Driving JoCo: Episode 2
In Episode 2, Josh is back behind the wheel and getting out on the farm to meet the people behind Sonlight Farms, hear their story, and discover what makes this Johnston County destination so…
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Restaurant Week Going County Wide in 2026
Article originally published in JNOW magazine's annual JoCo Dining Guide. You may have heard the term “‘Restaurant Week” used to describe a promotional event intended to celebrate an area’s dining…
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JoCo Fall Hiking Challenge
The Friends of Johnston County Parks and local partners invite residents and visitors alike to lace up their boots and hit the trail for the 2026 JoCo Fall Hiking Challenge, running from October 1…
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The 2026 Ava Gardner Festival: Ava's Life in Spain
The Ava Gardner Museum will celebrate the international legacy of Johnston County native and Hollywood legend Ava Gardner during the 2026 Ava Gardner Festival, October 2-4 in Downtown Smithfield…
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Driving JoCo: Episode 1
For our very first stop on Driving JoCo, we’re pulling into DeWayne’s Garden & Gift Center—a place where plants are plentiful, gifts are everywhere, and apparently you can spend way more time…
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The History of Benson Mule Days
The small town of Benson, North Carolina, with a population of around 4000, will swell to approximately 20,000 come September when the Annual Benson Mule Days Celebration, sponsored by the Benson…
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Johnston County Visitors Spent 7.2% More in 2025
Statewide, visitor spending in 2025 reached $37.2 billion, and tourism employment totaled 230,997. In Johnston County, visitors spent $337.30 million, which is a 7.2% increase over 2024 spending…
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Bread & Bottle: Food, and Community, that’s Made from Scratch
"Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new." -Ursula K. Le Guin Some restaurants begin with a business plan. Bread & Bottle began with a…
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Treat of the Summer? Cheerwine Milkshakes!
We have found the treat of the summer at Sisters II Ice Cream in Downtown Benson! Cheerwine milkshakes! Now, you’re likely picturing a Cheerwine float, which you have probably seen around North…
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Rooted in Flavor, Casual in Vibe, Built Around Music
A crescendo (derived from the Italian word crescere , meaning "to grow") is a gradual, steady increase in loudness, force, or intensity. In music, it is a dynamic marking that instructs musicians to…
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