Piedmont Pit Stops

Since 1991, thousands of Triad residents have celebrated the holiday season with a visit to the Tanglewood Festival of Lights in Clemmons. It’s more than just a spectacle though – it’s a major source of revenue for Forsyth County.

In Celtic tradition, Halloween is the one night a year when spirits of the dead can return to Earth. But, tour guides from Carolina Haunts and History believe some spirits roam the city of Winston-Salem all year long. For this spooky edition of Piedmont Pit Stops, WFDD’s April Laissle tagged along on a ghost tour of the city’s historic West End. 

This weekend thousands will descend on the city of Lexington to celebrate its signature dish: barbecue.

Land of Oz, which first opened in 1970, offers an immersive theatrical experience of the classic film during its three-weekend Autumn at Oz festival each September. WFDD’s April Laissle followed Dorothy’s journey through Kansas, Oz and the Emerald City for this installment of Piedmont Pit Stops.

North Carolina officials are highlighting sites significant to the state’s history of both bootlegging and stock car racing. The Moonshine and Motorsports Trail maps the origin story of the two intertwined industries.

As the tobacco industry downsized in the 1990s, North Carolina farmers were forced to pivot. Some opted to convert their tobacco fields into vineyards, revitalizing the Yadkin Valley.

In WFDD's new series Piedmont Pit Stops, we’re hitting the road and exploring the hidden gems and landmarks that define the region. First stop: Salisbury, where the iconic cherry-flavored soft drink Cheerwine was created over 100 years ago.