Press Releases

In what seems a very timely topic, hundreds of middle and high school students will tackle the topic “Conflict and Compromise in History” April 28 for the National History Day Competition. Judging begins at 9:30 a.m. at the day-long competition at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh.

Food, fun, special events and history will take over the town during the Kinston BBQ Fest Saturday, May 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to classic cars and barbecue, see some of the period physician’s tools at a free medical program at the CSS Neuse. 

The nomination period for the 2018 North Carolina Award, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state, has been extended to May 15.

Test drive a robot, create your own “slime,” build a boat out of duct tape, or help recreate North Carolina using LEGOs.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources will sponsor musical performances at MerleFest April 27 - 29, including performances by 2018 North Carolina Heritage Award recipient Tony Williamson, and teen guitarist Presley Barker, who brings new life to roots music.

There are many ways to show appreciation and conservation of planet Earth, and a variety of “preserve the planet” experiences are planned at venues within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. There are opportunities to participate all across the state.

The North Carolina Office of State Archaeology will hold a Public Archaeology Day at the Wire Pasture Access of Lumber River State Park on Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Wire Pasture is located at 11765 US 74 Highway W, Maxton, N.C.

Many fans of the “Outlander” book series know that the Battle of Alamance figures prominently in book five, “The Fiery Cross.” Alamance Battleground State Historic Site will celebrate that time period and sensibility with the “Fraser’s Ridge Scottish Music Jam,” April 28, 1 to 4 p.m.

The Aycock Community Yard Sale scheduled for Saturday, April 14, has been cancelled. The event may be rescheduled for this summer.

Spring is still a great time to visit and see the sheep grazing and Rhode Island Red chickens at Aycock.

Prohibition was a unique period in our country’s history, beginning in 1918 with the passage of the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, a federal amendment and subsequent law that prohibited the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol throughout the United States.