Sportscards & Collectibles Show Leads Cape Fear Regional Happenings This Week

You're invited to check out Cape Fear Regional Happenings, a list of great events in our area and across our Tar Heel State. To submit your event, please e-mail all of the information to DonChase@WKML.com.

Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center Blood Drives
---May 29 - Betsy Johnson Hospital, 10:00 a.m. - 12noon, 800 Tilghman Dr., Dunn, N.C. 28334
---May 29 - Central Harnett Hospital, 2 to 4 p.m., 215 Brightwater Dr., Lillington, NC 27546
---May 30 - Hoke Hospital, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 300 Medical Pavilion Dr., #210, Raeford, NC 28376
---June 10 - Cape Fear Valley HealthPlex, 1 to 3 p.m., 1930 Skibo Rd., Fayetteville, NC 28314
---June 11 - Bladen County Hospital, Noon to 3 p.m., 501 S Poplar St., Elizabethtown, NC 28337

Thank you donating, Your donation could save as many as 3 lives. Click here for more information.

Sportscards & Collectibles Show
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 9am to 4pm
The event is hosted by Haymount United Methodist Church (Cape Fear Avenue entrance) at 1700 Fort Bragg Road Fayetteville NC 28303.
(80) tables will be available for $50 each to serve collectors from Fayetteville, Fort Liberty and the region.
Admission: $3 for adults and Free for kids 12 & under.
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers mascot Bunker will make a special appearance.
Money raised will go towards middle and high school mission trips this summer to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and to Romney, West Virginia
For information, click here or contact Adrian Madsen at madzog@yahoo.com
Parking is FREE

Downtown Fayetteville

May 4th Friday in Historic Downtown Fayetteville
4th Friday features the best of Fayetteville visual and performing arts, live music, and street performers for FREE on May 24, 2024 from 6pm-9pm. Folks of all ages get a taste of Downtown Fayetteville's dynamic arts and entertainment district while supporting local independent galleries, bistros, and shops full of unique goods and gifts.
-If you're wondering where to park in downtown Fayetteville, click here.
-If you would like to be a vendor for 4th Friday, click here.

June 4th Friday in Historic Downtown Fayetteville
4th Friday features the best of Fayetteville’s visual and performing arts, live music, and street performers for FREE on June 22, 2024 from 6pm-9pm. Folks of all ages get a taste of Downtown Fayetteville's dynamic arts and entertainment district while supporting local independent galleries, bistros, and shops full of unique goods and gifts.
-If you're wondering where to park in downtown Fayetteville, click here.
-If you would like to be a vendor for 4th Friday, click here.

Independence Day Concert With the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra
The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and the City of Fayetteville will present a free admission Independence Concert on July 4, 2024 in Festival Park located in Fayetteville, NC. Gates open at 6:00pm
-If you're wondering where to park in downtown Fayetteville, click here.
-If you would like to be a vendor for 4th Friday, click here.

July 4th Friday in Historic Downtown Fayetteville
Celebrate the Downtown Fayetteville community at June's Love Local Fourth Friday! Friday, July 27 from 6pm - 9pm. This free, family-friendly, community event is will celebrate our Downtown Business Owners, and feature a collection of Fayetteville's homegrown artists, artisans, food trucks, musicians, among other independent makers.
-If you're wondering where to park in downtown Fayetteville, click here.
-If you would like to be a vendor for 4th Friday, click here.

August 4th Friday in Historic Downtown Fayetteville
4th Friday features the best of Fayetteville’s visual and performing arts, live music, and street performers for FREE on August 24, 2024 from 6pm-9pm. Folks of all ages get a taste of Downtown Fayetteville's dynamic arts and entertainment district while supporting our Downtown Business Owners, and feature a collection of Fayetteville's homegrown artists, artisans, food trucks, musicians, among other independent makers.
-If you're wondering where to park in downtown Fayetteville, click here.
-If you would like to be a vendor for 4th Friday, click here.

September 4th Friday 2024 (Fiesta Latina) in Historic Downtown Fayetteville
4th Friday features the best of Fayetteville’s visual and performing arts, live music, and street performers for FREE on September 28, 2024 from 6pm-9pm. Folks of all ages get a taste of Downtown Fayetteville's dynamic arts and entertainment district while supporting our Downtown Business Owners, and feature a collection of Fayetteville's homegrown artists, artisans, food trucks, musicians, among other independent makers.
-If you're wondering where to park in downtown Fayetteville, click here.
-If you would like to be a vendor for 4th Friday, click here.

