Happy weekend, The Unifour! In today’s happening-today edition: Project Goat incentives, a racing hall of fame, Dinos, and Donuts and Dads + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Rural projects get funding boost: State officials approved over $4 million for rural growth, awarding Taylorsville $125,000 for VitalNow Urgent Care renovations and Caldwell County nearly $710,000 for Foothills Regional Airport Industrial Park sewer upgrades -- see the grant breakdown.
Incentives under consideration: Leaders are weighing Project Goat, a $22.5 million project at Trivium in Hickory Newton that could add 80 jobs, including up to $603,750 in incentives, with public hearing June 30 -- see the Project Goat details.
Celebrating racing history: Hickory Motor Speedway will launch a hall of fame honoring drivers from the 1950s to today. The first class will be inducted August 1 at the Jack Ingram Memorial Race -- see the Hall of Fame plans.
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Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.* Highlights this week: |
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Dinner upgrade, unlocked: Dockside Seafood Co. is the Hickory spot when you want to cook like you actually planned ahead, with super-fresh local, regional, and international seafood plus USDA prime beef, local pork and specialty groceries. Grab what looks best and make Tuesday taste like the weekend.
Close-to-home escape: Indian Springs Campground shakes off the “we should go somewhere” pressure with a quiet, gated RV spot right on the Henry River. Full hookups, easy in-and-out off I-40, and just enough nature to feel away without burning half your weekend on the road.
Dial in your swing: Home turf advantage hits different at Lake Hickory Country Club Springs Clubhouse, giving members 27 holes at Catawba Springs and handy practice spots for an after-work nine or a Saturday tune-up. Play, cool off at the pool, then linger over something tasty with your crew.
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04 — Our recommendations
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
👗 Anodyne Trunk Show @ Foot Solutions Hickory | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Nothing beats shoes that hush your knees and still look sharp. Hit the Anodyne trunk show for supportive, pressure-relieving styles, a personalized fitting with their on-site expert, and a raffle for a free pair, plus 30% off your second, exclusive picks included.
🦖 Dinos, Donuts and Dads @ Catawba Science Center (Hickory) | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Treat Dad to early access to the dinosaur exhibit, dino crafts, a fossil hunt, raffle prizes, and donuts, juice, and coffee. Peak Father’s Day energy: kids geeking out, adults caffeinating, everyone pretending to be paleontologists, then roaming the rest of the museum.
🧺 Basket Weaving Workshop @ Burke Arts Council (Morganton) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Trade doomscrolling for hands-on calm with Bridget VanRemortel, and learn to weave a classic 7x7 napkin basket you’ll actually use. Tools are provided, bring an apron, and pack a lunch or snag something tasty downtown in Morganton.
🎪 Mundialito @ StudioX Soccer Arena (Newton) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Get your World Cup fix without a passport at Newton’s Mundialito inside StudioX Soccer Arena, an indoor 8-team soccer throwdown with a Family Fun Zone, inflatables, live music, FIFA gaming, and food. Kids burn energy, you sip something, everyone sleeps well, civic pride included.
🌍 Lenoir World Food Fiesta Festival @ Tortillería y Carnitas Guerrerense | Saturday (6/20) at 10:30 AM – Skip the flight and eat your way around the globe at Lenoir’s World Food Fiesta, no passport required, just an appetite. Expect sizzling stalls, live tunes, and a friendly crowd, the kind where you run into three neighbors before dessert.
⚾ Hickory Crawdads vs. Columbia Fireflies @ LP Frans Stadium | Sunday (6/21) at 2:00 PM – If you’ve been craving old-school summer vibes, the Crawdads host the Fireflies at L.P. Frans Stadium for nine innings of small-town glory that pairs perfectly with sunscreen, a hot dog, and zero sprinting. Expect crisp bat cracks, kids chasing foul balls, and delightfully petty heckles.
🎤 Make Music Day 2026 @ Downtown Hickory | Sunday (6/21) at 3:00 PM – Whether you still have a Strat in the attic or just clap on two and four, this free, countywide celebration joins a global Summer Solstice jam. Expect indie rock, bluegrass, a cappella, all ages, students, pros, and that neighbor who secretly shreds. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The The Unifour report Weather forecastToday — High: 86°F — Low: 63°F — Precip: 0%
Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. West northwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. West wind 0 to 5 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 89°F — Low: 69°F — Precip: 2%
Sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 0 to 9 mph. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 20%. This house is wildThis 4-bedroom, 5-bath brick beauty sits on nearly an acre in a peaceful no-HOA neighborhood, delivering plenty of room to roam. A bright sunroom, finished basement with endless flex-space potential, and a covered deck overlooking the inground pool make the home especially memorable. The 2-car garage and charming outbuilding add extra convenience.
Take a peek inside → |
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