The 2020 Strange Carolinas Best Of NC Awards Winners

For two weeks, readers of Strange Carolinas were invited to nominate their favorites for each of the categories below. From March 2nd to March 20th, readers were invited to vote for their favorites from the ten entries that received the most votes for each category during the nomination period.

Here are the winners of the 2020 Strange Carolinas Best Of NC Awards:

MUSIC
BEST VENUE FOR LIVE MUSIC
WINNER: The Orange Peel (Asheville)
2ND PLACE: Cat's Cradle (Carrboro)
3RD PLACE: PNC Music Pavilion (Charlotte)

BEST RADIO STATION
WINNER: 95.7 The Ride
2ND PLACE: Rock 92
3RD PLACE: 105.7 Man Up!

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL
WINNER: Merlefest (Wilkesboro)
2ND PLACE: Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival (Pittsboro)
3RD PLACE: Heavy Rebel Weekender (Winston-Salem)

ART
BEST MURALIST
WINNER: Kathryn Crawford
2ND PLACE: Laura Lashley
3RD PLACE: JEKS

BEST CITY FOR MURALS
WINNER: Asheville
2ND PLACE: Greensboro
3RD PLACE: Charlotte

FOOD
BEST BBQ
WINNER: JD's Smokehouse (Rutherford College)
2ND PLACE: Lexington Barbecue (Lexington)
3RD PLACE: Little Richard's Barbecue (Multiple cities)

BEST BURGER
WINNER: Ray's Smokehouse (Gastonia)
2ND PLACE: Come Back Shack (Boone)
3RD PLACE: The Loaded Goat (Mount Airy)

BEST CUPCAKE
WINNER: Maxie B's Bakery & Dessert Cafe (Greensboro)
2ND PLACE: Liv For Sweets (Pilot Mountain)
3RD PLACE: Cornerstone Bakery (Hickory)

BEST DONUT
WINNER: Donut Life (Hickory)
2ND PLACE: Britt's Donut Shop (Carolina Beach)
3RD PLACE: Paul's Pastry Shop (Burlington)

BEST FOOD TRUCK
WINNER: El Tacorriendo
2ND PLACE: Cousins Maine Lobster
3RD PLACE: Rockin' Moroccan Food Truck

BEST TACO
WINNER: Taco Billy (Asheville)
2ND PLACE: El Tacorriendo (Boone/Lenoir)
3RD PLACE: Crafted: The Art Of The Taco (Greensboro/Winston-Salem)

SHOPPING
BEST BOOK STORE
WINNER: Foggy Pine Books (Boone)
2ND PLACE: Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe (Asheville)
3RD PLACE: Scuppernong Books (Greensboro)

BEST RECORD STORE
WINNER: Dead Wax Records (Lenoir)
2ND PLACE: Underdog Records (Winston-Salem)
3RD PLACE: Green Eggs And Jam (Morganton)

BEST THRIFT/CONSIGNMENT SHOP
WINNER: The Groovy Goose (Mount Airy)
2ND PLACE: Anna Banana's (Boone)
3RD PLACE: Second Skin Vintage (Wilmington)

STRANGE NORTH CAROLINA
BEST ROADSIDE ATTRACTION
WINNER: Mystery Hill (Blowing Rock)
2ND PLACE: Wally's Service Station/Mayberry Courthouse (Mount Airy)
3RD PLACE: Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park (Wilson)

BEST GHOST STORY
WINNER: Appalachian State East Hall Ghost (Boone)
2ND PLACE: Pink Lady Of Grove Park Inn (Asheville)
3RD PLACE: USS North Carolina (Wilmington)

BEST URBAN LEGEND
WINNER: Brown Mountain Lights (Brown Mountain)
2ND PLACE: Devil's Tramping Ground (Bear Creek)
3RD PLACE: Gravity Hill (Richfield)

Questions or comments? Please contact us at StrangeCarolinas@gmail.com or 336.907.2393.