Christmas Parade

The Southern Pines Christmas Parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in downtown Southern Pines.

Marching bands include Pinecrest High, Union Pines High, Fayetteville State University, Southern Middle School and North Moore High.

"The Wells Fargo stagecoach will make a special appearance," says a spokesman. The parade is co-sponsored by the Southern Pines Business Association and the Southern Pines Recreation and Parks Department.

Reindeer Run

The Reindeer Fun Run 2011 will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, in Aberdeen.

A 10K run begins at 8:45 a.m., followed by a 5K fun run and walk, and at 10:15 a.m., the Chick-fil-A Egg Nog Jog starts. There will be an "after party" from 9:30 a.m. to noon featuring live music and more.

This event is sponsored by Trident Marketing and benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sandhills.

For information and registration, visit www.reindeerfunrun.com.

Top Hat and Tails

Animal Advocates of Moore County will host its annual "Puttin' on the Ritz" Monday, Dec. 5, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Fair Barn, in Pinehurst.

Catered by Elliott's, there will be wine, a silent auction antique cars, and the traditional red carpet animal parade of adoptable black and white cats and dogs.

Tickets are $40 and are available at The Country Bookshop, Cared for Canine, Moore Equine, Dazzle, Faded Rose, Pawz Grooming and Sandhills Winery, as well as online at www.aamcnc.org or by calling (910) 944-5098.

Holly and Ivy Dinner

The Holly and Ivy Dinner, an elegant five-course dinner reminiscent of Pinehurst in the 1920s, will be held Tuesday, Dec. 6, in the Cardinal Ballroom of the Carolina Hotel.

Cocktails will be at 6:30 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $150.

Funds raised benefit Given Memorial Library and Tufts Archives.

The event is sponsored by PineStraw magazine and Pinehurst Resort.

For information, call (910) 235-8415.

Holiday Concert

The New Horizons Band in the Pines will present a concert of holiday music at the Senior Enrichment Center, 8040 U.S. 15-501, on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 3:30 p.m.

New Horizons Band is composed of -seniors 50 and older who may have played an instrument many years ago or have always wanted to play an instrument, and provides a joyful learning environment for inexperienced musicians.

For further information, contact Ronnie Milligan at (910) 673-1462 or Lionel Bryson at (910) 673-0887.

Tree Lightings

Pinehurst

The 16th annual Pinehurst Christmas Tree Lighting is Friday, Dec. 2.

From 1 to 3 p.m., there will be strolling carolers, pet photos with Santa and letters to Santa.

From 3 to 6 p.m. there will be a caricature artist, children's photos with Santa, food vendors, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, holiday shopping, musical entertainment and the tree lighting ceremony.

The event is presented by the village and the Pinehurst Business Guild.

Foxfire Village

The Foxfire Garden Club has invited Santa to come visit and discuss holiday wishes with children of all ages on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 5 p.m., at the Foxfire Fire Hall. There will be holiday music and treats for the children.

"Everyone is welcome to participate in this holiday tradition," says a spokesperson.

The Foxfire Property Owners Association will host an informal cocktail party/buffet at the clubhouse starting at 6:30 p.m. The charge for FPOA members for dinner is $8. Music will be provided by Beckie Pahner.

Whispering Pines

Santa Claus will be on hand to help bring in the holiday season and visit with children at the Whispering Pines Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. The event will be held at the Whispering Pines Police Department.

Open Houses

Bryant and McLendon Houses

Get into the old-time Christmas spirit with the annual Christmas open house held at the historic Bryant House and McLendon Cabin from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4.

The Moore County Historical Association hosts this free event.

Decorations are based on old-timey materials and traditions. There will be refreshments and live music.

The Bryant House and McLendon Cabin are at 3361 Mount Carmel Road in Carthage. The cabin is the oldest dwelling remaining on its original site, where it was built in the 1760s. Next door on the same lot is the Bryant House, a bigger dwelling dating back to the 1820s.

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

Postmaster's House

The Friends of the Postmaster's House will hold an old-fashioned Christmas open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at the house in downtown Aberdeen.

There will be tours of the house, carolers, Christmas stories, games and refreshments, as well as the beginning of an effort to record oral histories of past Christmases.

The event is free.

The Postmaster's House, located at the corner of South and Pine streets in the Aberdeen Historic District, was originally built in 1880 for Malcolm James Blue, who was Aberdeen's first postmaster. It is the oldest structure in Aberdeen.

For information, call (910) 691-2808 or (910) 944-2583.

Artist Gallery

Artist Gallery of Southern Pines will host a open house Friday, Dec. 2, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Patti O'Day will be at the Artist Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. with her line of handmade purses.

The Artist Gallery also is representing a new line of equestrian-themed glassware by Sean Kelley.

The Artist Gallery is located at 167 E New Hampshire Ave.

For more information, call (910) 692-6077.

Westmoore Pottery

Westmoore Pottery will hold its annual holiday open house Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The shop will be decorated for the holidays, refreshments will be served, and special Christmas pieces will be unloaded from the kiln for that day.

Westmoore Pottery is located at 4622 Busbee Road, near Seagrove.

There is no charge for this event.

S. P. Elementary

Southern Pines Elementary School will host an open house to show off its newly renovated auditorium, located on Massachusetts Avenue, Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Visitors will receive a tour of the updated space, which is more than 50 years old, and Friends of the Southern Pines Public Library will be selling their annual landmark ornament, which features the elementary school this year.

For more information, contact the school at (910) 692-2357.

Live From the Met

The Sunrise Theater presents "Rodelinda" Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera in New York at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door. All seating is reserved. Purchase tickets through www.sunrisetheater.org or by calling (910) 695-8501.

Holiday Play

"It's a Wonderful Life" will be performed by the Union Pines theater students in the Union Pines High School auditorium Monday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m.

Nativity Luncheon

Mike Yankoski, author of "Under the Overpass," will be guest speaker for the 2011 Coalition Nativity Luncheon Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Belle Meade, at St. Joseph of the Pines.

Inspired by a sermon titled "Being the Christian You Say You Are," Yankoski and fellow college student Sam Purvis lived on the streets for five months to gain perspective on homelessness, faith and Christianity in America. They spent time in six U.S. cities, eating from garbage cans, sleeping on the streets, and depending on the generosity and kindness of strangers.

"Under the Overpass" is the chronicle of their stories and the people they encountered.

More information is available at (910) 693-1600 or on the Coalition's website at www.sandhillscoalition.org.

Philadelphia Brass

The Arts Council of Moore County and The O'Neal School will present the Philadelphia Brass Quintet in a family-friendly holiday concert on Monday, Dec. 5.

The concert, which begins at 7 p.m., will be held at The O'Neal School's Hannah Center Theater, 3300 Airport Road, Southern Pines.

Tickets, at $15 for adults and $10 for children, are on sale now at the Arts Council offices at Campbell House and at The O'Neal School.

To purchase tickets, visit the Arts Council offices (Campbell House, 482 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines), The O'Neal School, or call (910) 692-ARTS (2787).

For additional information, visit www.MooreArt.org.--