Chapter 145 — State Symbols and Other Official Adoptions

§ 145-1 State flower

The dogwood is hereby adopted as the official flower of the State of North Carolina.

(1941, c. 289.)

§ 145-2 State bird

The cardinal is hereby declared to be the official State bird of North Carolina.

(1943, c. 595.)

§ 145-3 State tree

The pine is hereby adopted as the official State tree of the State of North Carolina, and the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is designated as the emblem representing the trees of North Carolina.

(1963, c. 41; 2023-63, s. 8.)

§ 145-4 State shell

The Scotch bonnet is hereby adopted as the official State shell of the State of North Carolina.

(1965, c. 681.)

§ 145-5 State mammal

The gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is hereby adopted as the official State mammal of the State of North Carolina.

(1969, c. 1207.)

§ 145-6 State saltwater fish

The channel bass (red drum) is hereby adopted as the official State saltwater fish of the State of North Carolina.

(1971, c. 274.)

§ 145-7 State insect

The honeybee is hereby adopted as the official State insect of the State of North Carolina.

(1973, c. 55.)

§ 145-8 State stone

The emerald is hereby adopted as the official State precious stone of the State of North Carolina.

(1973, c. 136, s. 1.)

§ 145-9 State reptile

The turtle is adopted as the official State reptile of the State of North Carolina, and the eastern box turtle is designated as the emblem representing the turtles inhabiting North Carolina.

(1979, c. 154, s. 1.)

§ 145-10 State rock

Granite is adopted as the official State rock of the State of North Carolina.

(1979, c. 906, s. 1.)

§ 145-10.1 State beverage

Milk is hereby adopted as the official State beverage of the State of North Carolina.

(1987, c. 347.)

§ 145-11 State historical boat

The Shad Boat is adopted as the official State historical boat of the State of North Carolina.

(1987, c. 366.)

§ 145-12 State language

(a) Purpose. English is the common language of the people of the United States of America and the State of North Carolina. This section is intended to preserve, protect and strengthen the English language, and not to supersede any of the rights guaranteed to the people by the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of North Carolina.

(b) English as the Official Language of North Carolina. English is the official language of the State of North Carolina.

(c) Expired.

(1987, c. 480, c. 877, s. 1.1.)

§ 145-13 The State dog

The Plott Hound is adopted as the official dog of the State of North Carolina.

(1989, c. 773, s. 1.)

§ 145-14 The State Military Academy

Oak Ridge Military Academy, in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, as long as it remains a military academy is adopted as the official military academy of the State of North Carolina.

(1991, c. 728, s. 1.)

§ 145-15 State tartan

The Carolina Tartan is adopted as the official tartan of the State of North Carolina.

(1991, c. 85, s. 1.)

§ 145-16 State Watermelon Festivals

(a) The Hertford County Watermelon Festival is adopted as the official Northeastern North Carolina Watermelon Festival. The Hertford County Watermelon Festival shall be observed annually during the last four days of the first week in August.

(b) The Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival in Columbus County is adopted as the official Southeastern North Carolina Watermelon Festival. The Fair Bluff Watermelon Festival shall be observed annually during mid-July.

(c) Nothing in this act shall be construed to obligate the General Assembly to appropriate funds to implement the provisions of this act.

(d) Nothing in this act shall be construed to obligate Hertford County or Columbus County to expend funds for the purposes of this act.

(1993, s. 212, s. 1.)

§ 145-17 State vegetable

The sweet potato is adopted as the official vegetable of the State of North Carolina.

(1995, c. 521, s. 3.)

§ 145-18 State fruit and State berries

(a) The official fruit of the State of North Carolina is the Muscadine grape (Vitis genus).

(b) The official red berry of the State is the strawberry (Fragaria genus).

(c) The official blue berry of the State is the blueberry (Vaccinium genus).

(2001-488, s. 1; 2023-63, s. 7(b).)

§ 145-19 State International Festival

Folkmoot USA is adopted as the official international festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2003-315, s. 1.)

§ 145-20 State wildflower

The Carolina Lily (Lilium michauxii) is adopted as the official wildflower of the State of North Carolina.

(2003-426, s. 1.)

§ 145-21 State Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum and State Museum of Aviation

The Asheboro Municipal Airport is designated as the official location of the North Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Aviation Museum. The Wilmington International Airport is designated as the official location of the North Carolina Museum of Aviation.

(2003-363, s. 1.)

§ 145-22 State carnivorous plant

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is adopted as the official carnivorous plant of the State of North Carolina.

(2005-74, s. 1.)

§ 145-23 State birthplace of traditional pottery

The Seagrove area, including portions of Randolph, Chatham, Lee, Moore, and Montgomery Counties, is designated as the official location of the birthplace of North Carolina traditional pottery.

