Sand in the Streets has been a long-standing tradition of Eastern North Carolina. It was recently renamed to Kinston North Carolina Summerfest. The series of events is held by Pride of Kinston, a nonprofit aimed at revitalizing the historic downtown area of the town. Kinston NC Summerfest is held every year around the Fourth of July, and runs between July and August. It is held weekly in those two months. Unless specified, the performances happen every Thursday.
The events showcase a diverse set of musical talent available in North Carolina. It is held in Pearson Park and is free to attend.
Kinston NC Summerfest has seen many local greats. The performances are usually varied to ensure there is something for everyone. Many of the artists who perform are homegrown and known to the community. Some of those who have performed in previous events include:
In addition to the musical guests, Sand in the Streets offers many other activities for attendees. These include;
This non-profit organization is focused on seeing Kinston downtown grow. Its efforts are tailored towards the growth and revitalization of the downtown. The organization is led by a Director, whose name is Leon Steele. Recent events have seen Steele consider public input on who is placed in the entertainment lineup. Leon Steele is assisted by Debra Oliver. She is the assistant director of the organization.
Funding is received in part from the downtown Municipal Services District. This is made possible by a property tax that was instituted by the City of Kinston. The organization gets a percentage of the property value each year.
Some of the activities of the organization include;
The Kinston NC Summerfest has been held in the same location since it began. Pearson has hosted all the events for years and will continue to do so. It is located on Gordon Street in Kinston.
Pearson Park is part of the Pearson Park Trail. The trail runs parallel to the Neuse River. It starts at the southern end of Pollock Street and ends at South Heritage Street.
The park has numerous facilities for family-friendly fun. Some of the utilities available include;
Pearson Park has a raised square covered platform that can be used for different types of entertainment functions. Nearby is a six-cornered picnic area. The park is well kept up. The park is within 75 yards of the replica CSS Neuse ironclad. Also on the trail headed south is the Lenoir County Farmers Market, Tiffany West Park, Walk of Honor Memorial & an unnamed art metal exhibit. The nearest restaurant is the Chef & The Farmer, across South Heritage Street.
During my visit to both, Pearson, the Dragline Playground only saw one mother & two children in the playground & one woman on the trail. The time was about 3:45 on a Tuesday. – Jack L via Tripadvisor
Southern Pines is a brewing company in Moore County. The company is one of the recurring sponsors of the Sand in the Streets event. It is a veteran owned business with the founders having served in the United States Army. The brothers in arms are John, Micah and Jason. All three of them were Green Berets. Theirs is the only brewery with a taproom in Southern Pines.
Pride of Kinston holds the Kinston NC Summerfest to promote the rich community of downtown Kinston. It is a great way to boost growth and enhance the knowledge of locals about hidden gems in their backyards. The Summerfest involves incredible musical acts and wonderful experiences for the whole family.