The Ava Gardner Festival, to learn about Ava, her rural upbringing, her five-decade career as a global film star, her great loves, and her exciting life abroad.

Schedule of Events

9:00am-5:00pm: Museum opens with regular hours

10:00am-Noon: Mogambo at Howell Theatre (Tickets required)
The Howell Theatre will host the film Mogambo (1953). Ava's love for silver screen is attributed to her precious childhood moments at this historic theatre, originally built in 1935. Seats are limited and tickets are ONLY available through the theater's website or at the theater.

1:00pm and 3:00pm: Heritage Tours
Festival goers will have two opportunities on Saturday to step aboard a tour bus with one of the Museum's experts for a one-hour, guided trip through Ava's hometown. Participants travel to the Grabtown and Brogden communities, just seven miles east of Smithfield, where Ava was born and raised. The tour concludes with a group visit to Ava's final resting place in Sunset Memorial Park. Seats are limited and tickets are available via the museum's Gift Shop.

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