Madness

Spring, in my opinion, is by far the best season.  The weather isn’t too hot, the flowers are blooming, and during the month of March you can’t turn on your TV without hearing about basketball.  It is hard for me to imagine a North Carolinian who doesn’t go nuts for the ACC tournament this time of year.  Even if you didn’t go to one of the four ACC schools in our state, you probably still pull for one.  Being a Tar heel myself, I find no greater joy than the highs and lows that tournament season brings.   One of the best things about college basketball is how close we in Greensboro are able to come to it.  Not only are we geographically in the middle of the four ACC schools, but this year the tournament is being held right here at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.  This weekend, go see a game!  If you haven’t picked a side yet, do it!  (I recommend the Carolina blue of course)  Enjoy the fact that some of the deepest seeded rivalries in the history of college sports are being celebrated right here in your neighborhood.  And if you can’t make it to a game, enjoy a cold drink at one of the fabulous bars downtown.  I promise you they will be showing the madness that is March.

There are bands and then there are THE ROGUES

The Fun Fourth Festival is in full planning mode  -- we are talking to bands, food vendors, crafters, bands, amusement providers, volunteers, bands, city staff, vendors, and oh yeah bands!

One of the bands already booked for the 2011 Fun Fourth Festival -- The Rogues.  If the 78th Fraser Pipe Band sat down with the Waterboys, the Chieftains, the Rolling Stones, and the Dave Matthews Band, and then asked some friends from a symphonic orchestra to join them at the table the resulting sound might begin to resemble the ROGUES.




Put it on your calendar -- July 4, 2011.  Its going to be hot!



 

Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations

As we begin the last month of winter, most of us are grateful that it is the shortest month of the year. Memories of the beautiful snow that fell over the holidays are replaced with dreams of sandy beaches and warm sunshine. It’s time to start thinking about trading snowballs for beach balls and fires in the fireplace for fires in the grill.

With all this summer fun, of course comes the most American of holidays, the Fourth of July. Marked by cookouts, fireworks, and parades, Independence Day is a staple of summer and certainly something to look forward to as the days seem to get colder and colder. When you are bundling up in that winter coat today, why not think to the future of how you are going to spend that happy day in July.

One of our founding fathers, John Adams, wrote about the Fourth of July, “It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance…with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other…”

The Fun Fourth Festival in Greensboro, NC does John Adams proud by bringing over 90,000 people together to celebrate this great day in American history with music, food, and of course, fireworks. Seems like just the thing to think about when you need a warm memory to get you through these last few weeks of winter. So next time you get a cold chill, just think about how you and your friends will be spending this July Fourth eating funnel cake and partying like it’s 1776!

65 Days and Counting

Counting ...and counting. 65 days and counting until Festival of Lights on Friday, December 3rd.

65 Days to make sure that we have hired over 20 bands, 65 days to make sure that we have changed/checked over 20,000 light bulbs in our holiday decorations, 65 days to make sure that we have 100's if not 1000's of Marshmallows for the Marshmallow Roast, 65 days to be ready for the 10,000+ people that will come to downtown Greensboro for the annual Festival of Lights.
I certainly hope that you will be there to be counted!

Behind the Scenes - Final Chapter - Fun 4th Hangover

The main ingredient of the Fun 4th week for staff, crew and volunteers is adrenaline. So much happens so quickly and so intensely that we're all just running on incredible bursts of adrenaline. In fact, the adrenaline rush is so intense that you tend to not be able to sleep even when you have the opportunity. So when it's all over, and our bodies stop producing all that adrenaline, we end up with what we call the Fun 4th Hangover. Basically, we crash and we crash hard. Which would be fine -- if we had a week off to recover.

Unfortunately, all that gak and gear we use for Fun 4th gets slammed back into our crazy suite of offices in the Old Greensborough Gateway Building with very little rhyme or reason, and we have to spend the next week sorting it all out, just so we can operate. As much a we'd like to think it's all about Fun 4th, we have other events we have to move on to now. Center City Park, Festival of Lights and Run 4 the Greenway didn't go away while we were shooting off some fireworks and eating funnel cakes.

