The 69th annual N.C. Gourd Arts and Crafts Festival will be on Sept. 11-12 at the Holshouser Building (aka, Village of Yesteryear) at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. You can get information about growing, cleaning, and crafting gourds. Winners will be declared in contests for gourd growing (largest, smallest, most unusual), gourd crafting, and creations by gourd artists from across the state. Vendors will be selling dried gourds, gourd seeds, gourd crafts, crafting supplies, books and gourd art. Great for Christmas presents! There will be a gourd crafting table for children and gourd workshops. Check it out from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept 11 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for children 12 to 17, and free for under 12. Learn more at www.ncgourdsociety.org or call (919) 696-0744.