Up & Coming Weekly

July 05, 2022

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.

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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JULY 6 - 12, 2022 UCW 21 EVENT Photo-ops and family fun available at Cathis Farm's Sunflower Days by ASHLEY SHIRLEY In the heart of Harnett County, just about forty-five minutes from "every- where," fields of gold, yellow, orange and red await those looking to shoot some beautiful photos amongst the sunflowers on Cathis Farm. e second annual Sunflower Days at Cathis Farm is a fun summer outing for the entire family, open Saturday and Sunday from July 9 to July 24. Sunflower Days bring the vibrancy of summer, and ticket holders have access to two acres of land dotted with over twenty varieties of sunflowers. ough most people are more than familiar with the lemon-yellow flower with a chocolate brown center, co- owner Stephanie Freas, loves to see people discover just how versatile the ubiquitous blooms can be. "Some of these sunflowers are around 10-feet-tall and bigger than your head. ere are fluffy ones and some that come in purple, orange and red. Sunflowers come in such wide varieties; it's a lot of fun to go through and discover all these flowers you just weren't expecting." With a pivot toward events and sea- sonal activities in 2018, Cathis Farms teamed up with Freas, who brought her haunted attractions to the busi- ness. eir partnership proved a fertile environment for ideas, and the seed for Sunflower Days was planted. When we first started this event, we noticed there weren't a lot of sunflow- ers around," Freas said. "We wanted to create a fun experience; it's really nice out here, and people are looking for outdoor activities to do. People love sunflowers, and it's an opportunity to create great photos — it's just a fun summer event." Single-day admission tickets grant access to the sunflower fields for as long as the visitor cares to stay. Each person gets a sunflower on the house, but they're also free to pick their own. To complete the pastoral aesthetic, they can even collect them in lovely galvanized buckets. With a keen eye toward social media trends, Cathis knows its audience and offers Sunflower Days first and foremost as a prime destination for photographers and selfie-lovers alike. Friday, July 15 and 22, guests can ac- cess the farm in the evening to capture the beautiful sunset and some gor- geous late afternoon light. "is is a big photography event," Freas explained. "We're sprinkling photo-ops all around the farm. ere are a lot of antique bicycles, trac- tors and benches, just mixed in with the flowers. It's perfect for maternity shoots or engagement photos. Most people run around and take these cool selfies because it's such a great background." ough not a totally kid-oriented event, Freas assured Up & Coming Weekly there will be plenty to do and see. e Cathis Farm concession stand will be open during Sunflower Days, and there is a hot dog cart featuring meat from the farm's own animals. Guests can also pop in and take a look at the little market on-site stocked with local and regional good- ies. "It's a nice getaway to the country," Freas said thoughtfully. "We try to do things a little bit different here — something fun enough to bring the whole family. We try to provide a wide variety of things to do throughout the year." Tickets are $15 for ages 11 and up and $10 for ages 3 to 10. To purchase tickets, visit https://cathisfarm.tick- etspice.com/sunflower-days-2022. Cathis Farm is located at 544 Falcon Road in Lillington. ASHLEY SHIRLEY, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200 Cathis Family Farms in Lillington is open for Sunflower Days. (Photo courtesy VisualDestini) Queens ready to bring sass back to Dirtbag Ales with Drag Brunch July 6 by ASHLEY SHIRLEY Carolina Drag Brunch is bringing the sass back to Saturdays. With live music, mimosas and plenty of laughs — it's brunch, only fabulous. Drag Me To Dirtbag-Draft Queens, hosted by Tatianna Matthews, will take place at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom on July 6. Two showtimes are available for guests to enjoy the show. e 11 a.m. option includes brunch, while the 1 p.m. show will be a "brews only" event. e taproom's airy interior and light-filled floor-to-ceiling windows provide a perfect stage for lip-synch- ing, posing and eye-popping looks. Guests can expect a little bit of every- thing and should come fully prepared to be entertained. Tap Room Manager, Michelle Bruening, expressed her delight with the show. "Drag Brunch has been here as long as I have, and I'd never seen a drag show before I worked here. I really enjoy the energy everyone brings. Everyone is just so excited to be here. A lot of people come just to have the most fun. It's such a welcoming environment — everyone is in a great mood." DJ Alan will get the party going as three charismatic queens take the stage. Ticketholders will be treated to the many talents of Amanda LaRouxx, Ebony Addams and Ravion Starr Alex- andria St. James. e interactive show runs about two hours, and every minute is packed as the ladies work to put on a show. "I love the costumes they come out in," Bruening admitted, "they're just so glamorous." Carolina Drag Brunch brings queens from all over the state to perform at different venues through- out the Carolinas. According to their mission statement, "our goal for our events are to enjoy the company of fabulous queens and have a good time." Tipping is encouraged as the stun- ning performers sing and dance their way through the taproom. e crowd should also be prepared for some light heckling from the stage — all in good fun, of course. No good brunch is complete with mimosas, and Dirtbag, true to its brand, has more than the standard recipe on offer. Mimosa buckets (a whole bottle of champagne), Glittered Sangria and an enticing Dirtbag special called a Brewmosa all make for a truly unique brunching experi- ence. True, the family- friendly show offers exciting entertain- ment options for locals looking for something different, but what's unsaid speaks louder than any DJ turntable: Dirtbag Ales is a safe space — and within its walls, you are welcome. "I think every- one should come," Breuning told Up & Coming Weekly. "As long as you're comfortable, you're invited. We in- clude everyone here." To put action to sentiment, the money raised during Drag Brunch goes right back into serving the LGBTQ community, most notably displaced queer youth. e brunch's affiliation with organizations like Free Mom Hugs ensures the inclusivity and acceptance experienced during a Drag Brunch are both felt and shared once the show is over. Tickets for brunch and a show are $30; show-only tickets are $15. Tickets for children under 16 cost $10 for both options. For tickets, visit www.simpletix. com/e/drag-me-to-dirtbag-draft- queens-july-drag-tickets-106806. ASHLEY SHIRLEY, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcom- ingweekly.com. 910-484-6200

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