Published by Christina. Last Updated on July 29, 2024.
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You’re going to find that there are always plenty of things to do in Goldsboro and that this isn’t your average place in North Carolina.
It’s got a small-town feel but this place packs a punch in the arts, history, and food. And honestly, these are just the start of what you’ll find here.
Sprinkle in annual events and some awesome outdoor fun you can discover here and around Wayne County, and you’ve got a winner any weekend of the year. That’s why we think this area is worthy of multiple day trips from Raleigh and also, Durham.
That ease of access is another reason why we’ve added many of these things to do in Goldsboro to our NC Bucket List.
Read More: 100+ Places to Visit in Eastern North Carolina
Before You Go: Learn About Goldsboro and Wayne County
Before checking out the best things to do in Goldsboro, you should first know a bit more about the town and its surroundings.
Where else in the world do you know that celebrates ringing in the new year by dropping a pickle? Goldsboro’s neighbor Mount Olive, the city with the best pickles, does!
The Mount Olive Pickle Company is a big dill (hardy har har) and not only does the town of Goldsboro celebrate by dropping a pickle, but they also host the NC Pickle Festival every year! It’s such a big dill (I’ll be here all week!) that we included this event on our NC Bucket List!
Wayne County is also the third-largest agriculture producer in North Carolina! From poultry, pickles, pigs, and a myriad of other products, Wayne county can be thanked for keeping food local and people fed!
Those three Ps are such a big deal, we covered them and more in our ode to the Four Ps of Goldsboro.
Seasonal Events
Before we share what to do in Goldsboro during any weekend, here are some specific events happening downtown and throughout the area that we keep tabs on!
April
April is a very busy month for Wayne County! Kicking off the month is the annual Pig in the Park, a whole hog barbecue competition feeding over 5,000 festival-goers each year!
Home to Mt. Olive pickles, it is no surprise that Wayne County hosts the state’s annual pickle festival! The NC Pickle Festival is a big dill, kid-friendly, and definitely a bucket list experience!
Also during April is another festival dedicated to one of Goldsboro’s 4 Ps. Occurring every other year, Wings over Wayne brings hundreds of thousands of people to the largest free airshow in North Carolina.
October
Celebrating for 10 days in October for over 70 years, the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair is an annual event that brings people across the county together to laugh and make memories. With a midway with more than 48 rides and games, entertainment, and exhibits, this is an annual tradition not to be missed!
The TASTE of Wayne is an annual event showcasing Goldsboro and Wayne County restaurants and food purveyors. Proceeds go to The United Way of Wayne County.
November
November‘s full moon is known as the Beaver or Frosty Moon, so Goldsboro celebrates the celestial warnings with a Beaver Moon Bike Ride! Bring a friend and set off on Stoney Creek North Mountain Bike Trails with this fun annual event.
Solemnly swear you are up to no good, and prepare your broomsticks! The US Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship is held in November at The Bryan Multi-Sport Complex. Admission to the event is free and open to everyone, including muggles.
Kick off the holidays in Wayne County with Downtown Lights Up! Free horse-drawn trolley rides, hot cocoa, kid’s crafts, and a special visit by Santa ushers in the Christmas season.
Read More: Christmas in North Carolina
December
In December, you can say goodbye to a year of fun and usher in a new one with a giant pickle! The Mt. Olive Pickle Drop is a family-friendly event that brings everyone together to ring in the new year a little early (7:00 pm) so even the tiny tots can celebrate!
Read More: Winter in North Carolina
Things to Do in Goldsboro and Wayne County EVERY Weekend
Now, it’s time to get into things to do in Goldsboro and Wayne County EVERY weekend. These’ll help, whether you’re staying for a weekend or living here and need a refresher.
Where to Stay (Hotel or Bed and Breakfast)
If you’re looking for hotels in Goldsboro, Plum Tree Gardens is a highly-rated bed and breakfast that’ll get you close to Downtown. There are more places to stay just a couple of miles away between Royall Avenue and Highway 70.
Hampton Inn has saved the day on many occasions, and we enjoyed the one in Goldsboro. Guests have access to the outdoor pool that nicely compliments the other things we love about Hampton Inn, including funny signs, free breakfast, and comfy rooms.
Hang Out Downtown
The newly revitalized Downtown Historic District is the best place to start when searching for things to do in Goldsboro. With local art installations, adorable locally-owned shops and restaurants, and plenty of free parking, downtown Goldsboro is an enjoyable place to play.
Read More: Excellent Day Trips from Wilmington Within 2 Hours
Shopping in Downtown Goldsboro
Downtown also has some fun shops run by locals, including Carolina Pine Country Store which has one of the largest Magnolia Home collections in North Carolina.
Another adorable store that sells the most delicious homemade barbecue sauce is The Picket Fence. They also carry home decor and beer bread that is to die for!
Shop with a cause at Cry Freedom Missions. This corner store is a non-profit organization fighting to end sex trafficking. Not only do the proceeds of any sales go to rescuing local Wayne County victims, but many of the goods inside the store are made by those victims.
Working together with Wayne Pregnancy Center, Cry Freedom Missions has something for everyone from jewelry, bags, to even a sweet treat.
Read More: Why and How to Support Amazing Local Businesses
Make it a Spa Day
Skin Therapy Day Spa is located downtown and is packed with full-service and relaxing things to do in Goldsboro. Everything from facials to oh-so-relaxing massages, Beth and her staff truly believe that you can feel and look better by loving your skin.
Learn About the Arts
While you’re hanging out downtown, walk around and scope out the art installations throughout Center Street and around.
