MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025

Happy Memorial Day! On this day in 1859, High Point was chartered. Its name was inspired by its location at the crossroads of the North Carolina Railroad and the Fayetteville and Western Plank Road (now Main Street), which was considered the highest point on the railroad stretching between Goldsboro and Charlotte.

Speaking of High Point, it ranks among the most affordable cities to buy a home in the U.S. Learn more in Around North Carolina.

Today's edition of Flyover North Carolina is a bit shorter than usual as our team takes time to observe Memorial Day weekend with loved ones. We'll be back Wednesday with your full roundup of the news that matters most across the Tar Heel State.

We're sponsored today by Legion M offering an investment opportunity for all movie lovers.

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'Raleigh Wide Open' Set for October

Raleigh will host the new Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival Oct. 3-4 presented by PNC Bank and organized by PineCone.

The free event features six stages of bluegrass, folk, Americana, and gospel music. It replaces the IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival, which ended its decade-long run in 2024. A full artist lineup is expected by June.

Raleigh Wide Open will also include craft markets, food trucks, art vendors, beer gardens, and separately ticketed evening shows at Red Hat Amphitheater. Organizers say it will offer "everything you loved about the previous bluegrass festival, plus a few twists that root it firmly in Raleigh."

The festival name gives a nod to Raleigh's 2008 cultural renaissance, when Fayetteville Street was reopened to traffic, the Raleigh Convention Center opened, and Red Hat Amphitheater followed soon after.

Memorial Day Meals and Deals

As you plan your holiday cookout, consider this roundup of Southern Living's favorite Memorial Day menu ideas of all time. Recipes include Bourbon and Cola-Glazed Steak Kebabs and Classic Grilled Corn on the Cob.

You'll also find no-cook crowd-pleasers like Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing, Big-Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers, Green Tomato Gazpacho, Cucumber and Tomato Salad, Ice Cream Cake, and No-Bake Cheesecake.

Curious about North Carolina's most Googled Memorial Day recipe? Axios reported in 2024 that it was Coconut Lime Chicken. Here's a recipe you can try.

GrubHub is also getting in on the fun by offering several deals that run through June 1 from Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', SONIC, and Arby's.

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➤ Statewide: The NCDOT Transitional Work Pilot helps formerly incarcerated individuals get jobs on transportation crews and obtain state ID cards, which are key to accessing housing, healthcare, and employment. (More)

➤ Central NC: A comparison of 300 U.S. cities across 10 key metrics revealed that three North Carolina cities made the top 30 most affordable cities to buy a home: Fayetteville (No. 18), High Point (No. 19), and Winston-Salem (No. 29). (See List)

➤ Wilmington: Battleship North Carolina is hosting a free Memorial Day ceremony honoring those who served today at 4 p.m., with access to the ship beginning at 3 p.m. The event includes a Color Guard, a 21-gun salute, and wreath casting. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Historic Oakwood Cemetery will honor fallen service members today from 4 to 5 p.m. during a free ceremony that is open to the public. Chairs will be provided. (More)

➤ Nags Head: The Collective Education Foundation has launched a beach toy library community project. The wooden box contains items visitors can borrow and provides them with a place to donate or reclaim lost beach toys. (More)

➤ NC Beaches: Live cameras at Sunset, Ocean Isle, Holden, Northern Outer Banks, and Frying Pan Shoals offer beachgoers a chance to view conditions while preparing for an upcoming trip. (View Live Feeds)

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