Dec. 18-21, 2025: Festival of Lights at Deerwoode!
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You are here: Home1 / Festival of Lights

Looking for Community Partners!

Help us make this year’s event a huge success! Our goal is to provide a local and affordable holiday event
that the whole family can enjoy together where new traditions are made, creating new memories that will last a lifetime. There are several ways to support this fun, family-friendly event:

  • Cabin Sponsor ~ Decorate a cabin & compete to win Best Cabin
  • Event Sponsor ~ Contribute funds to support the event
  • Raffle Baskets ~ Donate a basket, item or gift card
  • Volunteer ~ Give your time to decorate or work during the event
Event Sponsors or Raffle Donations Cabin Sponsors Volunteers

About the Festival of Lights

Get into the holiday spirit by visiting our 3rd Annual Festival of Lights Fundraising Event. It’s fun for the whole family!

Enjoy an evening immersed in twinkling lights, festive hayrides, photos with Santa, warm snacks, fun crafts, live music and more. All proceeds benefit The Family Place of Transylvania County whose mission is to build community & strengthen families.

Included with Admission:

  • Snack on Holiday Treats of hot cocoa, hot cider, popcorn, and warm up & roast your own s’mores around the firepits
  • Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus (don’t forget to take photos!)
  • Kids Crafts area for hands-on activities
  • Hayrides around the property to see the decorated cabins
  • Cabin decorating contest showcasing Holiday Classic Films, plus, vote for your favorite cabin!
  • Festive live music and fun photo ops

Stay tuned for details about Themed Nights!

WHERE

Deerwoode Reserve
395 Riversedge Rd
Brevard, NC 28712

WHEN

December 18-21, 2025
5 – 8:30 p.m.

Admission

$5 per person
Children 5 & under, FREE
Pay on-site, cash / credit card
No registration required.

RSVP on Facebook!

Event Sponsors

Be part of the magic that makes Festival of Lights a fun, affordable event for the whole family. With the support of our Event Sponsors, we’re able to create our festive family village where everyone can gather for a good time, warm treats, fun crafts, and joyful hayrides allowing families to make holiday memories together.

Help support this fundraising event ~ All proceeds benefit The Family Place of Transylvania County!

Questions? Contact Felice St. John at fstjohn@thefamilyplacenc.com.

$100
Snowflake Sponsor

  • Business listed in pre-event promotion
  • Business name displayed at event
  • 2 tickets to event

$250
Stocking Sponsor

  • Business listed in pre-event promotion
  • Business name displayed at event
  • 4 tickets to event

$500
Candy Cane Sponsor

  • Business listed in pre-event promotion
  • Business name & logo displayed at event
  • Social media spotlight as sponsor
  • 6 tickets to event

$750
Gingerbread Sponsor

  • Business listed in pre-event promotion
  • Business name & logo displayed at event
  • Social media spotlight as sponsor
  • 8 tickets to event

$1,000
Snowman Sponsor

  • Business listed in pre-event promotion
  • Business name & logo displayed in prominent location at event
  • Social media spotlight as sponsor
  • 10 tickets to event

Sponsors must submit company information and payment by 11/7/25 to be included in printed materials.

Please complete this form to become a sponsor or make a raffle item donation. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Festival of Lights Sponsorships - 2025

Name(Required)
Raffle Items (Not required)
Max. file size: 300 MB.
Print Material
Payment(Required)
Price: $0.00
*The Festival of Lights is a third-party event planned & coordinated by Deerwoode Reserve in partnership with The Family Place of Transylvania County. All contributions are used for the Festival of Lights event and 100% of the proceeds are donated to The Family Place to support their mission. Thank you for your generous contribution!

Cabin Decorating Sponsors

Help transform the cabins at Deerwoode Reserve into festive holiday light displays for families to enjoy during the event. There is no charge to be a Cabin Decorating Sponsor. Just gather a group of little elves, bring your decorations and supplies, and show up to create a spectacular light and holiday display on the exterior of a cabin. And who doesn’t love a little friendly competition? During the event, families will vote for their favorite cabin, and the winner will receive the Festival of Lights Best Cabin Decoration Trophy!

This year’s theme is Classic Holiday Films.

Questions? Contact Dionne Hodgson at info@deerwoode.com.

Interested in being a Cabin Sponsor? Just follow these easy steps:

1

Pick your movie theme & submit your application by October 15, 2025. There will only be one cabin per movie, so get your entry in early to secure your preferred theme. Cabin Sponsors will be confirmed by October 31, 2025.

2

Next, plan your design. Gather your lights, decorations and all your supplies, and recruit your volunteer group.

*Cabin sponsors provide their own business banner or yard sign to display at their assigned cabin.

