Inaugural Sandhills Garden of Lights Seeking Volunteers

(Pinehurst, NC) -- This holiday season, Sandhills Community College will launch an exciting new community tradition: Sandhills Garden of Lights, a spectacular holiday experience featuring more than one million lights, immersive displays, and festive attractions in the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens. The event will run from November 27, 2026 through January 9, 2027.

To help make the event a success, the organizers are seeking volunteer groups from across the community to assist with welcoming guests, wayfinding/parking, ticket admissions support, activity areas, hospitality, and other event operations.

“This is a great event to get involved with the community and provide your group the opportunity to build a new holiday tradition for the Sandhills region, showcase the beauty of our region and the SCC campus, raise funds for participating groups, and create unforgettable experiences for thousands of visitors,” said Germaine Elkins, Vice President of Engagement at Sandhills Community College and the Executive Director of the SCC Foundation as well as event organizer.

Volunteer & Earn for Your Group

Volunteer participation can directly benefit a community organization.

Group Incentives:

• 20+ volunteers for an assigned event night = $1,000 contribution to your group
• 40+ volunteers for an assigned event night = $2,500 contribution to your group

Participation is welcomed from:

• SCC Alumni groups

• Community organizations connected to Sandhills employees

·         Nonprofit organizations

·         Civic clubs

·         Faith-based groups

·         Service organizations

·         Youth organizations

·         Community volunteer groups

Employees nominating organizations are expected to assist in organizing and contacting the organization they nominate. Organizations will be onboarded as vendors with SCC to receive payments.

If interested, please submit the name of your group or organization and a contact person to Marcia Woodfield, woodfieldm@sandhills.edu by Friday, November 6.

Include:

• Organization name
• Primary contact
• Estimated number of volunteers available
• Affiliation with the College (if applicable)

All volunteers must sign a waiver and have a background check and sex offender registry search in advance of volunteering. Minors (16 years old+) volunteering on campus must be onboarded by a parent/guardian and have a parent/guardian volunteering with them on their night.  

More information about the event can be found at www.SandhillsGardenOfLights.com.