Fall Festivals in Full Swing Soon

The 2023 Ava Gardner Festival will be the finale of our year-long celebration of Ava’s 100^th birthday with special guests, new exhibits, guided heritage tours, screenings of Ava’s films, and new gift shop items. Our opening day reception will include the always popular coconut cake made with the family recipe that Ava enjoyed on her birthday each year as a child. For more details, visit avagardnerfestival.com.

MUSEUM HOURS:
Oct 6, 9:30am-4:00pm
Oct. 7: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Oct 8: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Schedule of Events for the festival:

Opening Night Reception, October 6 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
FREE Film Screening of Show Boat at the Neuse River Amphitheater

Saturday, October 7
Heritage Tours times:  9:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm
Victoria Price Presentation and Book Signing 3:00pm
The Bribe Film Screening, Smithfield Cinemas, 7:30pm

Sunday, October 8
Show Boat Film Screening, Smithfield Cinemas, 1:30pm
The Bribe Film Screening, Smithfield Cinemas, 4:00pm
The Great Sinner Screening, Howell Theatre, 7:00pm

The Ava Gardner Museum in the star’s hometown of Smithfield is dedicated to preserving her legacy and hosts this annual festival for visiting fans to enjoy new exhibits, film screenings, and other special events throughout the weekend.