Celebrating North Carolina heritage & history

Alamance Battleground in Burlington will have music and living history demonstrations on its 2nd Saturdays. (Photo courtesey of Alamance Battleground)

You can buy pretty crafts at the Museum of the Cape Fear’s Arts Fest in Fayetteville on 2nd Saturdays. (Photo courtesey of Museum of the Cape Fear)

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is again offering great family summer escapes with its signature 2nd Saturdays program on June 8, July 13 and Aug. 10. Seven history museums, two art museums and 27 historic sites in the state will offer a chance to enjoy combinations of music, history, arts, and culture on those dates. Most of the activities are free.

On June 8th, families can learn about uncovering mysteries from the past as Historic Halifax shares its recent archaeological finds from the 1700s. Kids also will get to "dig in" at the site's Montford Archaeology Museum and uncover finds. Or they can learn about interpreting beach discoveries, shell collecting or making jewelry at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras or make a fish print at the N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

Further inland, the Museum of the Cape Fear in Fayetteville will present 2nd Saturdays Arts Fest, offering unique crafts and the chance to weave, dip candles and paint watercolors. (The samples of corn fritters cooked in Poe Kitchen are not to be missed!) Or visit Town Creek Indian Mound in Mt. Gilead to see prehistoric and contemporary methods of fiber manipulation and browse crafts for sale. The Juneteenth observation at Durham's Historic Stagville will celebrate emancipation with crafts, games, food, music and compelling slave narratives.

In the west, try the panning for gold competition at Reed Gold Mine in Cabarrus County, or celebrate 19th-century music at President Polk State Historic Site in Pineville. Or for a more serene undertaking, Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort will examine the zen of fly fishing.