Press Releases

With the support of heartfelt applause, the staff and Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum at Southport proudly broke ground for a 2,500 square foot addition to the Museum’s facility at Fort Johnston. 

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Washington Performing Arts today announced the four North American orchestras selected to participate in the first year of the new weeklong SHIFT Festival, taking place at the Kennedy Center March 27 through April 2, 2017. Chosen from a pool of exceptional submissions from orchestras across North America, the selected orchestras include: Boulder Philharmonic (March 28), North Carolina Symphony (March 29), Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (March 31), and Brooklyn-based ensemble, The Knights (April 1).

If you enjoy honey and are interested in beekeeping, then visit Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace, Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration of North Carolina's 19th century farm heritage during the "Saturday on the Farm" free program will examine beekeeping and gardening. You'll also enjoy seeing vintage farm equipment.

The end of the Civil War was not the end of the story. Historic Stagville will commemorate the end of the Civil War with “Freedom 150” May 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The free event will examine the effect of the end of the Civil War on the African American population, the rise of the black church and the creation of the sharecropping system.

In an event now known as the Greensboro Massacre, five people were killed and 11 injured in a confrontation between the Ku Klux Klan and the Communist Workers Party. A N.C. Highway Historical Marker to commemorate the event will be dedicated May 24 at 4:15 p.m., at New Light Baptist Church, 1105 Willow Rd. After the unveiling at the intersection of McConnell Road at Willow Road there will be a reception at the church. For additional information please call (919) 807-7290.

The State Capitol is hosting a birthday party June 13 that's been 175 years in the making! Free family friendly activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will include local musicians, military re-enactors, historic demonstrations, hands-on children's activities and more fun activities inside the Capitol and on Capitol Square. Of course there will be birthday cake. Please call (919) 733-4994 for more information.  

The halls of the North Carolina History Center in historic downtown New Bern will echo with the sounds of jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 21.  

The North Carolina Symphony will give a free outdoor concert Thursday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. on the Town Common in Tarboro.  Symphony Associate Conductor David Glover will lead the orchestra in “Concerts in Your Community: Your Favorite Light Classics.”  In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be held in Keihin Auditorium on the Tarboro campus of Edgecombe Community College. 

Branford Marsalis and some talented friends will present an evening of unforgettable performances from across the musical spectrum on Tuesday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Meymandi Concert Hall. The Grammy Award-winning saxophonist joins forces with Rhiannon Giddens of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the bluegrass supergroup the Kruger Brothers, as they join North Carolina Symphony Music Director Grant Llewellyn and the orchestra for a one-of-a-kind concert to benefit the North Carolina Symphony’s statewide service and education programs.  Mr. Marsalis, Ms. Giddens, and the Kruger Brothers

Even with clouds from a tropical depression, Civil War re-enactor Philip Brown began walking backroads May 11 on a 166 mile. 13-day journey from New Bern to Durham. The "Soldiers' Walk Home" event, organized by Duke Homestead State Historic Site in Durham, recalls the trek Washington Duke made when delivered to New Bern by the Union Army in 1865. Although Brown does not portray Duke, his route is similar to the one Duke might have taken.