Tag Archive for: #granvillecountytourism

TownTalk: More Treats Than Tricks in Granville This Halloween

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Granville County Tourism Development Authority Director Angela Allen has some advice for folks gearing up for a lively holiday season – buckle up! The ride is just beginning in Oxford and across the county.

The Halloween fun cranks up with downtown Oxford’s “Spooktacular” beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31. Kids in costumes can collect treats from participating merchants and businesses throughout Williamsboro, College, Hillsboro and Main streets.

“As the candy starts to give out, you can transition to Main Street for family activities,” she said. There will be vendors and more along Main Street to continue the festivities until about 8 p.m.

The towns of Creedmoor and Butner also will have trick-or-treat activities available. Visit downtown Creedmoor from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to get treats from downtown merchants. The town of Butner will host the first “Track-n-Treat at the Butner Athletic Park from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For all those who like scary stuff, you’ve still got time to get tickets to the Granville Haunt Farm. They’ll be open on Halloween from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and then again on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2. Check the website for times and prices.

Other activities include:

  • Friday, Nov. 1 – Cluck ‘N Shuck Oyster Roast, an annual event of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce. Call 919.693.6125 for tickets. Leon Nixon Catering provides steamed oysters, fried chicken, shrimp and fish with all the sides. It’s an all-you-can-eat food fest from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 2 – The Hub on Main’s Craft and Brew Holiday Festival. Free event, but you must purchase a ticket to sample beers from the dozen or so breweries that will be represented. Festival is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Check out The Hub on Main Facebook page to purchase tickets.
  • Sunday, Nov. 3 – Wedding and Event Expo at Creedmoor Community Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is a donation of non-perishable food items or toiletry items that will be donated to Families Living Violence Free. All types of venue representatives, photographers, caterers and more will be in one place to discuss your upcoming wedding plans or other special occasion. Purchase a $10 tasting ticket to sample foods, or go for the $20 ticket which includes a VIP bag along with the tastings.
  • Saturday, Nov. 9 – Operation Green Light celebration and Veteran’s Day Parade in downtown Oxford. Activities begin at 12 noon to honor military veterans. The parade begins at 3 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 9 – Holiday Extravaganza Parade in Stem – Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas parade, all in one event. The parade begins at 2 p.m. on East Tally Ho Road, with special guest Miss Teen North Carolina Kamryn Hollowell.
  • Saturday, Nov. 9/Sunday, Nov. 10 – Holiday Open House at Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy hot cider and cookies as you browse the handcrafted décor and other unique gifts in the gallery. Visit with Santa from 12 noon to 3 p.m. each day.
  • Monday, Nov. 11 – Butner Veteran’s Day Observance – 11 a.m. at Soldier Memorial Sports Arena.

Check out all the things going on across Granville County at www.visitgranvillenc.com.

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TownTalk: Granville County Gears Up for Fall

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Take a sip of that pumpkin spice latte, a bite from that pumpkin spice doughnut or a whiff of that pumpkin spice air freshener – fall is in the air and that means all things pumpkin in and around Granville County.

Just ask Granville Tourism Authority Director Angela Allen: She’s on a mission to celebrate pumpkins and everything else that goes along with fall, whether it’s the Granville Haunt Farm, glass pumpkins at Cedar Creek Gallery and everything in between.

The Granville Haunt Farm kicks off its 2024 Horror Safari season this weekend – purchase tickets in advance for Friday or Saturdays throughout October at https://www.granvillehauntfarm.com/.

Allen said the spooky fun gets started right around dark and continues through until the last tickets are sold at the 11 p.m. time slot.

Granville Haunt Farm is located at 4534 U.S. Hwy 15 South, about one mile from I-85 Exit 202 at Hwy 15 just outside Oxford.

Just up the road is Dixon Farms, located at 3025 Dixon Farm Rd., which celebrate pumpkins in a more traditional style. They’ll be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For a $15 admission price, you’ll get to take home a pumpkin and enjoy all kinds of entertainment for children and adults alike, including a corn pile, general store and more!

Allen said Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor is all set to have folks wander through a pumpkin patch of a different sort – the whole front of the gallery is filled with beautiful glass pumpkins created by local artisans.

The gallery is open seven days a week. Visit https://cedarcreekgallery.com/ to learn more.

This coming weekend, come out to the Lord Granville Harvest Show in Butner to see all kinds of farm implements, wander among local vendors and sample lots of good food, including homemade ice cream and sherbet.

There will be an antique tractor show, live demonstrations and a cake baking contest – a little something for everyone.

Admission is $5.

To learn about all the events upcoming in Granville County, visit https://visitgranvillenc.com/.

