Next week, June 14-15 marks the 20th anniversary of the Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival in Tryon. This year, it includes a visit from Destination America‘s show “BBQ Pitmasters,” which will be filming an upcoming segment for the show. There’s also music, including Donna the Buffalo, TownMountain and Big Daddy Love, a craft show and carnival
Category: Tourism
Gov. McCrory proclaims June “Great Outdoors Month”
Gov. Pat McCrory has proclaimed this month as “Great Outdoors Month,” encouraging all North Carolinians to enjoy the state’s natural beauty and near-perfect climate, and celebrate North Carolina’s commitment to conserve and protect its air, water, wildlife, spectacular lands and quality of life. “June in North Carolina is just beautiful,” said Gov. McCrory. “From the Mountains, to the Piedmont, to the Coast, every part of our state has something to offer. Whether it is getting out and exploring our state’s …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of June 6 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, enjoy a stroll through the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in Blowing Rock. Immerse yourself in Zombie Town in Asheville. See a different side of Beaufort with Beaufort Culinary Bike Tours. Step back in time via the Emancipation Proclamation Display at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. And the “House Special” samples the fare at McLean’s OleTime Cafe in Zebulon. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) …
NC Tourism Dept New Regional Visitor Profile provides insights, comparisons by geographic area
As a part of its ongoing research, the Division recently completed an in-depth regional analysis of the 2012 visitor profile data and has made it available online. This market research, combined with other studies, helps guide the Division’s strategic marketing decisions. This regional report provides each region with research data specific to their geographic area. The report is divided into four sections: Mountain, Piedmont, Coast and a regional comparison. Where applicable, regional statistics are compared to statewide statistics to provide …
All signs point to near-record summer for travel
The unofficial kickoff of the summer vacation season last week found a growing number of people on the move, marking a steady return to travel as the economy recovers and consumer confidence improves. In fact, if the surveys and forecasts are right, 2013 could prove to be one of the strongest summers on record. Incentives, promotions, value-adds and a bounty of new apps are also helping to fuel interest in and demand for travel. Researchers and travel executives are encountering …
Leisure and Hospitality lead statewide employment growth
The Leisure and Hospitality Services sector is leading the state in total non-farm industry employment growth in North Carolina, according to recent data from the Labor and Economic Analysis Division. Total North Carolina non-farm employment (seasonally adjusted) increased 0.2 percent from March to April and 1.8 percent from April 2012 to April 2013. Since April 2012, Leisure and Hospitality Services has added the largest number of jobs (23,700; 5.7 percent), followed by Professional and Business Services (15,900; 3.0 percent) and …
N.C. Mountain State Fair celebrates 20 years of ‘Mountain Fun for Everyone’ Sept. 6-15
FLETCHER — Whatever your interests are, you’ll find something fun at the 2013 N.C. Mountain State Fair. Organizers promise “Mountain Fun for Everyone” during the fair’s 20th run, which will take place Sept. 6-15 at the Western N.C. Agricultural Center. The fair may be 100 days away, but organizers are encouraging visitors to start planning now, especially if they are entering one of hundreds of premium competitions. The entry department has already received dozens of entries for this year’s fair. …
New trail segment at DuPont State Recreational Forest to open Saturday; trail volunteers will be recognized
RALEIGH — Staff and supporters of DuPont State Recreational Forest will open the High Falls Trail extension with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, June 1. Trail volunteers will gather at 10 a.m. at the High Falls access area on Staton Road in the forest to open the extension and recognize the many supporters who help to maintain the forest’s trails. Supporting groups include Friends of DuPont Forest, Pisgah Trail Blazers and Southern Off Road Bicycle Association (SORBA). Todd Branham with Long …
N.C. Zoo sets Memorial Day Weekend attendance record
Spurred by idyllic weather, the return of a polar bear and a highly popular dinosaur exhibit, the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro set a new attendance record over the Memorial Day weekend. This past weekend’s three-day total of 37,165 visitors shattered the previous Memorial Day weekend record of 32,732 set in May 2008 by nearly 5,000 people. Daily totals of 14,015 on Saturday, 12,277 on Sunday and 10,873 on Monday were also new marks for the Memorial Day period. Zoo officials …
Homeland begins third season in Charlotte, films in Raleigh next week
Principle photography is officially underway in North Carolina on Showtime’s award-winning series Homeland. Crews for the series have been spotted at several uptown Charlotte locations this week. Based in Charlotte, the series has previously filmed in the Queen City as well as Concord, Gastonia, Kings Mountain, Mooresville, and Salisbury. The third season is expected to once again shoot throughout the Charlotte Region and will also be filming in Raleigh next week. According to the N.C. Film Office, the show has …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of May 30 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, stroll through downtown Concord. Discover wakeboarding or wakesurfing at Hexagon Wake Park at Tucker Lake in Benson. Explore your inner child at Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham. Lift a glass at Gregory Vineyards in Angier. And enjoy a tour of Wrightsville Beach. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In addition, UNC-TV has made recent editions of North Carolina Weekend …
