Press Releases

Memories of North Carolina’s involvement in World War I will come to life with “North Carolina in the Great War,” a new exhibit opening at Tryon Palace’s North Carolina History Center on June 20. This free exhibit will be open to the public through Sept. 13. 

The North Carolina Symphony, led by conductor Stuart Chafetz, will perform some of the greatest hits from the 1980s as part of its 2015 Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series at Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre on Saturday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. Joining Chafetz will be vocalists Joe Cassidy and Nicole Parker.

Discover camp life and the role of the Civil War enlisted man in battle at Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site on Saturday, June 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. In this program, historians in period dress will demonstrate how Union and Confederate soldiers made meals, maintained weapons and uniforms, and trained for battle. For information please call (910) 594-0789 or visit www.nchistoricsites.org/bentonvi.

In June 1840, North Carolinians celebrated the completion of a new State Capitol with a festival and feast in Downtown Raleigh.

If you enjoy honey and are interested in beekeeping, then visit Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace, Saturday, June 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration of North Carolina's 19th century farm heritage during the "Saturday on the Farm" free program will examine beekeeping and gardening. You'll also enjoy seeing vintage farm equipment.

The end of the Civil War was not the end of the story. Historic Stagville will commemorate the end of the Civil War with “Freedom 150” May 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The free event will examine the effect of the end of the Civil War on the African American population, the rise of the black church and the creation of the sharecropping system.

The halls of the North Carolina History Center in historic downtown New Bern will echo with the sounds of jazz greats like Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller beginning at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 21.  

The North Carolina Symphony will give a free outdoor concert Thursday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m. on the Town Common in Tarboro.  Symphony Associate Conductor David Glover will lead the orchestra in “Concerts in Your Community: Your Favorite Light Classics.”  In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be held in Keihin Auditorium on the Tarboro campus of Edgecombe Community College. 

The State Capitol is hosting a birthday party June 13 that's been 175 years in the making! Free family friendly activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will include local musicians, military re-enactors, historic demonstrations, hands-on children's activities and more fun activities inside the Capitol and on Capitol Square. Of course there will be birthday cake. Please call (919) 733-4994 for more information.  

Even with clouds from a tropical depression, Civil War re-enactor Philip Brown began walking backroads May 11 on a 166 mile. 13-day journey from New Bern to Durham. The "Soldiers' Walk Home" event, organized by Duke Homestead State Historic Site in Durham, recalls the trek Washington Duke made when delivered to New Bern by the Union Army in 1865. Although Brown does not portray Duke, his route is similar to the one Duke might have taken.