(This is not a paid ad.)

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TownTalk: Oxford Gets Ready For Hot Sauce Festival

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There’ll be a hot time in O-Town this weekend as the 18th annual Hot Sauce Contest and Festival takes over downtown streets for an expanded two-day event.

Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen said this year’s festival kicks off Friday, Sept. 6 and continues for a full day of activities the next day that includes live music, food vendors, crafts and more.

Vendors will be set up Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to showcase their goods, Allen said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. There will be live music by Gump Fiction, which she describes as a cover tribute band playing tunes from the 1990’s and 2000’s. There also will be an 18-hole glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course set up near Little John Street.

If that’s a little too staid for your tastes, step right up to the Flying Hatchet and try your hand at ax throwing.

There will be more live music throughout the day on Saturday, and all eyes – and taste buds – will be focused on the pepper-eating stage from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. to see which pepper-eating contestant can outlast other competitors.

This year, the local cooperative extension agency is getting in on the action by sponsoring a pepper decorating contest, Allen said. It’s just another example of how the community comes together to support the festival.

“At the root of it, it’s all about community,” she said.

But it’s also about the peppers. Granville County’s own Bailey Farms is the largest pepper distributor on the East Coast, so when Julia Overton originally hatched the idea of a pepper festival almost two decades ago, the pepper was an easy choice.

It’s gone from a small gathering in the basement of Stovall’s (now The Hub on Main) to a two-day street festival that brings pepper-loving people from all over to sample, shop and enjoy sauces that range from mild to wild.

“We’ve gotten over 200 entries of sauces,” Allen said, and judges have narrowed down their choices. In addition to the traditional categories of sauces, bbq sauces and spices and rubs, this year’s competition includes a category for salsa.

More than 50 of the sauce-related vendors will be at the festival, so folks can sample different products to find the perfect one for them.

Allen said this annual gathering is really becoming an event for foodies and for producers not just from Granville County, but from across North Carolina.

“It’s going to be a pretty awesome weekend in Granville County,” Allen said.

Visit www.nchotsauceandfestival.com for a complete schedule of events.

 

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TownTalk: Granville County Preparing For Vikings, The Scots And More

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It’s spring, and activities are popping up all over Granville County and Tourism Authority Director Angela Allen gave a rundown of several upcoming events and attractions that are sure to tickle your fancy.

This Saturday, Apr. 20, visit downtown Oxford between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. for the Oxford on Main Art and Wine Festival. Sponsored by The Hub on Main, this free event brings together craft vendors, kids’ activities, live music and more to Main Street, Allen said during Wednesday’s segment of TownTalk.

Purchase a $40 tasting ticket to sample more than 30 different wines. Visit the Hub on Main Facebook page or Instagram to find the Eventbrite link to purchase tickets.

“Even if you’re not a wine drinker, there’s still plenty to enjoy,” Allen said.

Then on Saturday, Apr. 27, there are a couple of big events happening in the Oxford area: One is the Central Carolina Highland Games and the other is the Granville Gardeners’ Expo.

Proceeds from the Highland Games benefits Central Children’s Home, which is where the games will be held. Attendees can watch traditional Scottish competitions from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and enjoy some traditional Scottish cuisine as well.

If plants and gardening are more your jam, head over to the Granville County Convention & Expo Center between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. In addition to a huge variety of flowering plants, herbs and more, the Expo – free to attend – features a variety of workshops and speakers on gardening to take part in There will be food trucks on site as well.

Other upcoming events include:

  • April 30 – The Arts in Bloom gala opens at the History Museum in Oxford and features works by school-aged artists from across the county. A collaboration between the museum and the Granville Education Foundation, the public is invited to a reception to open the show from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Proceeds from a silent auction will be used to further enrich art opportunities for students in Granville County schools, Allen said. The artwork will be on display until May 2 and the public is invited to stop by and view the students’ creations. Also visit the GEF Facebook page for a sneak peek at some of the artwork that will be on display during the Arts in Bloom gala.
  • May 3-5 – The Viking Experience will host its first event at its new property in northern Granville County. Visit thevikingexperience.com to purchase tickets and find out all the details for rustic camping opportunities, as well as different activities available to immerse yourself in the Viking life – including Saturday dinner around a campfire that will include music, dancing and skits.
  • May 2 – Quittin’ Time begins in downtown Oxford and continues on Thursdays in May and June. “It’s one of our favorites here in downtown Oxford for spring,” Allen said. A number of area restaurants will be preparing specialty small plate meals and cocktails, and patrons can move from one spot to another to sample the fare offered each week and enjoy live music. Visit the Downtown Oxford Restaurant Initiation – DORI – Facebook page to learn more about Quittin’ Time and other food-themed events in the works.

