Tag Archive for: #granvilletourism

The Local Skinny! Upcoming Events In Granville County

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Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen has a heap of activities lined up for spring all across the county, from barbecue competitions to gardening expos. Find one – or more – that suit your interests.

Jimbo’s Backyard BBQ Competition takes place Saturday, April 8 at The Barn at Vino in Stem. General admission is $10. There will be all different types of activities taking place during the competition for visitors to enjoy, including live music, food trucks and a multitude of vendors. Allen spoke with Bill Harris on The Local Skinny! to spotlight a few of the events taking place.

Here’s a snapshot of upcoming events:

Saturday, April 22 – the 2nd annual Gardeners Expo, sponsored by The Granville Gardeners. More than 1,200 people attended last year’s free event, and Allen said this year’s event could be even bigger. Visit www.thegranvillegardeners.org to learn more. The event will be held at the Granville County Expo and Convention Center, Highway 15, Oxford from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, April 27 – Alive After Five kicks off the 2023 season with the Konnection Band in downtown Oxford from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Head on down to Littlejohn Street and enjoy the first of three concerts sponsored by the Granville County Chamber of Commerce.

Saturday, April 29 – Oxford Main Street Arts & Wine Festival, downtown Oxford from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This free event will feature live demonstrations by a number of artists, as well as food vendors and activities for the kids. Tickets for the wine-tasting are available for purchase at The Hub on Main. Visit their Facebook page to learn how.

Saturday, April 29 – Central Highland Games, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Children’s Home, Oxford. It’s all things Scottish throughout the day, as kilted athletes demonstrate just a few of the unique Highland games. There will be bagpipe bands, Highland dance demonstrations and food vendors. The cost is $20 for parking, with all proceeds going to the children’s home. And for a $10 donation, you can try your hand at some of the games yourself.

Check out www.visitgranvillenc.com for a complete schedule of events.

 

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Granville Tourism Authority Offers Mini-Grants To Help Local Groups With Events

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The Granville Tourism Development Authority is accepting grant applications for the upcoming fiscal year through April 21.

This mini-grant program helps Granville County organizations and agencies promote and market events and activities, all of which encourage tourism and bring visitor dollars to the community, explained TDA Director Angela Allen. The idea is to provide some direct funding up front for an organization to have an event that can grow and become sustainable in the future. Any approved funding should be considered as a supplemental resource only, Allen said.

Eligible organizations include Granville County-based community groups, nonprofit organizations, municipalities or recognized communities located within Granville County.

A for-profit group may apply for grant funding only if the event’s proceeds go to a community-supported organization, Allen said.

“Priority will be given to products that encourage out-of-county visitors, with primary consideration given to those that promote the Granville TDA’s mission of marketing the area as a travel destination,” Allen said in a statement. A “visitor” is defined as someone who travels from more than 50 miles away to attend an event or activity by the tourism industry.  Events planned for off-peak times may receive higher priority.

The maximum request is $5,000 and any request may not be greater than 25 percent of the total project budget. Included with the request can be a one-time artist/entertainment allowance of up to  $1,000.

The Granville TDA board of directors will review applications and will make recommendations for approval during their June board meeting. Award recipients will be notified after July 1, 2023, when the new fiscal year begins.

Applications are available online (www.granvillecounty.org/visitors/tda-mini-grant-2023-2024) or through the Granville County Tourism Development office, 124 Hillsboro St. in Oxford. Contact For more information, contact Angela Allen at 919.693.6125 or angela.allen@granvillecounty.org

Granville Brimming With Holiday Happenings

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Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen said the county is brimming with activities as December ushers in the Christmas holiday season – and things get underway today in Oxford with the city’s traditional Lighting of the Greens festivities.

At 4 p.m., there will be activities for children, musical performances, food vendors and more, Allen said on Thursday’s TownTalk. After the ceremonial Lighting of the Greens occurs at 6:45 p.m., followed by the Christmas parade at 7 p.m. Head for Main Street in front of the courthouse to take part in all the pre-parade action. Check out the city’s Facebook page for a rundown of events.

“It’s a great time to gather with family and friends,” Allen said. “You are definitely going to get into the Christmas spirit here in Granville County.”

The town of Butner is also light things up this evening, with Christmas in the Park at Gazebo Park. Parents, bring the kids between 5:30 and 6:45 to come visit with Santa, and then at 7, the park lights will be displayed for all to enjoy.

Not to be outdone, the city of Creedmoor is sponsoring a program at 7 p.m. at the recreation center, 108 E. Wilton Ave. Allen said there’s a promise of some hot cocoa and maybe even a bonfire to gather around as a variety of local choirs perform.

“You definitely have an opportunity to welcome the season,” Allen said, no matter where in the county you choose to be.

Other events of note include:

Dec. 3

  • Creedmoor Christmas parade – 11 a.m., downtown Creedmoor
  • Butner Christmas parade – 2 p.m.
  • Holiday Gala at The Orpheum in Oxford – black tie affair with proceeds to benefit Hope House, Oxford. Go to The Orpheum’s Facebook page or pick up tickets at The Hub on Main in person or via the Facebook page.

Dec. 4-6

  • Granville Little Theatre’s radio play production of “A Christmas Carol – 7 p.m. each night at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.

Dec. 7

  • Cocoa with Santa at The Barn at Vino, Stem. There will be vendors on hand from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Santa’s rolling in on a fire truck at 2 p.m., ready for a photo with the kids. Free to attend, but a professional photographer will be taking pictures with Santa for purchase. Check Eventbrite online and look for “Cocoa with Santa and Vendor Fair” for details.

