BEECH MOUNTAIN, N.C. - Forget the Great Recession ever happened and travel back in time three decades for a fun-filled February ski weekend on Beech Mountain.

The Town of Beech Mountain's Totally 80's Retro Weekend is set for Feb. 24-26. Relive the era of big hair, leg  warmers and colorful ski clothes while enjoying live 80's music, a retro ski apparel contest and weekend promotions.

Live music begins Friday evening with an all-80's show from rockers Buick McKane of Morganton. The band performs at 9 p.m. at Jackalope's View restaurant. On Saturday, Beech Mountain Resort hosts an 80's tribute band starting at 6 p.m. in the Beech Tree Lodge.

The ski resort is also sponsoring a Rail Jam freestyle competition at 4:30 p.m. Saturday featuring a DJ playing retro tunes.

"We encourage folks to dig out their 80's ski garb and head up the mountain for an enjoyable ski weekend," says Calder Smoot of the Beech Mountain Tourism Development
Authority. "The final weekend of February typically provides
great skiing conditions, as well as smaller crowds because it's just after the President's Day holiday."

Businesses throughout town are rolling out retro-themed deals.  For example, lodging is available at $80.80 per night, with restaurants offering $19.80 dinner specials. There will be adult ski rentals for $19.80 and youth ski rentals for $10.80. One store is even offering three bandanas for $8.80.

Additionally, one lucky person will win a free 2013 ski getaway for two via an 80's ski apparel photo contest on the
Facebook page of the Beech Mountain TDA. Photos must
be taken on the slope of Beech Mountain Resort during the Totally 80's Retro Weekend.

For complete info and details on the retro weekend, go to http://www.beechmtn.com/, or call (800) 468-5506.

GOLDSBORO -  In conjunction with Wayne County Reads 2012, a Quilt Exhibit  will be featured at the Wayne County Museum on February 1 - 29, 2012.  The museum is located at 116 N. William Street, in the city's historic district.  It is free and open to the public.  For more information call
919.734.5023 or click on the photo above to visit their web site.

DURHAM - The Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc., a nonprofit group with the mission to support Bennett Place State Historic Site, is presenting a $500 scholarship to a deserving rising North Carolina high school senior at an accredited school.  This is the third year for the award.

The scholarship application requires two essays, one
addressing the student's interest in Bennett Place, the other
detailing an overview of how to improve the facility and the image of Bennett Place locally and nationally.  High school transcripts and letters of reference also are required. Applications must be postmarked by April 13.

The scholarship presentation will be the weekend of
April 28-29 during the 147th Anniversary of Surrender Weekend at Bennett Place.  The award is offered in honor of the late member and contributor William "Bill" Vatavuk, president of the Bennett Place Support Fund, Inc., during the 1980s and 1990s.

Vattavuk was a commissioned officer with the U.S. Public
Health Service and worked with the Environmental Protection Agency for 30 years.  He was committed to community service and youth organizations, and was a tutor, Kids Vote precinct volunteer, member of the
Durham Youth Management Board, and 4-H Volunteer for more than 20 years.  He received the President  of the U.S. Call to Service Award for his more than 4,000 hours of community service.  Vatavuk also was a contributor to the Bennett Place history guidebook, "Dawn of Peace."

For information and the application, visit the Bennett Place Fund, Inc. website or contact Bennett Place State Historic Site for an application and details of the process.

Hollywood isn't the only town celebrating the world of film.  North Carolina has a long and varied film history - and a great incentive for filmmakers to bring their projects here.  Click on the photo above to learn about NC's FIlm Archives and Celebrate North Carolina Film!

RALEIGH - Nominations are being accepted for the 2012 North Carolina Award, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state.  Created by the General Assembly in 1961, and administered by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, the award recognizes significant contributions of individuals in the fields of fine arts, literature, public service, and science.

