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{mosimage}Ready or not - the Holiday Season is upon us! Mark your calendars for these upcoming yule-tide festivities.

Monday December 1 - Wednesday December 31 Meadow Lights The largest fantasy of Christmas Lights in this area! Enjoy an authentic manger scene, a carousel ride and more. Visit the old-fashioned candy store, ride the train and visit Santa! Times: Mon-Thur 5pm-10pm, Fri-Sun 5pm-11pm. Location: Seven miles south of Benson off Hwy 96 on Godwin Lake Road. 4546 Godwin Lake Road Benson, NC 27504 Admission: Free. Phone: Ronina Huff, 919 894-4370

Thursday December 4 - Tuesday December 23 AMJ Christmas Show Take a nostalgic trip back to an innocent age when anticipation of Santa's visit made the holidays magical. Enjoy gospel favorites and the contemporary beat of hits like "Christmas in Dixie". Matinees 1:40pm or 2:10pm. Evening Shows 7:40pm. Toll free 1-877-843-7839 or December Show dates: 4-9, 11-16, 18-23 Location: Rudy Theatre, Selma 300 N. Raiford St. P.O. Box 429 Selma, NC 27576 Admission: Call for ticket prices & availability. Phone: Spook Joyner, 919 202-9927

Thursday December 4 Christmas in Cleveland Bring your family to light the Christmas tree. There will be games, music and of course, Santa Claus! Free! Event time 6-8pm. Location: First Citizens Bank Parking Lot, Cleveland Area. Admission: Free. Phone: Cookie Pope, 919 773-8448

Thursday December 4 - Sunday December 7 Country Music Showcase: Christmas In Dixie Join the CMS cast and celebrate a music-filled Carolina-style Christmas with your country favorites from the past and present. Happy Holidays! Show times: Thurs-Fri 7pm, Sat 2pm & 7pm, Sun 2pm. Location: Paul A. Johnston Auditorium, Johnston Community College. Admission: Call for ticket prices. Phone: Debbie Elam, 919 209-2099

Thursday December 4 - Wednesday December 10 Festival of Trees A display of live Christmas trees decorated in unique and whimsical themes that relate to the Christmas season. A variety of entertainment will be provided for the event. Event times: Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm, Mon-Wed 9am-8pm. Location: Johnston Medical Mall, Smithfield. Admission: Free. Phone: 919 989-5380

Thursday December 4 Kenly Christmas Parade Parade begins at 6pm. Location: Downtown Kenly. 206 W. Second St. PO Box 190 Kenly, NC 27542 Phone: Veronica Williams, 919 284-5510

Thursday December 4 Live Christmas Village & Tree Lighting Main Street Clayton is transformed into a Christmas Village with treats at the business open house, storefront decoration contest, doggie costume contest, live musical and dance performances, Clayton High School band & Chorus and the Annual Tree Lighting! Event time: 6:30pm-8:30pm. Location: Main Street to Town Square. Admission: Free. Phone: Bruce Naegelen, 919 553-1545 Friday

December 5 Benson's Christmas On Main There will be a Christmas parade, entertainment, hot cider and cookies. Event time 6pm. Location: Downtown Benson. Admission: Free. Phone: Loretta Byrd, 919 894-3825

Friday December 5 - Friday December 26 Country Tonight! Come hear the best country music from today and yesterday and comedy that will keep you laughing in your seat! Each week, Country Tonight offers a featured band that performs some of your favorite country songs. With a little family comedy added to the show, you have the ingredients for a night of fun! Show time: Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 7:45pm. Additional December dates: 12, 19, 26 Location: Corner of Webb & Waddell Streets. 112 N Webb St. Selma, NC 27576 Admission: Call for ticket prices and this week's featured band or visit www.coun Phone: Bowie Martin, 252 237-6199

Friday December 5 - Saturday December 27 Lights on the Neuse Come for family Christmas fun with a hayride filled with holiday lights and scenes. There is a candy shop and you can have your picture made with Santa! Event time: 6pm-10pm. Additional dates: 12-14, 18-21, 23-24, 27 www.lightsontheneuse.com Location: 1620 Loop Rd., Clayton. 1387 Loop Road Clayton, NC 27527 Admission: Call for ticket prices. Phone: Glenn Boyette, 919 553-0016

