Events Celebrating & Honoring Black History Month
The Johnston County Heritage Center will be hosting a program at the Public Library in Smithfield on February 27th at 6:30 PM. It will feature a screening of the PBS documentary "'Fat Boy'": The Billy Stewart Story," which is about a nationally know R&B musician who was killed in an accident near Smithfield in 1970. The movie explores his journey from young piano player to famous balladeer before he and three band members lost their lives in a tragic automobile accident. After the screening, a panel discussion will be led by the film's writer and producer, Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, along with Stewart's cousin, Dane Riley, and band member Charles Stafford. The program is free to attend.
The Benson Museum of Local History will be hosting their 14th Annual Black History Month Celebration honoring past and present Black business owners within the Town of Benson. In past years, the Museum has chosen an individual to highlight their accomplishments within the community. This year, it was decided to shift focus to Benson’s Black community at large with a particular lens on business owners past and present. As in previous years, a companion documentary to the celebration will be produced focusing on Black businesses past and present. The documentary will premiere at the celebration before being released on the Town of Benson’s social media accounts. This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Katina Blue, a Johnston County native and Benson business owner. In January 2025, Dr. Blue celebrated 30 years of service to the State of North Carolina. Over the past five years, she has served as the Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor of Information Technology at UNC Pembroke. The event will be held at the Barn at Broadslab on February 23rd starting at 3 PM.
Black-owned Tourism Businesses in JoCo
The Johnston County Visitors Bureau works with many black-owned businesses around the county that share a true entrepreneurial spirit and passion for serving both residents and visitors. We have highlighted some of these partners below, many of who are women-owned businesses as well. Whether you’re looking for cupcakes, clothing, event planning, or eateries, we know they’d appreciate your business this month and throughout the year! Please note that this is just a highlight of the visitor-facing, black-owned businesses the JCVB knows about and has listed on our destination website; this is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list. If you know of a tourism-related black-owned business that has not been included, please let us know.
Fired Up Pizza & BBQ Food Truck
This food truck, owned by Tyrone Fields, is unique in the fact that they are one of the very few food trucks featuring a professional Il Fornino wood-burning pizza oven. All of their pizzas are cooked with North Carolina hardwood right before your eyes on their open-air deck and their BBQ is made using a specially formulated spice rub and sauces then slow-smoked for hours.
The Serving Spoon is a full-service catering company with an excellent reputation in Johnston County and beyond. With over 25 years of experience, owner Joyce Jenkins prides herself on preparing the very best Southern Cuisine made from scratch. Joyce recently opened her own catering venue in Downtown Pine Level. The beautifully renovated historic building will serve as a private event space and is also offering safe catering solutions like curbside and delivery service. What’s more, Joyce organizes and teaches a cooking camp for young children, instilling in boys and girls an early confidence in the kitchen and healthy eating habits.
Kookie Krumbs is a family owned business that offers a healthy and sweet option to satisfy everyone's needs any time of the day by serving delicious homemade cookies and cakes that are guaranteed to melt in your mouth! See where the truck will be next by checking out Kookie Krumbs Facebook or stop by their restaurant located in Smithfield!
Mister and That Dang Woman Catering
Voted top five best caterer and best BBQ in North Carolina by WRAL Voters Choice Awards multiple years in a row, Mister & That Dang Woman share a love for great food, family, and the Lord. They also share a passion for providing everyone – regardless of budget – with a beautiful experience.
The Hot Dog Bar at Old North State Food Hall
Antonio and Yvonnia Moore own The Hot Dog Bar in the food hall, where visitors can enjoy delicious hot dogs, wings, fries, and more! They also serve Red Snapper hot dogs, named for their color and the “snap” when you bite into them; not to be confused with the local red Bright Leaf hot dog, Red Snappers have a heritage out of the New England area.
Gateway Conference and Event Center
Terri Watson owns this event center, but the operation is a family business. She opened the center in Clayton and hosts all sorts of events from birthday parties to meetings; but elegant wedding receptions are her specialty. Make sure to check out this venue when planning your next event!
Other businesses:
Caribbean Delight Food Truck, Chefellas (pictured at the top), Ms. B's Bake Shop, Old Fashioned Ice Cream (pictured in the header), Patty Cake's Littlest Cupcake Shop, 815 Gourmet Grill, A Taste of Philly 4 U, Bourbon 'N Sweets, Boutique Social, Buttermilk Boutique, Clayton Seafood Plus, Eden's Vegans, Inspirational You Beauty Box, Island Flavour, JP's Chicken & Ribs, Lil Reggie's Cookies, Mac N Motion, Mama Nems Food Truck, Mister and That Dang Woman Catering, Mood Food, Niada Cradle Photography, Oak City Fish and Chips, Oink 'N Moo Food Truck, Prime Moments, Selma Mini Mart Japanese Grill, Serving Up Scoops, Show Out Nutrition, The Man with a Pan, The Rest Stop Boutique, and Vibe Central Events.
