Fans entering the gates of Netflix’s “Poguelandia” festival in California. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix

Cast members from Netflix’s “Outer Banks” were gushing about North Carolina at the second Poguelandia, a festival dedicated to the series, last weekend in Santa Monica, California.

Why it matters: The popular Netflix teen drama takes place on North Carolina’s strip of beaches and is filmed in Charleston, South Carolina.

If you’ve seen the show, you know that it’s not exactly geographically accurate (there is no ferry from Chapel Hill to the coast, for example). But its authenticity does come from a few of its cast members and crew, who are from the state where the show takes place.

Driving the news: Netflix announced that “Outer Banks” has been renewed for the fifth and final season.

Part 2 of the fourth season of “Outer Banks” is streaming now.

Between the lines: This season was partly filmed in Wilmington and the plotline surrounds Edward Teach, AKA “Blackbeard” — the infamous pirate who was killed in N.C.
Poguelandia was the latest event to promote the second half of the latest season. The festivities included performances by Jungle, GloRilla and Remi Wolf as well as themed food, merch and photo ops.
We caught up with a few cast members from North Carolina on the red carpet. Here’s what they said about their home state.

As a native, what does it feel like to be on a show that’s set in North Carolina?

“As someone who believes in divine timing, there’s something that feels so kismet about it. I love my state and I’m really proud and happy to be [on the show],” says Madison Bailey (“Kiara”), from Kernersville.
“It’s a joy. I was excited to audition for the role because I knew that world so well. A lot of the crew and cast are from North Carolina so it just feels familiar,” said Drew Starkey (“Rafe”), from Hickory.

“It’s good to see North Carolina getting a little bit of shine,” Cullen Moss (“Deputy Shoupe”), from Winston-Salem.

It’s college basketball season: Do you root for Duke, UNC or NC State?

“UNC. Because that’s who [my family] told me to root for since I was born,” said Bailey.
“Duke. My dad used to coach at the summer basketball camps,” said Starkey