Joined by the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Warrenton, and mural artist Tom Lang, residents and friends from afar celebrated the new Eastern Bluebird Mural with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the Eastern Bluebird Festival on Saturday, April 26th in downtown Warrenton.

Ahead of last year’s festival, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed Warrenton, NC as the National Eastern Bluebird Capital because the town has the highest concentration of them.

Warren County Government is inviting residents to help shape a new public art piece by voting for their favorite mural design.

The poll opens this Friday, April 4, during the Statewide Star Party and will determine the artwork that will adorn the Magnolia Ernest Recreation Center pool building. The mural will celebrate the history and legacy of Soul City, a pioneering planned community founded in the 1970s with a vision of Black empowerment and economic opportunity.

Residents can cast their votes online via the Warren County Government Facebook page or website, as well as in person at the Statewide Star Party on April 4 or at the Warren County Memorial Library. Voting will close on April 14, with the winning design announced via Facebook Live on April 17.

The mural is part of artist Max Dowdle’s Legacy NC project, an initiative aiming to create public murals in all 100 North Carolina counties. Each mural highlights local history and unsung heroes, weaving a visual narrative that connects communities across the state. The two designs up for consideration were developed through collaboration between Dowdle, a committee of Soul City residents and community leaders, and members of the Warren County arts community.

Beyond selecting the design, residents will have the unique opportunity to contribute to the mural’s creation. Community members are invited to take part in the painting process, further embedding local pride and participation into the project.

The Warren County Facebook page and website will soon have details on how to sign up for the painting experience.

Known for crafting compelling narratives that resonate deeply with audiences, Warren County native Garrett Davis is bringing another profound stage production, Father Figure to the McGregor Hall stage on Sunday, February 2nd.

Centered around the importance of why fathers should be in the lives of their sons, Father Figure is branded as an “Edutainical(TM)” experience, which combines the emotional depth of live theatre with music and storytelling. In Father Figure, Davis highlights the impact of fatherlessness while offering hope, healing, and a path forward.

Gdavis Productions and Films, founded by Davis in 1994, is a leading theater company known for nationally touring stage plays that depict real-life situations, including Mama’s Girls and Forget Me Not.

Another Warren County native, Dartez Wright, once Davis’s student at Warren County High School and now serves as Creative Director, is also featured in the play.

Tickets for Father Figure are $20 (advance), $25 (day of show), and $15 (student), and are on sale now at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11557 or by calling the McGregor Hall office at (252) 598-0662. The box office will also open one hour before the show starts.

McGregor Hall is located at 201 Breckenridge Street in Henderson, NC.