the season and support a good cause.

Festival of Trees

Wednesday, November 15 – Saturday, November 18, 2023.

This favorite community event is located at Pinehurst Resort’s Carolina Hotel with an annual display of more than 100 trees. This annual fundraiser has raised more than $200,000 each year for Sandhills Children’s Center. You can support the cause and bid on these amazing and creatively decorated trees. The Carolina Hall is transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland that is sure to delight the young … and the young-at-heart. Donations appreciated. For more information, watch this video

The Outdoor Wonderfest & Market is a fantastic occasion for the whole family to go walkin’ in a Weymouth Wonderland! For three days, our grounds will be transformed into a holiday family funderland featuring:

• Local vendors and artisans
• Weymouth’s own Holiday Shoppe
• Crafts and face painting
• Food from some of our area’s most popular trucks
• Wandering minstrels and choristers
• Santa’s magical toy shop!

And don’t forget to visit the fully decorated Boyd House and the stables to say a holiday “Hey” to our horses.

Free and open to the public! Enter with any monetary donation. 

Second Saturday of December @ 1pm. Downtown Southern Pines, NC.

The Moore County Driving Club decorates their horses and carriages for Christmas and drives them through the historic downtown Southern Pines. Trotting along Broad Street, this unique parade is sure to get you into the holiday spirit.

Want to ride in a carriage? Pinehurst Resort is offering carriage rides on Nov. 25 from 6-9pm. Reservations required or book a private tour call 910-690-4580.

Buggy Town Christmas is a full day of festivities on Saturday, December 9th with historic home tours, holiday shopping, visit with Santa to the special night Christmas Parade!  For a Full list of the Fun Click here 

Aloha Safari Park’s second annual Christmas Wonderland of Lights is just around the corner! Come drive through our beautiful Christmas light show display with over 2 million lights and when you’re finished you can come inside the zoo for even more holiday fun! Santa will be coming to visit us with his baby kangaroo, you can feed giraffes, and see the rest of all our furry friends!

Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh!

Join us for one of our nights of merriment this holiday season as we travel through the North Pole’s dazzling lights on our way to Santa’s workshop!

This year, the North Pole will be open December 9th & 10th and December 16th & 17th. Gates will open at 5:30 and close at 9 PM. Reservations for sleigh rides are required in order to guarantee your space and can be made when purchasing tickets below. Tickets purchased in advance are $15/person; tickets will also be sold at the door for $20/person.

End the year with a picturesque moment at the First Eve Celebration in downtown Southern Pines. The pinecone drop ceremony happens at 8pm and is perfect for family and friends of all ages. You’ll have plenty of time to get home and into your jammies or celebrate later at one of local establishments.

Want to stay up late? Stay at the iconic Pine Crest Inn and enjoy their Grand New Years Eve Celebration or hang out at The Rec Room New Year’s Eve Party.

Santa Paws Dec. 2 @ 1pm

Holiday Portraits for Pups Sun. Dec. 10 from 1-3pm. Join Ashten’s and Rachel Garrison Photography for light refreshments and some fun, festive photos of you + your loved ones (furry family members encouraged!) against the backdrop of Ashten’s farm truck.

Paint your favorite animal at ARTworks Vass Thurs. Dec. 14 @ 1-4pm. Cats, Dogs, Lizards, Fish, Pigs, and more! You name it, and Ken will help you paint your favorite pet or animal. Or, if you’ve always wanted to paint a landscape, go for it, his is the perfect class to try it out!

Pick up your passport to fun and start traveling to our local breweries, collecting stamps at each stop! The Sandhills Pour Tour Passport is designed to guide you around Moore County to where you can enjoy a beverage and our cool Southern vibe. So, whether you play golf, or not, anyone can tee up a good time with some friends, a passport and a few rounds at our favorite 19th holes.

For wine enthusiasts, we offer The Sandhills Wine Trail Passport.