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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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 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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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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"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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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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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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Did you have a favorite toy growing up? Maybe something super special, popular, or unique that you remember getting for a birthday or Christmas? Do you have a memory of a toy you wanted, but never…
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Johnston County will mark America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 with a series of commemorative events, heritage programs, and community celebrations designed to honor the nation’s founding while…
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The weather is warming and there are so many fun events to attend outside around the county in the coming weeks. Beyond that, we wanted to share a round-up of things to do in JoCo during the Spring…
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