Visit Kinston

12/11/2024

Join us for the Christmas Open House program at the CSS Neuse Civil War Museum this holiday season! We welcome visitors of all ages to come and enjoy the beautiful Christmas lights, delicious cookies, crafts, and activities.

Learn about the history of some of the Christmas holiday traditions that we celebrate today and create your own Victorian Christmas card and ornament, which will make for a unique and memorable keepsake.

The Museum is located at 100 N. Queen St., Kinston, NC.

12/10/2024

has been offering the Boar’s Head Festival as its annual gift to the community since 1990, the 650th anniversary of the festival. This Boar’s Head tradition originated at Queen's College, Oxford, England, in 1340, and is probably the oldest continuing Christmas festival.

All are invited to the performances of The Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 5, 2025. The festival marks St. Mary’s annual retelling of the tale.

Entrance to performance is free and open to everyone. There will be a free-will offering. Following the 5:00 p.m. performance is a ticketed banquet. The banquet offers a full meal of wonderful offerings, including wine, all set in the king’s decorated hall. You will need to purchase a ticket for the banquet from the church office. Call 252.523.6146

12/09/2024

The Counter at Chef & the Farmer, in downtown Kinston, is Vivian Howard’s vibrant take on casual, convenient, craveable Southern food that highlights the seasonal bounty of Eastern North Carolina.

The come-as-you-are, counter-service concept offers a stream-lined menu that balances her spin on crave-worthy classics, like Blueberry BBQ Chicken, with vegetable-forward dishes like the seasonal Viv’s Favorite Salad and a Sweet Potato on steroids. It’s a healthy-ish menu - but yes, we have a burger AND mac & cheese - with something for everyone.

You’ll feel at home with the Butterbean & Smashburgers, Fried Collards, and Broccoli & Cheese, and you’ll find a lot of new favorites, too, like Vivian’s brand new piece de resistance, The Porchetta Sandwich. ???? You can even build a plate with just sides, if that’s your thing.

At The Counter believes good food can be nurturing and satisfying, casual and thoughtfully prepared.

The Counter is located at 120 W Gordon Street, Kinston, NC 28501. For hours of operation, menu and more visit www.vivianhoward.com.

12/09/2024

Band Of Oz will be playing at Kings Restaurant Thursday, December 19th @ 6pm. Interested in tickets? You can get them by calling 252.526.9002. Hurry - tickets are limited to 250 and are selling fast! One of Eastern NC's best bands at one of Eastern NC's best restaurants - don't miss it!

12/06/2024

Jackson Heights will be featured at the "Hometown Christmas" concert beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15, at Tanglewood Church located at 2103 Rouse Road in Kinston. Although the concert is free, a freewill offering will be received.

Jackson Heights sound new name to some, but the band has a rich history. Allen O’Neal, Kent Humphrey, Olan Witt, and Frank Sutton all liked the style of country music of the 1980s, but as Christians, they did not embrace the lyrics or lifestyle.

With the help of several producers and songwriters, they created the sound that launched the DMB Band. The music was pure country with a powerful message and positive lyrics.

In 2015, the guys changed the name and became Jackson Heights. Where did that name come from? At one time in the 1980s, all these musicians lived in the Lenoir County community called Jackson Heights.

12/06/2024

Community Council for the Arts-Kinston, NC invites you to special event and holiday performance beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 13. The evening begins with a dinner of light hors d'oeuvres, wine, and a cash bar. From 7 p.m. until 8 p.m., you will be able to enjoy the musical talents of Carolina Sound
from University of Mount Olive is a 12 member graduate-level acapella group.

Husband and wife duo Lester and Holly Rector, from Walt Disney World’s Voices of Liberty, have been hired to lead the charge. “The idea behind Carolina Sound is for us to be able to go into any setting and perform, sing, and promote the University,” said Lester. “Because we are an acapella group, we have flexibility to move to perform in places, whether a dinner party for 20 or an auditorium of more than 200.”

For tickets: https://www.communitycouncilfortheartskinston.com/events

12/05/2024

You are invited to enjoy Handel's "Messiah" performed by the Kinston-Lenoir County Chorus and the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra beginning at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Kinston, North Carolina located at 2101 North Herritage Street in Kinston.

To obtain more information contact Zoe Laakmann at [email protected] or call 252-361-2229.

12/04/2024

Open House at Historic Harmony Hall is Sunday, December 8th from 2pm - 4pm and is free to the public! Listen as our Executive Director, Jan Parson speaks with Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Director, Tammy Kelly about decorating for this event and more! Historic Harmony Hall is located at 109 E. King St., Kinston.

12/04/2024

Join the congregation of Queen Street United Methodist Church for the annual Christmas concert, “A Queen Street Christmas” on Saturday, December 14, or Sunday, December 15.

