Attendees to See How Glass Pinecones are Made and a Chance to Find One

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (February 17, 2026) – Fans of the popular Pinecone Pathways Program in Moore County, N.C. will now get an opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at how the coveted glass pinecones are made. In partnership with Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, glassmakers from Starworks in Star, N.C. have created the first Pinecone Pathways Fan Experience. The event is limited to the first 60 ticket purchasers and will be held on the first day of the annual Pinecone Pathways Program on March 20th from 5:00-6:30pm at Starworks. Tickets are $25 per person which includes an opportunity to meet the artists, glass demonstration, live entertainment and an exclusive chance to find one of the limited-edition glass pinecones. “We are super excited to pull the curtain back and give fans of the Pinecone Pathways Program and inside look at how those glass treasurers are made and to expose them to all we do here at Starworks,” said Joe Grant, Starworks Executive Director. “This is one of our favorite events of the year and has been a great opportunity for us to highlight and promote our unique artist community.”

The Pinecone Pathways Program is celebrating it’s fourth year and is touted as North Carolina’s largest countywide scavenger hunt. This year, in commemoration of the America 250 anniversary, the program features a patriotic twist. Of the 100 glass pinecones to be hidden from March 20-April 22, 25 of them will be colored red, white and blue. The colorful glass pinecones will be hidden along trails throughout Moore County with trail locations published weekly by Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen.

“We are always looking for ways to make this viral glass pinecone hunt unique and special, so tying it to the national America 250 celebration fit perfectly,” said Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen President and CEO Phil Werz. “Each year, we see more and more people

visiting from a number of states to spend a couple days searching for these unique glass treasures. While it’s all about the thrill of the hunt for the rabid ‘coneheads,’ it’s also a great way to get outside, enjoy some exercise on our great Moore County trails and hopefully realize the excitement of finding a rare glass pinecone.”

Tickets for the Pinecone Pathways Fan Experience can be purchased online at: https://www.starworksnc.org/pinecone-pathways-fan-experience

Glass pinecones will be hidden in weekly increments of 20 for five weeks along selected trails throughout Moore County. Each week, a new series of trails will be announced via social media alerting pinecone hunters as to what trails they should explore to find a pinecone. The pinecones will be tagged with a special number and QR code, so those finding them can register them and be eligible to win the grand prizes.

This year, there will be drawings for two grand prizes. The bigger grand prize will be based on a drawing from those finding the special red, white and blue pinecones. The larger grand prize will consist of a two-night stay in the Pinehurst area, gift cards from an area retailer and restaurant, and a special limited-edition America 250 flag. All found pinecones must be registered online to be eligible for the grand prize drawings. Finders can be any age, but the person claiming the grand prize must be 21 years of age or older.

Because there will only be a limited number of pinecones to be found in the program, organizers ask that finders only keep one of them, and any additional ones found must remain hidden on the trail. Only one contest registration per household will be permitted. Those registering more than one pinecone will be deemed ineligible for winning either grand prize.

For more information about the Pinecone Pathways Program, go to: https://homeofgolf.com/pinecone-pathways/ 

Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen

Visit Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen is the economic development agency responsible for travel and tourism promotion, product development, and visitor services for Moore County, NC. The organization devises strategies to enhance the County’s tourism brand value and product to accommodate the next generation of visitors, thereby stimulating the local economy and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. In 2024, Moore County ranked as the tenth largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $860 million annually in visitor spending, which supports the second largest employment sector in the county and saves county residents approximately $546 a year in state and local taxes.