The cool mural that commemorates the African American Music Trail was our favorite, and one of the most important ways to learn about Black history in North Carolina.
However, there’s even more fun artsy stuff going on in Goldsboro. Most of it is managed by The Arts Council of Wayne County and you should keep tabs on them for news of new exhibitions, performances, and more.
Read More: 50+ Easy Day Trips from Fayetteville (Great Getaways!)
Dig into Goldsboro’s History
Into history? Goldsboro was an important railroad junction in the Civil War. Take a stroll through The Battle Of Goldsborough Bridge and you’ll be taken back to December 1862 when Union and Confederate troops fought a bloody skirmish.
As you walk the trail, markers will bring you through the events of that day. As you’ll learn, Union troops burned a crucial bridge and destroyed miles of railroad tracks.
Read More: Interesting Facts about North Carolina
Go Dark with a Ghost Tour
You can learn more about the dark side of that battle, as well as Downtown, and Waynesborough Historical Village via a tour. Thomas Bailey runs the Ghost Walk of Olde Goldsborough, which is seriously one of the scariest (but also fun) things to do in Goldsboro.
You’ll learn about Goldsboro’s history while also discovering some of the darker sides of this otherwise quiet little town. We’ve been on a few ghost tours and if you’re into them, please do this one.
Personally, I think Ghosts of Goldsborough is the coolest of things to do in Goldsboro. Tours are held weekly during Spring and Fall.
For more info, check Visit Goldsboro’s website or call 919.734.7922.
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
Get outside and enjoy the beautiful scenes of Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. With hiking trails for all levels and a scenic overlook (rare for anywhere away from the mountains), it’s the perfect spot to pack a picnic and enjoy the day.
Looking more for getting out on the river?
At this state park, you can rent a boat, grab a fishing pole, or swim over to the diving platform and cool off! There are also some fantastic primitive cabins and a family-friendly visitors center with educational tools for kids of all ages!
Goldsboro Beer and more!
Grab a pint from Goldsboro’s first bottle shop! Well Travelled has a well-stocked assortment of craft beer, wine, and sake for those thirsty for something new!
Another great place to grab some beer and some incredible noms is at Brewmasters! A bottle shop/draft house/pub with food all rolled into one delicious spot, we recommend swinging by and taking the load off with some beer cheese!
Head over to Tobacco and Hops for Goldsboro’s only Tobacconist! Choose your cigar from their 425 square-foot humidors and choose a beer to enjoy alongside your smoke. It’s one of the few places where you can enjoy a quality cigar inside.
Grab Craft Brews in Wayne County
Pop over to R&R Brewing in Mt. Olive, the only craft brewery in Wayne County—for now. They’re a fairly new operation but there’s quite a bit of energy surrounding this place.
You’ll see why when you stop by their chilled-out location on Northwest Center Street. Laze around on a hammock, grab some food from the food truck, and enjoy beer made with locally inspired flavors and ingredients.
Read More: North Carolina Breweries
Explore Restaurants in Goldsboro
If you’re looking for great restaurants in Goldsboro, there are a couple of major players in the Eastern North Carolina Barbecue scene to start your journey. They include iconic spots like Grady’s and Wilber’s.
Grady’s is listed on the NCBS Historic Barbecue Trail and we interviewed one of the owners here, too.
Fairly new to town, the Historic District’s Barrique provides upscale and locally sourced food, 21-day (minimum) barrel-aged cocktails, and an esteemed selection of fine wines.
Whether you order the Angus Steak or the Seafood Risotto with ingredients sourced from Sneads Ferry, everything on the menu at Barrique is will go perfectly with your date night, business meeting, or just any night when you want to eat awesome food in a cool setting.
Jay’s Sushi & Burger Bar mixes specialty sushi rolls with creatively thought-up burger concepts and gets busy, so get there early.
Eat and Shop at Heritage Farms General Store
Grab a milkshake or a root beer float (or both? Nobody’s judging you) at Heritage Farms General Store after walking through the doors of this truly amazing North Carolina shop.
There are so many North Carolina-based products here, including the premier Cheshire pork, tons of BBQ sauces and rubs, and tasty snacks.
They also have tons of souvenir T-shirts and other apparel. Load up on stuff to wear outside and show off your pride for the Tar Heel State.
Ready to Enjoy these Fun Things to Do in Goldsboro?
Goldsboro is a town filled with a rich history, incredible food, and amazing people. It is a prime example of exactly what Eastern North Carolina was, is, and where it’s going. From the chopped barbecue to the farmlands, visiting Goldsboro perfectly captures this part of the state.
Based on what we’ve seen, we know even more is on the way. With new art installations, murals, and businesses popping up, we think there are enough things to do in Goldsboro for at least a weekend, if not longer!
Things to Do in Goldsboro’s Surroundings
There are plenty of things to do in Goldsboro’s surroundings and if you live here, you’ll be halfway between Raleigh and Wilmington. That makes it the perfect base if you want a day in the big city or on the coast.
Whether you’re on your way to the beach or coming back, it would be a mistake to not stop in Goldsboro.
Wilson
If you’d like to explore some surrounding towns, start with Wilson, home of Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park.
Read More: Great I-95 Exits in North Carolina
Kinston
Or you can head over to Kinston and check out Mother Earth Brewing or renowned North Carolinian Vivian Howard’s Chef & the Farmer. Those are just the start of fun things to do in Kinston, as you’ll find when visiting, too.
What else should a person do if they’d like to see Goldsboro’s surroundings? We’d love to know what you think.
