Please join Our State at the 24th annual Best of Our State event January 5-7, 2024, at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Celebrate North Carolina with Our State as the magazine “comes to life” with music, history, humor, storytelling, art, and food at the Pinehurst Resort. The Best of Our State is a lively weekend of learning and luxury designed to rejuvenate the senses to begin the new year.
 

Your Weekend Package Includes:

• Two nights’ accommodations
• Two Southern-style breakfasts
• Friday night concert
• Friday evening ice cream social
• Saturday night dinner and show
• Admission to ALL seminars Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning

 

Itinerary: 

Friday, January 5

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Our State welcome and registration on the main level of The Carolina Hotel | South Room

Visit the Our State Marketplace, located in the Cardinal Ballroom on the main level.

3:00 – 3:45 p.m. — Elizabeth Hudson, Our State editor in chief

“The Stories Behind the Stories” | Grand Ballroom

3:45 – 4:00 p.m. — Please visit the Our State Marketplace in the Cardinal Ballroom.

4:00 – 4:45 p.m. — Donald Davis, storyteller

“Tales From a Free-Range Childhood” | Grand Ballroom

5:00 – 7:30 p.m. — Dinner on your own

8:00 – 9:00 p.m. — Chatham Rabbits, North Carolina’s most beloved roots duo | Grand Ballroom

9:00 – 10:00 p.m. — Ice cream sundae social

 

Saturday, January 6

6:30 – 9:00 a.m. — Southern-style breakfast buffet

• Holly Inn guests, please eat at the 1895 Grille.
• Carolina Inn, Carolina Villa, and Manor guests, please eat in the Carolina Dining Room or Carolina Vista Lounge. Host will assist you to a table.

Saturday’s seminars are in the Grand Ballroom on the main level

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. — Dr. Elliot Engel, humorist, historian, and stand-up scholar

“The Comic Genius of Mark Twain”

10:00 – 10:30 a.m. — Please visit the Our State Marketplace in the Cardinal Ballroom.

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. — Amy Greeson, Explorer, author, researcher, and NC Pharmacist

“Exploring the Jungles for Treatments and Cures”

11:15 – 11:30 a.m. — Please visit the Our State Marketplace in the Cardinal Ballroom.

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. — Adrienne Nirdé, Associate Director, NC African American Heritage Commission

“The Green Book Project: African American Travel in NC 1933 – 1966”

12:15 – 2:00 p.m. — Lunch on your own

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. — Jeff Plack, Vice President and General Manager for Burntshirt Vineyards and Winery

“Crest of the Blue Ridge: NC’s Newest Viticultural Area”

2:45 – 3:15 p.m. — Please visit the Our State Marketplace in the Cardinal Ballroom.

3:15 – 4:00 p.m. — Tama Creef, Retired archivist with the Outer Banks History Center

“Secrets from the Outer Banks: Reflections of a Marry-in”

4:00 – 6:00 p.m. — Free time; the Our State Marketplace closes at 5 p.m.

6:00 p.m. — Cash bar | Outside of Carolina Hall — Downstairs

6:30 p.m. — Our State farewell dinner | Carolina Hall — Downstairs

8:00 – 9:00 p.m. — NC Youth Tap Ensemble, one of the best youth tap ensembles in the world, featuring approximately 35 dancers, ages 8 to 18, from across North Carolina | Grand Ballroom

 

Sunday, January 7

6:30 – 9:00 a.m. — Southern-style breakfast buffet

• Holly Inn guests please eat at the 1895 Grille.
• Carolina Inn, Carolina Villa, and Manor guests, please eat in the Carolina Dining Room or Carolina Vista Lounge. Host will assist you to a table.

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. — Dr. Mark Andersen, noted concert artist and composer from North Carolina | Grand Ballroom

Click here to download a PDF of the itinerary.

 

Speakers:

 

Register:

Weekend Rates: $1,195.00 per couple, based on double occupancy. Single rates are available.

For more information about reservations, contact Pinehurst at (855) 265-9091.