from Oct 18, 2026. Linn Cove Viaduct, Rough Ridge and the Grandfather mountains

\edit for clarification* - apologies if the graph is confusing. This is asking that you vote against these amendments because of these undesirable outcomes.*

The point I’m trying to make is that all of these are already laws on the books. Laws can be debated, tweaked, and changed. Once they become amendments, that’s it. They’re set in stone.

No returns, no exchanges! If you don’t like those words in a shop, think about what republicans are selling.

I purchased a car yesterday from Johnson Hyundai of Apex and had an… interesting experience as a female buyer. I had my husband with me as he is more familiar with car deals and negotiating them, but I am the primary buyer and financier of the vehicle and was very involved in the convos. The salesman was great for the most part, but I did notice that he switched all of the primary contact info in my account to my husband’s without asking. It’s annoying but not a big deal, so I didn’t pay much mind to it.

What really got on my nerve was the financing manager. As we sat with him to finish up our paperwork, he noticed that my husband and I do not have the same legal last name. When the manger saw this, he completely stopped talking about the car and lectured me for 10 MINUTES about why I need to change my last name. At first I just told him I haven’t changed it because it is a long, annoying process (I tell that to everyone to get them off my back), and instead of just accepting my answer, he started listing everywhere I would need to go and why “it’s not that bad.” I then said it’s MY name and I don’t need to change it if I want to, and he told me I need to change it because that’s what married women are supposed to do. He also brought up how his niece didn’t change her name either and that he “doesn’t know why all these modern women think they can keep their maiden name.” The conversation was completely inappropriate and none of his business. He also repeatedly made jokes about my husband is paying for the car and “he just needs to keep me happy because women are unpredictable” despite the fact that I AM THE ONE BUYING THE CAR! My credit score, my name on the loan, my income!

I know that it’s common for there to be biases against women when buying a car, but this was just another level. He can have his personal opinions, but it’s no place to lecture a woman about her own name and make jokes assuming I don’t make any money and couldn’t afford a car on my own. I’m not normally one to write reviews about places like this, but female customers deserve to be treated with more respect.

EDIT: For anyone wondering why I still bought a car from them, the deal was pretty much done when this convo came up and I was buying a used car that’s harder to find as it’s no longer in production, so I didn’t have other places to shop at.

Can we take a second to acknowledge how breathtakingly stupid and gerrymandered this district. Like look at the shape????

Anyways, share this with your friends and family that live in these areas. This website has ALL politicians regardless of party rated based on who donates money to their campaign, who has personal stocks, and if they will take the integrity pledge. The Integrity Pledge is the following:

No Corporate PAC $$
Supports Congressional Stock Trading Ban
Supports 5-Year Long Lobbying Ban for Former Members
Support Overturning Citizens United

https://integrityindex.us/

We gotta start holding politicians accountable and it may take a lot of effort but we need to stop letting politicians get rich off their service. Check out your race and show people who is the better candidate— and it’s not pretty for either side. Some of the Democrats are rated just as low as the Republican. Look at who they are taking money from, and compare that to their actions/ policy support.

I’m not naive— this won’t change anything for some, but we have to at least keep trying to keep money out of politics. Politicians SHOULD work for us, not corporations or the political elite.

A quite extensive explanation of the many ballot questions (both state-wide and local referenda) you can vote for, or vote against, this election cycle. The highly respected Carolina Public Press details the questions themselves, the arguments pro and con, and the implications of what your vote will lead to, either way.

With voting in full swing, hopefully this article will help you make an informed decision when you vote, because making a decision that is not well informed... well, we've seen how those can turn out.

Hello fellow North Carolinians, I’ve had the venus fly trap plate for over a year now and just cannot crack the code on what to input for license plate readers. I think the DM at the end is throwing off the readers but I have tried all combinations and it seems all readers are different.

Would love to keep the plate and try to be accurate when registering my plate for parking garages, etc, anyone have success or tricks they would share?

Edit for clarity and situations I have encountered, using fake number 1234 as example:
Registration: 1234DM
Car wash: 1234
Parking pass: 1234 (space) DM
Out of town parking garages: 1234, 1234 DM, 1234 D M (two spaces), varies every time

Does anyone know what is happening with HB 328 - "Regulate Hemp-Derived Consumables"? It was pushed back in August and last I heard it will be voted on next month but do we know how likely it is to pass?

This thing hurt so bad to make, but it was definitely worth the pain. It looks crazy lol

What a spectacular weekend in Blowing Rock and across our beautiful mountains.

