Press Release
Raleigh 2005 Calendar of Events
Media Contact: Jim Lee, DCI ( 312) 202-0507;
jim.lee@dc-intl
RALEIGH, N.C. (January 2005) – The Greater Raleigh, N.C., area unveils its Calendar of Events for 2005, including a line-up of major festivals, cultural performances, marquee athletic events and "off-beat" traditions. To receive a free Visitors Guide or more information on 2005 events, visit www.visitraleigh.com or call toll-free, (800) 849-8499. That's "City Life, Carolina Style."
January 22
Fourth Annual African American Cultural Celebration at N.C. Museum of History: Enjoy a day of activities, crafts, music, entertainment, and foods in celebration of the state's African American heritage and culture. 11:00 AM-4:00 PM. Free admission. www.ncmuseumofhistory.org
January 29-30
Astronomy Days at N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: A day of astronomical proportions featuring out-of-this world presentations, a cosmic array of exhibits and displays, and a universe of activities that will send guests into orbit! 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Saturday); 12:00 PM-5 PM (Sunday). Free admission. www.naturalsciences.org
February 26-May 28
America's Fairs: Educating Communities at Historic Oak View County Park: This new park exhibit features the history of fairs across America from around 1880 to 1920. View posters from large and small fairs from coast to coast, and learn more about North Carolina's rich tradition of state and county fairs. Free admission. www.wakegov.com/locations/oakview.htm
February 28-March 5
CIAA Basketball Tournament at the RBC Center: Celebrate the 60th annual men's and women's basketball tournament and week-long social event for the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association), a competition among 12 historically black colleges and universities from North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland at RBC Center. Tickets range from $37.50-$125. www.ciaa2005.com
March 1
National Miss Latina Pageant at BTI Center for the Performing Arts: This national pageant,
reaching more than 40 million U.S. Hispanics living in America, and has continued to raise awareness about education issues affecting minorities today. Admission TBD.
www.hispanos-usa.com/pageant.html
March 11-13
Annual Home and Flower Show at Raleigh Convention and Conference Center: Witness 100,000 square feet of flowers, plants, home plans, designer rooms, a garden competition, seminars and home-product displays. Admission TBD. www.raleighconvention.com
March 12
"Reptile and Amphibian Day" at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: Celebrate spring with crocodiles, snakes, alligators, lizards, toads, frogs, salamanders and turtles from around the world! 9 AM – 5 PM. Free admission. www.naturalsciences.org
March 26-27 & April 4-5
N.C. Renaissance Faire: Any person wishing to reenact life in the court of Medieval England, from the time of King Arthur through Queen Elizabeth I will have a jolly old time at the North Carolina Renaissance Faire. The celebration will include an ample feast of crafts, entertainment and exotic food and drinks. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children 5-12 and seniors 65+, children under 5 free. www.ncrenfaire.com
April 3
A Toast of the Triangle at the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center: This event offers an astonishing array of culinary splendor from 40 of the Triangle's finest restaurants, caterers and purveyors of fine wines and specialty beers. Donations benefit the Tammy Lynn Memorial Foundation. Admission TBD. www.raleighconvention.com
April 3- July 17
In Focus: Contemporary Photography from the Allen G. Thomas Collection at the N.C. Museum of Art: For the very first time, a collection of photographs by some of the hottest, most inventive photographers in the United States and abroad is on display–and only at the NCMA! Works by Mike and Doug Starn, Sally Mann, Rineke Dijkstra, Adam Fuss, Loretta Lux, and Andres Serrano are featured. Free admission. www.ncartmuseum.org
April 23-May 15
ASID Designer Showhouse Presented By Woman's Club of Raleigh: Twenty-two accredited designers, in partnership with the Carolinas Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers, will transform the Andrews-London House in the historic Blount Street area of Raleigh, during the first ASID Showhouse in the area since 1993. For three weeks visitors will have the opportunity to visit this 1916 Georgian Revival-style residence, and see how some of the outstanding designers in the area work their magic. A boutique featuring North Carolina crafts and other items will be open during show hours, and a cafe will be available on the premises for lunch. Admission $15 in advance, $20 at the door. http://www.asidshowhouse.org
April 30
7th Annual Triangle Beach Music Festival in Garner: Beach music was born in the Carolinas, and this day features great food, great music (featuring Band of OZ, Coastline Band, Chairmen of the Board, Tams) and tons of fun in the sun! Admission TBD. www.trianglebeach.com
May 8-August 14
Fusion: Contemporary Art Glass at N.C. Museum of Art: North Carolina collectors celebrate the imaginative wonder, technical virtuosity, and sheer visual opulence of contemporary glasswork. This exhibition surveys American and European studio glass–North Carolina style. Free admission. www.ncartmuseum.org
May 21-22
Artsplosure 2005: Spring Jazz & Art Festival in Downtown Raleigh: Jazz, pop and country music ring throughout downtown Raleigh as North Carolina celebrates its largest and most diverse arts festival. More than 150 arts & crafts booths are showcased while interactive sculptures and a visual artists market provide educational fun for the whole family. Free admission. www.artsplosure.org
May 27-28
Acro at Aurora Fossil Festival at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: TBD
June 13-19
2005 U.S. Open Championship at Pinehurst: Once again, nearby Pinehurst will have the honor of hosting the U.S. Open. The resort became a part of American history when Payne Stewart captured his second title in 1999 at Pinehurst. Stewart's 15-foot putt on the final hole marked one of the most dramatic moments in U.S. Open history. Admission charged. www.pinehurst.com/us_open.asp
June 18-September 18
CSI: Crime Scene Insects at N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: This exhibit takes center stage, exploring forensic entomology to solve crimes, the use of flies, maggots and beetles to reveal critical details of a crime scene. Admission charged. www.naturalsciences.org
June 18
Day at the Park Festival at Morrisville Community Park: This annual summer celebration boasts a variety of live music, food, arts, free carnival rides, an Apache helicopter display, fireworks and more! It's a joyous celebration of the lazy days of summer at Morrisville Community Park. Free admission. (919) 469-9760
July 4
Fourth of July Open House at Joel Lane Museum House: Built in 1770 as the home for Joel Lane, prominent statesman and patriot, this house is fully restored and furnished to reflect the way he lived on his home plantation. Throughout the day costumed docents will provide tours of the house and gardens, Revolutionary War re-enactors will march and drill in the yard to demonstrate how our militia won our Independence, and games and crafts will be offered for children of all ages. Admission free.
