The Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe will welcome visitors from across the region for the 61st Annual Blooming of the Dogwood Powwow, set for April 17–19, 2026, at 130 Haliwa Saponi Trail in Hollister.

Recognized as the oldest powwow in North Carolina, the Blooming of the Dogwood Powwow has historically drawn crowds of up to 10,000 visitors in a single weekend. The three-day cultural celebration showcases Native traditions through competitive dancing, drum contests, art exhibitions, and multiple Grand Entry ceremonies open to the public.

Competition Highlights

This year’s powwow features a highly anticipated drum contest with a $5,000 first-place prize, followed by awards of $4,000, $3,000, and $2,000. Dance competitions will include Golden Age, Adult, Teen, Junior, and Tiny Tots categories, with cash prizes awarded in each division. Registration for participants is $10 per person, and tribal identification may be requested.

The Pine Lodge Singers of Pembroke, N.C., will serve as the host drum for the weekend.

Grand Entry & Schedule

Grand Entry times are scheduled as follows (all times Eastern):
Friday: 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: Noon and 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 1:00 p.m.

A worship service will also be held Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Admission & Event Details

Daily admission is:
$10 for ages 7–61
$8 for ages 62 and older
Free for children 6 and under

A weekend pass is available for $20. Admission and on-site purchases are cash only. Camping will be available, but pets, alcohol, and drugs are prohibited on tribal grounds.

Traditional and contemporary art entries must be delivered to the Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School cafeteria by 9:00 a.m. Saturday.

Featured Staff & Guests

This year’s featured staff includes:

Head Male Dancer: Eric Plainbull
Head Female Dancer: Charlize Evans
Arena Director: Will Richardson
Head Judge: Kevin Chavis
MCs: JD Moore and Sandon Jacobs

Host hotels for the event include the Holiday Inn Rocky Mount and the Hilton Garden Inn Roanoke Rapids.

Vendor & Contact Information

Vendor applications will be accepted exclusively through the official online form. The only way to apply for vendor space is by submitting an application at the Tribe’s designated link.

Headquartered in Hollister, the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe is a sovereign Indian nation committed to protecting its identity, cultural heritage, and the well-being of its citizens. Through education, health initiatives, economic development, housing, and cultural programming, the Tribe continues to serve as an advocate for its people while building partnerships with local, state, and federal entities to strengthen the broader region.

For more information, contact the Tribe at (252) 586-4017.

Community members and visitors alike are invited to experience the rich traditions, powerful drumming, vibrant regalia, and cultural pride that define this longstanding North Carolina tradition.

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Friends, neighbors, and book lovers alike came out in droves to the Warren County Memorial Library on Aug. 14 to celebrate retired district court judge, Reginald Baskerville’s newest chapter.

Baskerville shared that the downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic was his spark of inspiration to finally put pen to paper. What began as a way to fill the quiet moments at home has blossomed into a powerful story now shared with readers near and far.

About A Turbulent Flight with a Smooth Landing by Reginald Baskerville

What happens when an ordinary man from rural North Carolina refuses to accept an ordinary fate?

In A Turbulent Flight with a Smooth Landing, Randolph Baskerville delivers a deeply moving African American memoir rooted in truth, humility, and quiet resilience. Born to hard-working, God-fearing parents who farmed and ran a country store, Baskerville didn’t inherit wealth, privilege, or prestige. However, he did inherit grit, faith, and a relentless belief in the power of education.

This is not the story of a prodigy or a superstar. It is the story of a Black man raised in the Jim Crow South who struggled with anxiety, racial inequality, and trauma but never stopped reaching higher. With no silver spoon or elite advantages, he fought his way through systemic barriers and inner doubts. He ultimately became a respected attorney and judge. Along the way, he encountered both setbacks and silent blessings. People and moments helped him soar even when the winds of life threatened to bring him down.

