A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT DESIGNATING the gold festival in old fort as the state's official gold festival.
Whereas, since 2003, an annual Gold Festival has been held the first weekend of June in the Town of Old Fort, which is located in McDowell County; and
Whereas, each year during the Old Fort Gold Festival, visitors can enjoy a number of activities, including gold exhibits, gold mining techniques and demonstrations, vendor displays and sales, arts and crafts, and tours; and
Whereas, the Old Fort Gold Festival is hosted by the North Carolina Gold Foundation, whose mission is to promote, educate, preserve, and celebrate the State's gold heritage; and
Whereas, establishing an official State Gold Festival will help encourage tourism in McDowell County as well as the other 33 counties in North Carolina that continue to preserve and promote the State's gold legacy; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 145 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 145‑49.  State gold festival.
The Gold Festival, held the first weekend of June of every year in the Town of Old Fort in McDowell County, is adopted as the official gold festival of the State of North Carolina."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.