Christmas Events in Moore County NC | Parades, Lights & SantaChristmas Celebrations in Moore County

Christmas Events, Tree Lightings, Parades & Holiday Traditions in The Pines

There is something special about Christmas in Moore County.

Downtown streets glow with Christmas lights, Santa makes his way through our small towns, families gather for tree lightings and parades, historic homes are decorated for the season, and local shops and markets fill with holiday gifts.

From Pinehurst and Southern Pines to Aberdeen, Carthage, Cameron, Vass and Robbins, The Pines Times has gathered some of the area’s favorite annual Christmas traditions to help you celebrate the season.

Whether you’re looking for Christmas parades, tree lightings, holiday markets, Christmas lights, Santa sightings or family-friendly things to do, consider this your starting point for Christmas in Moore County, North Carolina.

Important: Exact dates, times and activities may change from year to year. Follow the links provided and check The Pines Times Event Calendar for current event details before heading out.

Christmas in Pinehurst

Festival of Trees

Christmas begins a little early with the annual Festival of Trees, a longtime Moore County holiday tradition benefiting Sandhills Children’s Center.

The event transforms the historic Carolina Hotel into a holiday showcase filled with elaborately decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces and other seasonal creations. The Festival of Trees traditionally takes place in November and includes a silent auction.

Location: The Carolina Hotel, Pinehurst
Typically: November the weekend before Thanksgiving

Watch our video on The Festival of Trees 2025

A Village Christmas & Holiday Open House

Make an evening of it by strolling through the Village during A Village Christmas. Downtown shops, galleries and boutiques traditionally offer extended hours and special holiday shopping opportunities in conjunction with the Village Christmas celebration.

One of the signature Christmas traditions in Pinehurst, the annual Village Christmas Tree Lighting brings families to Tufts Memorial Park in the heart of the Village.

Expect an evening filled with Christmas music, holiday activities, food and beverages, visits with Santa and the lighting of the Village Christmas tree. The event traditionally takes place in early December and is free to attend.

Location: Tufts Memorial Park, Village of Pinehurst
Typically: First Friday in December

It’s a wonderful night to shop local, enjoy the decorated Village and experience Christmas in Pinehurst. Watch this video for more info

Christmas in Southern Pines

Southern Pines Christmas Tree Lighting

Downtown Southern Pines kicks off the Christmas season with its annual Christmas Tree Lighting celebration around the historic train station.

The community celebration traditionally includes the lighting of the town decorations, music, children’s activities and plenty of holiday spirit. The event is generally held on the last Saturday in November.

Location: Downtown Southern Pines
Typically: Last Saturday in November next to the train station

Southern Pines Christmas Parade

The Southern Pines Christmas Parade is one of Moore County’s biggest holiday traditions.

Families line Broad Street to watch marching bands, dance teams, decorated floats, fire trucks, antique cars, community organizations and, of course, Santa Claus make their way through downtown.

Location: Downtown Southern Pines
Typically: The parade is traditionally held on the first Saturday in December at 11am

Southern Pines Christmas Carriage parade

The Annual Christmas Carriage parade through historic Southern Pines hosted by the Moore County driving Club.

Watch our video to see how special this event is.

Location: Downtown Southern Pines
Typically: Held the 2nd Saturday of December from 1pm to 3pm on Broad St in Southern Pines.

Christmas at the Shaw House

Experience Christmas as Moore County families might have celebrated it generations ago during the annual Christmas at the Shaw House.

The historic Shaw House property opens for an old-fashioned Christmas celebration featuring period decorations, tours of historic house museums, warm apple cider and homemade cookies.

This is a particularly nice addition to your page because it gives you something beyond parades and Santa events.

Location: Shaw House, Southern Pines
Typically: December

Christmas in Aberdeen

Aberdeen Christmas Tree Lighting

Christmas comes to downtown Aberdeen with the community’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting at the historic Union Station.

The celebration traditionally includes the lighting of Aberdeen’s Christmas tree, Santa’s arrival, entertainment and refreshments.

Location: Union Station, Downtown Aberdeen
Typically: Early December

Aberdeen Christmas Parade

Downtown Aberdeen fills with Christmas cheer for the annual Aberdeen Christmas Parade.

Find a spot along the route and enjoy decorated floats, community groups, local organizations and Santa as they make their way through downtown. The parade is a longtime family-friendly holiday tradition.

Location: Downtown Aberdeen
Typically: December

Old-Fashioned Christmas at Malcolm Blue Farm

This one absolutely deserves its own feature on the page.

Step back into the 1800s during Old-Fashioned Christmas at Malcolm Blue Farm.

The historic farmhouse is decorated for Christmas in period style, giving visitors a glimpse of how the holidays were celebrated generations ago. Past celebrations have included music, refreshments, children’s activities and opportunities to explore the historic property and museum.

Location: Malcolm Blue Farm, Aberdeen
Typically: December

Christmas in Carthage

Carthage Christmas Parade

When evening arrives, downtown Carthage comes alive with the lights of the annual Carthage Christmas Parade.

Unlike several daytime parades around Moore County, Carthage traditionally holds its celebration in the evening, creating a beautiful backdrop for illuminated floats, bands, community groups and Santa.

The parade travels through the heart of Carthage toward the historic Courthouse Square.

Watch our video for more information.

