HEARTS Happenings
Nothing compares to immersing yourself in the past to see new perspectives.
Dancer at HEARTS Junion ‘25 event - Photo courtesy of HEARTS
Our region boasts an incredibly diverse natural and cultural history. Some stories are known, some have been lost, and some are still being discovered. HEARTS (history-ecology-arts-trails-reunion-trails-store) Happenings are events that explore these stories via place-based experiences designed to foster a shared sense of place and community by exploring what is right beneath our feet.
Juxtaposing local history and nature content with the best in homegrown music, dance, and visual arts, HEARTS Happenings are free and open to the public, with donations appreciated.
2026 marks HEARTS' fifth year of programming, bringing HEARTS programs and services to historic Cedar Grove and the historic Hugh Torance House and Store and beyond.
‘Who’s Your Founding Father?’ author David Fleming reading at a ‘24 HEARTS event - Photo courtesy of HEARTS
The Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church Stroller Singers at a ‘23 HEARTS event - Photos courtesy of HEARTS
Event guests during the maypole dance at HEARTS May Day ‘24 - Photo courtesy of HEARTS
Featured Events
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Guided Tours of the Historic Hugh Torance House & Store
Open Every Sunday 1:00-4:00pm Guided Tour at 2:00pm
Tickets required, donations appreciated. Step back in time and experience life in the home of Hugh and Isabella Torance and their son, James Torrance's mercantile store. Our experienced docents guide visitors on a living history adventure as they tour the c.1779 homesite and visit the Torance Store.
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Ghost Tours at the Historic Hugh Torance House & Store
Multiple Dates Available
Do you think the oldest store in North Carolina is haunted? Join us for an authentic ghost hunt led by the experienced experts at the Charlotte Area Paranormal Society to scour for spirits using professional investigative tools and equipment.
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Tea and Tour at the The Historic Sharpe House
Multiple Dates Available
Step inside The Historic Sharpe House for a charming afternoon where history and hospitality meet. Guests are invited to enjoy a traditional cream tea service followed by a guided tour of the home’s beautifully preserved first floor.
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Tea and Tales at the The Historic Sharpe House
Multiple Dates Available
Enjoy an afternoon of tea and history at The Historic Sharpe House. Guests are invited to enjoy a traditional cream tea service and a tale of local history, exploring the people, traditions, and moments that shaped the Sharpe House and the surrounding community.
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HEARTS 250th Anniversary: Forging Our Freedom
Saturday 7/4/26, 2:00-5:00pm
Join us for a fun celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at Cedar Grove, featuring blacksmith demonstrations, metal forging history of our region, and, of course, live music, cold beer, and hot dogs with all the fixin’s!
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BBQ & Bluegrass at the Historic Sharpe House
Saturday 7/18/26, 6:00pm
The Sharpe House invites the community to step back in time for an evening of historic charm, savory southern flavors, and foot-tapping music at the annual BBQ & Bluegrass 2026.The evening features a performance by the acclaimed band “None of the Above” (NOTA). This family-friendly event celebrates the heritage of Statesville’s first mayor with a night under the stars.
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Reception for Shakespeare: An Evening of Scenes, Sonnets & Soliloquies
Friday 7/24/26 and Saturday 7/25/26
Reception 6:30pm
Performance 7:30pmThe Historic Sharpe House delights in bringing the community an evening of Shakespearian scenes, sonnets & soliloquies following a reception of light Elizabethan-inspired hors d’oeuvres and a festive punch. Be sure to book your tickets for the reception and the show, as they are sold separately!
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Living History Day at the Hugh Torance House & Store
Sunday 8/9/2026, 1:00-4:00pm
The Hugh Torance House and Store (HTHS) invites the public to step back in time as we experience a summertime Living History Day. Join us as we bring the late 18th and early 19th centuries to life through dedicated re-enactors, hands-on experiences, and enthusiastic volunteers. Period attire and costumes are welcome!
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HEARTS Sacred Grounds '26: Beyond the Wall
Saturday 8/15/26, 2:00-5:00pm
Our fifth anniversary of HEARTS Sacred Grounds series is presented in partnership with Davidson College at the Hurt Hub. Dr. Julia Moore returns as we further explore the burial grounds of the enslaved in our region. Live music, dance, and more.
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HEARTS Circle Members’ Gala
Saturday 9/12/26, 6:00-9:00pm
Featuring Charly Lowry, a soulful powerhouse, enchanting audiences with velvety vocals, heartfelt compositions, and commanding stage presence. Her voice, imbued with a depth and resonance reminiscent of legends like Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt and Tracy Chapman, possesses a distinctiveness echoing her Indigenous ancestry rooted in the dark waters of Robeson County, NC.
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Autumn Delight Tea Party at The Historic Sharpe House
Sunday 9/27/26 - 11:00am, 12:45pm, and 2:30pm seatings available
As all of the leaves begin to change, the Sharpe House invites you to an autumn tea inspired by the warmth and richness of the harvest season.
Spiced teas and autumn-inspired pastries set the mood for a cozy yet refined experience served by our Footmen of the House.
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HEARTS Catawba Nation ‘26
Saturday 10/17/26, 2:00-5:00pm
Join us at historic Cedar Grove for an unforgettable afternoon with the Catawba Nation featuring history, ecology, live music and dance, artisan crafts, and jewelry.
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Murder Mystery Dinner at The Historic Sharpe House
Saturday 10/24/26 - 6:00 PM
Join us at The Historic Sharpe House for an immersive Murder Mystery Dinner where elegance and suspense intertwine. While unraveling clues & questioning suspects, each guest will become part of this experience by observing, investigating, and perhaps even discovering that not everything is as it seems during this spooky dinner.
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HEARTS Samhain '26 Living History Day
Sunday 10/25/26, 1:00-4:00pm
The origin of Halloween comes from the Festival of Samhain in Ireland’s Celtic past. This year’s annual event at the Hugh Torance House and Store highlights six unique Irish Halloween traditions we bet you never knew! Step back in time with us to the Celtic tradition of Samhain with a special Living History Day.
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HEARTS Harvest '26
Saturday 11/14/26, 2:00-5:00 pm
HEARTS Harvest features the “E” in HEARTS for Ecology, sharing our region’s agricultural history, natural resources, and how working with the land reaps more benefits than working against it.
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Annual Hanging of the Greens at the Hugh Torance House & Store
Sunday 11/29/26, 1:00-4:00pm
Join us for our annual Hanging of the Greens and help us decorate the Hugh Torance House and Store for the winter holiday! Partake in this delightful tradition and learn what the evergreens used symbolized and where the custom of kissing under the mistletoe comes from.
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HEARTS Winter Wisdom '26 at Cedar Grove
Saturday 12/05/26, 2:00-5:00pm
We are excited to welcome back Margaret "Chuck" Basinger, who grew up in Cedar Grove and is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Hugh Torance. She'll share her memories growing up in the house, what has changed, and what’s remained the same.
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Traditional Holiday Crafts at the Hugh Torance House & Store
Sunday 12/06/26, 1:00-4:00pm
Step back in time, to 1779, and enjoy an incredible living history experience featuring traditional craft demonstrations. Watch as colonial-era crafters demonstrate their talents and participate in the making of their own traditional crafts to take home!
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Annual Feast & Caroling at the Hugh Torance House & Store
Sunday 12/13/26, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Join us for a seasonal treat! Watch a colonial cooking demonstration, taste traditionally prepared foods, and listen or sing along with live carolers sharing colonial-era holiday songs.
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