1. Ava Gardner Festival
City: Smithfield, NC
Category: Annual Events & Festivals
Telephone: (919) 934-5830
Address: 325 E. Market St.
Description: Smithfield’s most famous native is without a doubt screen legend Ava Gardner, who was born near the town and is buried there. The Ava Gardner Museum preserves her film legacy and once a year celebrates her life with a film festival. Past themes have explored Gardner’s interest in independent films and her relationship with Ernest Hemingway, who penned the novels on which some of her best-known films were based. Activities include screenings of Gardner films, tours of the area focused on sites of significance in Gardner’s life, and a gala. Tickets to the two-day festival are $99 per pair. The movie screenings are free, and tour tickets are $10 per person.
2. Johnston County Heritage Center
City: Smithfield, NC
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (919) 934-2836
Address: 241 E. Market St.
Description: A renovated bank in downtown Smithfield serves as the home for the Johnston County Heritage Center. The center is home to the county’s collection of local history artifacts and genealogical records. Exhibits chronicle life in the county, including the role gristmills played in social and commercial development and the history of First Citizens Bank, which donated its former home to the museum. Admission is free.
3. Ava Gardner Museum
City: Smithfield, NC
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (919) 934-5830
Address: 325 E. Market St.
Description: Screen legend Ava Gardner, one of the most beautiful women of her time, was born not far from Smithfield in the community of Grabtown. She lived in various places around North Carolina and Virginia while growing up, but retained family ties to Smithfield, and is buried there. The Ava Gardner Museum features a collection of 40 portraits of Gardner by Dutch painter Bert Pfeiffer, clothing and costumes Gardner wore, gowns, movie posters, and other memorabilia. The museum holds a film festival once a year to celebrate her life.