A Historic Celebration of All Things Spring
Spring in Winston-Salem is more than just a walk in the park. It’s a step back in time through Winston-Salem's Historic Gardens Collection. Or served by the glass at an award-winning Yadkin Valley winery -- the largest wine region in North Carolina. Throughout April Winston-Salem celebrates spring and the art of craft beer during NC Beer Month. From vineyards and galleries to farm-to-fork menus inspired by more than 250 years of rich traditions, Winston-Salem is more than just a better way to spend your time. It’s Your Southern Wake-Up Call.
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With so much to do this Spring in Winston-Salem, you're going to want to stay a while. With 50 hotels and a variety of spring hotel getaway packages, we invite you to unwind and relax this spring in Winston-Salem.
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Springtime in Old Salem
Say hello to Spring in the historic setting of Old Salem Museums & Gardens. Family fun, hands-on learning, and heirloom gardens are all in full blossom this time of year, and you're invited to journey back more than 250 years to experience it all first hand. The 1766 settlement of the area's founding Moravians, Old Salem is a living history attraction depicting life of early Moravians in the 18th and 19th centuries. This spring, begin your tour at the Old Salem Visitor Center (900 Old Salem Road) to purchase your All-In-One ticket before exploring original and refurbished buildings guided by costumed interpreters. Learn about the Moravians' pattern gardening techniques at the Single Brothers Garden, and the gardens at the Miksch House. You just might pick up a pointer or two to practice in your own backyard, such as "double digging."
Head to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) where handcrafted furniture, pottery, and early examples of needlework are all on display. Your All-In-One ticket grants access into the self-guided galleries, or call ahead and book a special guided tour for a more in-depth look.
Find rich, African-American history at the St. Philips Heritage Center made up of the state's oldest standing African-American church, and a reconstructed log church that now serves as the orientation center to St. Philips. Learn about the many contributions made to the historic town of Salem from both freed and enslaved blacks of the community. Learn more about this history and a new cross-study research initiative called, the Hidden Town Project, here.
Ready for a bite to eat? Find locally-sourced, period-inspired cuisine at The Tavern in Old Salem where the Keiper family serves favorites including Moravian chicken pie (hold the veggies please), Bratwurst, and an array of sandwiches and handmade desserts. Another option is the Flour Box Tea Room & Cafe. open for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Relax with a specialty pot of tea or French-pressed coffee and choose from entrees including sandwiches, savory tarts, chicken pie, and flatbreads. When there's still room for a bit more, cross the street to Winkler Bakery, the oldest, continuosly operating bakery in America. Opened in 1800, Winkler continues to serve Moravian baked goods from their domed bake ovens, and upstairs, is the newly opened cafe serving fresh coffee, kitchen goods, and locally-made pastries.
Historic Reynolda Estate Celebrates Centennial Anniversary
Frederic Church: A Painter's Pilgrimage
February 9 - May 13
More than 50 of Frederic Church's paintings completed during and after his 1867-69 trip to the Near East, Rome, and Greece, comprise this exhibition organized by the Detroit Institute of the Arts. The exhibition is the first to explore the artist’s paintings inspired by his travels to ancient sites in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Reynolda House is the only venue in the Southeast to host the exhibition.
“'Frederic Church: A Painter’s Pilgrimage provides a remarkable opportunity to see the work of one of the most honored Hudson River School artists whose painting 'The Andes of Ecuador' is one of the most important works in the Reynolda House collection,” says Allison Perkins, director of Reynolda House Museum of American Art. “All of the work in the exhibition was created after Church observed firsthand some of antiquity’s most extraordinary cities, buildings, temples, and ruins. The exhibition juxtaposes pencil drawings and oil studies that Church completed during his trip with paintings he completed back in his studio.”
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RiverRun International Film Festival: 20th Anniversary
Celebrate and explore the wonderful works of film presented during the 20th anniversary of RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem April 19 - 29, 2018. One of the fastest-growing regional film festivals in the U.S., and a premier film festival in the Southeast, Winston-Salem's RiverRun is an Academy Award-qualifying film festival showcasing a variety of narrative, documentary, student, animated and short films from all genres. The festival presents more than a hundred films from dozens of countries around the world. Attendees enjoy a variety of screenings including feature-length and short films from all genres and a broad range of special events, including high-profile regional premieres, celebrity tributes, family matinees and classic retrospectives as well as a mixture of panel discussions and parties. Noted Filmmakers, directors, producers, and special guests travel to share their films, passions and stories with audiences.
Click here for festival film lineup and special events.
Click here to book your RiverRun Getaway Packages
Texas Pete Spirits of Summer*
The inaugural Texas Pete Spirits of Summer festival (*formerly Salute! The North Carolina Wine Celebration) kicks off on the streets of downtown on Saturday, June 2, with an electrifying tasting experience that unites local chefs, winemakers, brewmasters, and national recording acts for one sizzling summertime festival in Winston-Salem, NC. Texas Pete Spirits of Summer uncorks along Fourth Street as more than 35 North Carolina wineries share sample pours from the nearby Yadkin Valley wine region and beyond. Sip and savor a weekend of winemaker dinners, celebrity chef events, all celebrating Winston-Salem and North Carolina wines.
Click here to learn more about Texas Pete Spirits of Summer
Historic & Heirloom Garden Tours
This spring, dig into to Winston-Salem's rich agricultural history and inspiring beauty with a self-guided tour or workshop at one of our historic and heirloom gardens. Spring brings gorgeous blossoms of tulips, hydrangeas, bright sunflowers, fragrant herbs and leafy vegetables. The earliest known community garden was planted in 1759 just 10 minutes outside of present-day Winston-Salem in Bethabara, North Carolina's first Moravian settlement. Then, in 1766, the Moravians settled the town of Salem and gardening practices which were once used for stocking their own pantries became a successful means of trade. It's safe to say our deep Moravian roots have set the standard for gardening in Winston-Salem since their arrival more than two centuries ago. Winston-Salem has an abundance of well-maintained historical gardens for visitors to tour.
Click here to learn more about local gardens and workshops.
Book a Historic Garden Getaway Package Here.
From March to June, bask in the beauty of Spring during city-wide festivals, savor local bites at area farmers markets, celebrate craft beer, and uncork the richness of the Yadkin Valley wine region.
Click here for a complete Calendar of Events.