(2005-78, s. 1; 2006-264, s. 70.)

§ 145-24 Official State dances

(a) Clogging is adopted as the official folk dance of North Carolina.

(b) Shagging is adopted as the official popular dance of North Carolina.

(2005-218, s. 1.)

§ 145-25 State Christmas tree

The Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) is adopted as the official Christmas tree of the State of North Carolina.

(2005-387, s. 1.)

§ 145-26 State freshwater trout

The Southern Appalachian strain of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is adopted as the official freshwater trout of the State of North Carolina.

(2005-387, s. 2.)

§ 145-27 State Collard Festival

The Ayden Collard Festival is adopted as the official collard festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2007-28, s. 1.)

§ 145-28 State food festival

The Lexington Barbecue Festival is adopted as the official food festival of the Piedmont Triad Region of the State of North Carolina.

(2007-533, s. 1.)

§ 145-29 State community theater

The Thalian Association in Wilmington, North Carolina, is adopted as the official community theater of North Carolina.

(2007-68, s. 1.)

§ 145-30 State potato festival

The Albemarle Potato Festival is adopted as the official Irish potato festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2009-24, s. 1.)

§ 145-31 State horse

The Colonial Spanish Mustang is adopted as the official horse of the State of North Carolina.

(2010-6, s. 1.)

§ 145-32 Honor and Remember Flag

The Honor and Remember Flag created by Honor and Remember, Inc., is adopted as a symbol to honor and recognize members of the Armed Forces of the United States who have died in the line of duty.

(2010-191, s. 4; 2011-183, s. 106.)

§ 145-33 State Shad Festival; Blue Monday Shad Fry

(a) The Grifton Shad Festival is adopted as the official Shad Festival of the State of North Carolina.

(b) The East Arcadia Blue Monday Shad Fry is adopted as the official Blue Monday Shad Fry of the State of North Carolina.

(2011-36, s. 1; 2013-282, s. 1.)

§ 145-34 State herring festival

The Herring Festival held in the Town of Jamesville is adopted as the official herring festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2011-59, s. 1.)

§ 145-35 State mineral

Gold (Aurum) is adopted as the official State mineral of the State of North Carolina.

(2011-233, s. 1.)

§ 145-36 State sport

Stock car racing is adopted as the official sport of North Carolina.

(2011-187, s. 1.)

§ 145-37 State Shrimp Festival

The Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival is adopted as the official shrimp festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2011-65, s. 1.)

§ 145-38 State butterfly

The Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) is adopted as the official State butterfly of the State of North Carolina.

(2012-29, s. 1.)

§ 145-39 State spring and fall livermush festivals

(a) The Shelby Livermush Festival is adopted as the official fall livermush festival of the State of North Carolina.

(b) The Marion Livermush Festival is adopted as the official spring livermush festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2012-29, s. 1.)

§ 145-40 State mullet festival

The Swansboro Mullet Festival is adopted as the official mullet festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2012-29, s. 1.)

§ 145-41 State fossil

The fossilized teeth of the megalodon shark is adopted as the official fossil of the State of North Carolina.

(2013-189, s. 1.)

§ 145-42 State frog

The pine barrens tree frog (Hyla andersonii) is adopted as the official frog of the State of North Carolina.

(2013-189, s. 1.)

§ 145-43 State salamander

The marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) is adopted as the official salamander of the State of North Carolina.

(2013-189, s. 1.)

§ 145-44 State marsupial

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is adopted as the official marsupial of the State of North Carolina.

(2013-189, s. 1.)

§ 145-45 State folk art

The whirligigs created by Vollis Simpson are adopted as the official folk art of the State of North Carolina.

(2013-189, s. 1.)

§ 145-46 State art medium

Clay is adopted as the official art medium of the State of North Carolina.

(2013-189, s. 1.)

§ 145-47 State peanut festival

The Dublin Peanut Festival, held the third Saturday of September of every year, is adopted as the official peanut festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2013-313, s. 1.)

§ 145-48 Official Veterans Day Parade

The Veterans Day Parade held in the Town of Warsaw is adopted as the official Veterans Day Parade in the State of North Carolina.

(2016-33, s. 1.)

§ 145-49 State Fly Fishing Museum

Swain County is designated as the home of the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians, which is located in Bryson City in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains.

(2018-11, s. 1.)

§ 145-50 North Carolina Outdoor Festival

The North Carolina Outdoor Festival held in Montgomery County is adopted as the official outdoor festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2018-11, s. 2.)

§ 145-51 State Woolly Worm Festival

The Woolly Worm Festival, held the third weekend of October of every year in the Town of Banner Elk in Avery County, is adopted as the official Woolly Worm Festival of the State of North Carolina.

(2018-89, s. 1.)