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In the News

Please refer to this page as a media resource and find all of our recent press releases. 

For regular updates, don't forget to sign up for our bi-weekly South End Newsletter.

For media inquiries please contact Rick Thurmond at rthurmond@charlottecentercity.org. 

Press Releases:

November 15, 2023: Kick Off the South End Holiday Season as Shop Small Saturday, presented by Lowe’s, Returns for an Eleventh Year

CHARLOTTE (November 15, 2023) - Discover holiday cheer around every corner in South End this November and December. Shop Small Saturday will kickstart the South End holiday season starting on Nov. 25. The shopping extravaganza is presented by Lowe’s and produced by Charlotte Center City Partners and Esther & Elsa Retail. During Shop Small Saturday, shoppers can take advantage of open-air pop-up markets, holiday programming, and some of Charlotte’s best local brick-and-mortar retail. The shopping-centric event has become a beloved holiday tradition, offering people a way to check off their gift lists while supporting local businesses. Once again, shoppers can receive a free South End tote bag by making purchases and collecting stickers at participating retailers to fill out their Shop Small Hero Card. 

February 1, 2023: Celebrate Valentine’s Day on the Rail Trail, thanks to U.S. Bank

CHARLOTTE (February 1, 2023) - Roses are red, violets are blue, stop by the Rail Trail for free photos for your sweetie and you! South End residents and visitors are invited to stop at Evelyn Henson’s Instagram-famous Confetti Hearts Mural on Saturday, Feb. 11 from 11am-2pm for free portraits by Collin Mairena Photography in honor of Valentine’s Day! Attendees can enjoy live music from local musician Curt Keyz throughout the event, and the first 100 people can also pick up a flower to keep for themselves or to give to their valentine (or galentine). Flowers will be provided by Bookout Blooms.

January 12, 2023: Rail Trail Lights Returns to South End with Six Public Light Art Installations

CHARLOTTE (January 12, 2023) - The Charlotte Rail Trail will be illuminated for the fourth year as Rail Trail Lights, presented by U.S. Bank, returns to South End with six never-before-seen, locally created public art installations on display from February 3-19.

October 27, 2022: South End’s Shop Small Saturdays Returns for a Tenth Year for the Holiday Shopping Season

CHARLOTTE (October 27, 2022) - Find holiday cheer around every corner in South End this season, as South End Shop Small Saturdays, presented by Lowe’s, returns for a tenth year with three consecutive Saturdays of festivities. Beginning Saturday, Nov. 26, shoppers can take advantage of open-air pop-up markets, holiday programming, and some of Charlotte’s best local brick-and-mortar retail. South End Shop Small Saturdays has become a beloved holiday tradition, offering people a way to check off their gift lists while supporting local businesses.

February 22, 2022: I Heart Rail Trail: Lights Returns with Dazzling Public Art Installations in South End

CHARLOTTE (February 22, 2022) - The Rail Trail will be lit once again this year as I Heart Rail Trail: Lights, presented by U.S. Bank, returns to South End with five never-before-seen public art installations on display from March 4-20. The festival is free and open to the public. Artwork will be illuminated at dusk each night to create a magical interactive experience in one of Charlotte’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

November 22, 2021: Shop Small Saturdays presented by Fifth Third Bank Returns to South End for the Holiday Shopping Season

CHARLOTTE (November 22, 2021) - Find holiday cheer around every corner in South End this season, as Shop Small Saturdays presented by Fifth Third Bank returns with four consecutive Saturdays of festivities.

August 19, 2021: Charlotte Center City Small Business Innovation Fund: Round 4 Awards Over $1 Million in Grants to 27 Small Businesses to Finish Allocating all Available Funding

CHARLOTTE (August 18, 2021) - The Charlotte Center City Small Business Innovation Fund today announced it has awarded $1,034,00 in grants to 27 more small businesses within Center City to spur and support innovation as they continue to adapt to the new economic realities and opportunities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 27 recipients in Round 4, which finishes allocating all available funding, join the 116 recipients from Rounds 1-3. In all, 143 Charlotte small businesses received innovation grants totaling more than $4.6M.