Written as a legacy for his granddaughters and as a guide for future generations, this legal memoir reflects the broader civil rights journey of many African Americans in the 20th century. It speaks to anyone who has ever questioned their worth, battled quiet fears, or wondered if they were enough.

A Turbulent Flight with a Smooth Landing is an inspiring testimony to perseverance, justice, and what becomes possible when opportunity meets preparation.

Turbulent Flight with a Smooth Landing by Reginald Baskerville is available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle on Amazon and Bookshop.

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Shirlecia Hunt brought together families, friends, and community members eager to celebrate her first book signing on Saturday, July 26th, at the Warren County Memorial Library.

Attendees had the chance to purchase signed copies of her books, From A to Z: You’re Everything You Need to Be and Game On! A Sports Coloring Book for Children, take photos, and hear firsthand about her creative journey.

During her presentation, the Warren Early College High School and East Carolina University graduate noted that she used AI services, ChatGPT to motivate her moves to becoming an author and used Canva and DALL-E for her designs and illustrations. Hunt also shared that she is deeply inspired by her three children, who motivate her to create work that uplifts and empowers young readers. “Every child deserves to feel seen, empowered, and worthy,” she said during her talk.

Through the rebranding of her company, The Lecia Lane, a creative hub, the Henderson Collegiate second-grade teacher is eager to continue publishing children’s books, designing educational coloring and activity books, offering literary enrichment and tutoring, and creating handmade jewelry.

Both books are now available for purchase online.

From A to Z: You’re Everything You Need to Be
This inspirational alphabet picture book from A to Z encourages young readers to believe in themselves and to live a life full of positivity and self-confidence. Keep turning the pages to find out all the amazing things you can be! Available Now on Amazon

Game On! A Sports Coloring Book for Children
“Game On!” is a fun and empowering sports coloring book designed especially for African American children. This book celebrates representation in sports by showing kids confidently playing a wide range of sports. Kids are featured playing basketball, volleyball, golf, football, and more. Each page inspires kids to be creative and helps build self-confidence while encouraging children to imagine themselves as champions in every sport. Available Now on Amazon

For more information about Shirlecia Hunt and her next step, follow her at The Lecia Lane on Facebook.

Photos: Crystal Myrick/Warrenist

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The Front Porch Grocery Cooperative is calling all middle and high school artists to pick up their pencils, markers, and imagination for an exciting new design challenge! “We’re launching a Youth Design Program to inspire young creators in grades 6–12 to help shape the look and feel of our co-op’s stickers and T-shirts—perfect for showing off local pride and spreading the word about fresh, community-driven food,” Korita Steverson, project lead stated.

This program is more than just a contest—it’s a chance for youth to be seen and heard. The Front Porch Grocery Cooperative is also developing a Youth Advisory Council, and this design project marks the first step in identifying passionate young leaders who want to make a meaningful impact in their community.

They’re encouraging parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to rally their creative youth to participate. Whether they’re seasoned artists or enjoy doodling, this is a fun opportunity to express themselves, connect with local food culture, and contribute to a growing cooperative movement.

All design submissions should follow the themes provided in the program guide, which is available online. Participants will have the chance to win prizes and, more importantly, have their artwork featured on co-op swag seen around Warren County and beyond!

For full details and to download the theme guide, click here.

For more information about The Front Porch Grocery Cooperative and their initiatives, visit their official website at https://thefrontporch.coop.

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The Heritage Quilters take pride in introducing young, creative minds to the art of quilting. This past week was no exception.

With quilts and supplies in tow, the Heritage Quilters stopped by Mariam Boyd Elementary School to speak with a group of third-graders during their summer enrichment camp.

Jereann King Johnson, one of the founding members, started the morning session by introducing the other members in attendance (Sterling Cheston, Margaret Bullock, and Belinda Mack Alston).

Next, Johnson read The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace. Each student was provided with one’s own copy to read along and to take home. Bullock showed the different tools used in quilting and their purpose.

