Party Like it’s 1776!
America is turning 250 this year, and North Carolina is throwing a birthday bash for the ages! Slated for February 21-28, the inaugural North Carolina First in Freedom Festival will celebrate our nation’s history and culture in true North Carolina fashion with a full calendar of events, exhibits, and programs that spotlight Eastern North Carolina’s role in the American Revolution.
This isn’t a single-site festival or a quick stop photo op; it’s a weeklong, region-wide experience stretching across the Cape Fear area, anchored by the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge in Currie. From historic battlefields to downtown museums and riverfronts, the First in Freedom Festival is your chance to walk through the very places where independence was born.
The lineup leans into variety in the best way possible. You can start the festival bright and early on February 21 in Burgaw with the Red, White, & Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, a community favorite that feels extra fitting for a national milestone. Families can bounce between hands-on history and playful programming, including Kids Olympics at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington the same morning, where young visitors get their own version of friendly competition.
History lovers have plenty to dig into throughout the week. The Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site hosts immersive living history programs focused on the Stamp Act resistance. Over in Wilmington, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is open all week, offering a powerful reminder that the fight for freedom didn’t end in the 18th century. The Wilmington Railroad Museum adds its own perspective with Freedom: Full Steam Ahead, connecting the Revolutionary era to the growth that followed.
Don’t Miss Moments
A few highlights worth planning around:
- Dancing in Defiance: A Night of Merriment and Rebellion (February 21) – Evening colonial music, dancing, and immersive history at Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson.
- Colonial Faire at Harmony Hall (February 22) – Period demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and historical presentations at the historic Richardson home.
- 250th Commemoration of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge (February 26–28) – Main anniversary events at Moores Creek National Battlefield in Currie.
- An Evening with Diana Gabaldon (February 27) – Intimate storytelling and conversation with the bestselling author at Penderlea Auditorium.
With everything from pancakes to river tours to colonial reenactments, the First in Freedom Festival gives Eastern North Carolina a week to shine. It’s history you can touch, taste, and step into, hosted by the communities that have carried these stories for generations.
