North Carolina's Easter Monday Baseball Tradition Fades Into History

For over 50 years, the annual Easter Monday baseball game between Wake Forest and NC State was a beloved social event in the state.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 2:58pm

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For more than half a century, the Monday after Easter was a legal holiday in North Carolina, with the biggest sporting event being the annual baseball rivalry between Wake Forest and NC State. The game drew huge crowds of up to 7,000 fans, with the social aspects often overshadowing the on-field action. However, the tradition faded over time, and the state legislature eventually changed the holiday to Good Friday in 1988, making North Carolina the last state to recognize Easter Monday.

Why it matters

The Easter Monday baseball game was a unique tradition that reflected the cultural and social fabric of North Carolina in the early 20th century. It showcased the state's passion for baseball, as well as the importance of community gatherings and social events. The tradition's decline highlights the broader shifts in the state's economy and culture, as banking and other industries gained prominence and influenced the legislative calendar.

The details

The first Easter Monday baseball game between Wake Forest and NC State (then known as North Carolina A&M) was played in 1900, and the tradition continued for over 50 years. The games drew massive crowds, with special trains bringing fans from across the state to Raleigh. The stands were packed, and the crowds sometimes reached 7,000 people. The social aspects of the event were often more important than the game itself, with the state legislature adjourning to attend the game and the local newspapers focusing on the fashions and social activities of the attendees.

  • The first Easter Monday baseball game between Wake Forest and NC State was played on April 16, 1900.
  • The tradition continued annually until 1956, when Wake Forest moved to Winston-Salem.
  • The state of North Carolina recognized Easter Monday as a legal holiday from 1935 until 1987.
  • On March 31, 1988, the state legislature changed the holiday from Easter Monday to Good Friday, making North Carolina the last state to recognize the Easter Monday holiday.

The players

Wake Forest University

A private university located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that was one of the two schools that participated in the annual Easter Monday baseball game.

North Carolina State University (NC State)

A public university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, that was the other school that participated in the annual Easter Monday baseball game.

Tim Peeler

A Hickory, North Carolina native and author of the book "The Easter Monday Baseball Game", which documented the history of this tradition.

Paul Davis Grady

A state senator from Johnston County, North Carolina, who introduced the bill in 1935 that established Easter Monday as a legal holiday in the state.

Lew Powell

A staff writer for the Charlotte Observer who in 1988 wrote about the end of the Easter Monday holiday in North Carolina.

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What they’re saying

“Newspaper accounts paid great attention to the women who attended, what they wore, where they came from, what parties they attended, and who were their dates.”

— Tim Peeler, Author

“The holiday that baseball birthed, banks have buried.”

— Lew Powell, Staff Writer

The takeaway

The decline of North Carolina's Easter Monday baseball tradition reflects the broader cultural and economic shifts that have transformed the state over the past century. What was once a beloved community event centered around the state's passion for baseball has faded into history, replaced by the priorities of the banking industry and the changing social fabric of modern North Carolina.