Decades after it's founding, the North Carolina Gourd Society proudly presents the 68th Annual NC Gourd Arts and Crafts Festival in the Triangle area of North Carolina. After many years at the Cary Community Center we moved in 2003 to the Holshouser Building at the NC State Fairgrounds. Because interest in this strange vegetable is so great, we progressed to Dorton Arena and now are in the Kerr Scott Building. Our newest facility boasts excellent handicapped access and air conditioning. The Kerr Scott Building is located on the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, which is also hosting many other events on that same weekend.

Click on the following choices to view maps to the NC State Fair: larger view area map and smaller view area map. Click here to view a map of the fairground buildings and gates with the surrounding roads. All gourd events will be held in the Kerr Scott Building near the Flea Market area.

Gourd Festival hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and $2 for children over 12. The admission fees help pay for the rental of the building and the insurance for its use. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which means donations are tax deductible. The North Carolina Gourd Society will provide a receipt upon request for use in filing your taxes.

There are more than 70 competition categories, including ones for any age or skill level.

Gourd craft workshops will be held both days of the Festival. These workshops will be on a variety of topics and will provide a unique opportunity to learn from the country's finest gourd artists. Space is limited to ensure a fabulous learning experience, so send your application in early!

At this celebration of the venerable cousin of squash you will see gourds from around the world and from our own backyards. Displays of historic and exotic gourds will show how this garden oddity has served in our households since the beginning of civilization. You will meet crafters and growers who can teach you how to turn a moldy gourd straight from the garden into an object of lasting beauty. On sale will be gourds, gourd craft, supplies and seeds.

Buy a dried gourd straight from the gourd patch or try your hand at gourdcraft. Choose some seed and grow a gourd or ten. Gourd growers and crafters will compete for ribbons in 70 categories---from heaviest and longest to best gourd animals, flowers, masks, and bowls. Click here to see some scenes from prior year's contest and festival.

Each year our Fall Quarterly meeting is held banquet-style on the Saturday evening of our Festival. This dinner meeting is by reservation only and features a silent auction and door prizes. Please send your check for $15.00 per person to the North Carolina Gourd Society at 259 Fletcher Avenue, Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526-9801 or call (919) 557-5946 for more information. Seating is limited to 70, so be sure to send your checks in early. Deadline for dinner reservations is August 15, 2009.

Items donated for the silent auction and for door prizes are tax deductable. Funds raised will be used to help pay for future gourd festivals as well as provide supplies for the free kids' table during the festival. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and the North Carolina Gourd Society's 501(c)3 status allows us to provide a letter for your tax records acknowledging your donation.