Spring has sprung, and now is the time to stop and smell the roses. Don’t have any flowers to sniff? That’s ok because several campuses in Columbus County have you covered. Check out the plant sales, hit up the Farmers Market, or volunteer some time at your local animal shelter. There is plenty to keep all you busy bees buzzing in this week’s edition of The Good News.
Be sure to visit https://columbuscountynews.com/2026/03/community-easter-events-for-2026/ to find out about all the Easter celebrations going on around you.
Don’t see your organization’s event listed? Let us know if your church, civic group, or association has Easter celebrations, markets, revivals, plays, gatherings, or fundraisers that you want published in The Good News. Would you like your church’s weekly services to be added to our Community Church Listings? Send all your submissions to ccn.cfaircloth@gmail.com. We will get them out there for absolutely free.
Columbus Career and College Academy on the Southeastern Community College campus invites eighth grade students and their families to attend the CCCA Parent Information Night on March 26 from 6-8 p.m. in the SCC Auditorium.
This event is designed to help future ninth graders explore opportunities through the early college. Students will get to learn about pathways, meet teachers, staff and current students, tour classrooms, labs, and learning spaces, and gain insight into dual enrollment for both high school and college. CCCA is located at 4564 Chadbourn Highway in Whiteville.
There are more opportunities to shop at the Columbus County Farmers Market this year. The market and its vendors will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. Folks will be set up with produce, breads, spices, jewelry, crafts, and everything in between.
The market can be found at 132 Government Complex Drive in Whiteville.
The Anchorage Camp in Lake Waccamaw will have the Senior Adult Retreat on March 26-28. The guest speaker will be Sammy Frye. A single cottage is $139, and the cost of the couple’s cottage is $189.
Gator Golf, teaching, boat rides, evening bonfires, pickleball, and cornhole are just a few of the activities available for the weekend. For more information, call 910.646.4111 or visit www.anchoragecamp.org.
Speaking of Lake Waccamaw, the Food Bank will have bagging day on March 26 and distribution day on March 28 for those who would like to volunteer. Monetary donations are also greatly appreciated to keep the ministry going.
Scan the QR and select LW Food Bank in the drop-down menu, or you can mail a check Lake Waccamaw Food Ministry, P.O. Box 64, Lake Waccamaw, N.C. 28450.
The Veterans Memorial Park of America will be having their annual Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day on March 28 at 9 a.m. The ceremony will open with a welcoming speech by Representative Brenden Jones. There will be breakfast refreshments, followed by a Veterans Stand Down with informational vendors for vets.
The Veterans Benefit Administration, Columbus County VSO, McMullen House for Heroes, Nicole Hopkins (LCMHC at The Pasture), Lower Cape Fear Life Care, Honor and Valor Foundation, Coastal Horizons Mobile Clinic, Honor Flight, Oak Island Elks Lodge, Wreaths Across America, The Wall That Heals-In Memory Program, Patriots Heroes and Horses, and other organizations will be in attendance with community resources.
This event is free and open to the public. The VMPA is located at 6354 James B. White Highway South in Whiteville.
Just across the Bladen County line, a resident and a business were caught doing a good deed for the dogs at the Bladen County Animal Shelter. Summer Marie contacted Barefoot Brew to get pricing for pup cups at the shelter, and instead of letting her pay for them, they donated 47 sweet treats to the fur babies at the facility.
Please adopt, and don’t shop for your new furry best friend. Consider assisting with items in need at your local shelter or animal rescue. Volunteers are always welcome to give some love and a little time to the animals at APS.
The Columbus County Arts Council will host a very special event on March 28 from 3-5 p.m. Join them as they host Columbus County native Dr. Sadie Leder Elder for a book signing and reception of her latest release to the Boopers the Bad Cat series.
The Adventures of Boopers the Bad Cat, Boopers the Bad Cat Visits Chapel Hill, and Boopers the Bad Cat Goes to Work will be available for purchase, and light refreshments will be served. The council can be found at 822 South Madison Street in Whiteville.
If you feel like making a trip just over the state line, the Friends of the Green Sea Floyds Library will have a chicken bog, craft fair, and car show on March 28 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. They are also still accepting applications for vendors.
Those interested in pedaling their wares at the event can download their application by scanning the QR code. The library is located at 5331 Highway 9 in Green Sea, S.C.
If you’re looking for plants to purchase for the spring, there will be plenty of opportunities to buy them for a good cause at local educational institutions throughout Columbus County. Southeastern Community College will be the first to kick off perennial market on April 1 and 2 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the SCC Greenhouse. Parking will be at the Cartrette Building.
Browse a variety of plants grown by SCC students and find the perfect flowers, greenery, and garden favorites to decorate your home. The annual sale gives students hands-on experience growing and caring for the plants while preparing for horticulture careers.
The Whiteville FFA will have their greenhouse grand opening plant sale on Friday, April 3, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the high school. BBQ sandwiches will also be sold to support the WHS FFA scholarships. For more information, follow the Whiteville FFA Facebook page.
Speaking of FFA, East Columbus High School FFA will their plant sale on April 11 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Lantana, Verbena, Marigolds, squash, zukes, cantaloupes, Spider plants, Geraniums, peppers, cukes, tomatoes, Begonias, watermelon, sweet potatoes vines, and hanging baskets are all up for grabs.
Save your appetite for breakfast because sausage dogs will also be available for purchase while you shop. East Columbus is located at 32 Gator Lane in Lake Waccamaw.
The Greater Tabor City Chamber of Commerce still has non-food vendor spots available for their 2026 Spring has Sprung Festival on April 4. Drop by the chamber office at103D East Fifth Street to grab yours today.
This year’s festival will include a community yard sale at the Garrell Depot, a cruise-in car show, live music, food, a kids zone, Flimsy the Clown, and food and craft vendors. For more info, call 910.840.0292.
Downtown Whiteville will be hosting the Open-Air Market every other Thursday of the month from 4-8 p.m. beginning April 16 on the Vineland Station Depot lawn. There will be vendors, fresh flowers, produce, honey, sourdough bread, microgreens, homemade pasta, and more.
Remember to check out our Good News tab throughout the week. We love to hear about all the great things happening around you. Email your submissions to ccn.cfaircloth@gmail.com or visit us at our new location at 125 Suite A, East Main Street in Whiteville. We love visitors. If the door is open, we are open for business.
Copyright Columbus County News 2026