And, then it was the students’ turn.

Cheston led the students in their activity: creating greeting cards using precut fabric to make a quilt block on the cover. With two blocks to choose from (the pinwheel and the nine-patch), the students grabbed their glue sticks, and quickly went to work. Afterwards, they were then encouraged to write a message inside to give to a loved one.

Before leaving, the students showed their gratitude in the form of hugs and high-fives for teaching them something fun to do this summer. And, who knows? We may have met some little quilters in the making. We’ll see!

Learn more about the Heritage Quilters by visiting their website at HeritageQuilters.net.

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Step into a night of power, passion, and poetic reckoning as award-winning artist *
Thomas Park takes the stage for Incredible Soul – No Ways Tired, a one-man show that celebrates the soul and resilience of Black America through poetry, music, and storytelling on Sunday, June 22nd at 4pm.

This evocative performance, which will debut at 134 On Main in Warrenton, NC, is more than just a show—it’s a tribute. Park invites audiences to witness and honor the enduring identity and life force of African American people, with a special commemoration of Juneteenth—the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas learned of their emancipation, more than two years after Lincoln’s Proclamation.

Blending fractured instrumentals, fresh original poetry, and spoken word with audience participation, Park pays homage to a lineage of Black creativity and struggle. The performance includes the words and legacy of towering literary voices such as Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, and Maya Angelou, alongside the raw sound and social groove of Sly and the Family Stone, James Brown’s iconic “Say It Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)”, and a stirring tribute to the revolutionary spirit of Gil Scott-Heron.

This is not just a performance—it is a communal moment of reflection and celebration. Light refreshments will be served.

The admission is $10 with limited seating, so arrive early for a good seat.

Incredible Soul – No Ways Tired is a call to remember, to feel, and to rise—with art, with history, and with soul.

Don’t miss this stirring and timely journey. For tickets, visit warrenist.com/calendar.

134 on Main is located at 134 South Main in Warrenton, NC. This event is presented by the Warren Artists Market.

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If you were anywhere else in the world and not inside the Warren County Middle School gym last Friday evening (May 30), you missed out on a historic event in our community.

Under the directorial helm of Nichole Gibbs and Cherita Smith, the WCMS Musical Theatre 8th period class stepped into the spotlight and performed A Little Bit of Magic in front of their families, Warren County Schools staff, and community theatre enthusiasts.

A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC, a stage production written by Gail Golden centers around “Do-Nothing Dale, a little picked-upon wizard, who wants to know what her little bit of magic is. On her journey to find out, she meets people like the laughing Coco the Clown and the singing Marilyn Melody, and she finds that she’s just as special as everyone else in the world.” (Source)

The magical night kicked off with a preshow featuring monologues from students, Lilly Byrd, Zha’niya Clark, and Elijah Pettus.

Nichole Gibbs, WCMS Theatre Arts teacher, prepped the audience for what would turn out to be an engaging and interactive event by breaking down Theatre Production 101 and what it takes to run a show by soliciting responses from the knowledgeable audience. Little did they know that, later in the evening, they, too, would be joining the actors on stage.

Overall, the show was amazing! There was singing. There was dancing. And best of all, we were so honored to witness these young talents at work. And with any good story, there was a lesson in the end: We all have that “something” that makes us special.

Who knows? Today, we’re applauding them in a school gymnasium. Tomorrow, it could be Broadway, and we can say we remember them when they got their start in Warren County.

Tickets for the show were $7, or $10 if one wanted to make a special shout-out.

Proceeds from the event helped cover costs for scripts, royalties, and security. Their future goal is to provide a starter fund for future WCMS Theatre Productions in order to produce shows on a larger scale.

If you’re interested in becoming a community partner or volunteer, contact Nichole Gibbs at ngibbs@warrenk12nc.org.

A Little Bit of Magic was presented by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Denver, Colorado.

