Gather your family, friends and neighbors for a toe-tapping good time in historic downtown Greensboro for the 3rd Annual Pickin’ on the Greene music event on Friday, June 27.

Downtown Greensboro celebrates the summer season with the 3rd Annual Pickin’ on the Greene music event on Friday, June 27, from 7-10 p.m. on North Main Street. The Greensboro Main Street Program in partnership with the Greensboro Business Association presents Pickin’ on the Greene as the summer’s main event. This family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, children’s activities and of course, shopping and dining.

“Pickin’ on the Greene will offer the community a new way to experience Downtown Greensboro,” explains Kendrick Ward.  “We hear from visitors all the time that Greensboro is such a charming and welcoming place, which is why we share our town with others by inviting them to join us in a fun evening of music with our friends and neighbors.”

The event will feature live music from local band Pullin’ Strings and headliners, The Darnell Boys of Athens, Ga. With their original southern roots and a bluegrass and rock style, these bands are sure to get you tapping your foot and dancing along.

The Darnell Boys is a family band that creates a uniquely soulful sound through an authentic blend of blues, country and other traditional styles. Combining together the Darnell siblings and a smoking rhythm section, their debut album is an intoxicating blend of blues, old country and R&B.

With a musically-gifted family, the Darnell brothers grew up singing and playing music at family gatherings. Now the band wows audiences with their rock/blues/country sound of high-energy songs. Under Orange Twin Records, The Darnell Boys released their self-titled album on June 7, 2013.

The evening’s entertainment will begin with Pullin’ Strings, a local group that is no stranger to Greene County. In fact, the band bills itself as Greene County’s favorite string band and has been playing together since 2009. Featuring a set list of American favorites, Pullin’ Strings receives a warm welcome wherever they take the stage.

All are welcome and encouraged to bring a lawn chair and enjoy this free event. There will be plenty of activities for children and adults alike. Downtown shops and restaurants stay open into the evening offering the very best in Lake Country shopping and dining.

In addition to toe-tapping music, Pickin’ on the Greene will feature activities and vendor booths presented by local community organizations. Groups can participate in the event by offering goodies such as fresh lemonade, boiled peanuts, baked goods and other summer favorites.

“We have outstanding charities and community groups that help make Greensboro a vibrant city,” adds Ward. “One goal for the event is to showcase local nonprofit organizations as vendors.”

To register your organization, please contact the Better Hometown office at (706) 453-7674.

For more information regarding the event, please visit www.downtowngreensboroga.com.  

About Pickin’ on the Greene

Pickin’ on the Greene is a summer music event that takes place in the heart of historic downtown Greensboro. Pickin’ on the Greene is produced by the Greensboro Better Hometown Program and the Greensboro Downtown Development Authority with support from the City of Greensboro. Since its beginning in 2012, this annual summer event has been downtown Greensboro’s main summer community event, attracting musical artists and visitors from across the state. The event’s goal is to attract people to the town with the hope that they will return to the community and future events.  

The City of Greensboro joined cities across Georgia and the nation by declaring May as Historic Preservation month.  Earlier this month, Mayor Glenn Wright signed a formal proclamation on behalf of the City of Greensboro recognizing Georgia’s Preservation Month theme: “New Age of Preservation: Embark, Inspire, Engage”.

Established in 1973 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Preservation Month is co-sponsored by local preservation groups, state historical societies, business and civic organizations across the country. During Preservation Month, many events are planned to promote historic places for the purpose of instilling national and community pride, promoting heritage tourism, and showing the social and economic benefits of historic preservation. Thousands of people participate annually in Preservation Month celebrations.

In Georgia, Preservation Month activities include a “Historic Railroads of Georgia” photography contest, hardhat tours, and a month-long lecture series.  Detailed information about Georgia’s Preservation Month activities is available online at www.georgiatrust.org.

“Historic Preservation in an important part of Greensboro’s revitalization,” comments the city’s community development director, Cail Hammons.  “Visitors to our community often recognize that there is something special about Greensboro.  This unique sense of place is what sets Greensboro apart from other communities.”

Downtown Greensboro was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Greensboro is noted for its traditional grid-style city plan, which was typical of cities across Georgia. A variety of architectural styles are present throughout the city. Homes in Greensboro show the transition from the white-columned Greek Revival structures to

the Victorian era’s wrap around porches and gingerbread trim.  Greensboro’s public buildings such as the primitive rock jail, the Greek Revival Court House, and Romanesque-inspired Wyatt Jail are all listed as significant structures that contribute to city’s historic character. 

“Present day Greensboro tells the story of the city’s rich heritage,” comments Hammons. “Greensboro has evolved from a town that was founded on the edge of the frontier, to a city that boomed with the cotton industry, and later reinvented itself to grow alongside of the recreation and tourism that came with the construction of Lake Oconee.”

To learn more about Preservation Month and historic preservation efforts across the country, visit www.preservationnation.org.

The City of Greensboro was selected to receive $300,000 to fund home renovations through Georgia’s Community Home Investment Program (CHIP).  The grant announcement was made by Department of Community Affairs Commissioner, Gretchen Corbin and is part of more than $10.2 million in CHIP funding awarded to local communities and non-profit organizations across the state.

Greensboro’s CHIP grant will seek to rehabilitate owner-occupied homes in the Mary Leila Mill Village neighborhood. Eligibility for the renovation funds will be based on the age and income of the home occupants, the census tract location of the home, and the degree of need.

“Greensboro’s CHIP grant award is exciting news for our city,” comments Greensboro’s Community Development Director, Cail Hammons.  “Typically these grants provide for the rehabilitation of seven homes within a targeted neighborhood.  This funding is a step in the right direction for Greensboro’s efforts to facilitate neighborhood revitalization in our community.”

Greensboro’s increased focus on the improvement of its residential areas was born out of redevelopment efforts that began on Main Street with the city’s Better Hometown Program more than 15 years ago.  As these efforts matured, city leaders looked to encourage revitalization in the neighborhoods that surround downtown.

“Cities with healthy downtowns have thriving neighborhoods surrounding the core commercial district,” explains Hammons.  “Housing is typically an important part of successful downtown development strategies.”

Greensboro was accepted into the state’s Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) program in 2013 and formed a local Community Housing Team to establish

goals and provide citizen input for the city’s neighborhood revitalization efforts.  The Community Housing Team identified CHIP funds as a housing resource for the city.

For more information about Greensboro’s housing efforts or the CHIP program, visit www.greensborocommunityhousing.com or contact Cail Hammons at (706) 453-7674.