Better Badin introduces a Valley  Cruces and Blowing Rock Art, Leaf, and Christmas Shopping  Crawl.   The event consist of round trip bus  transportation from Badin to Valley Cruces and Blowing Rock; overnight stay in  a downtown Blowing Rock Hotel with hearty continental breakfast; ticketed  guided tour of the newly opened $7,000,000 Blowing Rock Art and History Museum  including the non-public areas, and an optional walk through of two historic  Blowing Rock Churches. Enjoy Christmas shopping at the original Mast  General Store, the 44-Store Tanger Factory Outlet Mall and the famous Blowing  Rock Main Street.

The  Crawl will depart Badin at 7:30 am on Monday, October 24th and  return Tuesday, October 25th at approximately 6:00 pm.  Cost for the overnight trip is $109.00 per  person double occupancy.  For more  information, please contact Better Badin at 704-422-6778 or  704-322-6267. Seats are limited, please contact Better Badin soon.

In the 1980’s, a group of local residents met with the intent of beautifying their town. They named the group Better Badin.

But Better Badin soon found itself caught up in more than beautification. Controversy, politics and a decision that would alter the town forever overtook their initial intent.

Seeking relief from a rising crime rate and realizing the need for a town police force, this small group became   instrumental in the 1990  incorporation of Badin.

In 1994, with the town government and police department well established, the group turned its attention to promoting the town. David Summerlin and Bill Speight proposed a festival to be named Best of Badin that would operate  under the auspices of Better Badin. In the fall of that year rain ruined the first try, but in later years the festival became the town’s big event, attracting thousands to Badin’s downtown.

Today, the group continues its efforts to beautify and promote the town. The leadership has changed, getting a little younger each year, but the unique format remains the same.

Unlike most civic organizations that often require membership dues and conduct structured meetings, Better Badin only meets the standards required by its incorporated status. It has a duly elected board of officers.

Beyond that, Better Badin is unique in that no membership is required and meetings are strictly informal. The philosophy is ‘turn up when you want to, speak when you please, and for heaven’s sake volunteer for something. We always need the help.’

Better Badin meets at 7 PM on the second Monday of every month at Badin Town Hall. Everyone is welcome.

Best of Badin Festival Draws Big Crowds to Badin’s Downtown

As the downtown business district of Badin undergoes a facelift, a group of citizens are planning to broaden the focus. Better Badin’s Promotion and Marketing Committee met this month to discuss ways to promote the residential district. These volunteers are committed to the growth and improvement of public relations, to improving state and national awareness of this historic  village, to utilizing the assets the area offers and to renewing interest in Badin as a unique ‘cottage town’ in rural North Carolina. 

Encouraging community spirit is high on the agenda: getting citizens to take pride in their unique village, cleaning up yards and encouraging neighbors to do the same, being active in the community and Better Badin, and encouraging friends and acquaintances to visit the town and its surrounding amenities. 

Events are in the planning stages.  The June triathlon brings athletes from across the state. The committee feels this is a great opportunity to show off the town with a proposed  tour of homes and gardens. 

A yard sale is proposed for the spring and the Best of Badin Festival for the fall.

Better Badin's Promotion and Marketing Committee

Committee members shown above are clockwise from upper left David Harris, Bill Harwood, Dean Hopper and Vanessa Mullinix.

“With help and encouragement from the local community, we can accomplish many of our goals,” says committee chairman, David Harris. “We want to see this wonderful town flourish and become a place to be in North Carolina. Many of the things we take for granted everyday are unique to Badin and Stanly County. Let’s share them!”

Vanessa Mullinix bubbles with enthusiasm when she talks about Badin’s future. Ideas tumble out for future projects.  Her dream is to bring the community together to helpBadin reach its potential. Currently the treasurer of Better Badin, Mullinix , with the help of Better Badin president Torry Revels and other Badin fans, has lined up a series of events starting with the Poor Man’s Supper on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Badin Fire Department from 4 PM to 7 PM. There’s a yard sale in the Alcoa parking lot in the spring, the triathalon in June, the festival in the fall and the Christmas Program in December. Other events are in the works. “All these events are about good fellowship, about meeting your neighbors,” says Mullinix. Call her at 704-985-2151.