More than two dozen N.C. chefs, brewers to participate in N.C. Governor’s Inaugural Ball

RALEIGH, Jan. 4, 2017 – A Taste of North Carolina, which features chefs and brewers from around the state, returns to the 2017 N.C. Governor’s Inaugural Ball with food and beer samples.

“We have confirmation from 17 restaurants and ten breweries that will participate, and we could not be more excited about the willingness to support this year’s Inaugural Ball,” said Rebecca Ayers, President of the Junior League of Raleigh.

Among the restaurants and breweries participating in the ball: 18 Seaboard (Raleigh), Atelier Bakery (Winston-Salem), Bida Manda (Raleigh), Brueprint Brewing Company (Apex), Chapel Hill Toffee (Chapel Hill), Clouds Brewing (Raleigh), Cowfish (Raleigh), Crank Arm Brewing (Raleigh), Death & Taxes (Raleigh), Fullsteam Brewery (Durham), Highland Brewing Company (Asheville), Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville), Koi Pond Brewing Company (Rocky Mount), lucettegrace (Raleigh), Maple View Farm Ice Cream (Hillsborough), Nightbell (Asheville), Oak and Dagger Public House (Raleigh), Piedmont (Durham), The Pit Authentic Barbecue (Raleigh), Ponysaurus Brewing (Durham), Porchetta (Durham), Raleigh Cake Pops (Raleigh), Sam Jones BBQ (Winterville), Sassool (Raleigh), Vidrio (Raleigh) and White Street Brewing Company (Wake Forest).

History of the Junior League and the N.C. Governor’s Inaugural Ball

For the 21st time in its 87-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 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,” Ayers said. “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 of North Carolina, Heritage Park’s Community Learning Center, the Boys & Girls Club 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 what makes 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.

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.