/blog/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:21:17 +0000 Smithfield's River Rat Regatta will be Aug. 9th! http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-river-rat-regatta-cardboard-boat-race/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-river-rat-regatta-cardboard-boat-race/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-river-rat-regatta-cardboard-boat-race/ Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0400


The "Smithfield Yacht Club" will open once again for the River Rat Regatta on the Neuse on Saturday, August 9th at 10:00 a.m. The event will feature a race between 2-person teams in cardboard boats

]]> Relocate with Me to NC http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/relocate-with-me-to-nc/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/relocate-with-me-to-nc/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/relocate-with-me-to-nc/ Thu, 21 Nov 2024 15:00:00 -0500

Before relocating to Johnston County, I had never been to North Carolina. Being from Indiana with family in Michigan, nothing prepared me for all the changes I would experience when moving to the

]]> A New Director & Direction for DSDC http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/a-new-director-direction-for-dsdc/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/a-new-director-direction-for-dsdc/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/a-new-director-direction-for-dsdc/ Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:00:00 -0400


The Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation (DSDC) has a new Executive Director and a new direction towards the future. I recently sat down with Heidi Gilmond to discuss what brought her to

]]> As Long As There Is You & Food http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/as-long-as-there-is-you-and-food/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/as-long-as-there-is-you-and-food/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/as-long-as-there-is-you-and-food/ Tue, 21 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0500


As a native of Johnston County, I can say with conviction that what matters most to locals around the holidays is food. It always seemed particularly cruel to me that the Grinch not only took

]]> The final "Toast to Ava" Centennial Event http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/the-final-toast-to-ava-centennial-event/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/the-final-toast-to-ava-centennial-event/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/the-final-toast-to-ava-centennial-event/ Fri, 30 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400


The Ava Gardner Museum has hosted a year-long Centennial celebration in honor of the legendary actress, fashion icon, and humanitarian Ava Gardner, a North Carolina native who grew up just 7-miles

]]> Smithfield has a Brand-new Amphitheater http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-has-a-brand-new-amphitheater/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-has-a-brand-new-amphitheater/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-has-a-brand-new-amphitheater/ Fri, 09 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400


Smithfield’s Neuse River Amphitheater remodel project was completed just in time for May’s Ham & Yam Festival this year. Celebrated with a community-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony, free concert,

]]> Products for Purchase in Our Visitors Center http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/new-products-for-purchase-and-events-in-our-visitors-center/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/new-products-for-purchase-and-events-in-our-visitors-center/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/new-products-for-purchase-and-events-in-our-visitors-center/ Fri, 05 Jul 2019 09:00:00 -0400


The 911±¬ΑΟ is opening our visitors center to local businesses selling local products. This initiative aims to promote our tourism partners through visitor center events. The

]]> The Mountains-to-Sea Trail Cuts Through 911±¬ΑΟ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/did-you-know-that-the-mountains-to-sea-trail-cuts-through-joco/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/did-you-know-that-the-mountains-to-sea-trail-cuts-through-joco/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/did-you-know-that-the-mountains-to-sea-trail-cuts-through-joco/ Fri, 01 Jun 2018 16:00:00 -0400


The Clayton River Walk on the Neuse is a beautiful 4-mile, 10-foot wide paved trail that begins at the Wake/Johnston County line and parallels the Neuse River under Covered Bridge Road. Similarly,

]]> Becky Opens Her "Home" Back Up to Visitors and Locals http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/becky-opens-her-home-back-up-to-visitors-and-locals/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/becky-opens-her-home-back-up-to-visitors-and-locals/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/becky-opens-her-home-back-up-to-visitors-and-locals/ Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:00:00 -0400

UPDATE 7/2/25: Becky's Log Cabin Motel is open to travelers, but the restaurant has closed permanently.

Becky’s Log Cabin Restaurant opened in 1977 in Smithfield, NC off Exit 95 on I-95. It was a

]]> Smithfield Receives National Main Street Accreditation http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-receives-national-main-street-accreditation/ http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-receives-national-main-street-accreditation/#comments http://www.johnstoncountync.org/blog/post/smithfield-receives-national-main-street-accreditation/ Fri, 14 Jul 2017 14:00:00 -0400

Each year the National Main Street Center announce a list of accredited Main Street programs across the country that have demonstrated best practices in community revitalization through the

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