There were few clear borders in North Carolina when William Churton arrived in 1748. Assigned to the Granville Land Office in Edenton, the cartographer and surveyor, along with lawyer Daniel Weldon, established a border between North Carolina and Virginia.
The strong literary tradition of North Carolina will be showcased again with presentation of the 2017 North Carolina Book Awards, Friday, Nov. 17, in Raleigh.
Golden hues and flourishes of red span the horizon as autumn leaves drift in the crisp air. To celebrate the fall season, the Gov. Charles B. Aycock Birthplace State Historic Site welcomes you to the first annual Rakin’ in the Fun Festival Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a cross cultural celebration. Admission will be $2 for ages 5 and up. Ages 4 and under are free.
Historic Bath offers Halloween fun Tuesday, Oct. 31, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a night of Halloween movies, pumpkin painting, games, candy and more! Wear your favorite Halloween costume and enjoy a “no fear, all fun” night out at Historic Bath.
Explore the crafts and harvest traditions of one of North Carolina’s largest plantations at the Historic Stagville Harvest Festival, Oct. 21, noon to 6 p.m. Daytime demonstrations, vendors and crafts will give way to an African drum circle around an evening campfire with a master musician. Admission will be $5 per person, with a $15 family rate.
Join the fun in downtown Kinston at the Eastern North Carolina Brew & Que Fest with special events, food and history. The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center will host a free Shipbuilding Saturday program Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Experience history, paint a model ironclad for $2, and make a memory and keepsake.
North Carolina State Parks challenges all residents and visitors to join the 100-Mile Challenge, a health and wellness program that encourages citizens to complete 100 miles of hiking, biking, walking, running, paddling, skating, rolling their wheelchairs or riding their horses within the state.
From morning to night, Town Creek Indian Mound will pay homage to the harvest and respect to American Indian traditions at “Pumpkin Fest” Oct. 28. The celebration of early foods and pumpkins by day, and Jack-o-lanterns by night, will delight visitors with old-fashioned fun.
Ella Baker was an often overlooked, amazing organizer and pioneer in the struggle for racial justice. She grew up in Littleton, N.C., and has been called “the mother of the Civil Rights Movement.” A new title for young adult readers, “We Who Believe in Freedom,” published by the Historical Research Office of the N.C. Office of Archives and History, is now available.
Pirates are taking over the north lobby of Dorton Arena during this year’s N.C. State Fair as the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources kicks off a celebration of North Carolina’s most notorious pirate, Blackbeard, for the 300th anniversary of his exploits along the N.C. coast. Check out a replica of Blackbeard’s flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, and join in on all the swashbuckling fun at our new exhibit. Just be careful not to lose your head!