August 10, 2021: Squeeze the Day with Lemonade-Flavored Popsicles in South End, sponsored by U.S. Bank

CHARLOTTE (August 10, 2021) - Anything is popsicle when you’re going back to school! Celebrate the start of a new school year, and National Lemonade Day, with U.S. Bank at the South End Market on Saturday, Aug. 21. We will give away 100 King of Pop popsicles at the Market’s Back to School Event. Popsicle flavors include lemonade, pink lemonade, and strawberry lemonade! The South End Market’s Back to School event will feature 25 local farmers, food artisans and crafters; a live children’s cooking demo by Chef Alyssa Wilen of Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen; live farm animals; face painting; hair feathering; and music by popular local artist MonaLisa. The Market is free to attend, and attendees should look for the free lemonade sign and King of Pop cart to grab their sweet treat. After all, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

July 8, 2021: Charlotte Small Business Innovation Fund to Award Nearly $1 Million in Latest Round of Grants Thanks to New Investments by Honeywell, Duke Energy and the Knight Foundation

CHARLOTTE, (July 8, 2021) – New investments by Honeywell, Duke Energy and the Knight Foundation will enable the Charlotte Center City Small Business Innovation Fund to award nearly $1 million in a fourth round of grantmaking this summer. Applications for those grants will be accepted beginning Friday, June 25, at noon, and will close at the same time on Wednesday, July 14.

June 21, 2021: Celebrate International Make Music Day in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE (June 21, 2021): Make Music Day started in France, 1982. France’s Ministry of Culture dreamed up an idea for a new kind of musical holiday. They created a full day where free, live music would be everywhere: street corners and parks, rooftops and gardens, store fronts and mountaintops. Unlike a typical music festival, anyone and everyone would be invited to join and play music or host performances. The event would take place on the summer solstice, June 21, and would be called Fête De La Musique. (In French, the name means both “festival of music” and “make music!”). Make Music Charlotte wants to keep the spirit of Fête De La Musique alive by celebrating Make Music Day on June 21. Anyone and everyone is invited to find a way to celebrate and make music! We invite YOU to celebrate Make Music Day with us!  

May 20, 2021: Art, Music, and Surprises Popping up During South End Blooms

CHARLOTTE (May 20, 2021): Flowers are blooming all across the Queen City … and so is art in South End. Local creatives - musicians, fiber artists, painters, dancers and more — will share their skills in public spaces and businesses as part of South End Blooms, a celebration of Charlotte’s creative community with surprise, pop-up art experiences blooming every weekend through June 15.

May 18, 2021: Celebrate National Scavenger Hunt Day by Exploring Art Along the Rail Trail in South End

CHARLOTTE (May 18, 2021): Charlotte City Center Partners and U.S. Bank are teaming up with the CLT Scavenger Hunt to celebrate National Scavenger Hunt Day along the Charlotte Rail Trail. Attendees will have a chance to win prizes from local businesses and participate in a Grand Prize Raffle where one lucky hunter will receive a $500 gift card, courtesy of U.S. Bank. The event starts on Sunday, May 23rd. Eight clues will be posted throughout the day, each showcasing some of the vibrant art along the Trail. The first 300 hunters who reach the final clue location will receive Grand Prize scratch offs, and the lucky number will be drawn at random on National Scavenger Hunt Day: Monday, May 24th.

April 22, 2021: U.S. Bank hearts the Rail Trail - Monthly Rail Trail Clean-Ups Kick Off This Weekend

CHARLOTTE (April 22, 2021): This Earth Day, U.S. Bank is renewing its commitment to the Charlotte Rail Trail through a partnership with South End Social and its monthly Rail Trail clean up events – Voluncheers. This event started as a way to support the South End Social mission of producing, promoting and providing high-quality experiences that are beneficial to residents, small businesses and the South End community. The volunteers who come every month have a passion for taking care of their neighborhood and the clean up events are a fun way to bring residents together to make their community better. South End Social rewards their volunteers with giveaways from local businesses following each clean up.