Junior League of Raleigh To Host The N.C. Governor’s Inaugural Ball

Raleigh | NOVEMBER 11, 2016:

For the 21st time in its 86-year history, the Junior League of Raleigh will host the 2017 N.C. Governor’s Inaugural Ball Jan. 5-7, 2017, honoring the newly elected N.C. Governor, lieutenant governor and the members of the Council of State.

“We have been hard at work planning the Governor’s Inaugural Ball for more than two years,” said Rebecca Ayers, president of the Junior League of Raleigh. “It takes a team of four chairs, 90 committee members and 300 volunteers thousands of volunteer hours to organize and execute every detail of the Inaugural Ball events that celebrate North Carolina’s food, music and people.”

All proceeds from the nonpartisan Inaugural Ball events go back to the community through the Junior League of Raleigh. Past Inaugural Balls have benefited SAFEchild, Communities in Schools, Heritage Park’s Community Learning Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Julia Jones Daniels Center for Community Leadership.

The inspiration for this year’s events comes from the North Carolina State Toast. Used for special occasions, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the toast is a tour of our great state and a celebration of so many things that make it special.

Scheduled events for the 2017 Inaugural Ball include:

  • The Rock the Ball concert from 7 p.m. – midnight on Thursday, January 5 at Lincoln Theatre.
  • The Council of State Reception from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Friday, January 6 at Marbles Kids Museum.
  • The Governor’s Reception, the Gala Presentation and the Inaugural Ball from 6 p.m. – midnight on Saturday, January 7 at N.C. State University’s newly renovated William Neal Reynolds Coliseum and Talley Student Union.

The events will feature the best of North Carolina, including entertainment from some of the state’s most talented musicians. A Taste of North Carolina returns to the 2017 Inaugural Ball with food and beer samples from top chefs and breweries from around the state.

“We already have confirmation from a number of restaurants and brewers who will participate in our Taste of North Carolina, including 18 Seaboard, Beaufort Grocery, Cowfish, Hi-Wire Brewing, Raleigh Cake Pops, Never Blue, Donovan’s Dish, Maple View Farm Ice Cream, Highland Brewing, White Street Brewing, Sassool, Piedmont and The Pit,” Ayers said. “Once we have a governor-elect, we’ll be ready to build out the rest of the program.”

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at ncgovernorsball.org. Sponsorships are also available by contacting ibsponsor@jlraleigh.org.

About the Junior League of Raleigh:  

The Junior League of Raleigh, which has more than 1,600 members, is the local chapter of the Association of Junior Leagues International, an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. To learn more about the Junior League of Raleigh, visit jlraleigh.org.