City Kicks Off 2011 Downtown Event Series This Week
March 16, 2011
Popular weekly events launch season with St. Patrick’s Day celebration
GREENVILLE, SC – The City of Greenville kicks off its Downtown Event Series this week with the season opening nights of Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive and BB&T Main Street Fridays. The free weekly events will feature a wide variety of new musical entertainment and ancillary activities, including a Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
According to Angie Prosser, director of public information and events for the City of Greenville, Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive and BB&T Main Street Fridays are two of the most highly anticipated events of the year. “The start of the Downtown Event Series typically means that warmer weather has arrived, which is a huge help in driving people to Main Street each week. With the tremendous support we have received from the Greenville community, we are fortunate to continue to provide free entertainment for those who work, live and visit here. ”
Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive presented by Countybank will go green for its first event March 17 with a St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring a variety of special activities. The event series serves as the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council, a local organization providing support and other vital services to individual artists, arts organizations and arts education programs. Throughout its 24-week season, event goers can enjoy live musical entertainment from the Wild Wing Café Stage featuring a variety of music including rock, blues, funk and cover bands. Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive will also feature The Player’s Zone, an interactive area featuring Birdie Ball sponsored by Nevada Bob’s Golf and interactive tailgating games including cornhole, ladder golf, washers and much more. Additional event sponsors include Budweiser, Pepsi, The Hyatt, Entercom, WYFF 4, the Greenville Journal, Fete, Larkin’s on the River, Beaulieu Vineyard Coastal Estates, Penske, Table 301, Audio Solutions and Oobe.
“Piedmont Natural Gas is pleased to once again serve as title sponsor of Downtown Alive. At Piedmont Natural Gas, we believe that if our communities are vibrant and prosperous through our support and participation, then our own success will follow,” said Hank McCullough, senior manager for Piedmont Natural Gas.
BB&T Main Street Fridays presented by Pepsi will debut March 18 at the Hyatt Plaza. The family-friendly 29-week event will feature a new entertainment lineup with a move more toward jazz, blues, beach and variety music. In addition, the event will also include a Kid’s Zone featuring inflatables and fun-filled activities for children. Additional event sponsors include Budweiser, the Hyatt, Clear Channel & MY 102.5, WYFF 4, Fete, the Greenville Journal, Penske, Beaulieu Vineyard Coastal Estates, Larkin’s on the River, Table 301, Audio Solutions, Oobe and Blue Ridge Brewing Company.
BB&T is thrilled to again partner with the City of Greenville as the title sponsor for BB&T Main Street Fridays,” said BB&T City Executive Scott Taylor. “Helping make the communities in which we live and work better places to be is a key part of BB&T’s mission, whether through the financial support we provide to local organizations delivering help to those in need or through the direct time and energy of our employees participating in our Lighthouse Projects. Partnering with the City of Greenville to present Main Street Fridays in our fantastic downtown is yet another way for BB&T to demonstrate how thrilled we are to be a part of this incredible community.
For more information about the Downtown Event Series, visit the City’s website at events.greenvillesc.gov or follow the events on Facebook and Twitter. A complete entertainment schedule is included on the last two pages.