3

Let the decorating begin! Bring your decorations and all supplies to attach and display lights, along with your group of volunteers. The timeframe to decorate your cabin begins at 10am on Sunday, November 30th with the final deadline for the cabin to be completely decorated by 5pm on Friday, December 12th.

4

After the event is over, the decorations may stay up through the holiday. Removal of decorations is between Friday, January 2nd to Friday, January 9th .

Apply to be a Cabin Decorating Sponsor

Complete the form to apply to be a Cabin Decorating Sponsor.

Important things to remember:

  • This year’s theme is Classic Holiday Films
  • Sponsor applications will be reviewed and approved.
  • If your Cabin Sponsorship is selected, you’ll be contacted by 10/31/25.
  • Cabin Sponsors are responsible for providing their own decorations, supplies, business banners, and volunteers.
  • Cabin Sponsors are also responsible for takedown of decorations.

Thank you for your participation to make this a fun, successful community event!

Name of Contact Person(Required)
Only the exterior of the cabins will be decorated. Click the link to see photos of each cabin - https://deerwoode.com/cabins/
Cabin Choice #1(Required)
Cabin Choice #2(Required)
Cabin Choice #3(Required)
Decor Agreement(Required)
Volunteer & Labor Agreement(Required)
Banner/Signage Agreement(Required)

Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking for folks to give their time and help create holiday cheer. Volunteers are needed to transform the Deerwoode Reserve property into a winter wonderland. From unloading bins, organizing decorations, to putting up lights, installing displays around the property, and creating our family village area, we have plenty of creating jobs to fill for as we prepare for the event. During the event, we need volunteers to work various stations from snacks, crafts & hayrides to being elves for Santa & Mrs. Claus. We are also looking for local musicians to play live music during the event. Contact Sarah directly if you are interested in sharing your musical talents with us.

Sign up to volunteer here.

Thank you for giving your time to help bring this event to life!

Questions? Contact Sarah Miles at smiles@thefamilyplacenc.com.

Thank You to our Festival of Lights Sponsors

We appreciate your support!

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395 Riversedge Rd, Brevard, NC 28712

Phone (828) 201-2615

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Deerwoode Reserve vacation cabin rentals and event center is located in the Western North Carolina Mountains near Asheville, Hendersonville, Waynesville, Bryson City, Cashiers, Highlands, Lake Toxaway and close to many area attractions. Biltmore Estate, waterfalls, Nantahala Nation Forest, Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State Recreational Forest, Blue Ridge Parkway and fall leaf color change are just a few of the activities you can experience when you book your stay at Deerwoode Reserve!

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THE MAYES (Cont.)

In 1969, the Mayes moved into the Otter Cabin, originally built in 1940. It was formerly the camp infirmary and was also known as the Gate House. Bill built the deck and closed in the screen porch where the large brick cooking fireplace is located. During the time they lived there, they tore down the old original homesite that had fallen into such disrepair and decided to build a new log home on the same basement foundation, now called the Big Log Cabin. 

ROBERT J. HUSSEY / CAMP DEERWOODE FOR GIRLS:

When Mr. Hussey purchased the property in 1935, the camp was transformed from a boys camp into a camp for girls. It was operated by Mr. and Mrs. George Mason Swift. Mrs. Swift had previously operated a camp, called Camp Dellwood, and in an effort to continue to use the same camp songs, they re-named it to Camp Deerwoode. At this time camp property was comprised of 250 acres featuring horseback riding, including all day and overnight horseback trips. The girls played polo, learned archery and riflery, and had classes in swimming and canoeing, as well as tennis and golf. Other elective courses offered at camp were dancing, dramatics, musical comedy, and musical instruments and nightly shows were performed in The Big Room. The craft building was a popular place and described as the heart of the camp, featuring eight large floor looms with flying shuttles. Other craft projects consisted of silver craft, pottery and leather craft. The camp season ran from July 1 – August 26 and cost $300.

JUDGE JAMES A. FORSYTHE JR FAMILY:

Judge Forsythe was born 11/26/1853. He was married to Julia Nathalie, who was born 5/14/1860, and they married 5/14/1877. They moved into the house and added a wing to it. They had one son and two daughters. James A. Forsythe Jr. (1882 – 1957), Margaret Elizabeth ( 4/21/1885 – 9/16/1886) and Ellen Harllee Forsythe Vermilye (11/4/1888 – 1/24/1936). Julia died 5/14/1923 and Judge Forsythe died in 1925. They are all buried in the Gillispie Cemetery in Brevard. Elizabeth was originally buried on the property but because of the grave being washed by rains, was later transferred to Gillispie Cemetery. There are stories and accounts of baby ghost Elizabeth haunting the Big Log Cabin, which was built on the site of the original homestead.