Social events, arts, music, sports, and entertainment options and activities in the Rocky Mount area.

Imperial Centre Calendar Heats up in the Colder Months with Winter Events in Rocky Mount

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Winter Events in Rocky Mount

Although the temperature may be dropping as the calendar breezes through November and into December the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences is heating up with a variety of fantastic and fun Winter Events in Rocky Mount just minutes from your new home at Belmont Lake Preserve North Carolina golf community.

Beginning on Friday, December 4, the Imperial Centre begins hosting what is probably the most anticipated of all the Winter Events in Rocky Mount, as the Holiday Skating Rink opens, with public ice skating sessions running each weekend from 1-7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. on Sundays. The kids and adults alike can get in the spirit of the season as a 45 minute skating session only cost $6 per person during any of the weekends in December other that the 24-26, as the rink closes for the Christmas holiday. Private rentals of the rink can also be arranged by calling 252-972-1266. These private parties allow for your family and friends to enjoy the most anticipated of the Imperial Centre’s Winter Events in Rocky Mount at times during the week and around the aforementioned public skating times and run for two hours where you can have up to 30 guests on the ice at a time.

In addition to the opening of the Holiday Skating Rink, the Imperial Centre also plays host to many other great Winter Events in Rocky Mount, including its popular “First Friday” series. These Winter Events in Rocky Mount take place at the Arts Center on the first Friday of every month, allowing friends and family alike to come out for local music, craft vendors, and activities that all ages can enjoy. The next installment of the “First Friday” Winter Events in Rocky Mount will take on a Christmas theme and take place on Friday, December 4. The highlight s of the event will include the annual “lighting of the Imperial Centre,” in addition to ice skating, sleigh rides, and even a visit from Santa Claus himself. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences will be on hand, and there will also be Blacksmith Demonstrations among a host of other great things to be a part of from 6-9 p.m. at “First Friday.”

The opening of the Holiday Skating Rink and the December 4 “First Friday” event are just two of the many great Winter Events in Rocky Mount on the upcoming schedule at the Imperial Centre. For more details on both of these and for a full schedule of all their happenings, visit www.imperialcentre.org.

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Art, History, Sweets, and Sights: Something for every taste awaits at the Top Attractions in Raleigh NC

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Top Attractions in Raleigh NC

Conveniently located in scenic Eastern NC, your new home at the Belmont Lake Preserve North Carolina retirement community puts you in the perfect spot to never be too far away from all of the great destinations across the “Tar Heel State.” With something to offer for all tastes and located just under an hour from Rocky Mount, the Top Attractions in Raleigh NC are certainly ones that you will not want to miss.

With the best in all areas of entertainment including music, sporting events, dining, the fine arts and more, the Top Attractions in Raleigh NC are almost too plentiful to list. However, the renowned “art, food, culture, and travel” blog, theculturetrip.com broke down the capital city into several sections, recently releasing their list on the “Top 7 Things to Do and See in Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.”

As steeped in its rich history as it is known for its incredible scenic beauty, no Top Attractions in Raleigh NC list would be complete without listing both the North Carolina Museum of History and the City of Raleigh Museum in downtown Raleigh. Described in theculturetrip.com’s article as “Cataloguing the history of North Carolina from prehistory to the modern day, the North Carolina Museum of History has many permanent and special exhibitions for visitors of all ages.” The NC Museum of History also is home to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame with awesome memorabilia from everything you could imagine in the world of NC sports, from Michael Jordan to Arnold Palmer to NASCAR. Likewise, the City of Raleigh Museum is a “can’t miss” stop for history buffs as well, as it is a comparatively new museum documenting the history and expansion of Raleigh from a tiny village to the very urban and cosmopolitan city it is today.”

For outdoor enthusiasts seeking to soak in the natural beauty of the city, Pullen Park is fittingly included on the list of Top Attractions in Raleigh NC. Culturetrip blogger Jediah Johnson describes the park in detail, saying, “With year-round productions at Theatre in the Park, art classes at the Pullen Arts Center, and a large Aquatic Center, the park is busy during all four seasons.” Also included in their top seven downtown destinations to see the Top Attractions in Raleigh NC are the Raleigh Denim Workshop, Videri Chocolate Factory, the North Carolina State Capitol Building, and Deco Raleigh.

To see locations, directions, and greater detail on all of these Top Attractions in Raleigh NC, visit www.theculturetrip.com.

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Fall Events in Rocky Mount highlighted by the 8th Annual Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown

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Fall Events in Rocky Mount

The most anticipated of all Fall Events in Rocky Mount comes to town, just minutes from your new home at the premier North Carolina golf and retirement community, Belmont Lake Preserve, featuring not only the most delicious NC BBQ in the state, but the tastiest from across the United States as well, in addition to having  for the first time in its eight year existence, the East Carolina Brew Competition as apart of the town’s annual tradition, the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown.

