SUBMITTED REPORT

ELIZABETH CITY — Embark on the Elizabeth City Moonshine Run set for March 29.

The event will kick off with a moonshine-themed Scavenger Hunt at 10 a.m. at the Museum of the Albemarle, 501 S. Water St., Elizabeth City. Collect clues, uncover local prohibition-era secrets, and piece together the ultimate moonshine recipe. Visit historic locations, meet fascinating storytellers, and collect “ingredients” as you journey through downtown.

The adventure will end between 3-5 p.m. at the Museum of the Albemarle. Celebrate with a toast, music, more moonshine experiences, and a chance to win prizes!

For the Elizabeth City moonshine-themed scavenger hunt, we’ll incorporate elements of local lore, prohibition history, and interactive clues leading participants through the moonshine-making process. Each stop will provide a piece of the moonshine recipe and a tale from the prohibition era, culminating in an understanding of both the historical and practical aspects of moonshining.

On your hunt, local stories and snippets will be shared, making your experience unique. Participants will pick up their “Recipe” at the start, will collect clues and ingredients at stops throughout Downtown Elizabeth City, and return back to where they started for a drink from one of our local breweries (Seven Sounds Brewing Co., Ghost Harbor Brewing Co.) and regional distilleries (Buffalo City Distillery, and Outer Banks Distilling), photo opportunities with a race car and other moonshine paraphernalia, book signing by Chris Barber (“When Ghosts Made Moonshine”) and other fun activities.

Everyone who collects all ingredients will be entered into a drawing for prizes. It isn’t a race. Participants are encouraged to shop, sip, and dine during the day. For every receipt brought back showing a purchase, an extra entry will be given into the drawing. Everyone completing the activity will be designated an Official “Eastern NC Moonshiner” or “Prohibition Agent.”

Cap off your day with Moonshine Music, a talk by legendary moonshiner “Alvin Sawyer,” an opportunity to speak with local historian Tim Aydlett about local lore, and an exclusive book signing with Chris Barber, author of When Ghosts Made Moonshine. Enjoy a bourbon and beer tasting featuring local distilleries and breweries, enjoy lite bites, take photos with a moonshine still replica and a race car, listen to bluegrass music by Adam Nixon, and take photos with photo booth swag. Celebrate the spirit of moonshining in true eastern North Carolina style!

Tickets cost $40 per person and include Scavenger Hunt and Post-Hunt Celebration with two drink tickets. Only 200 tickets will be sold! Get tickets by visiting  www.ElizabethCityLegends.com or purchase directly through TicketLeap at:  Tickets for Legends & Lore 2025 – Moonshining in Elizabeth City: Scavenger Hunt, Bourbon and Beer Tasting in Elizabeth City from TicketLeap

You may order T-shirts on the ticket website to be picked up at check-in.   “When Ghosts Made Moonshine” books may also be purchased at the Museum of the Albemarle Gift Shop at 501 E. Main Street OR on Amazon by clicking this link:  https://amzn.to/3Py9imk

This event is a partnership of Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc., Museum of the Albemarle, Arts of the Albemarle, Visit Elizabeth City, EC Historic Neighborhood Association, private citizens, and business owners.

Bonus Related Event: Moonshine & Motorsports Music Series

After a day of moonshine adventures, wrap up the evening with an unforgettable concert featuring Americana legend Jim Lauderdale and the Kruger Brothers at 7 p.m. at the Museum of the Albemarle. This special music series blends music and storytelling and celebrates North Carolina’s moonshining and motorsports heritage, highlighting the historic places on the NC Moonshine & Motorsports trail across the state. It is the final concert in the Moonshine and Motorsports Music series presented by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR). (This is a separate, but related, event. Tickets are sold separately and can be purchased via this link: Moonshine & Motorsports: Jim Lauderdale and the Kruger Brothers | NCMO)

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