Reservations can be made by calling the Grove Park at 800.438.5800. Please note that this is an all inclusive package – two nights accommodation Jan 6 –8, 2006, dinner Saturday night, and two breakfasts, all the seminars and entertainment. Even if someone is local, we cannot allow folks into just one or two events. Let me know what else you may need.

Packages for the weekend include two nights accommodations (double occupancy), a daily Southern-style breakfast, a Friday night concert, and Saturday night dinner with entertainment. Performers David Holt, Etta Baker, Don Dixon and Jim Wann will make an appearance at the celebration, as will George Higgs and King Mackeral, starring Dland Simpson. An Ice cream social and free admission to all seminars complete a wonderful weekend deal. Space is limited, and reservations can be made by calling The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa at 800-438-5800.

A full schedule of events is below:

The 8th Annual Best of Our State
January 6 - 8, 2006 The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
Produced by Our State magazine.
Spend a memorable weekend with Our State at the Grove Park Inn celebrating North Carolina music, history, humor, literature, art, and food.

Friday, January 6, 2005
3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Our State Welcome & Registration (Vanderbilt Wing, Level 8)
4:00 - 4:45 p.m. Humorist Bill Thompson on his latest book Pearl’s Pork Palace (Heritage Ballroom, Sammons Wing)
5:00 - 8:30 p.m. Dinner on own (Advance reservations strongly recommended)
8:30 pm concert (Grand Ballroom, Vanderbilt Wing) – An Evening of NC Blues with David Holt, Etta Baker and George Briggs.
9:30 - 10:30 pm - Ice cream social

Saturday, January 7
8:00 am - 9:00 am Southern-style breakfast buffet and Our State Welcome (Grand Ballroom, Vanderbilt Wing)

Saturday's seminars are all in the Heritage Room in the Sammons Wing unless noted.
9:15 - 10:00 Ila Hatter, Our Lady of the Forest, Wild Edibles & Medicinals of Southern Appalachia.
10:00 - 10:15 Beverage Break
10:15 - 11:00 Dr. Harry Watson, director of the UNC Center for the Study of the American South.
11:15 - 12:00 William Ivey Long, Four-time Tony Award winner for costume design and founder of Seaboard, NC Foundation
Noon - 2:00 Lunch on your own
2:00 - 2:45 Matty Lazo-Chadderton, Director of Hispanic / Latino Affairs for Senator Marc Basnight
> 3:00 - 3:45 Sharyn McCrumb, author, St. Dale, Ghost Riders, The Songcatcher, The Ballad of Frankie Silver, The Rosewood Casket, Peggy-O and many more.
4:00 - 7:30 Free time
7:00 pm Cash bar outside Grand Ballroom (Vanderbilt Wing)

7:30 -8:30 p.m. Dinner in Grand Ballroom
8:30 pm King Mackerel & The Blues Are Running: Songs and Stories of the Carolina Coast with Bland Simpson, Don Dixon, and Jim Wann

Sunday, January 8
8:00 - 8:45 am Southern-style breakfast buffet (Grand Ballroom, Vanderbilt Wing)
9:00 – 9:45 am The Rev. Dr. Joe Mullin, Pastor Emeritus, First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro (Grand Ballroom, Vanderbilt Wing)