North Carolina has earned many nicknames throughout its history. We’ve been dubbed “The Old North State”, “The Tar Heel State”, and though most North Carolinians might scoff, “The Good Roads State.” However, thanks to the 1973 North Carolina Trails System Act, North Carolina has also carved a name for itself as The Great Trail State.

The NC Trails Act began as a way to assist citizens, organizations, and agencies in the planning, development, and management of the many various types of trails throughout the state. North Carolina’s three distinct regions, mountains, piedmont, and coastal plains, provide visitors and residents with numerous trail options. From greenways and trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding to paddle trails and off-road vehicle trails, North Carolina offers a trail for everyone looking to reconnect with nature.

2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the NC Trails System Act and has thus been named the Year of the Trail., and thus 11 celebratory events will be held throughout the state.

Bladen County, affectionately referred to as “the Mother County”, is currently in the process of planning the first of those 11 events. Scheduled to be held in Feb. 2023, the weekend-long festival seeks to demonstrate the plethora of outdoor activities that can be found in the Elizabethtown-White Lake area. The local Chamber of Commerce began promoting the county as “Mother Nature’s Playground” in 2020 in an effort to keep people safely active during the pandemic. The Bladen County festival is currently scheduled to take place on President’s Weekend which falls on Feb. 17.

Despite being seen by outsiders as an area with not much going on, Joe Miller, outdoor tourism expert within the Governor’s Hometown Strong Initiative, explained to Bladen County Chamber members that the county’s outdoor resources offer Northeastern nature lovers a beautiful place to visit during the typical off-season.

However, visitors who may not find nature as blissful as others are not excluded when it comes to activities in which to participate and places to visit. Bladen County residents have also cultivated an area full of wineries, a distillery, delicious restaurants, and a unique shopping experience through the decades-long emphasis on supporting local businesses.

The event is scheduled to have numerous activities in which attendees can participate throughout the weekend. Friday’s festivities are scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. with food, vendors, and information on the following day’s events. Saturday kicks off in Elizabethtown at 9 a.m at the Farmer’s Market. Like the previous night, food, vendors, and festival information will be available. There will be multiple guided hikes in the morning and mid-afternoon, as well as a guided mountain bike ride at Brown Creek Nature Park and Bike Trail at 11 a.m. and guided paddling on Jones Lake at 12:30 p.m.

The Elizabethtown portion of Saturday’s festivities will conclude at 3 p.m. and pick back up in White Lake with a guided hike, dinner, and live music from 4 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

Sunday’s hikes will likely be geared toward more experienced hikers who are interested in hiking for several hours. Maps and route descriptions will be available, as well as a discussion over breakfast of what the hikes are like and what participants should expect. It is the hope of Terri Dennison, Director of Communications and Marketing for the Town of Elizabethtown, that those planning to hike the same trail can be matched up and given the opportunity to hike together, as well as be escorted by a Bladen County local.