Volunteer
A Dickens Holiday comes to life because people step forward to help make it happen. Spend a few hours with us behind the scenes, welcome visitors to Downtown Fayetteville, help with one of our special traditions, or join the crew that keeps the festival moving.
Most volunteer shifts are just a few hours, so you can lend a hand and still enjoy the celebration on Friday, November 27. Individuals and groups are welcome.
Sign up to volunteerTWO WAYS TO REGISTER
Individual volunteer
One person, or a family, signing up for themselves. Use the form below; a parent or guardian signs the student permission if anyone under 18 is coming.
Sign up below →School or student group
One registration per group. A teacher or faculty advisor coordinates the whole group with us and confirms that the school holds the parental permissions and arranges adult supervision.
School group authorization →WAYS TO HELP
These are the jobs that keep the festival running, in the week before and on Friday, November 27. Tell us what interests you and we'll help find a good fit.
BEFORE THE FESTIVAL
Candle cup assembly
November 16–20
Assemble the candle cups for our traditional Candlelight Procession. A good fit for students and groups.
Merchant and contest room setup
November 23–25 (Monday–Wednesday)
Help downtown merchants get ready for Dickens, and set up the Gingerbread House Contest room.
Vendor setup
Friday, 7 AM – noon · Meet at the Arts Council basement
You’ll get a list of vendors, your block and instructions, then help the vendors on your block find their spaces and get set up before the festival opens.
THE TINY TIM TEAM
Kindness & Hospitality
Street hospitality
Friday, two-hour shifts from 10 AM to 8 PM
Make rounds of the street market, checking on vendors. Watch for anything that needs attention, such as a booth too far into the street, trash, or amplified noise, and check in with the Street Manager every hour. Please sign in at the Volunteer Station in the Hospitality Room at SkyView Ballroom (entrance from Franklin Street) 30 minutes before your shift for a quick orientation.
Hospitality room
Friday, throughout the day · SkyView Ballroom, entrance from Franklin Street
Help the hospitality room manager keep refreshments ready for our performers and volunteers.
Performers’ room
Friday · Arts Council
Help run the performers’ room: costumes, check-in, and getting performers ready for the stage.
Gingerbread House Contest host
Friday, two-hour shifts from noon to 8 PM · Volta Space
Two volunteers each shift: one welcomes visitors to the Gingerbread House exhibition and keeps an eye on People’s Choice voting, and the other is a runner between the street and the room.
Merchandise table
Friday
Help at the festival merchandise table.
THE CHARLIES
Festival Support Teams
Candle cup distribution
Friday, from 2 PM
Deliver candle cups to participating downtown businesses at 2 PM, collect them by 4:30 PM, and bring them to Market Circle to hand out to the crowd for the Candlelight Procession.
Festival support
Friday
Helping visitors find their way, supporting downtown businesses, and lending a hand wherever it’s needed. Tell us you’re flexible and we’ll find the right spot.
SPECIAL EXPERIENCES & OPERATIONS
Stage assistants
Friday, noon – 5 PM
Emcee and keep an eye on one of our three stages. A fourth volunteer may rove between the stages so everyone gets a break.
Carriage ride assistants
Friday afternoon and evening
Help guests board and enjoy the private carriage rides.
Royal Tea assistants
Friday afternoon · Sandford House
Assist at the house during the Royal Tea & Tour seatings.
Kids, students and school groups
Kids and students are welcome, and these jobs are a good fit for them. Volunteers under 18 can’t come on their own without the right permission:
- Under 16: a parent or guardian, or their school or club, must be with them on site the whole time.
- 16 and 17: they can volunteer with their school or club supervising on site, with a parent or guardian on site, or on their own with a parent’s or guardian’s signed consent and waiver.
The form below asks for the details we need. A parent or guardian then signs the parent/guardian permission online. A school group is different: one teacher or faculty advisor signs a school group authorization for the whole group, and the school handles the individual parent permissions.
November 16–20
Assembling candle cups for our traditional Candlelight Procession.
November 23–25 (Monday–Wednesday)
Helping downtown merchants prepare for Dickens and setting up the Gingerbread House Contest room.
Friday, November 27
Scheduled shifts helping with stage areas, the Gingerbread House Contest, merchandise, performer check-in, street hospitality and other festival activities.
Parents and teachers: use the form below to tell us how many students are coming and who will supervise, and we’ll follow up about waivers.
Getting there
- Driving? For parking, see ncfayetteville.com/parking. We’ll send more specific information closer to the festival.
- Being dropped off and picked up? Drop-off and pick-up are only at the back entrance of SkyView Ballroom, on Franklin Street. Volunteers sign in and sign out there, at the Volunteer Station in the Hospitality Room.
- Bring ID. Every volunteer signs in with ID, so please bring it.
- Leave the backpack at home. Only essential personal items in the volunteer area and at the Volunteer Station.
Volunteer agreement
Every volunteer signs once, online, before their first shift. It takes about five minutes.
- Adults: sign the volunteer agreement.
- Students under 18: a parent or guardian signs the parent/guardian permission, or a teacher or faculty advisor signs one school group authorization for the whole group.
Volunteering as a group
Units, squads, churches, clubs, student groups, and families are all welcome — group volunteering is a great team day, and we’ll certify everyone’s hours together. Just let us know your group size below. A school or student group registers once, through the school group authorization, rather than family by family.
Need your volunteer hours verified? We’re happy to sign your form or provide a verification letter. Check the box below. We understand the volunteer-hours paperwork required by military units and are happy to help complete your form.
Sign up to volunteer
Tell us you’re interested and we’ll be in touch with shifts and details. Questions? Call (910) 492-2329 or email director@adickensholiday.com.
