MAY:
2 thru 3, Castle Hayne, NC.
2nd Annual Castle Hayne Hawg Crawl and Pig Cook-Off, 6-11 p.m. Intersection of highways 133/132/117. $5 for taste tasting. (910) 232-3967.

2 thru 4, Asheville, NC.
19th Annual Spring Herb Festival. WNC Farmers Market hosts largest herb festival in Southeast at WNC Farmers Market, intersection of I-26 and I-40. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. www.ashevilleherbfestival.com or (828)253-1691.

3 thru 4 Edenton, NC.
2nd Annual Hog Fest. Lawn mower and kids’ pedal races, arts and crafts show, and barbecue at American Legion, W. Queen St. Free. (252) 482-4057.

3 Rutherfordton, NC.
Annual May Fest town festival with arts, crafts, music, food, and children’s events. 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Free. www.rutherfordtown.com or (828) 287-2071.

3 Columbia, SC.
Military Tribute Day at South Carolina State Museum honoring military veterans and active-duty personnel. 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Free with admission. www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org or (803) 898-4921.

5 thru 27, Manteo, NC.
11th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show featuring community artists. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Free. www.roanokeisland.com or (252) 475-1500.

8 Hendersonville, NC.
High Tea fundraiser at Historic Johnson Farm, 3346 Haywood Rd. Spring flowers and tours of historic home. Seatings at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. $12. Reservations at 828-891-6585 or 828-697-4383. www.histtoricjohnsonfarm.org.

8 Raleigh, NC.
4th Annual Black, White & Read All Over Gala Fundraiser featuring Margaret Macon and benefiting The Literacy Council of Wake County. MacGregor Downs Country Club, Cary. 6:30  p.m. $50. www.wakeliteracy.org or (919) 787-5559.

8 thru 10, Aiken SC.
Aiken Bluegrass Festival. Highfields Showgrounds, 118 Gaston Rd. $12 to $25. www.aikenbluegrassfestival.org.

9, Charlotte, NC.
Opening reception for Light. 6-9 p.m. Free. Context Light: Sculpture by Junichiro Baba and Digital Pigment Prints by Thom O’Connor on display from May 9-June 28. McColl Center for Visual Art, 721 N. Tryon St. www.mccollcenter.org or (704) 332-5535.

9 thru 11, Pilot Mountain, NC.
Mayfest 2008 Street Festival. Free. www.townofpilotmountain.com./mayfest or (336) 368-1183 and (336) 368-2381.

9 thru11, Black Mountain, NC.
Lake Eden Arts Festival  (LEAF), outdoor music and arts at Camp Rockmont. Day tickets, $24-$35. www.LakeEdenArtsFestival.org or (828) 68-MUSIC.

10, Elizabeth City, NC.
Our Story, new exhibit about the history of the Albemarle region, opens. Free. Museum of the Albemarle, Tuesday through Saturdays, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Sundays, 2-5 p.m. www.museumofthealbemarle.com or (252) 335-1453.

10, Kiawah Island, SC.
Blues By the Sea, an outdoor blues festival featuring Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang, Dennis Gruenling and Steve Guyger, Raday McAllister and Beverly “Guitar” Watkins & The Family Band. 2-8 pm. Free. www.bluesbash.com/kiawah or (843) 762-9125.

10 Lake Lure, NC.
Inaugural Dragon Boat Race and Festival. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at Morse Park. Free. www.lureofthedragons.org or (828) 980-8838.

10, St. Paul’s, NC.
8th Annual NC Folk Arts Festival with live craft demonstrations. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. www.ncfolkartsfest.org or (910) 865-5156.

13,  Edenton, NC.
National Tourism Day Guided Tours of historic Iredell house, 107 E. Church Street. Free. (252) 482-2637.

16 thru 18, 23 thru 25, Bryson City, NC.
The Little Engine that Could visits Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Live music and half-hour train rides, carnival games, storytelling, petting zoo, and characters from the book. $18.  www.GSMR.com or (800) 872-4681.

