The Southern Pines Christmas parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Several bands will participate and there will be floats, beauty queens and, of course, Santa. The parade route begins at Downtown Park and proceeds up North West Broad Street, crossing the tracks at Vermont Avenue and continuing down South East Broad Street before ending at Massachusetts Avenue.

Tree Lightings

Pinehurst

The village of Pinehurst will host its annual Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, on the village square.

Entertainment for the festive event will include the Golf Capital Chorus, Sandhills Teen Challenge and the Sotto Vocce girls' singing group from Pinecrest High School.

Santa Claus will arrive at 6:30 p.m. to light the tree. Children may visit with Santa in the garden room at BB&T until 7:30 p.m. Parents are invited to bring their cameras to capture the moment.

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves will be accepting unwrapped toys for its Toys for Tots program.

Winners of the second annual Christmas decorating contest wil be announced.

Whispering Pines

The Whispering Pines annual Christmas tree lighting begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.

Santa Claus will be present, and there also will be caroling, hot chocolate and cookies.

Foxfire Village

The Foxfire Village Christmas tree lighting will be held Sunday, Dec. 6.

This holiday event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Village Hall.

Musical Magic

New Horizons Band

The New Horizons Band in the Pines, led by conductor David Seiberling, will play a free Christmas concert at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Senior Enrichment Center. The band will be playing such Christmas favorites as " Jingle Bell Rock," "Let it Snow"and other tunes. The band will also play Christmas concerts at various local assisted care facilities and nursing homes.

Members are volunteers over 50 who are returning to their instruments of choice or have decided to learn to play a new instrument. Seiberling is assisted by Molly Wilson, Bob Romine and Judy Menendez.

The Senior Center is located at 8040 U.S. 15-501, two miles north of the Pinehurst Traffic Circle.

For information, call (910) 215-0900.

Pinecrest Choral Concert

The Pinecrest High School Choral Department presents its winter concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Robert E. Lee Auditorium at the school.

Tickets, which are available at the door, are $6 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens.

Our Saviour Lutheran

The dramatic Christmas musical "A 1940's Christmas Homecoming" will be presented Saturday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Southern Pines.

This dinner theater production will feature special military recognition and seating for uniformed active and retired military. Proceeds go to the USO of North Carolina.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children 10 and under and can be purchased by calling (910) 692-2662.

For more information, visit www.oslcsp.org.

Choral Society

Moore County Choral Society will perform its holiday concert, "Sing for Joy," Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. in Owens Auditorium at Sandhills Community College.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for students/children and are available at the Campbell House, The Country Bookshop, Kirk Tours (Pinehurst), the Coffee Scene (Seven Lakes) and at the door.

For information, call (910) 295-3971.

Puttin' on the Ritz

Dress up in your best black and white to attend Animal Advocates of Moore County's "Top Hat and Tails" from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst.

This fundraiser features black, white and black and white dogs and cats for adoption. Animal Control of Moore County will also present animals for adoption.

Heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer, soft drinks and dessert will served, and a silent auction will be held.

Tickets are $30 per person at the door. For advance tickets, call Maureen at (910) 295-7587 or Sue at (910) 245-7446. Visit the Web site www.aamcnc.org.

Flea Market

Aberdeen Sports Complex (ASC), in conjuction with Skaters for Moore, will hold a flea market/bazaar from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

ASC, located two miles east of the Kolcraft factory on N.C. 211, hosts the flea market the first Saturday of every month. This weekend, vendors of both new and used items, including jewelry, skateboards, gold panning and other odds and ends, will set up and offer their goods for sale. Directions and additional information are available at www.SkatersforMoore.org.

Sharpshooter Here

A free sharpshooting exhibition by Tom Knapp will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, at the driving range on Pinehurst No. 8, site of the old Pinehurst Gun Club. See Knapp perform and meet three medal-winning members of the USA Shooting Team at 3 p.m.

"Bring a lawn chair and watch today's best trick shooter," says a spokesman.

For information, call (910) 687-0377 or visit www.AnnieOakleyBoomDays.com.

Calling Shopaholics

Just in time for pre- and post-holiday shopping and browsing, Alona Sloan, an impassioned bargain hunter, will present "Confessions of a Consignment Store Shopaholic" at the Senior Enrichment Center Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 3 to 4 p.m.

"Whether you are already a consignment store shopper, are curious about how 'those people' can be so successful, or you just want to be entertained, come and have some laughs while you learn about Alona's passion and unique bargain hunting techniques," says a spokesman.

Call (910) 215-0900 to reserve a seat. The Senior Enrichment Center is located at 8040 U.S. 15-501, two miles north of the Pinehurst Traffic Circle.

Open House

Get in the Christmas spirit and learn how early Moore County settlers celebrated at the annual free open house, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the historic Bryant House and McLendon Cabin. Both are decorated for the holidays, with refreshments, live music, a historic interpretation and tours.

In addition to free tours of both decorated historic homes, live music will be performed both days and George Talley will provide a historic interpretation. On Saturday, David McDonald, Allen Ashdown, Steven Hedgepeth and one or two more musicians will play string music. On Sunday, Wayne and Max Livengood and possibly one or two more musicians will play. Hot apple cider and homemade cookies will be served in front of the hearth fire in the cabin.

The rural 1820-era Bryant House and McLendon Cabin, built around 1758 and still on its original site, are at 3361 Mt. Carmel Road near Carthage. From the Pinehurst Traffic Circle, take U.S. 15-501 north toward Carthage, turn west (left) on N.C. 73, go to the intersection of Beulah Hill Church Road and take a right. The road goes through two intersections, the second being Harris Crossroads. The houses are located on the right at the bottom of a hill, and there is a state marker. Beulah Hill Church Road changes to Mt. Carmel Road on the way.

For more information, call (910) 692-2051 or visit www.moorehistory.com.

Creative Christmas

The fifth annual Creative Christmas Table will be Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Little River Resort's Clubhouse from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the Moore County Extension & Community Association, the event will feature 25 festive holiday tables, decorated by local decorators, florists and other talented ladies. There will be handmade crafts and baked goods for sale, a raffle and a white elephant corner.

Proceeds will benefit the North Carolina 4-H Museum near Ellerbe.

Admission is $3 per person.

Christmas Dinner

The Moore County Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 83 will host a Christmas dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Call (910) 947-2821 by noon Saturday to reserve spaces.

The chapter house is located at 1020 Priest Hill Road, Carthage.