'live here'

Kelsey Hairston runs the Rocky Mount based Cakes by Kelsey, LLC. Learn more about why she thinks Franklin County shines.

Locals know that in Franklin County you don’t have to choose between lake life and mountain views because at Smith Mountain Lake you can have the best of both. And the world is starting to take notice. One of the world’s top travel media brands, Travel + Leisure recently named Smith Mountain Lake as one of the best places to buy a vacation home in the US. 

On a typical workday, you might find Rex Norris juggling ticket orders, or chatting with patrons. On a typical work night, you’re likely to find him shaking hands with the likes of Lee Ann Womack, Melissa Etheridge, or Victor Wooten before slipping into the audience to listen to the show. That’s because Rex Norris has one of the coolest jobs around: Box Office Manager for the Harvester Performance Center.

The Harvester Performance Center is an indoor, mid-sized music venue in the heart of Rocky Mount with world-class live concerts in all kinds of genres. Past performances include The Beach Boys, Kenny G, Three Dog Night, and The Glenn Miller Orchestra.

We had the chance to interview Rex about his work at the Harvester, his life in Franklin County, and what he thinks makes Franklin County shine.