Topics Related to Things to Do

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

It’s 1916 and boarders at Julia Wolfe’s “Old Kentucky Home” boardinghouse are visiting for health, business and leisure. You may see one of them snapping pictures with her 1916 Kodak camera. Hot topics include World War I or the upcoming World Series and a newsie will hawk the Oct. 7, 1916 newspaper on Market Street.

Governor Roy Cooper has proclaimed Oct. 2017 as North Carolina Archives Month and the State Archives of North Carolina presents two programs exploring the relevance of historical records in our lives today.  

A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. What better way to start the Halloween season than with a brand-new mask! Come to Historic Bath Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and make your own mask. This is a free activity.

Discover what it was like to cook over a live flame at a free open hearth cooking demonstration at the Bonner House kitchen Friday, Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. There’s no better way to spend a beautiful fall day than by experiencing open hearth cooking at Historic Bath.