Enjoy a fun filled day of music, art vendors and delicious food.
Whirligig Festival celebrates the incredible story of Vollis Simpson, a Wilson County farm machinery repairman who, near retirement, transformed scrap parts into massive kinetic sculptures. Using the same rigs he once designed for moving houses, Simpson began creating his now-famous “whirligigs” — towering windmills that filled his yard with motion and color. He worked tirelessly, seven days a week, until just months before his passing at the age of 94 in 2013.
Though Simpson never considered himself an artist, his work drew visitors from near and far, turning his farm into one of Wilson County’s top attractions. Today, his whirligigs are celebrated across the country, including in the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan and even a window display at New York’s famed Bergdorf Goodman.
- Festival vendors, local musicians/band, a variety of food and drink stands.
- Lunch on your own.
Details
Departs from Anne Gordon Active Adult Center
Date: Saturday, Nov. 1
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Ages: Older Adults
Cost: $15/Residents & Non-residents
Register on RecLink
Register by calling one of the Active Adult Centers:
- Five Points Center for Active Adults: 919-996-4730
- Walnut Terrace Center: 919-996-6160
- Anne Gordon Center for Active Adults: 919-996-4720
For trip questions and/or registration, contact Carmen Rayfield at 919-996-4734 or carmen.rayfield@raleighnc.gov
Visit our website to learn more about our day and multi-day travel opportunities.
You must enroll for the Active Adult Yearly Trip Registration before you can register for any trips.