Helping others is part of job for Raleigh’s downtown ambassadors
Raleigh’s Safety & Clean Ambassadors work together to make the downtown area an attractive place to live, work or visit. Clean Ambassadors are responsible for maintaining the appearance of public pedestrian areas downtown in Raleigh. The Safety Ambassadors assist visitors, workers, and residents by providing maps, guides, directions, and information about restaurants and other attractions. The 8-year-old program is funded by a special property tax. In April alone, Downtown Raleigh Ambassadors helped more than 400 drivers, 1,440 visitors and cleared …
N.C.-filmed Norman Rockwell’s Shuffleton’s Barbershop debuts this Saturday
Norman Rockwell’s Shuffleton’s Barbershop is set to make its debut this Saturday, June 1, at 9 pm on the Hallmark Movie Channel. The made-for-television feature filmed in the Charlotte area. It’s estimated to have had a direct in-state spend of approximately $2 million while providing more than 250 job opportunities, including 85 well-paying positions for the state’s highly skilled film professionals. The movie stars Danny Glover, Austin Stowell and Kayla Ewell. The production, which was recruited to the state by …
Report shows economic impact of Battleship North Carolina
The Battleship North Carolina helps define Wilmington’s brand and is an economic engine, according to the results of an economic-impact assessment. Today (Wednesday), the battleship released highlights of a University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill study on its economic impact. The findings included n the first decade of the 21st century, the battleship is credited with generating $83.5 million in local income; during the same period, the battleship grew the New Hanover County economy by $245 million; and in 2010, the …
On 2nd Saturdays this summer, North Carolina culture is everywhere
This summer’s 2nd Saturdays programs – June 8, July 13 and Aug. 10 – will demonstrate that North Carolina culture is everywhere. Orchestrated by the N.C. Dept. of Cultural Resources, it’s summertime family fun for visitors to and residents in the state, which, in turn, benefits communities. A unique authentic North Carolina experience will be found at each of the 27 state historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, and even a history center, throughout the summer. Many venues …
Haywood County hosts Hillbilly Blood
During the past two years, a local reality show in Haywood County has become a phenomenon that’s being broadcast into homes across the country and beyond. The program is Hillbilly Blood: A Hardscrabble Life, and it features Western North Carolina outdoor survival experts Spencer Bolejack and Eugene Runkis. With the second season currently hitting the airwaves, the program follows Bolejack and Runkis around the woods of Haywood County, where they cross paths with skilled craftsmen, figure out planned scenarios or …
Events Across NC Tap Memorial Day Spirit
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 22, 2013) — North Carolina destinations are ready to welcome visitors for Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer travel season. Special events feed the urge to travel, lodging packages make the trip more enticing, and lower pump prices sweeten the deal. “The three-day weekend makes Memorial Day irresistible,” said Wit Tuttell, marketing director in the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism. “With the extra day, you can see more, do more, relax more …
Nags Head beach project recognized with national award
Nags Head’s beach replenishment project, the first of its kind on the Outer Banks, was named among the best in the nation by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. The ASBPA chose Nags Head because it is a survivor – figuratively and literally. The first of its kind on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, even before construction began the Nags Head’s project had to overcome hurdles such as the perception that beach nourishment was not a feasible alternative for the …
World comes to Cabarrus for May race weeks
NASCAR came to Concord last week for a red-white-and-blue showcase for the sport, culminating with the running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 26. “In the next two weeks, hundreds of thousands of fans will attend race events at the speedway, enjoy Food Lion Speed Street and visit area race shops and the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Marcus Smith. To kick off the May races, the I-77 South Welcome Center held a “Pit Stop” last Friday …
High Point ramps up for USA Cycling national championship
High Point is poised to play host to a USA Cycling National Championship this July, an event expected to draw more than 8,000 cyclists and supporters to the Triad. The city was selected in 2011 from more than 40 contenders, including Sacramento, Calif., and Austin, Texas, to host the Pro Criterium championship this year and next. Criterium road races are team-based competitions that feature a shorter course of less than 3 miles with repeated laps that can last several hours. …