Preshow Feature Monologues/Scenes
Lilly Byrd, Zha’niya Clark, and Elijah Pettus

Cast of Characters (By Order of Appearance)
Player One – Keymoni Fuller
Player Two – Madison Aycock
Player Three – A’shayla Hawkins
Jonathan Primiano, Jr.
Pianist – Caleb Hargrove
Wonder Wanda – Ameerah Steed
Magnificent Mervin – Elijah Harris
Do-Nothing Dale – Amaris Yancey
Marilyn Melody – Serenity Henderson
Coco the Clown – Kira Cunningham
Depressed Daisy – Veronica Stewart
Flowers – Players and Audience
The Weatherman – Zyier Belcher
Kalabash Turnbull
Princess Patricia – Arely Gandarilla

Ensemble
WCMS Musical Theatre 8th period class and The Audience

Production Staff
Artistic Director – Nichole Gibbs
Musical Director – Cherita Smith
Choreography – Nichole Gibbs, Kayla Smith
Stage Manager, Lights, Ensemble – Jimmy Thorpe, Jr.
Sound – Kira Cunningham, Nichole Gibbs
Costume, Props, and Set – Nichole Gibbs and Cast
Publicity – Pioneer Drama, Jimmy Thorpe, Jr. and Production Stff
Production Assistance – Kayla Smith, Ayaina Blake, Kierra Townes
Box Office – Robin Closs and WCMS Staff

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Artist Max Dowdle will begin installation of the new mural on the Magnolia Ernest Recreation center pool building in Soul City on June 2nd. He is inviting community members of all ages to join him in the painting process. Individuals or families can participate for a one-hour shift between 3:00pm – 5:00pm on June 2nd through June 4th.

The new mural is part of the Legacy NC Mural Project by Dowdle, NC Main Street, and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. The project aims to create a mural in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties that highlight the unique history and legacy of each county while creating a unifying thread that ties all of North Carolina’s counties together through art.

Dowdle worked with a committee of Soul City residents, community leaders, and members of the Warren County arts community to create proposed designs. These designs were then presented to the community and voted on. The winning design can be seen below (this design is still subject to minor changes from Dowdle).

Contact Hannah Jones at hannahjones@warrencountync.gov or (252) 257-3115 to sign up. To accommodate space, each shift will have no more than 10 people. No experience is necessary!

The Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park is located at 252 Duke Drive, Norlina, NC off Soul City Boulevard.

Learn more about Max Dowdle and to view his work, visit NCPublicArt.com.

For more information about the Legacy NC Mural Project, visit https://www.ncmainstreetandplanning.com/blog/categories/legacy-nc-100-murals-100-counties.

RELATED: Warren County Residents to Vote on New Mural Design for Soul City

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The Warren County Artist Market (WAM) hosted a hybrid book launch for their latest anthology, TEN last Friday (5/9). Comprised of poems, short stories, and essays incorporating the theme of “ten,” the collection celebrates the successful, decade-long run of First Friday Poetry Night hosted by the creative group in Warren County, NC.

Anita Lynn Williams, who co-edited the anthology with her friend and mentor, Kim Schroeder, emceed the festivities in The Hive, located in downtown Warrenton.

In 2013, WAM was co-founded by Thomas Park and Arlene Bice and, today, includes members Williams and Sterling Cheston, Jr. They host the monthly event every first Friday of the month at 7pm at The Hive (108 S. Main Street). It is free and open to the public. For more information about the Warren Artist Market, follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WarrenCountyArtistsMarketBirdland.

TEN is now available in paperback and Kindle ebook: https://amzn.to/3GQk8CJ

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Hundreds flocked to the heart of downtown Warrenton for the second annual Eastern Bluebird Festival and was treated to live entertainment, great food, vendors, a mural ribbon-cutting ceremony and so much more! (April 26, 2025)

See Also: Eastern Bluebird Mural Celebrated with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

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