July 4
Capitol's July 4th Celebration At N.C. State Capitol: Celebrate our country's freedom with a bang as you watch live bands, chow down on some good "home-cooking" and view craft demonstrations in North Carolina's State Capitol Building and Capitol Square. Free admission. www.dcr.state.nc.us
July 21-24 & July 28-31
"The Amistad Saga: Reflections" at African American Cultural Complex: A compelling outdoor drama which reenacts the mutiny scene of Cinque and African hostages designed to preserve the history of African-Americans; performed at the AACC amphitheater. Admission: $10 adults, $6 children 6-12, children under 6 free. www.aaccmuseum.org
August 13
BugFest at N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: Open your mind, eyes, and mouth to the curious world of bugs. The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences' ninth annual BugFest! creeps into downtown Raleigh. As the nation's largest single-day bug event, BugFest! offered quirky bug-filled fun for adventurous people of all ages. BugFest! 2005 celebrates swarming insects, in honor of the "Brood X" cicada, billions of which swarm sections of the eastern United States throughout the month of June. In addition to learning about insects, arachnids, and crustaceans from around the world, BugFest! visitors can even taste them as the main ingredients of the delectable gourmet dishes at Cafe Insecta and the BugFest! critter cook-off. If your mouth starts watering, you can sample some of their buggy wares or grab some "grub" of your own at the Museum's signature Cafe Insecta. Admission TBD. www.naturalsciences.org
September 2-5
Raleigh Gem and Mineral Show at the Kerr Scott Bldg on the N.C. State Fairgrounds: More than 45 dealers will showcase a variety of classic, estate, hand-crafted and contemporary jewelry, 14k gold and sterling silver jewelry, minerals, fossils, crystals, American Indian jewelry, stone carvings, pearls, beads, findings and lapidary tools. Registered gemologist will be available for appraisals and jewelers and wire wrappers will be on-hand to design, remount and set stones and do repairs on site. Admission charged. www.ncstatefair.org
September 10-11
La Fiesta del Pueblo at the N.C. State Fairgrounds: La Fiesta del Pueblo is the largest Latin American festival in the Carolinas, providing a fun, low-cost, family-friendly environment that values building bridges, cross-cultural understanding, and educational opportunities. The festival features dance and music performances on four stages, typical Latin American food, Cafe Teatro, special guests Remi the Puerto Rican clown, Harry the Dragon, and Ronald McDonald, and children's games. This alcohol-free festival costs $1 for adults and is free for children under 12.
www.elpueblo.org
September 10-11
North Carolina Gourd Arts and Crafts Festival at Dorton Arena at N.C. State Fairgrounds: This is the country's longest-running gourd festival, featuring more than 80 growing, crafting, and artistic competitive categories, as well as workshops and vendors of gourd crafts and supplies. Admission charged. www.ncstatefair.org
September 16-18
Grecian Festival at the Kerr Scott Bldg of the N.C. State Fairgrounds: This authentic festival features traditional Greek foods, music, dance and gift items. Admission charged. www.ncstatefair.org
September 25-January 8
Crosscurrents: Art, Craft and Design in North Carolina at the N.C. Museum of Art: Emerging and established artists from across North Carolina have been selected by the NCMA and The Mint Museums of Charlotte for this collaborative exhibition of contemporary art, craft, and design. Crosscurrents presents some of the best two- and three-dimensional works in conventional and unconventional media currently being created in North Carolina. (Formerly NCAE). Free admission. www.ncartmuseum.org
October 14-23
North Carolina State Fair: Approximately 700,000 people attend the State Fair each year, making it the largest annual event in North Carolina. The 10-day extravaganza features livestock, agricultural, arts and cultural exhibitions, an amusement midway and nightly nationally acclaimed musical performances. Admission: $6 adults, $2 children 6-12, seniors 65+ and children under 5 free. www.ncstatefair.org
October 30-March 19
Crosscurrents: Art, Craft and Design in North Carolina at the N.C. Museum of Art: Masterpieces from the state's 19th-century pottery tradition and the works of six distinguished North Carolina potters are featured in this show, including Vernon and Pam Owens, Ben Owen III, and Mark Hewitt. Exemplary pieces from South Carolina, New England, Great Britain, Germany, China, and Japan demonstrate connections among North Carolina pottery and other traditions. Free admission. www.ncartmuseum.org
November 4-6
International Festival at the NC St. Fairgrounds: This festival features international foods, cultural exhibits, demonstrations, a world bazaar, ethnic dancing and music and the Biergarten.
