Frequently Asked Questions

Winston-Salem is centrally located in North Carolina and is accessible by air and car. The nearest airport is Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO), located 17 miles from the hotel. Driving distances from major NC cities: Raleigh (~105 miles, ~1.5 hours), Charlotte (~80 miles, ~1.5 hours), Durham (~85 miles, ~1.5 hours), Greensboro (~30 miles, ~35 minutes).

Yes! The Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center offers free parking for all guests, including RV and motorcoach parking.

Piedmont Triad International Airport (airport code: GSO) is 17 miles from the Hawthorne Inn, approximately a 25-minute drive. Major airlines serving GSO include American, Delta, United, and Allegiant.

Registration is a two-step process: (1) Complete the online registration form via Microsoft Forms, and (2) Submit your payment via CashApp. Both steps must be completed for your registration to be confirmed.

Per Person:
Ages 0-4: Free
Ages 5-11: $50
Ages 12-79: $125
Ages 80+: Free

Registration Includes:
2026 TFR T-shirt (ages 0-4 may purchase separately)
All venues & event programming
Select entertainment & activities
Friday Cookout
Saturday Banquet
Welcome bag (for adults only)

Registration Deadline: June 30th

• Option #1: CashApp (Preferred)
• • Send to: $ThomasFamilyGroup
  • Include in Notes: “2026 Registration – Full Name(s)”)
• Option #2: Check
  • Payable to: The Thomas Family Group
  • Include in check Memo: “2026 Registration – Full Name(s)”
  • Mail to: Pam Gibson, 3815 Crickett Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
• Payment Questions?
  • Contact Pam Gibson
    • adpd5859@aol.com
    • (336) 409-0777

Registration Deadline: June 30th

The Planning Committee will cross-reference your registration form submission with your CashApp payment. Once both are verified, you will receive a confirmation via email or text. Please allow up to 7 days for processing.

• Payment Questions?
  • Contact Pam Gibson
    • adpd5859@aol.com
    • (336) 409-0777

The IBTF is a world-renowned biennial celebration of Black theatrical excellence held in Winston-Salem, NC. Founded in 1989 by the late Larry Leon Hamlin with Dr. Maya Angelou as the first chairperson, the festival features over 120 performances, an Opening Night Gala, Cultural Heritage Tours, an International Vendors Market, Film Festival, Midnight Poetry Jam, Youth Talent Showcase, and much more. It draws over 60,000 visitors to Winston-Salem and has been described by the New York Times as “one of the most historically and culturally significant events in the history of black theatre and American theatre in general.”

Absolutely! Reunion attendees are encouraged to explore IBTF events. Tickets are available separately at ncblackrep.org and go on sale June 3, 2026. IBTF tickets are purchased independently. They are not included in your reunion registration. The 2026 Celebrity Co-Chairs are Angela Robinson and Peter Parros.

• A hot breakfast is included for 2 guests per room per day.
• For additional guests in the same room:
  • Half-price breakfast: $5 + tax per person
  • Must be purchased at the hotel registration desk (not in the restaurant)
• Downtown Winston-Salem also has numerous restaurants within walking distance.

Call the hotel directly.
Ask for: “Thomas Family Reunion”
Note: No online booking link is available.

Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center
420 High Street • Winston-Salem, NC 27101
Phone: 336‑777‑3000
Website: hawthorneinn.com

• A hot breakfast is included for 2 guests per room per day.
• For additional guests in the same room:
  • Half-price breakfast: $5 + tax per person
  • Must be purchased at the hotel registration desk (not in the restaurant)

• The Saturday evening banquet will be held on-site at the Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center.
• More details on the menu will be provided soon.

• Digital Registration: Complete our digital registration form on this website.
• Timeline: Registration closes June 30, 2026
• Payment: You can pay reunion fees (covering the banquet, T-shirts, cookout, etc.) via CashApp or check. The form will include instructions.
• Questions: Contact Tasuha Thomas or Chauncey Coultier for help filling out the form or to update a previously filled out form.
  • Tasuha Thomas: tasuhat@yahoo.com or (301) 452-6926‬
  • Chauncey Coulter: lecoulte@yahoo.com or (828) 238-6713

To update an existing reunion registration form, please contact Tasuha Thomas or Chauncey Coulter.

• Tasuha Thomas: tasuhat@yahoo.com or (301) 452-6926‬
• Chauncey Coulter: lecoulte@yahoo.com or (828) 238-6713

• Senior Registration (Ages 80+): Free
• Adult Registration (Ages 12-79): $125
• Children (Ages 5–11): $50
• Ages 0–4: Free
• Payment Methods: We accept CashApp, checks, or money orders. Detailed instructions are on the registration form.

• Friday Cookout: We’ve secured a local park area and will send address details. Expect a relaxed family gathering with food, games, and fellowship.
• Hospitality Room: We plan to have a hospitality space at the host hotel for informal meetups, game nights, and activities throughout the weekend.
• Saturday Banquet: Formal dinner with a short program.
• Additional Activities: We will announce group outings (e.g., local tours, museum visits, or city excursions) soon.
• Sunday Worship and Send-Off: Sunday Breakfast will be followed by a short worship gathering for those who wish to attend.

• Please note any restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) in the registration form.
• The catering team will accommodate those needs for the banquet.
• For breakfasts, we’ll do our best to provide varied options as well.
• How to Indicate: You can specify your restriction(s) on the digital registration form or email Pam Gibson at adpd5859@aol.com or 336-409-0977 if you need special requests.

• Yes, absolutely! You can register non-immediate family or guests under your main registration if they are attending the same events.
• The same fees and hotel group rate guidelines apply.

• Sizes: Adult sizes (S–5XL) and children’s sizes are available.
• Distribution: T-shirts are usually picked up at the registration table on Friday at the cookout, at the Saturday morning registration table, or at Saturday’s banquet check-in.
• Ordering: Indicate sizes on the registration form.

• Subcommittees (e.g., Activities, Communications, Logistics) are forming. We’d love extra hands.
• If you have interest in volunteernig, please feel free to reach out to Pam Gibson directly at adpd5859@aol.com or 336-409-0977.

• Website: Check this FAQ and the main page for new announcements.
• Email Updates: We’ll send important info via our official family email list.