 

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TownTalk: Granville County Features Weddings, Ambulances And Vikings In March

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Whether planning a wedding, family reunion or a party to celebrate one of those “milestone” birthdays, Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen said there will be something for everyone at Saturday’s Wedding and Special Event Expo.

The event will be held on Saturday, Mar. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Creedmoor Community Center and Allen said it’ll be “one-stop shopping” to learn about everything from like venues and photographers all the way to music, caterers and gifts for the bride and groom.

This year’s expo features a formalwear shop in Durham, who will have information about not just wedding attire, but also for proms, dances and other special occasions.

Allen told WIZS’s co-host Bill Harris the expo evolved – thanks to COVID – from the original Brides on Wheels event to an expo that houses a variety of vendors under one roof.

The BOW event began in 2015 as a way to showcase the different wedding venue options. But when COVID restrictions were in place by 2020, Allen said it wasn’t feasible to load a bus and then visit the different featured venues.

When one door closes, another door opens.

“Because of COVID, we aren’t taking life for granted anymore,” Allen said. So whether you’re a bride-to-be or you’re “going over the top” to plan a birthday party, the expo is for you.

“We’re trying to give you the perfect day – whatever you want that day to look like,” Allen said.

“We jam pack a lot in three hours.”

The Creedmoor Community Center is located at 116 Douglas Drive in Creedmoor.

The Granville Ambulance Chase and food truck rodeo is set for Saturday, Mar. 16 at Granville Health System. There are races for the serious runners as well as fun runs and a kid dash during the morning and the food truck rodeo will last from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A group of health system employees calling themselves Trippin’ Breakers will provide live music at the event.

Visit www.ghsAmbulanceChase.org to register and find details about the different race options.

“The Viking Experience” returns to Granville County’s The Barn at Vino in March for a weekend of immersive entertainment. Allen said this is the third year of the event, and there will be plenty of excitement for adults and young people alike on Saturday, Mar. 23 and Sunday, Mar. 24.

There are a few upgrades for this year’s event that should streamline parking and check-in at the two-day event at 3200 Bliss Trail in Stem, Allen said.

“All tickets for the event are going to be bought online,” she said, adding that there will be NO gate or cash sales. A 100 percent online purchase option should speed things up this year.

Having said that, Allen strongly suggests that anyone interested in attending this year’s “experience” should get tickets now before they sell out.

Visit www.thevikingexperience.com to purchase tickets.

There will be an after-hours show on Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This is a ticketed event and takes the place of the popular dinner theatre event, Allen explained.

Not to worry, this popular offering is set to become a stand-alone event in the fall, she added.

To learn more about these events and more, check out www.visitgranvillenc.com and social media channels.

 

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TownTalk: Events In Granville County

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Most coffee and tea drinkers have a favorite cup they reach for each day, but there’s a good chance they’re always looking for that “next” perfect vessel for a morning brew or afternoon cuppa. Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor has an exhibit called “CUPful – Celebrating the Daily Ritual” that will run through Feb. 25 to showcase handcrafted pottery from near and far.

Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen shared a laundry list of upcoming events in the area, from Creedmoor and Stem to Oxford.

Visit https://cedarcreekgallery.com/ to learn more.

On Friday, Feb. 9, the Orpheum in Oxford will transform to host a local version of Mardi Gras, a fundraiser for the Granville County unit of the Boys & Girls Club.

“It is a party with a purpose,” Allen said. Things crank up at 6:30 p.m. to welcome partygoers for an evening of fun, complete with heavy hors d’oeuvres, music and a silent auction.

Tickets are $75.

Wear your favorite cocktail attire, a Mardi Gras mask, she said, “and you know there’s gonna be some beads there,” she said.

The next evening, Saturday, Feb. 10, Thorndale Oaks is hosting a murder-mystery dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. The evening’s theme is “A Country Fried Caper,” Allen said, and the evening will include a cast of characters that could best be described as a group of “ off-the-wall country music stars,” one of whom will not make it through the evening.

Tickets are $65 and includes a full dinner. Allen said the evening’s events unfold throughout the different dinner courses.

Call Thorndale Oaks at 919.603.3701 to reserve your seat at the table.

If whodunits aren’t your style, perhaps a quarter auction to support the local Dogs Deserve Better organization is more to your liking. The “Puppy Love” fundraiser will be held at The Barn at Vino on Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This event has proved to be quite popular, Allen said, and she recommends getting your tickets soon. Find a link to purchase tickets at https://visitgranvillenc.com/

“It’s a wonderful organization and every year, they show these fur babies some love,” she said. In addition to a couple of food trucks on site to satisfy everyone’s appetites, there will be 65 different raffle baskets available, a 50/50 raffle and additional vendors who will be selling different items through the evening.