Dec. 8

  • Downtown Oxford’s after hours “Jingle and Mingle” from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visit participating merchants and restaurants to take in some holiday shopping and sipping. Check Oxford’s Facebook page for updates leading to this event.

Dec. 10-12

  • Delrayno Baptist Church’s annual “Back to Bethlehem” drive-through live Nativity. Open each night from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 10

  • Carlee Farms in Stem is having its Holiday Marketplace from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • “Jingle Jangle Bazaar” at the Stem Ruritan Club. More than 40 vendors will be on hand with holiday gifts galore from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. And there may be a visit from St. Nick himself!
  • Grassy Creek Christmas parade – 2 p.m.

And sometime during the holiday season, be sure to check out the Granville Christmas Farm. If you visited the Granville Haunt Farm around Halloween, the address will be familiar – 4534 Hwy. 15 South. But that’s where the similarities end, Allen said, because Grey Blackwell and his crew have gone from scary to Merry!

This drive-through lights display has all the traditional themes: “all the things that you love so much about Christmas,” she said. This is the first of what Allen said she hopes becomes an annual event, creating “another great tradition that we do for the holiday.” The Christmas Farm began the day after Thanksgiving and will continue through Jan. 1.

Visit https://visitgranvillenc.com/whats-happening/ for a complete listing of events coming up.

Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen Completes 3-Year Program To Be ‘Travel Marketing Professional’

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Granville Tourism Director Angela Allen has completed a three-year program to become officially designated as a travel marketing professional from the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College.

Allen was among about 60 other tourism professionals recognized for completion of the program recently at the STS Connections Conference in Spartanburg, SC.

Allen has been in her role as tourism director since April 2015. She is responsible for administrative and marketing work in the promotion of travel and tourism in the county. In 2017, Allen was named a “Rising Star” in the tourism industry when she received Visit NC’s Destination Marketing Award for bringing statewide attention to the county she serves, according to a press release from county public information officer Lynn Allred.

(Left to right) Angie Zok of the Miles Partnership; Monica Smith, President and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society; Granville County Tourism Director Angela Allen; and Berkeley Young, Provost, Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College.

From seasonal attractions like strawberry picking and Haunt Farms to annual events like the Hot Sauce Contest and Brides on Wheels, Allen is ready to provide information about events and destinations in Granville County.

The STS Marketing College Program provides tools and working knowledge to travel and tourism professionals that can be used to promote destinations, attractions and events. Topics covered in the training include online marketing strategies, effective print publications, research strategies, community engagement, economic impact and budgeting.

As a newly minted travel marketing professional, Allen joins a network of more than 1,200 colleagues from 13 states and the District of Columbia who have completed the program, which was established in 1992.

To learn more about Granville County tourism, visit www.granvillecounty.org.

‘Little Light Challenge’ Asks Community to Show Support for Local Heroes

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Information courtesy Granville County Government

A community challenge has been initiated to show support for local heroes while bringing residents and businesses together all across the county. The “Little Light Challenge” is a project of the Granville Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation (DOEDC), serving as a visible way to thank the many essential workers on the “front lines” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each Monday at 8 p.m., participants are asked to leave lighted luminaries, outdoor candles, porch lights and/or strings of Christmas lights outside their homes and businesses in honor of the local doctors, nurses, public health professionals, pharmacists, drug store employees, first responders, law enforcement officers, 9-1-1 operators, social workers, grocery store employees, truck drivers, farmers, trash collectors, plumbers, electricians, construction crews, government workers, nonprofit organizations, news reporters, assembly workers and many others working from the front lines on our behalf.

Those participating in the “Little Light Challenge” are asked to take photos to post on their social media pages, including a reference to the project through a hashtag mention. When posting pictures online, please add #littlelightchallenge to the posting, as well as #VisitGranvilleNC.

“We are grateful to our partners for their support,” said Tourism Director Angela Allen. “The hope is that we continue to rise to the occasion to support our community, doing our best to stay together while staying apart.”

Partners include Granville County Government, the Town of Butner, the City of Creedmoor, the City of Oxford, the Town of Stem and the Town of Stovall.

For questions or for more information, please contact Allen at 919-693-6125 (angela.allen@granvillecounty.org) or Mary Yount, Director of the DOEDC, at 919-603-1100 (mary.yount@oxfordnc.org).

Granville County Tourism

Granville Tourism Authority to Hold Budget Meeting in Response to Pandemic

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100.1 FM ~ 1450 AM ~ WIZS, Your Community Voice ~ Click to LISTEN LOCAL

-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville Tourism Development Authority will have a special meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2020, at 4 p.m. to discuss the remaining budget for fiscal year 2019-2020. This discussion will be held in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the meeting will be conducted remotely and will take place in a Zoom phone/video conference. The public is welcome to listen in, but participants should register with Tourism Director, Angela Allen by April 13 to be given access.

Allen can be contacted at 919-693-6125 or by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

Granville Little Theatre to present “Miracle on 34th Street”

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Bring your whole family to join Granville Little Theatre to share some holiday spirit as we present “Miracle on 34th Street” directed by Amy Hann.

December 15th, 16th, 17th @ 7:30PM
December 17th, 18th @ 2:30PM 

Please note the additional matinee on Saturday to accommodate as many families as possible. Santa Clause will be in the lobby before each show to take pictures! The pictures and the time with Santa are free. We ask that you make a donation to the theater if you are able, but it is not required.

House opens 30 minutes before each show. Concessions will be available before the show and at intermission. In addition to our regular concessions we will have coffee, hot chocolate, single doughnuts and doughnuts by the dozen fresh from Krispy Kreme!

Visit our website for more information: www.GranvilleLittleTheatre.org 

or log onto their Facebook page Granville Little Theatre