The Ava Gardner Festival held annually in October celebrates the extraordinary life of Smithfield native Ava Gardner. With heritage tours, film showings, and special exhibits, each festival offers something new for Museum visitors to see and learn about the Hollywood starlet. For more information about the Ava Gardner Festival, please click here.
Thinking about hosting a community event?
Do it in Downtown Smithfield and apply for the JEM grant to help with advertising costs!
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As a Main Street America Affiliate™, the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation is part of a national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities that share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.
Smithfield is a North Carolina Main Street community, designated by the N.C. Department of Commerce Main Street & Rural Planning Center. The Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation is charged with administering the program at the local level and building public-private partnerships to spur economic development that achieves measurable results such as investment, business growth, and job creation.