Some upcoming events in March include:

  • Saturday, Mar. 2 – Spring Granville Wedding and Event Expo – Creedmoor Community Center. Donations for ACIM food bank will be accepted during this event, so bring a can of food or other shelf-stable food to contribute to this worthy cause.
  • Saturday, Mar. 16 – Granville Ambulance Chase and Food Truck Rodeo – After a hiatus due to COVID-19, Granville Health System is bringing this fun event back to Oxford. Walk or run and then kick back for food and live music. Visit ghsambulancechase.org for all the details.
  • Saturday, Mar. 16 – Head over to Thorndale Oaks to catch comedian Dan Grueter. Visit the Thorndale Oaks Facebook page to get tickets. There will be appetizers available and a cash bar.
  • Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 23, 24 – the third annual Viking Experience, which will take place at The Barn at Vino from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Participants can immerse themselves in all things Viking. People have come from all across the country to attend this two-day event, Allen said. Visit https://www.thevikingexperiencenc.com/
  •  for details about ticket prices, schedules and more.

The county’s tourism website, www.visitgranvillenc.com has a complete listing of all the events happening in and around Granville County.

 

 

TownTalk: December Events In Granville County

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There are plenty of upcoming activities in Granville County to make even those Scrooges or Grinches get in the holiday spirit.

Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen joined WIZS’s own Bill Harris on Wednesday’s TownTalk to talk about upcoming Christmas parades, drive-thru events and more.

The Granville Christmas Farm stows all its scary decorations in favor of twinkling holiday lights and scenery on weekends in December, Allen said. After Dec. 18, however, the drive-thru display will be open during the week as well.

Check out a live performance of Granville County-based group The Barefoot Movement, which will be at The Orpheum on Saturday evening, Dec. 2. Noah Wall and Tommy Norris will kick off their holiday tour with a local concert. But tickets are going fast, so check out the Orpheum’s website soon to secure your seat.

The musical duo “Little Red Birds” performs Friday, Dec. 8 at The Orpheum after the city’s Lighting of the Greens and Christmas parade.  Sip hot cocoa cocktails as you enjoy the music. Main Street will be open for a variety of activities – think inflatables, food trucks, vendors, live music – beginning at 4 p.m. on the 8th, followed by the Lighting of the Greens at 6:45 p.m. and then the parade at 7 p.m.

The next day, Saturday, Dec. 9, come back to downtown Oxford for “Jingle and Mingle.” Downtown merchants will be open for shoppers and browsers alike during normal business hours.

The flurry of activities begin this weekend across Granville County, including a tree-lighting ceremony Friday at 7 p.m. in Creedmoor and then one town over – Butner – beginning at 5:30 p.m. hosts its annual “Christmas in the Park.”

The next day, you can check out Creedmoor’s Christmas parade at 11 a.m. and then head over to Central Avenue in Butner to catch that town’s Christmas parade that begins at 2 p.m.

The Orpheum transforms from concert venue on Saturday to holiday gala on Sunday evening. Purchase tickets ($100 each) online at The Orpheum or stop by The Hub on Main. It’s black tie-optional and includes a meal, beverages and live music.

Saturday and Sunday at HighRock Farms on 2317 Enon Rd. features a date with Santa – breakfast, in fact. Make reservations at

https://www.highrock-events.com/our-events/

The Stem Ruritan Club is hosting the Stem Jingle Jangle at the club on Highway 75 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check out lots of local vendors and visit with Santa.

The Barn at Vino in Stem will host Cocoa with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 3 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will be vendors, food trucks and more on site. Reserve a photo session with Santa for $20 per child ($5 for each additional child) on Eventbrite or on The Barn at Vino’s Facebook page.

Carlee Farm in Stem will host its holiday marketplace again this year on Saturday, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop in for shopping and find plenty of local vendors on hand. Carlee Farm is located at 1003 Carlee Farm Rd.

If you need to take a break from the commercial side of the Christmas holiday, pack the kids in the car and go “Back to Bethlehem,” courtesy of Delrayno Baptist Church in Oxford. The drive-thru Nativity is a favorite event that recreates Bethlehem across a variety of scenes that are set up in the church parking lot and drive. The drive-thru Nativity will be held Dec. 9, 10 and 11 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission, but donations are accepted.

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TownTalk: October Events In Granville County

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It’s a good thing October has 31 days – any shorter, and Granville County wouldn’t be able to fit in all the activities that are planned throughout the county.