October 4th Friday 2024 (Zombie Walk) in Historic Downtown Fayetteville
4th Friday features the best of Fayetteville’s visual and performing arts, live music, and street performers for FREE on October 26, 2024 from 6pm-9pm. Folks of all ages get a taste of Downtown Fayetteville's dynamic arts and entertainment district while supporting local independent galleries, bistros, and shops full of unique goods and gifts.
-If you're wondering where to park in downtown Fayetteville, click here.
-If you would like to be a vendor for 4th Friday, click here.

Crown Complex Events

Fayetteville Roller Derby Double Header Roller Derby Game, June 1, 2024
Join the Fayetteville Roller Derby Rogue All Stars as they take on the Relentless Roller Derby (Greensboro, NC) at 5 PM and the FRD Ritzy Rollers vs the FRD Wreckers (FRD Home Teams) at 7 PM! One ticket covers both games! Click here to get tickets.

Cumberland County Schools 2024 Graduations
Dates & Times:
June 3 - 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
June 4 - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
June 5 - 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

Click here for more information.

Jurassic Quest America's Number One Dinosaur Experience
September 13 at 12noon, September 14 at 9:00am & September 15 at 9:00am
To get tickets or to get more information, click here.

The Ladies R&B Kickback Concert
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Featuring: Dru Hill, Ginuwine, Lloyd, Pleasure P, Bobby V, H-Town, Case, Shai & Sammie
To get tickets or to get more information, click here.

TobyMac, Zach Williams and MercyMe In Concert
Thursday, November 7, 2024
To get tickets or to get more information, click here.

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
Thursday, November 14, 2024
To get tickets or to get more information, click here.

Kansas: 50th Anniversary Tour - Another Fork in the Road
December 5, 2024
To get tickets or to get more information, click here.

Fayetteville Technical Community College
Better Skills, Better Jobs, Better Pay!
Apply Now for Fall classes! Fall Classes start August 19, 2024.
Register now to get the courses you want. Click here for more information and to sign up.
For a complete course catalog, click here.

To submit your event for consideration, please e-mail all of the information to DonChase@WKML.com.

U.S. News & World Report has released their new Best Places to Live rankings for 2024-2025, and the Tar Heel state got some major love! In a list of 150 major cities, two North Carolina cities were ranked among the top 10 best places to live in the US.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the ranking was compiled using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor, and some of the publication's own internal resources. The data was then sorted into four different categories by which each major city would be scored.

The categories were assigned different weights depending on how strongly Americans felt each factor mattered when choosing a place to live. The four categories in order of weight are as follows:

According to the official rankings, Charlotte and Raleigh are the two best places to live in North Carolina. The two cities made it to #5 and #6 respectively.

Charlotte scored extremely well overall, with the Queen City's quality of life and economic value placing it among the top places in the country to live. Charlotte was also commended for its sprawling metro area and bustling downtown scene, while still maintaining its southern charm.

Raleigh ranked almost neck-and-neck with Charlotte, with North Carolina's capital scoring highly in the Quality of Life category. The publication highlights Raleigh's bustling art and music scenes, as well as its beautiful green spaces and activity space. The city of Raleigh also received high marks for its strong sense of community among the residents.

The full rankings (seen here) reveals some interesting information about other major cities in the US, including other cities in North Carolina. Here are some of the key takeaways.

Ranked #1 overall, Naples, Florida was determined to be the best city to live in the US. The city scored highly for its overall quality of life, especially among retirees who desire a pristine beachfront view in their twilight years.

It's certainly a surprising #2, but Boise, Idaho has much to offer for outdoorsy types. Boise offers a plethora of different terrains for adventurers, including mountain ranges, canyons, deserts and lakes.

Colorado Springs, Colorado was ranked as the #3 best place to live for its blend of natural beauty and rustic modernism. Despite its endless array of events and activities, Colorado Springs maintains a small town charm that residents find intoxicating.

North Carolina's sister state did just a hair better in the ranking, with the South Carolina city of Greenville landing at #4 in the overall ranking. Greenville's downtown area is a central hub for local businesses, bars, restaurants and boutiques. The city is also quite lively during the summer season.

- Asheville (#17)

-Greensboro (#23) 

-Hickory (#26)

-Winston-Salem (#60)

-Fayetteville (#113)