Take the Creative Route
Looking to design your own creative route for arts, culture, and unique things to do in Martin County, North Carolina? Take the creative route through small towns where colorful quilt blocks, downtown murals, local photography, live music, and community theater offer a different way to explore. From historic landmarks and Main Street stops to the artists and musicians making an impact far beyond their hometowns, Martin County’s creative side can lead you to places and experiences you might otherwise miss.
What if you took the creative route? The kind of route that gives you time to slow down, look around, and notice the places and details you might normally pass by. In Martin County, art has a way of doing just that. A colorful quilt block might lead you to a historic home, a mural might encourage you to wander a little further down Main Street, and somewhere along the way, you might discover a local shop, bakery, or hidden gem you weren’t expecting.
Small Towns, Big Creative Impact
It may be easy to think of art as something you have to travel to a big city to experience, but in Martin County, creativity has long been growing right here at home. Behind the murals, music, and performances found throughout the county are people who prove that small-town beginnings can make a big impact.
You can hear that impact through the music that has come from Martin County. The small Town of Parmele is the hometown of country music group Parmalee, whose journey took them from playing locally to stages across the country. Martin County’s bluegrass roots continue that story through musicians like Screamin’ Bridge and Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw of Hank, Pattie & The Current, who have carried their music to audiences well beyond their hometowns.
You can see that impact, too. Local artist Mike Bennett has left his mark across Martin County through murals in communities such as Hamilton, Oak City, and Williamston. In communities such as Robersonville, you can catch a glimpse of a community mural located at the entrance to Main Street, painted by local Arts Council director, Glinda Fox. These are just a few of the murals painted over the years, bringing pieces of local character to life through art and turning everyday spaces into something worth stopping to see.
And the next generation of creatives is already getting its start. From theater in local middle and high schools to band and strings camps beginning at a young age, students have opportunities to discover music and performing arts right here at home. That creativity continues into the community through organizations like Martin Community Players, where local performers bring live theater to the stage year after year.
Maybe that’s what makes Martin County’s creative side so special. The mural you stop to photograph, the band you hear playing, or the performance you catch during your visit can represent something much bigger. Here, creativity isn’t limited by the size of the town where it begins – and sometimes, a small-town stage is only the beginning.
Let the Art Lead the Way
Start your weekend at Big Mill Bed & Breakfast, where you’ll find one of the many quilt blocks featured on the Martin County Quilt Block Trail. If you let it, the trail can lead you to explore even more art throughout Martin County.
When you’re ready to get your day started, grab your morning coffee from B. Mocha Coffee Shop in Downtown Williamston. From there, you can walk right across the road to Barnes Plaza, where you can sit at the picnic tables and enjoy a colorful mural overlooking the plaza. The river and countryside scene features children flying quilt block kites decorated with familiar pieces of the area, including a horse and cotton.
Continue your stroll down Main Street and keep an eye out for another mural tucked away down an alley. Created by a local art class, this one brings several pieces of Martin County together, featuring the outline of the county alongside a horse, fish, kayak, the Roanoke River, and “1774”, the year Martin County was established.
Make a quick stop along your art walk to browse some of the small businesses downtown, including Dog Branch Antiques, where all types of hidden gems and unique finds are waiting inside. After you’ve spent some time shopping, take a walk down Washington Street, where the Martin County Arts Council stands tall and invites you to explore even more of the area’s creative side. Step inside and browse the Flat Iron Gift Shop for even more locally inspired art, gifts, and creative finds. Ready for a break, and need a snack to refuel your Martin County journey? Cakes by Becky is right around the corner, waiting for you to step inside to try a sweet treat or a delicious snack before continuing along the creative route.
By the time your creative route comes to an end, you may have followed quilt blocks to places you had never visited, spotted murals tucked between familiar streets, browsed locally made pieces, or even caught a live performance along the way. But the art you’ll find throughout Martin County is about more than adding another stop to your itinerary. We invite you to come unlock your creative side and make your own mark in Martin County.