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Fort Fisher State Historic Site will host a special public program on Sat., May 30, exploring Civil War art alongside artillery demonstrations as part of its summer season kickoff. Admission is free, and no tickets are required. The site is open 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., with the event taking place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fort Fisher is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

On Saturday, May 23, Historic Edenton State Historic Site will host an ancestry research seminar that tackles the challenges of researching African American genealogy and offers tips for specialty research and finding Revolutionary War ancestors.

Alamance Battleground State Historic Site will host a re-enactment of the 1771 Battle of Alamance on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. The event marks the 255th anniversary of the battle, the violent conclusion of the Regulator Movement in North Carolina. The battle re-enactment begins at 11 a.m., the precise time the battle commenced exactly 255 years ago. Alamance Battleground is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announces the “Capitol 250: NC Freedom Fest” will be held July 4 at the State Capitol building and grounds in Raleigh. The free all-day festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the arts, history, nature, and culture that define North Carolina's role in the nation’s story.

Headlining “Capitol 250: NC Freedom Fest” will be musical performances by North Carolina-based singer-songwriters Tift Merritt and Rissi Palmer.

Stormtroopers, princesses and droids are invited to dust off their costumes for the third annual May the 4th Beach Cleanup hosted by the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) Monday, May 4, 8-10 a.m. at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. The North Carolina Aquariums are a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. 

As part of America 250 NC's "When Are We US?" theme, State Archives' staff will explore records detailing various ethnic groups coming to North Carolina from the late 19th century to the present. The State Archives is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Bennett Place State Historic Site will host its annual anniversary program on Saturday, April 25, from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. The program commemorates the surrender of 89,270 Confederate troops negotiated by Confederate Gen. Joseph Johnston and U.S. Army Major General William T. Sherman. The generals met three times at James and Nancy Bennett’s farmhouse in April 1865, ultimately agreeing to what became the largest surrender of the American Civil War on April 26, 1865. Bennett Place is administered by the Division of State Historic Sites within the N.C.

2026 Race for the Planet hosted by the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) is more than your ordinary 5K, it’s an invigorating reminder of how everyone has a part in protecting the planet and this year, it’s during the 50th anniversary of the North Carolina Aquariums. Runners are invited to run with a purpose on Sunday, April 19 at 8 a.m. at Battle Acre Park and then stay a bit to celebrate at a post-run festival. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

America’s first formal call for independence, a document known as the Halifax Resolves, is coming home to North Carolina for a short time as part of the state’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, Governor Josh Stein announced today. The document will be exhibited in the new visitor center at Halifax State Historic Site from April 10 through Oct. 6.

A new digital exhibit about North Carolina's first governor is now online.