/blog/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:30:06 +0000 America 250 Events & Community Commemorations Planned in 911±¬ΑΟ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/america-250-events-community-commemorations-planned-in-joco/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/america-250-events-community-commemorations-planned-in-joco/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/america-250-events-community-commemorations-planned-in-joco/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400


Johnston County will mark America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 with a series of commemorative events, heritage programs, and community celebrations designed to honor the nation’s founding while

]]> Smithfield's Annual Ham & Yam Festival Returns http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfields-annual-ham-yam-festival-returns/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfields-annual-ham-yam-festival-returns/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfields-annual-ham-yam-festival-returns/ Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

The Ham & Yam Festival is back, and this year it is celebrating 40 years of small-town fun, food, and community spirit.

Over the decades, it has grown into a premier event that showcases the

]]> Countywide Clean Up Voluntourism Opportunity http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/countywide-clean-up-voluntourism-opportunity/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/countywide-clean-up-voluntourism-opportunity/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/countywide-clean-up-voluntourism-opportunity/ Thu, 19 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0400


What is voluntourism you ask? Voluntourism is a form of tourism in which travelers participate in voluntary work, typically for charity. Earth Day is an exceptionally good time for visitors, and

]]> Magnolia Inn Spreads Its Roots and Blooms in Clayton http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/magnolia-inn-spreads-its-roots-and-blooms-in-clayton/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/magnolia-inn-spreads-its-roots-and-blooms-in-clayton/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/magnolia-inn-spreads-its-roots-and-blooms-in-clayton/ Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500


Tucked into the heart of downtown Clayton is a gracious, 130-year old Queen Anne Victorian manor, one of the oldest structures remaining in Clayton, which now serves as an elegant Bed and Breakfast.

]]> A New and Unique Place to Savor and Stock Up on Flavor in Clayton http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/a-new-and-unique-place-to-savor-and-stock-up-on-flavor-in-clayton/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/a-new-and-unique-place-to-savor-and-stock-up-on-flavor-in-clayton/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/a-new-and-unique-place-to-savor-and-stock-up-on-flavor-in-clayton/ Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500


is officially open in Downtown Clayton! The idea that started as a partnership between local developers Carrie and Kevin Lee and entrepreneurs Erin Nenni and Christi Thompson is now

]]> Unique Events & Festivals in 2026 http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/unique-annual-events-festivals-in-joco/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/unique-annual-events-festivals-in-joco/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/unique-annual-events-festivals-in-joco/ Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0500


When planning excursions around festivals happening annually in the South, keep Johnston County’s towns in mind. Johnston County, 911±¬ΑΟ to the locals, is conveniently located where I-95 and I-40 come

]]> Room at the Table - Southern Holiday Recipes http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/room-at-the-table-southern-holiday-recipes/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/room-at-the-table-southern-holiday-recipes/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/room-at-the-table-southern-holiday-recipes/ Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500


What makes a recipe Southern? If a Brooklynite makes sweetpotato pie, is the pie still Southern? If a born and bred North Carolinian makes spaghetti… is it then Southern spaghetti? Does the chicken

]]> Nourish Your Appetite and Your Soul at Fiori in Clayton http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/nourish-your-appetite-and-your-soul-at-fiori-in-clayton/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/nourish-your-appetite-and-your-soul-at-fiori-in-clayton/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/nourish-your-appetite-and-your-soul-at-fiori-in-clayton/ Thu, 20 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

This month, as Fiori Italian Restaurant & Bar in Clayton celebrates its first anniversary, I sat down with owner Orlando Marin to discuss the beginnings of Fiori, why you should absolutely give it a

]]> Clayton Offers Sensory Kits for a More Inclusive Rec Experience http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/clayton-offers-sensory-kits-for-a-more-inclusive-rec-experience/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/clayton-offers-sensory-kits-for-a-more-inclusive-rec-experience/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/clayton-offers-sensory-kits-for-a-more-inclusive-rec-experience/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 13:00:00 -0400


Clayton Parks and Recreation has introduced a new way to help visitors feel more comfortable at the Clayton Community Center. Guests can now check out Sensory Kits to use during their visit, making

]]> Meet Local Ghost Legends in Smithfield Oct. 30th http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/meet-local-ghost-legends-in-smithfield/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/meet-local-ghost-legends-in-smithfield/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/meet-local-ghost-legends-in-smithfield/ Fri, 10 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400


The Johnston County Heritage Center will stage its 21st annual Ghost Walk on Thursday, October 30, in Smithfield’s historic Riverside Cemetery.

Beginning at 6 pm, five personalities from colonial

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