So here's a peak at what we woke up to on the morning after. We have a few more days of work on it -- and then we're off to the beach! And then -- it is T minus 146 days until Festival of Lights. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, ya'll.....

Betty Cone

I started to write this blog about our fearless leader here at Grassroots Productions, but if you already know Betty Cone, then you'll know that no words I can come up with will be sufficient to describe her. If you don't already know the Queen of Greensboro, find an opportunity to -- you'll never regret it. Betty Cone is one of the most generously committed people you will ever meet -- and one hour of her time is filled with more passion than most people experience in a lifetime. Like I said -- words fall way way short of the amazing complexity that is Betty Cone, but in a universe where a picture is worth a thousand words, this one pretty much sums it up. Congratulations on another fantastic Fun 4th -- thanks for continuing to be our muse!

Behind the Scenes - Part 3 - Expect the Unexpected

We're down to counting hours rather than days now -- hard to believe we're almost ready for you to arrive. As I write, I'm watching our crew load up all the stuff we store in our on-site headquarters at the Cultural Arts Center. After I post this, it'll be time for me to pack up the laptop and head on over myself.

In my last installment, I talked about the details of the Fun 4th that are critical to the success of the event. While "Where Are the Portajohns?" has become our mantra, our Rule #1 has become "Expect the Unexpected." Just a little reminder that we always have to be flexible and and be prepared to think on the fly. You never know what the Fun 4th will bring -- missing folks with Alzheimer's, folks who think that bringing their pet snakes to a festival with 60,000 people is a good idea, lost parents, heat stroke, rogue vendors -- and of course, there's always the possibility of an intense thunderstorm when you least desire it. Like during Festival take-down. When there's no way not to get soaking wet. When you don't have any clothes to change into. Those are the moments when you discover the depth of your creative think abilities -- and the versatility of a Fun 4th t-shirt when you get soaked to the skin.

Yep -- a 3XL Fun 4th t-shirt and a little imagination and you'll be good to go. Expect the Unexpected -- Rule #1 for the Fun 4th, and really, Rule #1 for life, too -- right?

Fun 4th Picture of the Day

A new daily series of photos from Fun 4th, past and present.

June 27, 2009, Downtown Greensboro
The start of the 2009 10K Freedom Run

We hope you'll join us tomorrow morning for this year's race! Check out our website for more details!

In foul, fetid, fuming, foggy, filthy Philadelphia!

Many years ago, during one of my family's summer vacation road trips, we stopped for a couple days in Philadelphia. I don't remember much about Philly, except that it was very, very hot, and that we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and I got a shirt. The main reason for our stop there was to visit Independence Hall, and it definitely didn't disappoint. When we looked in the room where the Continental Congress met, I thought, "It looks just the way it's supposed to." When we walked through the lobby, I pointed at the stairs and said to my dad, "Look, that's where Franklin, Jefferson and Adams sang about the egg! And that's where they did the kick line down the stairs!"

In case you were wondering, yes, I'm aware that the Founding Fathers did not sing or dance down stairs (or did they?). But when we were wandering around Independence Hall, as amazing as it was to be in the place where some of the most important events in our nation's history took place, a good chunk of my excitement came from my recognition of the surroundings. I'd never been to Independence Hall before, but I had seen the movie 1776 more times than I can count.



1776 is a musical that tells the story of how the Declaration of Independence came to be written and ratified. The movie adaptation of this Tony Award-winning show is one of my all-time favorites, because it caters to my inner musical theatre nerd as well as my history nerd side.

The Fun Fourth Festival is proud to present 1776 on stage at the Carolina Theatre on July 1st, 2nd and 4th, and I, for one, cannot wait to see it. Directed by JP Swisher, the show will feature some of the finest actors in the Triad, and will certain-LEE (see below...hehe!) be an entertaining and educational experience for everyone.

Call for Crafters & Skilled Artisans

Call for Crafters and Skilled Artisans for Fun Fourth Festival 2010!

Organizers for this year’s Fun Fourth Festival in downtown Greensboro are accepting applications for crafters, skilled artisans and dealers of vintage-era items for their Craftscene and Vintage Village on Saturday, July 3. More than 100,000 people are expected at this year’s festival.

