Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1468000
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM MAY 18 - 24, 2022 UCW 21 "We live here, so we want to help here," explains Steve Brack, vice presi- dent, Cape Beard. And for 10 years, that is just what the Cape Beard organization has done in Cumberland County. Cape Beard is a nonprofit group of bearded and mustachioed individu- als, many of whom are veterans. e group was organized in February 2011 and is currently composed of 25 mem- bers who meet monthly. "We are around 25 strong and growing, of course, like our beards," laughed Brack. e group has raised a total of $190,000 locally from their events since the first Pig Pickin' in May 2012. e group began as a club of facial- haired friends and grew into some- thing more with their charity events. "It just grew into something that no- body saw as a future goal," Brack said. Cape Beard Treasurer Johnny Schantz echoed this sentiment. "We are like Kudzu. We just take over," he said. e Pig Pickin' event itself has raised over $85,000 over the years. e proceeds from the event are given to the Autism Society of Cumberland County. e society was founded in the 1980s by a small group of parents. ese parents were looking for sup- port and wanted to learn more about autism and improve the quality of life for their children. e group's mission is to provide support and promote opportunities that enhance the lives of individuals within the autism spectrum and their families. For more information on the cause, visit www. autismcc.org. Marking a decade of helping locally, the tenth annual Cape Beard Pig Pickin' will kick off at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. on May 21. On top of supporting the cause, attendees can expect to find much to enjoy at the event. Cape Beard will be prepping 750 pounds of Boston butt. Hungry visitors can grab a $5 plate of pulled pork, slaw and baked beans, hang and eat in a tented dining space, or grab their food and go. Sodas and water will be available for purchase, and Bright Light Brewing Company will be on hand with their local beers. If patrons find they need to finish off their BBQ with something sweet, Freddie's Frozen Custard will be selling frozen custard with proceeds going to the cause. Not hungry? ere will be vendors on site selling everything from wood crafts to soaps, jewelry and more. ere is a strong contingent of downtown businesses supporting the event and vending. e Downtown Market of Fayetteville, Garnet Skull, Rude Awakening and White Trash will have booths set up at the event. Kids can wear themselves out in any of the four free bounce houses, in- cluding an inflatable obstacle course, and all can enjoy music. e All Veteran Parachute Group is slated to make an appearance on the day; for up-to-date times on their jump, double check the event's Face- book page. Organizers expect it to be busy. "People come, get a plate of pork or pork to-go and then boogie, so you have this constant flow all day," Brack said. e event will be held at the Harley- Davidson of Fort Bragg, located at 3950 Sycamore Dairy Road. "We truly take over their dealer- ship," said Brack. "Oh yeah, every inch. Grass, parking lot, all of it," Shantz said. For Brack, it is a satisfying endeavor. For him it is all about "seeing the event grow; seeing the payback to the community; seeing the community appreciate what we are doing." EVENT e Cape Beard Pig Pickin' will offer food and family fun. (Photos courtesy Cape Beard) Marking a decade of BBQ, beards and benevolence by EMILY SUSSMAN EMILY SUSSMAN, Editor. COMMENTS? editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. HEADLINE GOES HERE Body copy goes here Kristy Grove - Director of Communica ons Faye eville Area Conven on & Visitors Bureau (FACVB) 245 Person Street 28301 • Hours of opera on: M-F 8 am - 5 pm visi aye evillenc.com • #visi aye evillenc National Travel and Tourism Week Celebrated in the Fayetteville Area The Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau recognized National Travel and Tourism Week, an annual celebration from May 1 to 7 to highlight contributions by the U.S. travel industry to the Greater Fayetteville area communities. This year's theme was Future of Travel, emphasizing the role that travel plays in driving economic growth and community building. Due to the ongoing efforts of the FACVB and the community, Cumberland County Tourism is a strong economic driver for the state, with economic impact of visitor spending ranking tenthth among North Carolina's 100 counties. In order to reconnect travelers with the Greater Fayetteville area, the FACVB recently initiated a tourism research project that will serve as the foundation for strategic marketing and media planning for 2022 and beyond. The research summary included impressive numbers regarding the impact that tourism has on the economic health of the local community. The average leisure visitor spends $877 a visit, and the average business visitor contributes $502 a visit. "The information gathered from our research will help optimize community assets and the community tourism brand," said Randy Fiveash, Interim President and CEO of FACVB. "We want to strengthen the tourism industry and reinvigorate our contribution to the local community. The FACVB also encourages everyone in the community to aid in the continuation of the area's growth and assist in shaping tourism in the greater Fayetteville area." Tourism in Cumberland County generates more than $600 million for the local economy, creating additional income-generating opportunities for local businesses in the Fayetteville/Cumberland County areas. "We love serving our local community here at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, but it's also a great feeling when new visitors experience our permanent gallery and temporary exhibits after hearing about it from a friend or a family member," said Jim Bartlinski, Museum Director. "It feels like an accomplishment to educate and inspire visitors from all over the world, while also contributing to the community here at home." In recognizing National Tourism Week, the FACVB remains committed to working alongside local business owners, local leaders and its hospitality partners to ensure that tourism continues to be a pillar within the economic heath and growth of the Fayetteville/Cumberland County communities. Visit the bureau's website at visitfayettevillenc.com to learn more about the FACVB and to stay up to date on all happenings in the Fayetteville area.