Topics Related to Things to Do

North Carolina State Parks Report Record 19.8 million visitors in 2020

North Carolina state parks experienced a record number of visitors in 2020. 

State parks and recreation areas welcomed 19.8 million visitors last year — 400,000 more than any other year on record and 1.2 million more visitors than in 2019. The previous record for visitation was set in 2017 when the parks welcomed 19.4 million visitors. 

Annual Black History Month Read-In

Celebrate literature and hear from North Carolina authors with the Fourth-Annual Black History Month Read-In! The North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, in partnership with the North Carolina State Capitol, the State Library of North Carolina, the Richard B. Harrison Community Library, Liberation Station Bookstore, and the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, is presenting the Read-In virtually for 2021. Throughout Black History Month in February, the Commission will highlight individual Black North Carolina children’s book authors. 

N.C. State Park Lands and Waters Now Total 250,000 Acres

The North Carolina state parks system now includes 250,000 acres of land and water, according to the Division of Parks and Recreation. Recent acquisitions, including 230 acres for Deep River State Trail and 300 acres for Salmon Creek State Natural Area, brought the system’s acreage up to the new total.

Public Input Sought for Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail Master Plan

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation launched a new web page to seek public input as staff develop the Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail master plan. The master plan is a long-term strategy for the park that details how and where access will be provided and prioritizes projects and investments. Master plan development involves identifying recreation and conservation needs for the trail and collecting stakeholder input on priorities for the park. 

Volunteers Can Help N.C. State Archives Transcribe Historical Court Records

The State Archives of North Carolina is seeking volunteers who can help transcribe some of the state’s earliest court documents.

N.C. Governor’s Mansion External Holiday Decorations on View Beginning Dec. 4

North Carolina’s Executive Mansion will soon be decorated for the season, and visitors are invited to view the outdoor holiday decorations beginning Friday, Dec. 4.

While the Executive Mansion remains closed to the public due to Covid-19, additional exterior decorations are planned for the public to enjoy. The mansion grounds will be decorated for the holidays, and lit trees will be visible through the mansion’s windows.

'Hello NC: Stories from Main Street' Podcast Highlights North Carolina Main Street Towns

A new podcast from the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources aims to highlight North Carolina's amazing rural and small-town appeal. 

“Hello NC: Stories from Main Street” is part of the department’s Hello North Carolina initiative. Hello NC celebrates the people, culture, and stories of rural North Carolina through local voices and rich media. This multi-faceted initiative showcases stories about the diversity, traditions and richness of small towns and rural life. 

March 2021 Bentonville Battlefield Reenactment Cancelled

Due to the uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the reenactment, scheduled for March 21-22, 2021 at Bentonville Battlefield has been cancelled. The event had been rescheduled from its original date in March 2020. 

Aycock Birthplace Historic Site Hosts Online Screening of 'Wilmington on Fire' Nov. 17-22

As a part of the Division of North Carolina Historic Sites and Properties’ True Inclusion initiative, the Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace is hosting an online screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary “Wilmington On Fire.” The film will be available for viewing Nov. 17-22, with an online discussion to be held Nov. 19, 6-7:30 p.m.

Oyster Shellabration Set for Oct. 12-16

Make plans now to virtually “shellabrate” the environmental, economic, cultural and culinary importance of oysters during North Carolina Oyster Week, Oct. 12-16. The week is co-hosted by North Carolina Sea Grant, the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and the North Carolina Coastal Federation.