Award nominations may be submitted by the public and must include a completed nomination form and cover letter, as well as the nominee's biography or resume.  Letters of support and examples of the nominee's work will also be accepted. All materials should be sent to the North Carolina Awards Committee, N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, 4601 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4601.  Nominations will be accepted by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources until April 15.

The North Carolina Awards Committee will review the nominations and make its selections this summer. The recipients will be honored during ceremonies in Raleigh in the fall. Past award recipients have included some of the country's most distinguished artists, poets, performers, writers, journalists, scientists, and public servants.

Past recipients have included Andy Griffin, Gertrude Elion, Dean Smith, Romare Bearden, Charlie Rose, Oliver Smithies, Branford Marsalis, and other distinguished North Carolinians.

The nomination form is online.  For guidelines or questions, contact Jennifer Fontes at (919) 807-7256.

MOUNT AIRY - Mount Airy embraces its roots as a hot bed for old-time music with the 11th annual Tommy Jarrell Festival, Feb. 23-25.

The festival attracts many of the top names in old-time music to celebrate the legacy of Jarrell, a Smithsonian-enshrined fiddler and banjo player who greatly influenced the genre.

This year's lineup includes: Slate Mountain Ramblers, Back-Step, and the Buckstankle Boys, as well as Toast String Stretchers accompanied by award-winning journalist / musician Paul Brown of NPR.

Saturday night's Tommy Jarrell Birthday Concert features
eight-year-old fiddle prodigy Carson Peters and his world-renowned Carson Peters Band from Tennessee. The birthday concert pays tribute to Hall of Fame fiddler  Benton Flippen, a Mount Airy native who died last June.

Other activities during the three days are: dance workshops, music workshops, jam sessions, concerts and displays of hand-crafted fiddles, banjos and other string instruments.

There's also a youth old-time competition that draws several dozen contestants between the ages of 5-18.

A highlight this year will be the ribbon-cutting of the restored and renovated historic Earle Theatre on Main
Street. In recent years, the theatre has been known as the Downtown Cinema, but officials from the Surry Arts Council are bringing back the venue's original name.

Several events of the Tommy Jarrell Festival will take place in the Earle, which is also the new location for Mount Airy's Old-Time Music Heritage Hall.

There is no cost to attend the majority of festival activities. Costs for the four events that require tickets range from $3-$10.

For information or a schedule of activities, contact the Surry Arts Council at (336) 786-7998, or visit: http://www.surryarts.org/.

STATESVILLE - Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will offer a glimpse of the harrowing days of the 18th century Cherokee War on Feb. 25-26.  The Cherokee had been allies of the British when the French and Indian War started in 1754, but tensions arose which quickly spiraled into war.  The 30 member garrison at Fort Dobbs was attacked by more than twice its number in a confusing
night time skirmish on Feb. 27, 1760.

The 252nd anniversary program will feature living history interpreters who will portray provincial soldiers and Cherokee warriors, present musket and cannon firing
demonstrations, and ongoing demonstrations of 18th century military and American Indian camp life.  The free programs will run 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.  A special evening firing will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday.

The free educational program at this state historic site gives life to North Carolina's past experiences and
traditions and demonstrates the value of living history to students and adults.

For more information call (704) 873-5882 or visit Fort Dobbs.  Fort Dobbs is the only state historic site dedicated to the period of the French and Indian War (1754-1763), also known as the Seven Years War.

DURHAM -- The Duke Homestead State Historic Site and the Durham-Orange Genealogical Society will offer a free workshop, "Researching Your Civil War Ancestors" on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2-4 p.m., as part of North Carolina'sCivil War Sesquicentennial observance.

There will be sessions on the use of Union, Confederate and other readily available records to trace family histories.  Registration is not required and seating is on a
first come-first served basis.

The mission of Duke Homestead State Historic Site is to
preserve and interpret the history of the Washington Duke homestead and the North Carolina tobacco industry.  For information call (919) 477-5498.

Administered by the Division of State Historic Sites, Duke Homestead is within the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.