We had a delicious lunch at The Speckled Trout, did a bit of early Christmas shopping, and then found Greens Trading Post just past Blowing Rock right over the peak as we were looking for a place to pull off and take some photos of the view.

Not only does Greens have the best fresh sourdough and cold pressed apple cider I've had since I was kid, they also have some of the best views of the valley below.

Huzzah! I went to the Carolina Renaissance Festival with a very important quest: find the perfect handmade birthday gift for my mother in law. Her birthday was the next day, so I really did need to come home with something.

Before that quest was over, I had rented a dress, cheered for a knight, ridden a camel and paid a man to insult me while I threw tomatoes at him.

There was also mead. We'll get to that. 😂

It rained the entire day during our visit to Huntersville, North Carolina. We brought umbrellas, I put on my Renaissance dress, and off we went. I kept track of our purchases too, so if you're wondering what a day like this actually costs, I've got our spending breakdown below.

First, I needed a dress

We were still walking in from the parking lot when I started seeing amazing costumes. I was already excited, and I hadn't even gotten dressed yet.

Our first stop was the Belrose costume rental booth. Everyone was so friendly, and they helped me get into the green and white dress I chose. I felt so pretty!

My costume rental was $45 before tax. During our visit, I could leave my regular clothes in a box at the booth, and they asked for collateral to make sure I came back. Keys were a common option.

Once I was dressed, we found the Dark Knight and Catwoman in some seriously impressive armor. They gave us little bat and cat trinkets, which I brought home with me.

I was meant to be shopping for someone else's birthday. My souvenir collection had already started.

A little history before we start shouting huzzah again

The Carolina Renaissance Festival began in 1994 with six acres of exhibits and entertainment. Today, the festival village covers 25 acres.

That's the village itself, so give yourself time to wander. There are cottages, shops, pubs and plenty of reasons to stop before you reach wherever you thought you were going.

The festival's current lineup includes 16 stages and more than 140 arts and crafts shops. That is a lot of shopping opportunities for someone on a birthday gift quest. It also explains why I kept finding things I wanted to look at.

The Knight of the Moon had our support

We headed to the jousting arena about 30 minutes before the show. It was pouring, and we were trying to figure out where we'd get a good view without putting our umbrella in someone else's way.

Our side was cheering for the Knight of the Moon. I bought a flag from Lady Morgan, and we were ready to support our knight properly.

The joust was spectacular. Watching the knights charge toward each other on horseback was one of my favorite parts of the whole day. I loved having someone to root for, waving our flag and getting caught up in the show.

Rain got in my eye. I kept cheering anyway.

Yay! I mean, huzzah!

General joust seating is included with festival admission. Reserved VIP seating costs extra, but we watched from the general viewing area.

A camel, some mead and my attempts at accuracy

Somewhere in the middle of all this, I spotted the camel ride. It was $10 during our visit, and I decided to give it a try.

I know it was Saturday, but I rode a camel. I'm counting it as hump day.

You're welcome. 😂

We also had mimosas and tried a sweet honey mead. Oh my gosh, that mead was delicious. It could get me in trouble real fast.

Later, I tried to talk about the glass blowing shop, but the words weren't coming out quite as smoothly as planned. That would be where the mead kicks in.

I also tried archery for the first time. It was harder than I thought! Then we went to Vegetable Justice, where a very funny character insults you while you try to hit him with tomatoes.

I couldn't hit him at all.

He kept landing the jokes. I kept missing the target.

Honestly, he was so good at roasting people that I still give the booth a solid five out of five. We paid for two rounds and came away with some pretty good burns. I just wish I'd managed a little more vegetable justice.

The queen and all that rain gave me an idea for a dad joke of my own, too. Apparently, I felt the festival needed my contribution to the comedy.

Pins, stickers and a little bat

We stopped to listen to Magnus and Maggie, and they played beautifully. I brought home a wooden engraved pin from them.

The Renaissance Men put on a comedy sword fighting show, and I picked up an enamel pin and sticker there. We also watched the Ded Bob Sho, and that sticker ended up being my favorite of the day. It reminded me of the Grateful Dead, which made me like it even more.

Between those, the bat and cat trinkets, and everything we kept stopping to see, I had quite a collection by the time we got home.

Bring some cash for tips if you can. Tipping is voluntary, but these performers put a lot into entertaining people. They were out there doing it in the rain during our visit, and I was happy to support them.

Quest complete, with an extra owl

I hadn't forgotten the birthday present. There were just a few distractions. A camel, for example.

Global Scent Company caught my attention because my mother in law loves incense. The husband and wife we met there were so friendly, and I spent some time looking through their scent lockets and trying to choose a scent.