Admission charged. www.ncstatefair.org
2005 HOLIDAY EVENTS
(Dates To Be Determined)
Executive Mansion Holiday Open House: Take a break from the Christmas shopping to see North Carolina's version of a larger-than-life gingerbread house. Home to Governor and Mrs. Mike Easley, the Executive Mansion features natural decorations and live entertainment. Free admission. http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/capitol/EXEC/Exectour.htm
Civil War Christmas Encampment at N.C. State Capitol: Re-enactors representing the Confederate 6th North Carolina regiment will camp on Capitol Square to recreate war-time holiday celebrations of long ago. Visitors can witness troops receiving mail from home, test their hand at crafting period Christmas ornaments, dip candles, and even participate in Civil War drill routines for free. (919) 733-4994.
Christmas Tour at Joel Lane Museum House: Decorated in traditional colonial greenery and fruit, the Joel Lane Museum House, circa 1770, will showcase ways in which our colonial ancestors celebrated the holiday season. Raleigh's oldest home is now fully restored to its appearance when it served as the residence of Joel Lane, a prominent statesman and patriot. Free admission. (919) 833-3431.
Mordecai Historic Park Holiday Tours: Visitors will experience the sights and sounds of Christmas past when they tour the historic Mordecai plantation house and grounds, all decked out for the holidays in period decorations including evergreens and fruit displays. Admission is charged for the one hour tour. Click here for more information.
Historic Oakview Christmas Open House & Self-guided Candlelight Tour: Just four miles east of downtown Raleigh, this antebellum farmstead is lit with luminaries for the holiday open-house. Guests can tour the 1855 Greek Revival house and visit with Santa in the living room, devour freshly baked cookies in the plank kitchen, and explore the cotton gin house museum, 1870s gazebo, and a Farm History Center. Sleigh rides will be given around the pecan grove, snow or shine. Free admission. (919) 250-1013.
Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour: The 34th annual tour of this 19th Century Victorian neighborhood provides a glimpse inside several 19th century private homes and inns, elegantly decorated for the holidays. Admission charged. www.historicoakwood.org
SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS APPEARING THROUGH 2005
Current – January 16
Matisse, Picasso, and the School of Paris at N.C. Museum of Art: This exhibition explores the vibrant creativity of the artists who made Paris the center of modern art and culture from the late 19th century to the outbreak of World War II. "Matisse, Picasso, and the School of Paris" features paintings, sculptures and works on paper selected from the Baltimore Museum of Art's rich and extensive holdings. Many of the works come from the renowned collection of Etta and Claribel Cone, whose family fortune derived in part from textile mills in the Carolinas. Artists featured in the exhibition include Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne, Bonnard, Monet, Rodin, Degas and Giacometti. Admission charged. www.ncartmuseum.org
Current-Spring 2006
"Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Transportation in the Triangle" at Raleigh City Museum: This exhibit explores the history of transportation in the Raleigh area, from the earliest modes of travel by stagecoach, horse or buggy to the advent of the railroad, airplane and automobile over the past 200 years. Admission free. www.raleighcitymuseum.org
Current-May 29
"Pioneers of Aviation" at N.C. Museum of History: Orville Wright's inaugural flight at Kill Devil Hills in 1903 launched the age of aviation. "Pioneers of Aviation" celebrates this monumental event and highlights other Tar Heel aviators and aviation innovators. Admission free. www.ncmuseumofhistory.org
Current-June 12
"Treasures Unearthed: North Carolina's Spectacular Gems & Minerals" at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences: Experience the largest collection of North Carolina's gems and minerals ever displayed, from emeralds to rubies to sapphires, and a walk-through gold mine. Admission charged. www.naturalsciences.org
The Greater Raleigh CVB is a non-profit agency that promotes Raleigh and Wake County for convention and visitor business to enhance the economic growth and development of the area. For a free visitors guide or more promotional information, please call (800) 849-8499, check out www.visitraleigh.com or e-mail visit@visitraleigh.com. That's "City Life, Carolina Style."
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