17, Cheraw, SC.
Spring is in the Air Garden Tour. Cheraw’s Historic district private garden tour with entertainment, art, and reception. 12:30-5:30 p.m. $20. (843) 537-2821.

17, Greensboro, NC.
4th Annual NC Storyfest. At Festival Park, Greensboro Central Library, Cultural Arts Center and Greensboro Children’s Museum. 8:45 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Free. www.ncstoryfest.org or (336) 373-3617.

17 thru 18, Charlotte, NC.
Stamp and Postcard Show. Char-Meck Senior Center, 2225 Tyvola Rd. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday. Free admission and parking. www.richardstampshop.com.

18, Raleigh, NC.
20th Anniversary Gala of Capital City Girls Choir. Perform Z. Randall Stroope-commissioned piece at Fletcher Opera Theater. 3 p.m. $15 and up. www.capitalcitygc.org or (919) 760-2242.

20 thru Aug. 31, Winston-Salem, NC.
New World Views exhibition opening at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.  See 10 paintings, prints and sculptures from 1971 to 1996. Tuesday thru Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sunday, 1:30-4:30 p.m. $10 or less. www.reynoldahouse.org or (336) 758-5150.

21 thru June 23, Asheville, NC.
Ultimate AsheCache Geocaching Adventure. Use GPS systems to try a modern version of orienteering for a treasure hunt. www.AshevilleTreasureHunt.com or (800) 257-5583.

23 thru June 8, Charleston, SC.
Spoleto Festival USA. Music, theater, dance, workshops and panels. Admission varies. www.spoletousa.org.

23 thru June 8, Charleston, SC.
Piccolo Spoleto, complement to Spoleto Festival, with visual arts exhibits, classical music, jazz, dance, theatre, poetry readings, children’s activities, choral music, ethnic cultural presentations, crafts and films. Admission free and varies. www.piccolospoleto.com or (843) 724-7305.

24 thru 25, Florence SC.
May Fly Air Show & Festival 2008. Airshows, warbirds, classic cars and antique tractors on display, rides and play area for kids. Florence Regional Airport. $15 at gate, military/ kids under 12, free. www.mayflyairshow.com or (843) 665-0515.

24 thru 25, Hendersonville, NC.
Garden Jubilee Festival. Annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, plants and arts and crafts. Historic downtown, 6th Ave. - Barnwell St. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. http://www.historichendersonville.org. or (828) 693-9708.

24 thru 26, Simpsonville, SC.
Heritage Park Freedom Weekend Aloft, 27th anniversary celebration. 861 S.E. Main St. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. (864) 399-9481.

25, Hickory, NC.
Swingin’ Under the Stars, an outdoor traditional swing dance era commemorative tribute to WWII veterans. Union Square. 7-10 p.m. Free. www.rickcline.com or (828)320-2959.

JUNE:

6-7, Brevard, NC.
Transylvania County Handcrafters’ Guild Craft Show, Brevard College, N. Broad St., Brevard. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.  Free. (828) 884-9908.

7, Ernhardt, SC.
Rivers Bridge State Historic Site Battlefield Tour. 325 State Park Rd., off U.S. 602 and S.C. 641 $2.50 to $4. http://www.southcarolinaparks.com/park-finder/park_programs.aspx.

7, Raleigh, NC.
Family Day: North Carolina’s Coast, Working the Waters. Join in the live entertainment, activities, crafts and foods celebrating the culture and heritage of the coast at the North Carolina Museum of History. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. www.ncmuseumofhistory.org or (919) 807-7900.

6 thru 8, North Augusta, SC.
Dinner with Ben Franklin, Under the Crown reenactment weekend. Ben Franklin interpretator, colonial life and skills at Living History Park, 299 W Spring Grove Ave. Dinner, 6 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday. $50 for dinner, free on the weekend. www.colonialtimes.us or (803) 279-7560.

12 thru 14, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Texas Pete Twin City RibFest featuring six national rib cookers, including Carolina Rib King from Moore, S.C., competing for awards. 200 N. Cherry St. 11 a.m.-midnight each day. $5 to $8. Info: www.twincityribfest.com.