Starting on Friday, October 9 at noon until 8:00 p.m., and then kicking back off on Saturday, October 10 at 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., the BBQ Throwdown will feature great tastes for all ages at the top draw in Fall Events in Rocky Mount throughout the festivities. The “Throw Down is a professional cooking competition based on the Kansas City Barbeque Society’s (KCBS) official categories, which are chicken, pork ribs, pork brisket, and beef brisket. Awards will be given out for the Grand Champion, Reserved Grand Champion, and the People’s Choice Award, decided upon by the attendees of the tops in Fall Events in Rocky Mount. Additionally, prizes to include cash awards, trophies, and plaques will be given out to the top ten finishers in each of the above categories.

Also, for the very first time in the eight year history of the most popular among all Fall Events in Rocky Mount, the BBQ Throwdown will hold another competition on Saturday, October 10, as local beer enthusiasts and brewers will compete in the Eastern Carolina Home Brew Competition. Each entrant in this competition is submitting any style beer of their choosing, and each will be judged in different categories based upon the style they enter. If the entry does not fit into one of the specific categories they still are eligible for the overall “Best in the East” award that will also be named on the Saturday of the most anticipated of all Fall Events in Rocky Mount. The judging for the Home Brew Competition will be done by representatives from the new Rocky Mount Brewmill facility.

While the kick off begins at noon on Friday, and the judging of the NC BBQ entries will commence throughout the two-day festival, there will also be great food and entertainment throughout the two days. The “Kick Off Party and Concert” will begin with great live, local music being played throughout the day and there will also be a host of family friendly events, vendors, and kid specific activities throughout the weekend.

The 8th Annual Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown is free to the public and is taking place at 101 Coastline Street in Downtown Rocky Mount, directly in front of the Helen P. Gay Historic Rocky Mount Train Station. For a full schedule of events and more information on the Eastern NC BBQ Throwdown, visit their website at www.bbqthrowdown.com.

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Auto Expo to Display the “Classics” through Downtown Rocky Mount NC

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Automobile enthusiasts from across the area are set to make a “pit stop” this Saturday, July 25, just minutes away from your new home in the Belmont Lake Preserve NC golf community in Downtown Rocky Mount NC, as one of the city’s most highly anticipated events of the summer, the “Rockin’ Classic” returns with classic cars and motorcycles being on display in addition to fun filled activities throughout the day. Registration for the “Rockin’ Classic” Auto Expo will kick the day off this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Not only will the newly renovated beautiful streetscape of historic Downtown Rocky Mount NC once again serve as the backdrop for all the coolest n classic cars and motorcycles, but the morning and afternoon will see some fantastic local live bands filling the air with music and area vendors serving up delicious food and refreshments throughout the day. Collectors and enthusiasts from across North Carolina are expected to be on hand showcasing their classic cars and motorcycles at the Downtown Rocky Mount NC event, given the locations very easy access right off the I-95 corridor. The classic and antique cars and bikes will be judged in a variety of catergories throughout the days’ festivities, starting at 11:00 a.m. Beginning at 2:00 p.m., the presentation of the winning entries will take place on the “Rockin’ Classic” Main Stage. Winners will be named for an array of categories at the Downtown Rocky Mount NC event, including, Best Import, Best Ford, Best Chevy, Best of Show, Sport Bike, Harley Cruiser and more. The public and members of the community will also have their voice heard at the event, as they will be able to vote and name the winner of the “People’s Choice Award.” Trophies will be awarded to the winners in all catergories prior to the events conclusion at 3:00 p.m. The “Rockin’ Classic” is only the next in what is a continuous string of great events held in Downtown Rocky Mount NC. For full details on this event and all on the upcoming schedule, visit the Downtown Rocky Mount NC website at downtownrockymount.com.

Automobile enthusiasts from across the area are set to make a “pit stop” this Saturday, July 25, just minutes away from your new home in the Belmont Lake Preserve NC golf community in Downtown Rocky Mount NC, as one of the city’s most highly anticipated events of the summer, the “Rockin’ Classic”  Auto Expo returns with classic cars and motorcycles being on Display in addition to fun filled activities throughout the day.

Downtown Rocky Mount NCRegistration for the “Rockin’ Classic” Auto Expo will kick the day off this Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Not only will the newly renovated beautiful streetscape of historic Downtown Rocky Mount NC once again serve as the backdrop for all the coolest in classic cars and motorcycles, but the morning and afternoon will see some fantastic local live bands on Display as well and area vendors serving up delicious food and refreshments throughout the day.

Collectors and enthusiasts from across North Carolina are expected to be on hand, putting their classic cars and motorcycles on Display at the Downtown Rocky Mount NC  Auto Expo, given the locations easy access right off the I-95 corridor. The classic and antique cars and bikes will be judged throughout the days’ festivities, starting at 11:00 a.m.