All items for sale in Craftscene must be of original design and handcrafted. Design and artistic excellence are considered for paintings, graphics, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, photography and mixed media. Items must be acceptable for family viewing.

Vintage Village sellers will display items for sale such as vintage clothing, furniture, textiles, house wares, knick-knacks and the like from a variety of eras.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit an application for participation in Fun Fourth Street Festival 2010. The application form is available for download.

The deadline for submitting applications for Craftscene and Vintage Village is May 15, 2010.

***Please note: Marketplace (Commercial Vending) and Food vendors are by invitation only.***

PS. Because I can't say it enough --- In 2010 the Parade & Street Festival are on Saturday, July 3!!!
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3 Days and Counting!!

Festival of Lights is 3 days away!

The rain forecast is good -- none! There will be a slight chill in the air (Peggy hates that!) and Downtown Greensboro will be ready to welcome the holiday season.

• Decorations Done!
• Tree @ Center City Park -- in progress
  
• 25+ Bands/Entertainers -- hired
• 3000 Marshmallows -- purchased
• 400 Christmas & Holiday Cards for troops -- ready to be signed
• Food Vendors -- confirmed
• Face Painter -- yes!
• Snow -- yes!
• Flash Mob -- of course!
• Kris Kringle Karaoke --yep!!
  
• Hand warming Stations -- almost ready
• Volunteers -- Still needed.

If you are interested in volunteering for Festival of Lights please contact the Grassroots office @ 274.4595 or email me brenda@grassrootsproductionsltd.org -- help is needed, especially with manning the hand warming stations!!

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Window Decorating Contest

Do you own or manage property, business or residence in downtown Greensboro? If so, we have the contest for you! Every year Festival of Lights holds a window/facade decorating contest. Windows and/or Facades must use lights and must relate to the theme. This year's theme is Hometown Holidays!!



First prize is an advertising package provided by The News & Record with second and third prizes of theatre tickets and restaurant gift certificates.

There are three categories that you can register in Large Window or Facade, Small Window or Non-Profit Window. New this year is the category for non-profit window -- Downtown Greensboro Inc. and the United Arts Council are teaming together to partner non-profits with vacant store fronts. It gives the non-profit an opportunity to showcase their organization while at the same time brightening up some vacant store fronts.

For more information about the contest or to download the registration form please check out the rules and criteria here.

The Winners (pictured above) from 2008 Festival of Lights were:
First Place -- Mack & Mack
Second Place -- Just Be
Third Place -- Action Greensboro
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First Friday in Downtown Greensboro

The First Friday of every month, Downtown Greensboro, Inc. (DGI) and the United Arts Council (UAC) cross promote downtown activities and special retail events. So, shops are open with an art exhibit, galleries have special viewings and open houses, restaurants may have a special musician playing. Its a great way to encourage people to come downtown and explore all that Greensboro has to offer. Here are a couple of highlights for the August 7th First Friday!

Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art
In partnership with DGI & with support from Face to Face and synerG, the gallery presents an August Art Oasis. The Greensboro Cultural Center will be transformed in to a mecca of music and art to include street art & pottery demonstrations, street belly dancing, hip hop dance and base line DJ music thumping through the atrium.

• Lyndon Street Artworks – 205 Lyndon St.
  Recycle! Renew! Reuse! Relive! @ Lyndon Street Artworks. Artists include: Julie McKnight - “Art is all around us, in bottles, in broken glass, in nails, in salvaged metal, in discarded household utensils.”; Karen Bjorn Dischell's oil painting; Susan Ridenour's tableware; Kris Hohn’s projects including drift wood, shells, bottle caps, and wire and a new collection of mini paintings; and Anne Marie Davis “Pears.” Also enjoy the Lyndon Street Movie Night double feature starting at 9pm- The Matisse Print. Movies not suitable for children. Then, stick around for our main feature, James Cameron's Undersea/Sci-Fi/Action/Thriller 'The Abyss - both free.
• Center City Park -200 N. Elm St.
  Join poet and host, Josephus III for Center City Poetry Experience, an open mic event at the Pavilion from 6-8pm.
• Mack and Mack - 220 S. Elm St.
  Drop-in throughout the evening to join in a Music Jam or to enjoy this organic listening experience. The two-hour jam session will end with a performance by F-Art Ensemble beginning at 7:30pm.

