Press Releases

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and The Conservation Fund will host a ribbon-cutting event Friday, Oct. 27 at 10:30 a.m. to mark the addition of land acreage to Bakers Lake State Natural Area. This summer, the Division acquired 1,156 acres from The Conservation Fund, a national land conservation and environmental nonprofit organization.Bakers Lake is one of the Carolina bays, a series of oval depressions along the East Coast, with a large concentration in the Carolinas. Prior to the state’s acquisition, it was the largest unprotected Carolina bay lake in North Carolina.

The state’s highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award, will be presented to six distinguished North Carolinians Thursday, Nov. 9, at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Governor Roy Cooper will present the awards.The award was created by the General Assembly in 1961 to recognize significant contributions to the state and nation in the fields of fine arts, literature, public service and science.

Bryan Wilder has been promoted to park superintendent at Elk Knob State Park in Watauga County, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation announced. Wilder succeeds Tracy Minton, who transferred to New River State Park earlier this year. Wilder has been serving as the acting superintendent for the park since Minton’s departure.A park superintendent leads operations and administration at a park with wide-ranging responsibilities that include staffing, training, law enforcement, planning, resource management, education, and visitor services.

A North Carolina Highway Historical Marker soon will recognize an African American woman who revolutionized entertainment as one of the founders of stand-up comedy in the United States.The marker commemorating the life of Loretta Mary Aiken, who was known as Jackie “Moms” Mabley, will be placed in Brevard near the site of her childhood home Friday, Oct. 20.

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will begin hosting an artisan farmer’s market on the first and third Tuesday of each month beginning Oct. 17. Local farmers, crafters and artists, all with unique and delicious goods, will offer them for sale.Betty Williams, of Homespun by Betty, approached the site with the idea of a relaxed market away from the bustle of downtown. Vendors must pre-register and meet Department of Revenue qualifications for doing business.Event hours are 3-6 p.m., first and third Tuesday of each month.

A new N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources policy will bring more native plants to state parks and historic sites across North Carolina, just in time for Native Plants Week 2023. To celebrate the policy and our state’s amazing native flora, First Lady Kristin Cooper is joining Audubon North Carolina and N.C. Department of Cultural and Natural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson at Jockey’s Ridge State Park at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18. Brief remarks will be followed by a celebratory planting and tour of the park, including the native plants garden.

A school in western North Carolina founded in the late 1880s that provided educational opportunities to underserved populations, including African American women, soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker.

A North Carolina business that by 1890 was the largest herbarium in the world soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker.

The Museum of the Albemarle regrets to announce the postponement of Celebration of Regional Tribes, Guardians of the Land:  Discovering Indigenous Americans on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Due to unforeseen circumstances the educational program will need to be postponed until a later date.We appreciate your continued support and attendance of the Museum of the Albemarle’s educational programming.  Despite the postponement of the educational program, we look forward to seeing you at our future programs.

The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission is sponsoring a free African American Music Trails Festival Saturday, Oct. 21, 12-5 p.m., in Rocky Mount Mills, 1151 Falls Rd. in Rocky Mount.