Beginning at 2:00 p.m., the presentation of the winning entries will take place on the “Rockin’ Classic” Main Stage. Winners will be named for an array of categories at the Downtown Rocky Mount NC event, including, Best Import, Best Ford, Best Chevy, Best of Show, Sport Bike, Harley Cruiser and more. The public and members of the community will also have their voice heard at the event, as they will be able to vote and name the winner of the “People’s Choice Award.” Trophies will be awarded to the winners in all catergories prior to the events conclusion at 3:00 p.m.

The “Rockin’ Classic”Auto Expo is only the next in what is a continuous string of great events held in Downtown Rocky Mount NC. For full details on this event and all on the upcoming schedule, visit the Downtown Rocky Mount NC website at downtownrockymount.com.

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Rocky Mount NC Summer Events schedule ready to “heat up” with Downtown Live!

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Rocky Mount NC Summer EventsJust minutes away from your new dream home at Belmont Lake Preserve golf and retirement community, the schedule of Rocky Mount NC Summer Events is “heating up,” offering sounds that all ages can come out and dance to as a part of the “Downtown Live!” annual concert series.

Held every other Thursday night and running through until October 1, Downtown Live! Has become one of the community’s most anticipated Rocky Mount NC Summer Events each and every year. The concerts, are held on the lawn at the Imperial Centre for the Arts, right downtown, at 270 Gay Street in Rocky Mount. The shows begin every other Thursday evening at 6 p.m. and residents and concert goers are invited to arrive around 5 p.m., to set up a blanket or lawn chairs for seating and to enjoy the great atmosphere and community spirit in the air at these Rocky Mount NC Summer Events. In the case of rain, Downtown Live! Is moved indoors to the Booker T. Theatre at 170 East Thomas Street in Rocky Mount.

This years’ Downtown Live! Series has been extended to lead into October as a precursor to the annual BBQ Throw Down and Festival which will be held on the weekend of October 9-10. City of Rocky Mount Special Events Coordinator, Susan Ball spoke of the series continuing into October and the lineup set to play this year at “Downtown Live!” saying, “We have 11 dates this summer, and we will start it off with a bang… We have all returning bands this summer, and everyone is excited about coming back to Rocky Mount.” She continued, “We’re ending in October to really carry it up to our big event, the BBQ Throw Down and Festival. The longer season for Downtown Live! will also give residents and visitors something fun to do. Carrying it into the fall will be a perfect setting at the Imperial Centre.” Ball concluded enthusiastically, “It doesn’t get much better than summer in Rocky Mount at Downtown Live!”

The schedule for the remainder of the “Downtown Live! “series is as follows, with The Band of Oz returning on May 28. Following them, appearing every other Thursday will be Jim Quick & Coastline (June 11), Hip Pocket (June 25), North Tower (July 9), Steve Owen & Summertime (July 23), The Holiday Band (Aug.6), Legacy Motown Revue (Aug. 20), The Fantastic Shakers (Sept. 3), Fantasy (Sept. 17) and The Embers featuring Craig Woolard (Oct. 1).

For further details on this and all upcoming Rocky Mount NC Summer Events, visit Downtown Rocky Mount events and activities page on their website at www.downtown rockymount.com

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Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down in Rocky Mount

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Just up the road from your new dream home in the spectacular Belmont Lake Preserve neighborhood in Rocky Mount, the city will be welcoming visitors and treating them to some authentic tastes, tunes, and fun filled activities for the whole family on the weekend of October 10-11 at the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down. 

With a daily competition seeing the best BBQ that North Carolina has to offer being judged for the seventh consecutive year, the BBQ Throw Down showcases some of the most lip smacking flavors from across the state. An assortment of vendors will also be on hand so you can have your choice of a number of BBQ specialties including, chicken, pork ribs, beef or pork brisket, and so much more.

The delightful, smoky tastes are not the only things drawing a huge crowd each year to Rocky Mount for the event, as there is also nightly musical acts to entertain the crowd on hand, with The Catalina’s playing from 6-8 p.m. on Friday night, and a full day of musical acts on Saturday, highlighted by the feature performer of the day, Bobby V. Additionally, there will be some great activities for the kids as well, along with demonstrations and countless other means of entertainment throughout both days.

The Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down will be held on South Church Street in Rocky Mount, and full details on the event can be found at bbqthrowdown.net.

Eastern Carolina BBQ 2014 Throw Down® in Rocky Mount
Driving Directions

Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down
427 S Church Street
Rocky Mount, NC

Directions Eastern Carolina BBQ Throw Down

427 South Church Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Oct. 10th-11th 2014

Other sites about Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Nash County Rocky Mount NC Visitors Bureau

Rocky Mounty NC Parks & Recreation

Love Rocky Mount Blog

 

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