So come on out, enjoy mingling with a couple of thousand of your closest friends....meander along Elm Street to Lyndon Street, to Southside and South Elm. Eat, Drink, Enjoy the art, music, poetry and the ambiance and see what Greensboro has to offer! I guarantee it will be a good time!

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Natty's Fifth Anniversary Party

Natty's Fifth Anniversary Party was Saturday, August 1st --- a good time was had by all!! Below are a couple of videos from the concert. Enjoy!

Natty Greene's 5th Anniversary Party

Saturday, August 1st starting at 6pm come on out and join us for the Natty Greene's 5th Anniversary Party!!!

Can you imagine .... its been five years since Natty Greene's has opened! How much Buckshot or Old Town Brown have you consumed in the last five years? Well, it doesn't matter, all that matters is that you come out on August 1st and enjoy the Free Concert in Hamburger Square in Downtown Greensboro.

Music by Sam Bush with special guests Jeanne Jolly and The Deluge. Souvenir Beers $4.00. Its looking like it will be a great night! See you there!!
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An ode to carnival food

As you may have noticed, if you scroll down the page a little ways, there is a poll asking what you like about Fun Fourth. If you haven't seen it, you should take a look. Vote if you feel like it. I'll wait.

Ok? Anyhoo. It's a good poll, but I do have a small quibble with it. My absolute favorite part of Fun Fourth is not an option. The thing that I like the most about Fun Fourth is the food. Ever since I was a kid, I've associated street festivals and carnivals and the like with food, because there are certain things that you just can't get at home. The cotton candy, the sno-cones, the roasted corn, the hot dogs, but more than anything else, the funnel cakes.

I love funnel cakes. I wish I could explain why. After all, it's just fried dough and powdered sugar. Some people like to put other toppings on theirs, but I don't need any extra frills (although I did just see a picture of a funnel cake with powdered sugar and M&Ms, which is genius). But look at it.




It's perfect in its simplicity. It's also messy and bad for you, and that is precisely why it's so wonderful.

Several years ago, long before I started working for Grassroots, I was rehearsing for a local community theatre production, and we were in the middle of tech week at the Carolina Theatre during Fun Fourth. At that time, the Festival map was different, and there were rides and booths and food vendors right next door to the theatre. Now, for the first number of the show, I had to wear a short, Pepto-Bismol pink wig (this is important to the story). At one point in the dressing room, one of my fellow cast members mentioned that there was a funnel cake vendor just outside. Naturally, I was very happy about this. I wanted to go get one, but I already had my wig on, and I was a teenager and still cared what strangers thought of me, and so I asked my friend if she would get me a funnel cake if I gave her money. She made me a counter offer: that she would buy me a funnel cake if I would go with her to get it, while wearing my wig.

I hesitated for about two seconds. Some people stared, and little children pointed at me, but I didn't care. I got a free funnel cake, and it was good.

At some point this year on the day of the Festival, you may see me striding through the streets with a sense of purpose, a grin of anticipatory glee on my face, and you'll know why. There's a lot to enjoy at Fun Fourth: the parade, the bands, the crafts, and of course, the wide variety of food. I hope you get a chance to see, hear, and taste it all.
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Featured Band -- Holy Ghost Tent Revival

"Just walking down the street,

walking down the street

Looking at my feet,

looking at my feet I don't know,

know where to go"

-- Walking Down the Street

With compelling lyrics and energetic music Holy Ghost Tent Revival brings the party to life!

Join HGTR at the Flag Day Fun! -- A Fun Fourth Festival Fundraisier on June 14 from 4 - 7pm! Hamburger Square (next to Natty Greene's at the corner of S. Elm and Lee in Downtown Greensboro). Tickets $5 -- all proceeds benefit the Fun Fourth Festival!

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Downtown Greensboro

There are some great sites and buildings in downtown Greensboro. I found this video online and thought you might enjoy it! Come on down and enjoy all that Greensboro has to offer.