Never heard of North Carolina Day? Don’t worry. It’s only been around for a couple of years. In 2017, the folks over at National Calendar Day decided to celebrate all 50 states with their own state day.

These holidays are meant to celebrate and recognize the best that each state has to offer, from important cultural and historical facts to admiring our state's beauty + sharing quirky facts. For example...

🏴‍☠️ | The pirate Blackbeard called NC his home for several years, and even spent time pirating ships off the NC coast in the early 18th century. He was killed in 1718 near Ocracoke Island.

🥤 | In 1893, Pepsi was invented in NC by Caleb Bradham, a drugstore clerk. The soda was originally called “Brad’s Drink,” but was changed to Pepsi (from the word dyspepsia) because Bradham believed it aided digestion.

🌻 | Each year more people visit the Blue Ridge Parkway than Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon combined.

🎄 | NC produces more than 20% of all real Christmas trees in the US. The NC Fraser fir has been selected 13 times as the official White House Christmas tree.

✈️ | In 1903, the Wright Brothers had the first successful airplane ride in Kitty Hawk, a location they chose because of the windy atmosphere and soft ground. Today our license plates say “First In Flight” — which thoroughly upsets Ohians, who argue that Wilbur and Orville Wright mostly lived + worked in Ohio.

Here are a few ways to celebrate North Carolina Day:

William B. Umstead State Park | This park spans 5,599 acres and offers activities for the whole family, including boating, rock climbing, fishing, and hiking.

North Carolina Museum of Art | The NCMA reopened early this month + has extended two of its 2020 exhibits through next year. Good as Gold: Fashioning Senegalese Women is the first major exhibition of Senegalese gold jewelry.

Ken's Korny Corn Maze | It’s starting to cool down + Ken’s Korny Corn Maze just opened. The inside paths are 8-10 feet in order to maintain social distancing inside in the corn field + the maze is currently celebrating its 22nd anniversary.

Scavenger Hunt | Check out this list of local outdoor murals + make a plan to find as many as you can. Bonus: These murals make excellent backdrops for instagram photo sessions.

Southern Food | BBQ + Southern foods are a NC staple, and we’ve got some of the best options in the South. Grab a meal from Smokey's BBQ Shack, Dame’s Chicken + Waffles, or share any local gem you know with us.

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