The annual Ava Gardner Festival takes place October 4 to 6, 2024, in Smithfield, North Carolina. The festival celebrates the acclaimed film star, and features film screenings, tours, “Breakfast at Ava’s,” and visits to the Ava Gardner Museum, 325 E Market Street, Smithfield, North Carolina.
The festival includes an outdoor film in the evening of Friday, October 4, 2024, and that’s free to attend. The rest of the events require tickets.
More events are still being added to the festival, so please check back.
Friday, October 4
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: The Ava Gardner Museum is open with regular hourss
6:30 to 10 p.m.: FREE kick-off event — Screening of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman at Neuse River Amphitheater, 300 S Front Street, Smithfield, North Carolina. Enjoy food trucks, a beer garden, ice cream and popcorn. For your comfort, please bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Saturday, October 5
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: The Ava Gardner Museum is open with regular hours.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: The film, Mogambo, will be screened at Howell Theatre, 141 S 3rd Street, Smithfield, North Carolina. Seats are limited and tickets will be available only through the theater’s website or at the theater.
1 and 3 p.m.: Heritage Tours. Festival goers will have two opportunities on Saturday to step aboard a tour bus with one of the Museum’s experts for a one-hour, guided trip through Ava’s hometown. Participants travel to the Grabtown and Brogden communities, just seven miles east of Smithfield, where Ava was born and raised. The tour concludes with a group visit to Ava’s final resting place in Sunset Memorial Park. Seats are limited and tickets are available via the museum’s Gift Shop.
Sunday, October 6
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Breakfast with Ava. Enjoy Sunday morning at the museum for breakfast served with The Goddess Blend coffee and a screening of One Touch of Venus in the museum’s theater. Seats are limited to 50 visitors.
Tickets
$30: Ava Gardner Festival 3 Day Pass. This pass grants you admission to the Ava Gardner Museum all three days. Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
$14: Single Day Pass to Ava Gardner Festival.
$15: Breakfast with Ava on October 6, 2024.
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More Festivals
Check out a list of fall festivals in the Triangle, or take a look at a few upcoming festivals:
Ava Gardner Museum, Smithfield