Just try to keep up with Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen as she darts from Oxford to Creedmoor to Butner to promote and attend events all through the month.

There are two ongoing weekly events that happen on Wednesdays in Oxford, Allen told WIZS’s Bill Harris on Monday’s TownTalk. Verdigris Vibe is a chance to enjoy live music from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Oxford Oaks Distillery. If you’d rather sing than listen, head over to The Orpheum on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. for karaoke night.

“These are a chance to get out and about in the middle of the week,” Allen said.

 

Here’s a list of some upcoming events happening across Granville County this month:

  • Granville Little Theater performs the Neil Simon play “Rumors.” Play runs Oct. 13-15 and Oct. 20-22, with evening performances at 7 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. each weekend. GLT – rumors. Neil simon play.
  • Granville Haunt Farm is open on Fridays and Saturdays in October, delighting guests by the carload. Be prepared for a mix of spooky and scary entertainment, as costumed ghouls and characters from iconic movies come to life during the drive-thru experience.
  • Haunt farm. Spooky, scary.
  • Dixon Farm Pumpkin Patch, located on Hwy. 15 south of the I-85 interchange, offers a wonderland of fall activities for children of all ages! The $15 entry includes a pumpkin, as well as access to a giant corn pile, petting zoo, outdoor games and much more. The farm is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • The Orpheum is teaming up with Granville Little Theater for a “live action screening” of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26 and midnight showings on Nov. 4 and Nov. 10. Get the VIP ticket for a swag bag of props – you’ll be glad you did!
  • Pint-sized ghosts and goblins can trick-or-treat in Oxford and Creedmoor on Halloween. Take the candy stroll beginning at 3 p.m. in downtown Oxford, then head to downtown Creedmoor for trick-or-treating from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For a complete list of upcoming activities, check out https://visitgranvillenc.com/.

 

 

TownTalk: Hot Sauce And More Coming To Granville County In September

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Things are heating up in Granville County, and it’s not all because of the weather.

Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen said this weekend’s Hot Sauce Festival is shaping up to be the best one yet.

This year, contestants entering their creations and concoctions have more than 100 categories and sub-categories to choose from, Allen said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 in downtown Oxford.

Judges will review all different types of sauces, rubs and other products that get slathered on pork, chicken and more. There’s not just hot sauce, she said. There’s mild, hottest hot and verde, just to name a few.

Oxford has become the destination for hot sauce aficionados and foodies on the second Saturday in September. This is the 16th annual festival, and Allen said thousands of folks come to experience the festival, complete with music, arts and crafts vendors and much more.

“There’s a lot of good food,” Allen said. “We’re going to have judges who have this awesome job” of sampling products and deciding which ones get recognized. You can sample many of those products as you stroll along the streets of downtown Oxford, she added.

Of course, there’s a lot more to the Hot Sauce Festival than just hot sauce – Bailey Farms again is sponsoring the pepper eating contest, which begins at 1:30 p.m. Top prize is $1,000.

There will be plenty of live music on a couple of different stages throughout the day, including On The Border, an Eagles tribute band.

Visit www.nchotsaucefestivalandcontest.com for a complete schedule of events and vendor lists.

For those interested in getting the party started early, check out The Orpheum’s “night before” party. Find details at visitoxforddowntown on Facebook.

If the live music performances during the Hot Sauce Festival gets your toes tappin’ for more, head down to Creedmoor on Saturday, Sept. 16 for the Creedmoor Music Festival, now in its 30th year.

The town turns into a multi-genre sound stage to provide a wide range of music, from gospel to bluegrass and beyond.

The festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and music will be performed on two stages. There will be plenty of “fair food” fare for listeners, as well as vendors with arts and crafts and a classic car cruise-in.

Those folks who want to create their own music can pop in to The Orpheum in downtown Oxford on Wednesdays at 8 for karaoke.

And if listening is more your thing than making music, visit Oxford Oaks Distillery for dinner and local live music on Wednesdays for “Verdigris Vibes.”

September goes out with a bang on Saturday, Sept. 30 with two events in the Oxford area.

Paws for Granville is an annual fundraiser held at the Granville County Expo Center to benefit spay/neuter projects of the Humane Society of Granville County and the Granville County Animal Shelter. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is a must-attend for animal lovers who want to make a difference.

The Central Children’s Home is hosting a cross-country event from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. that will include fun runs for locals and other track and field events sanctioned by USA Track and Field.

Bring along a can or two of food, because the event also is sponsoring a fundraiser for ACIM, the county’s food bank.

Find more information about these events and more at https://visitgranvillenc.com/

 

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