The North Carolina Museum of History is excited to announce a calendar full of free events as spring blooms into full swing!
The museum is delighted to announce the 10th annual Longleaf Film Festival, a free-to-attend festival highlighting the best independent film demonstrating a Tar Heel State connection. The festival will take place on Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11. Longleaf provides a unique platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and engage with audiences and promises to be an unforgettable experience for all. Plan to see dozens of films—narrative and documentary shorts and features, animated films, music videos and more!
Read on for all our May events. Programs are FREE unless otherwise noted.
History at High Noon: John Chavis Memorial Park Carousel
Wednesday, May 1, noon–1 p.m.
Join us as we welcome Dana Brown and Madison Phillips of John Chavis Memorial Park as they give us the inside scoop on the beautiful, historical Allan Herschell carousel at Chavis Park, as well as how this space has served as a pillar of the downtown Raleigh African American community for decades! Register to join the hybrid session.
History and Highballs: Still Starring North Carolina!
Thursday, May 2, 7–8 p.m.
Join the NC Museum of History as we explore the origins of the Longleaf Film Festival and North Carolina’s contributions to the film industry. The Tar Heel State has a rich, century-long history in filmmaking. Join Sally Causey Bloom, director of the Longleaf Film Festival, to explore some of the history and ongoing contributions to cinema in our state and beyond! You can register for this virtual event here!
Artist at Work: Historical Hatter Andy Sterlen
Saturday, May 4, noon–3 p.m.
Watch Andy Sterlen—tailor, hatter, and reenactor—as he creates a historically accurate 18th-century felt hat. Grab your kiddos for a Hand-on-History scavenger hunt and make a paper hat to take home.
Longleaf Film Festival
Friday, May 10, 5–10 p.m. and Saturday, May 11, 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Make plans now to join us at the museum for the 10th anniversary of Longleaf! Plan to see dozens of films—narrative and documentary shorts and features, animated films, music videos, and more! Plus, enjoy Movies-N-Moonlight, workshops, socials, and the awards presentation. Check out LongleafFilmFestival.com for all the festival details.
Tar Heel Troubadours: Paige King Johnson
Saturday, May 18, 7–8:30 p.m.
Tickets: MOHA/museum members $12; general admission $15
Join us for the next concert of our music series, Tar Heel Troubadours, a celebration of Americana, roots, bluegrass and traditional music performed by artists from or living and working in North Carolina. This concert will feature four-time Carolina Country Music Award winner and Angier native Paige King Johnson. She was named the first musical ambassador for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and has worked alongside them to continue to promote agriculture through her music and travels.
Hands-on History: Make a Paper Hat
Saturday, May 25, noon–3 p.m.
Put on your thinking caps and get ready to search our museum galleries for historical hats. Then, make a paper version to take home!
For more details, click the links above or visit ncmuseumofhistory.org.
About the N.C. Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, fosters a passion for North Carolina history. This museum collects and preserves artifacts of state history and educates the public on the history of the state and the nation through exhibits and educational programs. Admission is free. In 2023, more than 355,000 people visited the museum to see some of the 150,000 artifacts in the museum collection. The Museum of History, within the Division of State History Museums, is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
About the Smithsonian Affiliations Network
Since 2006, the North Carolina Museum of History has been a Smithsonian Affiliate, part of a select group of museums and cultural, educational and arts organizations that share Smithsonian resources with the nation. The Smithsonian Affiliations network is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums and other educational and cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian resources. More information is available at affiliations.si.edu.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C. Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.