Downtown summer fun kicks off this week
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on April 30, 2017 12:20 AM
A Star Wars costume contest and tunes from Spare Change will kick off the 2017 Center Street Jam concert series Thursday in downtown Goldsboro.
Other events are also planned in the downtown area, including the Three Eagles Beer Festival in May and the city of Goldsboro's annual Sprinkler Fun Days, which start in June.
With this year's Center Street Jam series starting on May 4 -- Star Wars Day -- organizers decided to focus on a "May the Fourth Be with You" theme, complete with Star Wars costume contests and other Star Wars giveaways.
"We are so excited to kick off the 2017 season of Center Street Jam with local favorite, the Spare Change band," said Erin Fonseca, Goldsboro's downtown development promotions coordinator.
"Star Wars has become a multi-generational hit, with children and their parents becoming fans of the series. When our first jam falls on Star Wars Day, we just have to celebrate it."
Center Street Jam is a nine-week concert series that is held every other Thursday night, from 6 to 9 p.m., through Aug. 24 in the John Street parking lot at 130 N. Center St. There is no cost to attend, and food vendors and beer will be available for purchase.
"This year, we celebrate 18 years of our summer concert series that the community has come to look forward to as much as we do," Fonseca said. "Center Street jams offer a fun, free and family-friendly event option that everyone can enjoy, with a mix of musical genres, vendors, kids activities and more."
Food vendors will be set up in the parking lot, and cold beverages, including draft beer, will be sold from the R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Co. beer wagon. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, but no pets or coolers are allowed.
The first Center Street Jam includes music from the popular LaGrange-based band Spare Change, known for its different music styles, including rock, country, beach, funk, rap and classic rock.
During intermission, winners of the Star Wars youth and adult costume contests will be selected based on the crowd's response, Fonseca said. Winners in the youth category, up to age 18, and the adult contest will receive downtown dollars and T-shirts.
The concert series continues on May 18, with the Greenville-based Mikele Buck Band. The band's music is a blend of several musical influences, including Steve Earle, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt and the Randy Rodgers Band.
The annual Military Appreciation Day will be held during the June 1 Center Street Jam concert with Jim Quick and Coastline performing. The evening includes special activities and giveaways to celebrate military families. A $1 discount is provided on the first beer purchase to anyone with a military identification.
Center Street Jam concerts the rest of the season include the Soul Psychedelique Orchestra on June 15; Liquid Pleasure on June 29; The Embers on July 13; Digger Foot on July 27; Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot on Aug. 10; and Hip Pocket on Aug. 24.
Center Street Jam events typically draw anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 people to the downtown area, with higher attendance during more popular concerts, including Spare Change, The Embers and Jim Quick and Coastline, Fonseca said.
Center Street Jam, sponsored by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp., is only canceled if heavy rain or thunderstorms are in the forecast. Cancellation decisions are made by 3 p.m., and notices are posted on the Downtown Goldsboro Facebook site.
Other upcoming events in the downtown area include the May 6 Three Eagles Beer Festival and Sprinkler Fun Days, which are offered every Thursday afternoon starting June 15 and continuing through Aug. 17.
The third annual Three Eagles Beer Festival, organized by the Three Eagles Rotary Club, will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Cornerstone Commons, 200 S. Center St.
The ticketed event includes more than 40 craft beer selections, live music and food trucks.
The festival is a fundraiser for the Three Eagles Rotary Club, with event proceeds going to local nonprofit organizations and Rotary International in support of its efforts to eradicate polio and promote world peace and understanding.
Tickets are available at the Paramount Theatre box office or online at www.threeeaglesbeer.com. VIP tickets are $54 and allow for admission from 1 to 6 p.m. General tickets for $38 allow for admission from 2 to 6 p.m.
During Sprinkler Fun Days, a giant water sprinkler will be set up in the Cornerstone Commons from 3 to 4 p.m. every Thursday. Sprinkler days are offered to the public by the city of Goldsboro and supervised by the Goldsboro Fire Department. The activity is also sponsored by the Bridge Church.