3 things happening in NC: Mardi Gras comes to the Carolina coast

Celebrate Mardi Gras, North Carolina style, with one coastal NC community’s weekend celebration. This is 3 things happening in NC this week.

I owe the city of Asheville an apology. 

In last week’s column, I reminded you readers that it was the last full week to see Thomas Dambo’s installation, Trolls: A Field Study at the NC Arboretum. The 12 interactive troll sculptures were created by environmental advocate and artist Thomas Dambo of Denmark and have been on display along the gardens and trails of the Arboretum since November 2025. 

Apparently everyone in North Carolina reads my column because that is definitely the reason everyone and their mom went to see the trolls over the last weekend to the point where they had to close early. 

“What began as a sunny Saturday outing for families hoping to catch one last glimpse of towering wooden trolls turned into hours-long waits along Brevard Road, as record crowds clogged traffic near the North Carolina Arboretum,” reported 828 News Now.

While I’m being (kind of) facetious in taking credit for the huge Arboretum rush, it goes to show just how much people are looking for something fun to do at any given time. There’s no shortage of such! Keep Cardinal & Pine in your Favorites tab because I’m here every week with more ideas that don’t usually shut down a whole highway. 

Winter Blast Furniture Event in High Point

Feb. 18-22

I get it. “A furniture sale? That’s all you have for me?” Hear me out. Maybe it’s because I’m a new homeowner but I would venture to guess that so many of our readers love a good furniture sale, and this is THE furniture sale. It’s worth a drive. 

If you’re like me (completely tired of building stuff from an Amazon order rather than buying nicely built furniture), this annual megasale allows visitors to shop at more than 30 stores in town with up to 90% off in a town known as the center of furniture manufacturing and marketing in the South and the entire country since the 20th century. 

Shop around in the Home Furnishings Capital of the World while enjoying prices that only folks in the industry usually get. I know it doesn’t seem like much of an event, but businesses throughout town plan for this and hold their own sales to welcome all the visitors. If you’re ever going to visit High Point, this is the time. 

 

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Trip to the Tropics in Belmont

Feb. 19-March 1

If there’s one thing we need after repeat winter storms, it’s a trip to the tropics. This two-weekend celebration of the Williamson Conservatory at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens showcases tropical plants but also offers opportunities for restorative forest bathing, orchid and tropical plant workshops, tours of the facilities, and intimate Sip and Stroll evenings with cocktails.

For the first time this year, the team at DSBG will turn the Great Hall into a tropical oasis complete with a bar, lounge, workshop, space and plant sale. It’s the best way to create your own false spring. 

 

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Beaufort’s Mardi Gras

Feb. 20-21

My wife and I checked out some AirBnB prices for New Orleans for this week during Mardi Gras and … let’s just say we booked a trip for Easter weekend instead. 

You don’t have to book a gouged stay in The Big Easy to celebrate Mardi Gras. Beaufort holds a great weekend-long celebration with live music, performances, and all sorts of ways to indulge.

The street carnival from noon-2 p.m. on Saturday leads right into the big parade at 3 p.m., where Beaufort’s quirkiness will be on full display on Front Street. If you’re looking for the hair of the dog that bit ya, head to Beaufort Grocery Company at 11 a.m. on Sunday for the Mardi Gras Sinners Remorse Brunch.