St. James Festival and parade

A “Christmas in the Village” festival planned Sunday, December 8 in Riegelwood will include a parade, tree lighting and other holiday themed events. The parade will start at 3:30 p.m. on Forest Drive, behind the fire station, circle through the village and end at the corner of Green Street and Cornwallis Road.

A festival and tree lighting will be held following the parade in the Riegelwood Community Center and ballpark. The lighting of a 20-foot live Christmas Tree is scheduled for around 6 p.m. Event organizer is Heather Jacobs, who credits Veronica Beaver as the true “mastermind” of the event.

There will be a Santa’s workshop for families to visit with Santa and take pictures, vendors set up and games of snowball toss being played along with a few other goodies. Organizers are working tirelessly to make sure the parade and Santa’s Village is extra special for everyone.

Attendees are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. All events are free. For more information, including parade and vendor registration, text 910-297-1345 or e-mail riegelwoodchristmasparade@gmail.com. Information is also available on Facebook, @riegelwoodchristmasparade.

The Columbus County Partnership for Children (Smart Start) will host its annual “pajama distribution” on Thursday, December 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Smart Start Early Learning Facility located at 107 W. Main St. in Whiteville.

The event will provide free pajamas to children ages birth to five. The sleepwear will be distributed free of charge until they are gone. Children must be present. Pajama sizes are standard for boys and girls up to age 5. Colors, styles, quantities and designs may  vary.

Items will be pre-packaged for random and quick pick-up (only one package per child age birth to five). The Partnership is unable to accommodate special requests for styles, colors or designs of the sleepwear. All Columbus County children, ages birth to five, are invited to the event.

The National Pajama Program provides warm sleepwear and books to children who are in need. The program operates in the United States as well as in other countries. In the past, the Partnership collaborated with the Pajama Program and distributed sleepwear to local community service agencies. This year’s event is being supported by YWCA Lower Cape Fear and the Early Parenthood Program; Campbell Soup Supply Company and various vendors in Columbus County.

For more information about the Pajama Distribution or other services of the Columbus County Partnership for Children, call 910-642-8226, visitwww.columbussmartstart.org or follow the Columbus County Partnership for Children on  Facebook.

Administrative office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.