RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 13, 2024) — Visitor spending continued to break records for North Carolina in 2023, according to data released Tuesday by the NC Department of Commerce. Travel spending statewide rose 6.9 percent to $35.6 billion in 2023 to set a record in visitor spending. That growth followed a record-breaking increase of 15 percent in 2022. Direct tourism employment also increased statewide by 4.8 percent...

Willard, NC — The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina is proud to announce a two-day benefit fine art show on October 4th and 5th called The Gallery In The Gardens. Celebrating the vibrant art and history of Pender and Duplin Counties, this exciting event will showcase as many as 200 original paintings by 14 talented local and regional artists, with a portion of the proceeds supporting The Gardens. Many of the...

Tickets are on sale now for the award-winning Ghost Walk, Ghost Walk of Pender’s Past, a haunting tour around Burgaw’s historic cemetery. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/ghostwalkofpenderspast/2024. Tickets may also be ordered via phone with a credit card by calling 910-259-1278. Tickets are $15 per adult; admission for students ages 5-17 are $10 each. Children...

The planning process for 4 miles of new MST in Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County is nearly complete. Friends of the MST were instrumental in adding 1,600 acres to the site. The Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, with local land managers and partners, have developed a master plan for extending the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) over four miles in Holly Shelter Game Land. This MST extension will utilize Holly...