The National Gathering Is Only the Beginning!

The National Gathering Is Only the Beginning!

Raleigh, NC
Don’t Miss April in Raleigh-Durham!

 

Raleigh, NCWe know you’re already excited about the Fellowship Community 2020 National Gathering, but if you still need a little extra incentive to click that big blue button at the bottom of this post, we have five words for you:

North Carolina in the Spring.

April in the Research Triangle is glorious — with lots of sun, an average high of 72 degrees, and pollen season still a ways off, you’ll think you’ve found heaven on earth. And not only that, the Raleigh-Durham area has some of the best sights, sounds, tastes, and experiences that the Tarheel State has to offer. Adding a couple of days before April 28th or after April 30th will be well worth it — here are just a few of the venues and activities you can look forward to:

 

  • Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh. As one of the region’s premier arts venues, the Duke Center boasts a steady stream of world-renowned artists and acts. The weekend before the National Gathering, the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra will provide a live accompaniment of John Williams’ score as The Empire Strikes Back plays on the big screen; the weekend afterward, they’ll be performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

 

  • Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The good news: the weekend before the National Gathering you can relive all your 1980s Sports Movie Nostalgia as you watch arguably the most famous minor-league baseball team in the nation play a home series against the Columbus Clippers. The bad news: neither Kevin Costner nor Tim Robbins will likely be playing.

 

  • Museums. Since Raleigh is North Carolina’s capital city, the area has more than its fair share of cultural destinations. Notable among these are the North Carolina Museums of Natural SciencesHistory, and Art — all within a short drive.

 

  • Universities. There’s a reason this region is called the “Research Triangle:” some of the country’s most prestigious educational institutions are but a stone’s throw away. The University of North Carolina‘s flagship campus is in Chapel Hill, North Carolina State is located in Raleigh, and Duke University is in Durham. (While we’re not necessarily endorsing one of these universities over the others — their longstanding rivalry is known around the world — if you get a chance, visit Duke’s towering neo-Gothic chapel. It’s a sight not to be missed.)

 

  • Carolina Barbecue. In North Carolina, pulled pork is both a heritage and an art form. While, again, we claim neutrality in the Lexington/Eastern style debate, we’re just telling you to make sure you get your fill of smoked meat and fixins before you head home.

Be sure to register for the 2020 National Gathering soon —
the early bird rate expires on February 14th!

Raleigh NC photo used under creative commons license from https://www.flickr.com/photos/27914389@N02/32287115698