14, Huntersville, NC.
Civil War Living History and Gold Panning. See Civil War era military drills, fife and drum core music, gold panning and more. Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Rd., circa 1800 cotton plantation and living history farm. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free to $6. www.lattaplantation.org or (704) 875-2312.

 14, Allendale SC.
Olde Timey Days. Crafts including knife-making, weaving and soap-making. Salkehatchie Arts Center, 939 N. Main St. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. www.salkehatchie-arts.com or (803) 584-6084.

14, Harbinger, NC.
2008 Open House at Harbinger Lavender Farm. Demostrations, lectures, and lavendar tastings. Free. www.harbingerlavender.com or (252) 491-2225.

14, Edenton, NC.
Music and Water Festival with flatwater canoe and kayak races. Waterfront Colonial Park, S. Broad St. Free. www.visitedenton.com or (252) 482-3400.

14 thru 15, Burnsville, NC.
Toe River Arts Council Studio Tour. 100-plus  artisans at work in their studios. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. www.toeriverarts.org or (828) 682-7215.

18, Corolla, NC.
7th Annual "Under the Oaks" Arts Festival. Currituck Heritage Park. Free. www.whaleheadclub.com or (252) 453-9040.

18 thru 22, Winston-Salem, NC.
2008 Magnolia Baroque Festival. Features orchestral, solo, chamber music and dance celebrating the theme “Triumph of Love.” $10 to $25. www.magnoliabaroque.com or (336) 721-1945.

19 thru 21, Hendersonville, NC.
Frugal Design Showcase Home tour benefit. See model home in Creekside development, Haywood Rd. (Hwy. 191 N.) decorated with furnishings from thrift stores in Henderson County. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday. $10. (828) 275-8653.

20 thru Aug. 16, Boone, NC.
Horn in the West.  Outdoor theater drama about Daniel Boone and mountain settlers begins summer run. 8 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays. $9 to $18. www.horninthewest.com or (828) 264-2120.

26, Madison, NC.
Talking Murals, light and sound show narrating three paintings about the Gospels. 7 p.m. Mt. Tabor UM Church, U.S. 220, between Rt. 68 and Madison. Free. www.thetalkingmurals.com or (336) 548-7083.

27 thru July 4, Brevard, NC.
Arts & Culture Week in Transylvania County. Event kicks-off with 4th Friday Gallery Walk and includes music jams, mountain dancing, open mic night for writers, and gallery shows. Free. www.tcarts.org or (828) 884-2787.

28, Pendleton, SC.
Freedom Fest. Family night with patriotic theme to benefit Veterans Park, includes live music, food, fireworks and more. 5:30-10:30 p.m. Free. Veterans Park, Lebanon Rd. (864) 331-0480.  

28 thru 29, Banner Elk, NC.
Fine Arts and Fine Crafts Show, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 50+ artists outside at the Great Train Robbery & Emporium. Free. (828) 898-8645.

28 thru Dec. 28, Raleigh, NC.
Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition.  Twelve biblical scrolls, some dating 1,000 years older than any other surviving manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, and other artifacts, including coins, pottery and textiles. N.C. State Museum of Natural Sciences. $12 to $22. www.naturalsciences.org or (919) 733-7450.

Happenings Submissions: Please send information three months in advance, Attn: Happenings, P.O. Box 29600, Charlotte, N.C. 28227, by e-mail, cjgifford@mailaaa.com, or fax (704) 569-7815. SUBMITTED INFORMATION MUST INCLUDE: EVENT, BRIEF DESCRIPTION, HOURS, COST OF ADMISSION, WEB SITE AND/OR PHONE NUMBER TO LIST FOR INFORMATION, AND CONTACT NAME AND NUMBER FOR QUESTIONS. Information supplied to AAA Carolinas by outside individuals. AAA Carolinas bears no responsibility for incorrectly submitted information. Confirm all event information in advance before traveling.