Social in the Shire | Activities | Food & Drink
All activities are from 7 to 10pm unless otherwise noted. More activities are being added, so check back frequently!
Floor Guide (JPG)
Floor Guide (PDF, 20MB)
Mordor on the Dance Floor
One song to shake it all,
one song to spin them,
One song to twist and shout,
and on the dance floor win them.
Live Music With Barrowburn
Stomp your feet with Barrowburn, a Raleigh, NC-based band presenting traditional Celtic music on acoustic instruments throughout North Carolina for over 20 years.
The Siege of Gondor
Arm yourself with our miniature catapults and compete to destroy Gondor.
The Eagles Are Coming
Meet some of North Carolina’s birds of prey and other wildlife with educators from Piedmont Wildlife Center.
Languages of Middle-Earth
J.R.R. Tolkien created his own languages for Lord of the Rings, such as the Elven languages Quenya and Sindarin. Check out our translator to write your name or catchphrase in the language of Elves.
The 3D Printing Forge
See our 3D printers in action creating chain mail, props and relics. One can assume that if they had 3D printers in Middle-earth, Isildur would’ve fixed Narsil, the sword shattered in battle with Sauron, and not reforged the shards into Andúril until the War of the Ring.
Legolas’ Archery Challenge, or the Death of Boromir
Wield your bow and fire arrows to see how many targets you can strike in our inflatable indoor archery range. Aim true!
Hobbits and Orcs in the Human Fossil Record
Meet researchers from the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University who will display cast material of Homo floriensis, nicknamed Hobbits, and Homo heidelbergensis (Orcs).
The Mines of Moria
Learn about underground adventuring in limestone caves and lava tubes from the Triangle Troglodytes of the National Speleological Society.
From Middle-Earth to the Middle Ages: The Art of Historical Swordsmanship
Whether you’re an Uruk-hai or a Ranger of the North, you’ve got to know how to swing a sword. Triangle Sword Guild will show you historical weapons and techniques through the lens of Tolkien’s fantasy epic. Watch sparring demonstrations throughout the night in the WRAL 3D Theater. A formal demonstration will take place in the WRAL 3D Theater at 8pm.
Lord of the Rings Trivia — 8:30pm in the Acro Cafe
Gather your team for the chance to win cool prizes. The game begins on the 4th floor in the Acro Cafe at 8:30pm.
Gems and Minerals of Middle-Earth
What were the minerals and jewels of Middle-earth, and how were they used? Explore these fantastic items and their real life counterparts with the Tar Heel Gem and Mineral Club.
The Magic of Medicinal Plants: How the Natural World Inspires Fantasy
Meet members of the NCSU Plant Biology Department focused on ethnobotany to lean about athelas and other medicinal plants of Tolkien’s creation while drawing similarities to real plants that may have inspired him.
Paleontology of Middle-Earth
Meet Museum paleontologists to explore the paleontology of Middle-earth. Learn how the Mearas, including Shadowfax himself, evolved to be the greatest of horses. Observe teeth of the Mûmakil, also known as Oliphaunts, found right here in North Carolina. And more!
Rhosgobel Rabbits: The Truth Behind the Legend
Go beyond the legends and learn the rest of the story about rabbits as fun, interesting, and special companion animals with the Triangle Rabbits.
Hempsmith Clothing Co.
Hempsmith Clothing Co. will be displaying the various uses of hemp. They will also have clothing for sale and to use as an example of hemp used for textiles.
The White (Star) Ship: RMS Titanic
On April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic after a fatal collision with an iceberg. At the time of her sinking, she was the largest moving object ever constructed, and the last word in “comfort and luxury.” Join us in using a scale model of the wreck, digital restorations of her interiors, and a real-time reconstruction of her sinking to return to Titanic and rediscover her lost Edwardian world.
CJ Bead Designs
Jewelry Designs featured by an NCSU Craft Center Instructor.
Shelob’s Lair
Shaw University will present live spiders as well as some non-living specimens that illustrate aspects of spider biology.
Forage Mushrooms Without Dying
See models of wild edible mushrooms, ask questions, test your knowledge, and meet Frank Hyman, author of the best-selling mushroom identification book, How to Forage Mushrooms Without Dying: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide.
Desolation of Smaug
Impersonate a dragon with the liquid nitrogen Dragon’s Breath activity.