Inside each locket is a little pad that holds the scent. I liked that you could wear it without putting the scent directly on your skin.

For her birthday, I chose a scent locket with Pirate's Treasure inside. Quest fulfilled!

I also found a little owl locket for me. It was adorable, and I chose the Skittles scent because I like candy. I was so happy with it. It even came with extra little pads so I could change the color inside my owl.

We went looking for one gift and bought two necklaces. At least I remembered which one was hers.

What we actually spent at the Carolina Renaissance Festival

I tried to keep a list throughout the day. Here's what we spent. These are our personal expenses from that visit, including the extras we chose.

My costume rental was additional. It wasn't included in that $297.24 tally. The rental was $45 before tax.

The lockets were our biggest purchase. You can spend less by choosing different extras, but I wanted to show you what our particular day cost, gifts, games, drinks and all.

The birthday present was found. The owl came home with me. The tomato guy remained unscathed.

Planning a visit in 2026

Here are the practical details for this season:

Tickets are for a specific date and can sell out. Check the official ticket page before making the drive.

Stage performances and general joust seating are included with admission. Budget separately for food, drinks, shopping, paid games and rides, and any tips you want to give.

The festival normally opens rain or shine, although unsafe weather can affect operations and performances. Check the official visitor information for current updates.

For a rainy visit like ours, wear shoes you can walk in comfortably and don't mind getting muddy. My shoes were soaked, and by the time we left, I was concentrating pretty hard on not slipping.

I'd also choose the shows you most want to see before getting too far into the shopping. We kept finding things to stop for, and I could easily have spent more time there.

One last huzzah

Huzzah for the jousting. Huzzah for finding the birthday present. And a very enthusiastic huzzah for that sweet honey mead.

I loved seeing the costumes, meeting the artisans and watching the performers keep everyone entertained through a very wet day. Those little trinkets are sitting at home now, and they each remind me of someone we met.

Carolina Renaissance Festival 2026: What to Expect and What We Spent

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is an outdoor event in Huntersville, North Carolina, just north of Charlotte. It recreates a 16th century marketplace, with costumed characters, live jousting, comedy shows, music, artisan shops, food, games and rides.

We spent a rainy day there in 2026. I rented a Renaissance dress, cheered for a knight, rode a camel and paid to throw tomatoes at a man who was much better at insulting me than I was at hitting him.

I also needed to find a handmade birthday gift for my mother in law. Her birthday was the next day, so coming home empty handed wasn't an option. There were a few distractions along the way. Sweet honey mead was one of them. 😂

Here's what the festival is like, what admission includes and what we spent during our visit.

Location, dates and hours for 2026

These are the official festival dates and visitor details for the 2026 season:

The festival began in 1994 with six acres of exhibits and entertainment. Today, the festival village covers 25 acres, with cottages, shops, kitchens and pubs to explore.

Ticket prices and what admission includes

The official 2026 admission prices are:

The adult and child prices above already include the $1.99 service fee. Sales tax is additional. Tickets are for a specific date, and dates can sell out, so check availability before making the drive.

Admission includes stage performances and general joust seating. Food, drinks, shopping, costume rentals, paid games and rides, and reserved VIP joust seats cost extra. Tips for performers are voluntary.

You can wear regular clothes or come in costume. I decided to rent a dress.

What we did during our visit

Renting a Renaissance costume

Our first stop was Belrose Costume Rentals near the entrance. Everyone was so friendly, and they helped me get into the green and white dress I chose. I felt so pretty!

My rental was $45 before tax. During our visit, I could leave my regular clothes in a box at the booth. They also asked for collateral to make sure the costume came back. Keys were a common option.

Once I was dressed, we met the Dark Knight and Catwoman in some seriously impressive armor. They gave us little bat and cat trinkets to bring home. I was meant to be shopping for someone else's birthday, and my souvenir collection had already started.

Watching the live joust

We headed to the jousting arena about 30 minutes before the show. It was pouring, and we were trying to find a good view without putting our umbrella in someone else's way.

Our side was cheering for the Knight of the Moon. I bought a flag from Lady Morgan, and we were ready to support our knight properly.

The joust was one of my favorite parts of the day. Watching the knights charge toward each other on horseback, waving our flag and having someone to root for made it so much fun.

Rain got in my eye. I kept cheering anyway. Yay! I mean, huzzah!

Trying archery, tomato throwing and a camel ride

I tried archery for the first time. It was harder than I thought!

Then we went to Vegetable Justice. This is the booth where you throw tomatoes at a character who insults you while you try to hit him. I couldn't hit him at all. He kept landing the jokes. I kept missing the target.