Doors open at 5:00 each evening, and the concert begins at 6:00 p.m. This concert features the 50-voice Queen Street Chancel Choir and a 30-piece orchestra.

You are sure to love every minute as you hear familiar and favorite carols. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, email Jacob Mewborn at [email protected]

12/03/2024

Please join us at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, for this year's edition of the Kinston Christmas Parade.

The parade will take place on North Queen Street, an evening of Christmas magic down Kinston's "Magic Mile"! This is an evening event - so light the night!

12/02/2024

Exciting news!

📢 EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT ⚾

The Down East Bird Dawgs, along with the Frontier League, an MLB Partner League, are thrilled to announce the hiring of Reggie Harris as the team’s Pitching Coach for the inaugural 2025 season!

Harris is a former professional baseball middle relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1990 to 1999. He was drafted 26th overall in the first round of the 1987 MLB draft. Harris went on to play for the Oakland Athletics from 1990–91, Boston Red Sox in 1996, Philadelphia Phillies in 1997, Houston Astros in 1998, and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999. Harris batted and threw right-handed. Throughout his six-season career, Harris posted a 2–3 record with a 4.91 earned run average in 86 appearances, including 95 strikeouts, 81 walks, 28 games finished, and 121.0 innings of work.

Harris began his coaching career with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2012. In 2015, Harris was hired as pitching coach for the Sussex County Miners of the Frontier League, before moving on to the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League. In 2018, he served as the pitching coach of the Indy League Chicago Dogs and in 2021, Harris was hired as pitching coach for the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Harris also spent time coaching for the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League and the Lake Country DockHounds in the American Association League for the 2023 season.

“We are all thrilled to have Reggie join the Bird Dawgs as our Pitching Coach for the 2025 season,” said Brett Wellman, Field Manager of the Down East Bird Dawgs. “Reggie has decades of experience from his time playing in the MLB and his 10+ years coaching professional baseball. He will be a natural leader for the clubhouse this season.”

Harris is excited to bring his talent, understanding and decades of professional experience to the Down East Bird Dawgs for their inaugural 2025 season!

Join us in welcoming Reggie Harris to the Bird Dawgs family! 🎉

12/02/2024

Historic Harmony Hall will hold a Christmas Open House from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 8. The Open House will feature the normal raffle drawing at 3:30 p.m. with tickets costing $1,00 each.

You many purchase as many tickets as you like with no limitations on the items you buy tickets to win. The Open House will also feature the ever-delicious bake sale of whole pies and cakes sure to please the taste buds.

Light refreshments will also be served as part of the festive atmosphere.

11/28/2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/27/2024

The Deep Run Christmas Parade will step off at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 30. The Christmas Parade will follow the same route as the Independence Day Parade.

Line-up will take place at 3 p.m. at South Lenoir High School. The Deep Run Volunteer Fire Department will also be participating in the Toys for Tots Toy Drive and will be collecting toys through December 5.

11/26/2024

St. Mary’s Kinston has been offering the Boar’s Head Festival as its annual gift to the community since 1990, the 650th anniversary of the festival. This Boar’s Head tradition originated at Queen's College, Oxford, England, in 1340, and is probably the oldest continuing Christmas festival.

All are invited to the performances of The Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 5, 2025. The festival marks St. Mary’s annual retelling of the tale. Entrance to performance is free and open to everyone. There will be a free-will offering.

Following the 5:00 p.m. performance is a ticketed banquet. The banquet offers a full meal of wonderful offerings, including wine, all set in the king’s decorated hall. You will need to purchase a ticket for the banquet from the church office.

11/25/2024

The LaGrange Christmas Parade will kick-off at 3 p.m. this Sunday, December 1. The Shriners will be there with golf carts. Santa will make a special appearance! Don't miss it!

11/22/2024

MARK those calendars for DECEMBER 1st! Starting at 5:00 - following the La Grange Christmas Parade, ENGAGE LA will be hosting its holiday "Jingle and Mingle."

The University of Mount Olive Choir, Carolina Sound will perform, followed by the lighting of the Town Christmas Tree.

Grounded and Baked & Bill's Grill & Bar of Lagrange will be the vendors on site!

11/21/2024

Holly Jolly of Kinston will be holding its Holly Jolly Holiday Show, a Christmas shopping event, on November 22 and 23 at the Kinston Community Center.

The Friday, November 22, show will kick off at 5 p.m. with an Adults Only Sip and Shop event. On Saturday, November 23, the show will take place between 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Kinston Community Center is located at 2602 West Vernon Avenue, Kinston. The cost is $10 at the door, but you can obtain admission tickets for $8 through the website hollyjollykinston.com.

Children 12 and under are admitted free. Kick off your holiday shopping at the Holly Jolly Holiday Show!