Meet Alison Hendrix, author of the new children's book, "Secret of the Stinking Swamp," at this book signing event.

SMITHFIELD — On Saturday, September 7th, FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) Team 6004 f(x) Robotics will be hosting its first Family Fun-Day! This STEAM festival will have a variety of activities to entertain kids of all ages, including educational STEAM-based activities as well as carnival games and bounce houses. They will also have many vendors selling products like jams, wood carvings, lemonade, and much more. Along with this, dozens of world-class robotics teams from across the state will be in attendance showcasing their robots. This event is to support f(x) Robotics’ Project FOX, which aims to help kids with dexterity limitations learn how to draw different shapes and symbols. The FIRST Family Fun-Day is free for all attendees and will be from 11 am to 4 pm on 67 Jr Rd in Selma, NC, which is outside the Old North State Food Hall. Bring down your whole family for a day of fun! If you are interested in learning more about the FIRST Family Fun-Day or FRC Team 6004, f(x) Robotics, email them at frc6004@gmail.com or visit their website at frc6004.com.

Unleash your creativity at Art Time Studio’s Hello Fall paint event! Celebrate the arrival of autumn with a fun and engaging painting class. The studio provides all the materials you need, including a take-home canvas for each participant. Enjoy the joy of art as your instructor guides you through a creative journey, welcoming the fall season together! Welcome to Art Time Studio Art Time Studio knows how to have fun! The studio is all about creativity and excitement, where participants can express ideas and let the imagination run wild. They offer a wide variety of events sure to get your creative juices flowing: high-quality acrylic painting and drawing classes, watercolor workshops, and paint parties. Sessions are two hours long, allowing you to immerse yourself in art and achieve your creative goals. Bring a friend or go solo and join their community of art lovers—the studio’s mission is to inspire and empower you to create your masterpieces, even if you are a complete beginner. Come join the party and see what all the fun is about! About Teedgra Carter Teedgra Carter is Art Time Studio’s proud owner as well as its primary instructor. With over 20 years of teaching experience and a Master’s in Art Education and Find Arts, she is passionate about helping individuals find their creative side and fostering their love for art.

Four Oaks, N.C. – Blackman’s Grove Baptist Church invites you to join them as they celebrate their 131st Homecoming on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Worship Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. as Reverend Tony Beasley will serve as guest speaker, who comes from the Red Hill Church Road Community outside of Coats, NC. At the conclusion of worship, there will be a covered dish meal held at the Blackman’s Grove Baptist Church Fellowship Center, 1458 Wood-Lee Road, Four Oaks. Following Homecoming activities, the church will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a New Fellowship Center at 2:30 p.m. The groundbreaking will be held at the site of the new building, located beside the sanctuary at 5980 Stricklands Crossroads Road, Four Oaks. The church invites you to come after the dinner to help and support as they celebrate the new building endeavor. Gifts and donations may be mailed to Mr. Ed Wood, 5187 Stricklands Crossroads Road, Four Oaks.

There are few ways of being more present than painting what’s right in front of you… In collaboration with Gina Huitt and Hand-Picked Nursery: Paint a gorgeous farm scene or some fresh produce with an experienced local artist. In this workshop you’ll join long-time painter and watercolor expert Gina Huitt as she takes her time teaching you the craft of watercolors and helping you capture the subject or skyline through your own eyes. Enjoy a beautiful morning with no wrong answers and take your completed piece home with you when you’re done. All supplies are included. This event will be hosted at Hand-Picked Nursery, a veteran-owned business that loves plants and want to bring their joy into your home. After your experience, check out the nursery. Specializing in all things plants, Hand-Picked Nursery customizes your order to your needs and wants. If you’d like, they can even give you a few suggestions, designing the picture-perfect garden of your dreams. Hand-Picked Nursery is community driven, supporting local organizations and artists with workshops like this one, and they want their nursery to be a place that families can experience together. Learn more about Hand-Picked Nursery here.

The 35th Annual Four Oaks Acorn Festival is a fun filled and lively event that brings together the entire community from near and far for a day of fun and excitement. It will feature a car, truck, motorcycle show and swap Meet to the festival. The kid zone features new rides and the Carolina Hurricanes Storm Tour. Rivenbark Ministries is the featured entertainment. Lots of shopping can be done at our Market in Barbour’s Grove Park. Meet local businesses at the Business Expo and eat to your heart’s content at the many food trucks and local restaurants.

Few activities bring you into the present moment quite like painting what’s right in front of you… Join us for an inspiring watercolor workshop in collaboration with Gina Huitt at Old North State Food Hall, where you’ll have the opportunity to paint stunning sunflowers or a charming house. Long-time painter and watercolor expert Gina Huitt will guide you through the intricacies of watercolor painting, helping you capture your subject with your unique perspective. The beginner class, running from 10:00 to 11:30, will focus on painting sunflowers. The advanced class, scheduled from 12:00 to 2:00, will challenge you with painting a house. Enjoy a beautiful morning filled with creativity, where there are no wrong answers, and take your completed masterpiece home with you. Don’t miss this chance to learn from a master and create something truly special! All supplies are included for the beginner class. Advanced class participants are asked to bring their own watercolor set.

COMMUNITY DAY IS NOW FALL FESTIVAL The Annual Town of Princeton Community Day has always been a highly anticipated event. As of this year, the Princeton Community Alliance (PCA) will now be sponsoring the event in hopes to bring the community even closer together. Fall Festival (previously Community Day) will now, and indefinitely, be held in our very own Downtown Business District! Please join us on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10AM-5PM for live music, food trucks, vendors, and all day fun for the entire family! Even Princeton’s first Dry Land Duck Race! We hope you will come and enjoy the community with us! LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCES Stage schedule to be posted at event, performances starting at 10AM Captain Man Cave band performing at ~4/5PM FOOD TRUCKS & VENDORS Spread the word! Community Day is now FALL FESTIVAL!

In collaboration with Smith’s Nursery: Back by popular demand, our macrame plant hanger workshop is here for another round of creative fun! Whether you’re a total beginner or just love that boho vibe, this class is perfect for you. Led by instructor Jenn Smith, you’ll learn all the basics, from starting your macrame piece to mastering several cool knots and adding wooden beads to your design. By the end of the workshop, you’ll walk away with a beautiful, handcrafted plant hanger – plus, everything you need is included: cotton cord, wooden beads, a 6-inch clay pot, soil, and a pothos plant! Bring your favorite drinks and snacks to sip and snack while you craft (B.Y.O.D. & S.), and feel free to shop for extra pots and plants after class. All kids must be accompanied by an adult. The event is rain or shine, so let’s get knotting no matter the weather! This event will be held at Smith’s Nursery, a family-owned and operated nursery and produce farm with over 40 years of experience. Multiple generations of the Smith family have joyfully welcomed visitors to their home. They offer a lovely farm market, and after the class, you can cool off with a delicious cold treat or explore the nursery and perhaps take home some plants. The Smiths are community-driven, supporting local organizations and artists through workshops like this one. They aim to make their farm a place where families can experience nature together, friends can gather for a cup of coffee, or individuals can stop by to relax on the front porch swing.