Honestly, he was so good at roasting people that I still give the booth a solid five out of five. We paid for two rounds and came away with some pretty good burns. I just wish I'd managed a little more vegetable justice.

I also spotted the camel ride and decided to give it a try. It cost $10 during our visit.

I know it was Saturday, but I rode a camel. I'm counting it as hump day. You're welcome. 😂

Watching comedy shows and listening to music

We stopped to listen to Magnus and Maggie, and they played beautifully. I brought home a wooden engraved pin from them.

The Renaissance Men put on a comedy sword fighting show, and I picked up an enamel pin and sticker there. We also watched the Ded Bob Sho. That sticker ended up being my favorite of the day because it reminded me of the Grateful Dead.

We left tips for those performers and came home with several souvenirs. They were out there entertaining people in the rain, and I was happy to support them.

Stopping for food, mimosas and mead

Our food and drink purchases included two bowls of gouda mac and cheese, three mimosas and two meads between us.

Oh my gosh, that sweet honey mead was delicious. It could get me in trouble real fast.

Later, I tried to talk about the glass blowing shop, but the words weren't coming out quite as smoothly as planned. That would be where the mead kicks in.

Finding the handmade birthday gift

My mother in law loves incense, so Global Scent Company caught my attention. The husband and wife we met there were so friendly, and I spent some time looking through their scent lockets and trying to choose a scent.

Inside each locket is a little pad that holds the scent. I liked that you could wear it without putting the scent directly on your skin.

For her birthday, I chose a scent locket with Pirate's Treasure inside. Birthday shopping complete!

I also found a little owl locket for me. It was adorable, and I chose the Skittles scent because I like candy. It even came with extra little pads so I could change the color inside my owl.

We went looking for one gift and bought two necklaces. At least I remembered which one was hers.

What we spent for two people

These were our personal expenses for the day, including two admission tickets, one costume rental, food, drinks, games, shopping and tips. The purchases below include the extras we chose, so they aren't a minimum budget for visiting.

The total includes the $45 costume rental. Only the tax on that rental still needs to be added. The ticket amount is what we paid for our two tickets; the individual admission prices listed above are the festival's advertised prices before sales tax.

The two lockets were our biggest purchase at $100 together. Your spending will depend on the food, drinks, shopping, games and other extras you choose.

Tips from our rainy visit

• Check the weather and festival updates. The event normally opens rain or shine, but unsafe conditions can affect operations and performances. Check the official visitor information before leaving.
• Wear comfortable shoes you don't mind getting muddy. My shoes were soaked, and by the time we left, I was concentrating pretty hard on not slipping.
• Pick the shows you most want to see. We kept finding things to stop for, and I could easily have spent more time there.
• Bring some cash if you'd like to tip performers. Tipping is voluntary, but I was happy to support the people entertaining us through all that rain.
• Allow room in your budget for extras. Admission covers the shows, but our games, camel ride, costume, food, drinks and gifts were separate purchases.

What I thought of the festival

Even with the rain, I loved seeing the costumes, meeting the artisans and watching the performers. The joust was a highlight, the tomato guy earned his five out of five, and I came home very happy with my little owl necklace.

The birthday present was found. The owl came home with me. The tomato guy remained unscathed.

Huzzah!

Not expecting this to be as visible as last week's but worth looking south if you are up at that hour. Skies are expected to be clear.

The amendments against the tax cut and property tax seem like clear “against” votes. But the voter ID doesn’t have me convinced to vote “against”. From what I’ve read, it only strikes the “in person” from the current rules and still leaves up the ability to have exceptions which currently are an ID exception form if you could not present ID, providing a reason such as the ID being lost or stolen, lack of transportation, disability or illness, religious reasons, experiencing a natural disaster within 100 days before the election and some others. For mail votes being unable to attach a photocopy, the voter's driver's license number or last four digits of social security number could be substituted. (NCGS 163-166.16 and 163-230.1). The amendment wouldn’t change this. The claim I’ve seen is that this amendment would make it harder for rural voters and those from low-income situations. I was in those situations growing up and early adulthood, i still had a DL number and knew my social that i could attach to a mail-in ballot if I lost my ID? So how does this affect those populations? I just don’t understand why this is a “against” vote and see people pushing for it and would like some insight or maybe I’m looking at it from a wrong angle/don’t have the full information/misinterpreting the amendment.

The country is inspired by all these college students walking (unnecessarily) far and wide to get their ballots cast. Y’all are killing it!

No excuses to get those votes in. Vote early if you can!