Friday December 5 Smithfield Tree Lighting Come and join Santa and the Ham & Yam Queens to light the Town's Christmas Tree! Event time 7pm. Location: Third Street in front of Sheriff's Office. 1500 Buffalo Rd. Smithfield, NC 27577 Admission: Free. Phone: Laura Crumpler, 919 934-2148 x21

Saturday December 6 Bentonville's Christmas Open House Costumed interpreters decorate the kitchen in festive themes, with holly and magnolia branches, cotton stalks, various fruits, cranberry and popcorn strands. Cookies and hot cider are served. Military interpreters will discuss the how the common soldier spent time on furlough with family and friends. Event time: 10am-4pm. Location: Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site, Four Oaks. 5466 Harper House Rd. Four Oaks, NC 27524 Admission: Free. Phone: Derrick Brown, 910 594-0789

Saturday December 6 Christmas Open House Celebrate a country-style Christmas as the museum with Depression-era holiday decorations, refreshments of yesteryear, crafts for the kids, and of course, Santa Claus! Event time: 10am-5pm. Location: Tobacco Farm Life Museum, Kenly. 709 Church St.- US Hwy 301 N. P.O. Box 88 Kenly, NC 27542 Admission: Free. Phone: Adrienne Dunning, 919 284-3431

Saturday December 6 Four Oaks Christmas Parade Parade begins at Noon. Location: Downtown Four Oaks. Phone: Tammy Norris, 919 963-2581 Saturday December 6 Princeton Christmas Parade Food and crafts will be in the community building beginning at 9am. The parade begins at 1pm, followed by pictures with Santa at the community building. Location: Downtown Princeton. Phone: Jean Haddock, 919 936-8581

Monday December 8 - Saturday December 20 Lazy O Farm Christmas Dayz Bring your Christmas party to the farm! Our Christmas barn offers a visit with Santa, crafts for children, nativity animals and a hayride. Saturday nights add a campfire and marshmallow roasting. Picnic area available. Event times: Mon-Fri by appointment, Sat open to public from 6pm-9pm. Location: 3583 Packing Plant Rd., Smithfield. 3583 Packing Plant Road Smithfield, NC 27577 Admission: Call for prices and appointments. Phone: Tami Thompson, 919 934-1132

Tuesday December 9 Selma Christmas Parade Parade begins at 7pm. Location: Uptown Selma. 305 N. Pollock St. Selma, NC 27576 Phone: Jen Black, 919 975-1411

Thursday December 11 Smithfield's Christmas Parade Parade begins at 7pm. Location: Second Street through Sixth Street. 1500 Buffalo Rd. Smithfield, NC 27577 Admission: Free. Phone: Laura Crumpler, 919 934-2148 x21

Saturday December 13 Clayton Christmas Parade Parade begins at 3pm. Marching bands, clowns, civic groups and of course, Santa! Location: Main Street, Clayton Phone: Kimberly Moffett, 919 553-6352

Saturday December 13 Johnston County Chorale Christmas The Johnston County Chorale and the Chorale Orchestra will host it's annual Christmas Holiday Festival, performing several seasonal pieces of music. Show time 7pm. Location: Paul A. Johnston Auditorium, Johnston Community College, Smithfield. 245 College Rd. Smithfield, NC 27577 Admission: Call for ticket prices. Phone: 919 209-2099

Saturday December 20 Santa at the Depot/Selma's Polar Express Kids! Ride on a bus from Selma's Historic Union Station to Raleigh where you board the train with Santa! When you arrive back in Selma, you will have the chance to have your picture made with Santa before he returns to the North Pole! Event time: 9am-1:30pm. Location: Selma Union Station. 305 N. Pollock St. Selma, NC 27576 Admission: Registration begins September 2nd, seats are limited. Phone: Jen Black, 919 975-1411