Topics Related to Things to Do

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation is seeking public input on the Mayo River State Park Master Plan. The Master Plan is a long-term plan for the park that provides access to more than 16 river miles of the Mayo River in Rockingham County. The Mayo River begins near the N.C./VA state line and flows south until it joins with the Dan River near Madison, N.C. 

Please note: As of 1/1/23 the shuttle at Pilot Mountain State Park is no longer in service.Pilot Mountain State Park will begin shuttle service to the upper parking lot beginning Saturday, Aug. 22. The shuttle will allow more access to the popular mountain, reduce traffic in and around the park, and reduce waiting times for people visiting the mountain section. 

In anticipation of Thomas Wolfe’s 120th birthday in October, the Thomas Wolfe Memorial invites students and teachers to participate in the 2020 “Telling Our Tales” Student Writing Competition. In this competition, students will submit their own work of fiction inspired by reading part IV of “The Lost Boy.” 

Thanks to a generous donation from the late Tom Rabe, his wife Jean and the Rabe family, a new 1,000 square foot observation deck is now open on top of Morrow Mountain. The donation was made to the park through the Friends of Morrow Mountain, the non-profit organization that also helped oversee the construction of the project. The observation deck faces east over the park, Lake Tillery and the Uwharrie National Forest.

In light of Governor Roy Cooper’s state of emergency declaration and guidance regarding canceling or postponing large gatherings in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, Mountain Gateway Museum’s 2020 Pioneer Day festival has been canceled. 

Festival organizers had hoped to reschedule the event, usually held in late April, for July 4, but rescheduling has become impracticable. 

The 2020 Mountain Gateway Museum Farmers’ Market will open Thursday, June 4, at 24 Water Street in Old Fort. Please note that the Mountain Gateway Museum and Heritage Center remains closed to the public. 

Vendors and visitors to the market will be asked to abide by state health and safety guidelines and observe the “3 Ws”: Wear face coverings, Wash or sanitize your hands often, and Wait/walk/stand six feet apart in line. Hand sanitizer will be provided. No public restrooms will be available, and picnic tables on the museum’s grounds will not be available for use. 

Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed June 1-7, 2020, as "Museum Week" in North Carolina to highlight the meaningful impact museums have on North Carolina residents, tourism and the economy, and their communities.

North Carolina Museum Week is a celebration of North Carolina museums. Activities during the week will raise awareness of North Carolina museums as centers of education, community anchors, economic engines, stewards of culture and history, and more.

The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation accepted the donation of more than 1,000 acres to Morrow Mountain State Park in Stanly County on May 14. The donation, which brings the park’s total area to 5,881 acres, is part of ALCOA Corporation’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing agreement that was finalized in 2013. 

While public operations at Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources institutions remain temporarily suspended, many of our engaging programs and resources can be experienced online.

NCLearn @ Home (www.ncdcr.gov/nclearn@home) is a new website designed to gather online content and educational resources into one place for teachers, students, parents, and anyone needing enriching experiences, regardless of their location.

While the men who first discovered gold in America in 1799 are celebrated, little has been said about the women of  the county's first documented gold rush until recently. The “More Than a Woman” program at Reed Gold Mine March 7 and 21, 1 p.m., will focus on their stories.