Location: Downtown Carthage
Typically: 2nd Saturday of December at 6pm

Christmas at the Bryant House

Travel back to an earlier Moore County Christmas at the historic Bryant House and McLendon Cabin.

The Moore County Historical Association’s annual Christmas at the Bryant House open house shares the traditions of early settlers and offers visitors a chance to experience an old-time Christmas in one of the county’s historic properties.

Location: Bryant House, Carthage
Typically: Early December

Christmas in Cameron

Cameron Christmas Tree Lighting

The historic town of Cameron welcomes the Christmas season with an old-fashioned community Christmas Tree Lighting.

Past celebrations have included caroling, the Christmas story, refreshments, children’s activities, Santa and plenty of small-town Christmas charm.

Location: Downtown Cameron
Typically: Thanksgiving weekend

Cameron Christmas Parade

Cameron’s small-town Christmas celebrations continue with the annual Cameron Christmas Parade through historic downtown.

Bring the family, find a spot along the route and enjoy one of northern Moore County’s traditional holiday celebrations.

Location: Downtown Cameron
Typically: December

Christmas in Vass

Vass Christmas Tree Lighting

The Town of Vass traditionally starts the Christmas season with a community tree lighting in downtown Vass.

Past celebrations have featured live music, food trucks, children’s activities and other family-friendly fun.

Location: Downtown Vass
Typically: Thanksgiving weekend

Vass Christmas Parade

The annual Vass Christmas Parade brings together school groups, churches, community organizations, dancers, marching bands, antique cars, emergency responders and other participants for a hometown holiday celebration.

Location: Vass
Typically: December

Christmas in Robbins

Robbins Christmas Celebrations

Don’t forget northern Moore County.

Robbins traditionally joins communities throughout Moore County in celebrating the season with holiday activities that may include a Christmas parade, tree lighting and other community events.

Because details can vary from year to year, check the current Pines Times calendar and Town of Robbins announcements for the latest information. The Moore County tourism authority includes Robbins among the communities hosting recurring Christmas parade and tree-lighting traditions.

Christmas Lights in Moore County

Some of the most memorable Christmas attractions aren’t big festivals at all. They’re local families who spend countless hours transforming their homes into Christmas light displays.

Farley Family Christmas Lights — Cameron

The Farley Family Christmas Lights have become a fun local tradition in Cameron. Thousands of LED lights are synchronized to Christmas music that visitors can hear through their car radio.

Location: Cameron
Typically: December

Lights in The Pines — Carthage

Lights in The Pines is another local Christmas light tradition featuring thousands of lights synchronized to holiday music. Visitors can enjoy the display from their vehicles while listening to the accompanying music on the radio.

Location: Carthage
Typically: Late November through December

Holly Jolly Lights — Pinehurst

Holly Jolly Lights NC is a family-run Christmas light and music display in Pinehurst’s Village Acres area. The seasonal neighborhood display features lights synchronized to music broadcast over FM radio.

Location: Pinehurst
Typically: December

More Neighborhood Christmas Lights

Christmas light displays are often created by individual families and can change from year to year. Check The Pines Times Christmas calendar throughout December as we discover more places to enjoy the lights.

Christmas Concerts, Shows & Performances

Christmas in The Pines isn’t complete without music and live performances.

Local theaters, dance studios, schools, churches and performing arts organizations traditionally offer Christmas concerts, Nutcracker performances, holiday plays, Christmas cantatas and other seasonal productions throughout November and December.

The Moore Symphony Orchestra is among the local performing arts organizations offering seasonal programming, with holiday concerts featuring traditional and contemporary Christmas music.

Because performances and productions change each year, visit the current Christmas Events Calendar below for this season’s lineup.

Christmas Markets & Holiday Shopping

Shop small this Christmas!

Throughout November and December, you’ll find Christmas markets, artisan fairs, pop-up markets, holiday open houses and special shopping events across Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen and the surrounding communities.

These events are a great opportunity to discover locally made gifts while supporting Moore County businesses, artists, makers and nonprofits.

Find Santa in Moore County

Santa stays pretty busy in The Pines!

Throughout the Christmas season, you’ll find opportunities for photos with Santa, breakfasts and suppers with Santa, Santa visits, storytimes, parades and special Christmas events throughout Moore County.

Because Santa’s schedule changes every year, check our current event listings before making your plans. We have a whole page dedicated to finding Santa in the Sandhills!

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TownWebsite for more info:
Aberdeenhttps://www.townofaberdeen.net/pView.aspx?id=2103
Cameronhttps://townofcameron.com/
Town of Cameron active Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076308646644
Carthagehttps://www.townofcarthage.org/News/2025-Christmas-Parade
Robbinshttps://www.townofrobbins.com/
Southern Pineshttps://southernpines.biz/christmas-parade
Southern Pines Carriage Parade https://moorecountydrivingclub.com/
Southern Pines First Eve Celebrationhttps://southernpines.biz/first-eve-celebration
Taylortownhttps://www.pinehurstbusinesspartners.com/a-village…/
Vass- Putting on the paradehttps://www.townofvassnc.gov/
Vass Business Association- Putting on the Tree Lightinghttps://www.facebook.com/vassbusinessassociation
Village of Pinehurst A Village Christmashttps://www.pinehurstbusinesspartners.com/a-village…/