With the holidays approaching, Carolina offers all types of merchandise, event tickets and memberships that are perfect gifts for Tar Heel fans.
From athletics to the arts and everything in between, Carolina has something for everyone.
gift shops
One of the major landmarks on campus is the historic Carolina Inn. The Inn’s gift shop offers an array of licensed merchandise, including children’s books, tote bags, and a commemorative holiday ornament that will look perfect on any holiday tree. And if someone in your life is hoping to spend a night at a luxurious hotel, a gift card to Carolina Inn might make a perfect stocking stuffer.
The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s gift shop offers out-of-this-world items like cosmic goods, star projectors and glow-in-the-dark planets. Younger family members interested in science will enjoy the selection of science games and kits for home experiments.
No Carolina gift guide would be complete without student stores. In addition to university-licensed apparel, the on-campus and online stores carry an extensive book collection ranging from academic texts to popular bestsellers and classic literature.
event ticket
Give the gift of Game Day to the Tar Heel sports fans in your life. GoHeels.com offers a complete events calendar with ticket information. Carolina staff and employees can use their OneCard to claim four free tickets to any Carolina home sporting event – perfect for sharing with friends and family, except football and men’s basketball games.
If the person on your list loves the stage, Playmakers Repertory Company presents world-class productions throughout the year. Tickets are already on sale for the 2026 lineup, which includes “Primary Trust,” “Macbeth” and “Steel Magnolias.”
Carolina Performing Arts offers another strong selection of ticketed events for fans of music and dance. Choose from jazz performances, hip-hop showcases, interpretive dance acts, opera and more – all of which make thoughtful gifts.
Membership and Season Pass
Carolina also offers gifts that are given throughout the year with membership plans at various popular locations on campus.
Morehead Planetarium offers virtual membership packages at different price points and with different features, but each level of membership offers early access tickets and exclusive updates on exhibits, programs, special events and more.
The North Carolina Botanical Garden offers several membership levels, including virtual only ($30), individual ($50), couple ($75) and household ($100). Other tiers offer discounts on plant sales, free seeds, and even program discounts, among other benefits.
For theater fans, Playmakers also offers Flex Passes, which allows attendees to bring guests to multiple shows or cover the expenses of a large group going to one show. Flex Passes also offer the chance to secure premium seating for just $45.
The Auckland Art Museum offers membership packages that are perfect for any art lover. An individual membership ($60) provides a 10% discount at the gift shop and free or reduced admission to public events. A family membership for an additional $40 includes these features and more.
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