Plus, Carolina Renaissance Festival returns.
 
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82º | 10% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:19 a.m. | Sunset 7:05 p.m.
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🤝 Lending a helping hand

Charlotte-based businesses offering help to those impacted by Helene

An airport hanger filled with boxes of donations for Hurricane Helene victims.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Helene, many local businesses are serving as drop-off locations for donations and supplies to those impacted by the storm. | Photo via Concord-Padgett Regional Airport
Charlotte-based small businesses are collecting donations and supplies for those impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Here’s how you can help.

Local business accepting donations

  • Coffee Republic — All NC locations will take donated items to a local airport drop-off site.
  • Canteen at Camp North End — Raising funds via Venmo to purchase and take supplies to WNC
  • GoodVets Charlotte — Accepting pet items and nonperishable food + first aid
  • Pasta & Provisions — The location at 4700 Park Rd. will be accepting and delivering supplies to WNC.
  • Concord-Padgett Regional Airport — accepting donations in partnership with Operation Airdrop and WCNC Charlotte during a community-wide donation day today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Of note: So far this week, Operation Airdrop has made 84 flights to WNC, carrying ~50,000 lbs of donated supplies.

Local supply drives

  • Cornelius — Drop off donations at Town Hall Wednesday, Oct. 2-Friday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. + request volunteers to sort out donations.
  • Mooresville — Donations will be collected at the Festival of Food Trucks on Saturday, Oct. 5.
A building destroyed in Asheville that once housed Summit Coffee.

Summit Coffee’s River Arts District location in Asheville was destroyed during Helene.

|

Photo via Summit Coffee’s River Arts District

Purchases benefiting Helene victims

  • Summit Coffee is giving 100% of proceeds from all online coffee orders to a fund benefiting their Asheville team. The shop lost its River Arts District location in the storm.
  • Recover created a $25 limited edition shirt with all proceeds benefiting those affected by the storm.
  • Noble Food & Pursuit will be donating chef-prepared meals through their nonprofit restaurant, The King’s Kitchen. Meals are $5 and donations can be made online.
  • Glory Days Apparel launched a new shirt to benefit the NC Disaster Relief Fund.
  • HEX Coffee, Kitchen & Natural Wines is donating sales from this coffee to those displaced by the storm.
  • Manolo’s Bakery will donate 10% of all sales to relief efforts in western NC and Tennessee + will be taking water and non-perishable food to the area.
  • Protagonist Beer is collecting donations + participating in “Pouring for Neighbors” where $1 from every “Dolly” sold will go towards the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund.
Still want to help? Check this growing list of volunteer and donation opportunities.
Empire Communities
 
Events
Wednesday, Oct. 2
  • 2024 Women Who Rock Celebration | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 3-5:30 p.m. | Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, Gastonia | $40 | Experience a night of networking and honoring influential women in the community.
  • Charlotte FC vs. Chicago Fire FC | Wednesday, Oct. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Bank of America Stadium | $15-$140+ | Watch The Crown as they face Chicago in the last home match of the regular season.
Thursday, Oct. 3
  • Connect After 5 | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 5-7:30 p.m. | Burial Beer Co | $8 | Network with other professionals while bonding over craft brews.
  • Crossroads Cinema: Mean Girls | Thursday, Oct. 3 | 8-10 p.m. | Ford Green | Free | Watch this 2000s blockbuster in the open air is “so fetch.”
Friday, Oct. 4
  • Parade of Homes 2024 | Friday, Oct. 4 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Various locations across Charlotte | Free | Tour 30+ homes from 13 builders in the Charlotte metro.
  • Ben Rector | Friday, Oct. 4 | 7 p.m. | The Amp Ballantyne | Experience “Extraordinary Magic” as the Nashville-based singer takes the stage.
  • Charlotte Ballet: Beyond the Surface | Friday, Oct. 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance | $32 | Choreographer Mthuthuzeli November captivates the audience in a dance that dives into perspective and connection.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
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🍻 Grab this new digital passport to explore the Beer, Wine, and Shine Trail

A series of images showing breweries, wineries, and distilleries around Johnston County, NC.
Johnston County is only three hours away from the city and offers small-town charm, fun events + plenty of craft beverages. | Photos provided by Johnston County Visitors Bureau. Gif created by CLTtoday.
Our state is no stranger to the craft beverage scene. In fact, there’s so much local flavor to love that Johnston County is re-imagining how visitors can experience their Beer, Wine, and Shine Trailand we’ve got all the details.

A new digital pass for the best local sips

The Johnston County Visitors Bureau’s newly launched free digital passport — the Beer, Wine + Shine Trail Digital Pass — offers a curated itinerary of the area’s best breweries, distilleries + wineries. And don’t worry, there’s no app to download, so no need to delete pet pictures to make room on your phone.

Sign up to access these passport’s highlights:
  • Get exclusive discounts + earn prizes when checking in at trail locations.
  • Visit new trail destinations, like Raleigh Brewing Distro + The Vault.
  • Experience new features, like Broadslab’s uniquely made bourbon line and Hinnant’s revamped facilities.
  • Make your way through the trail’s five breweries, two family-owned vineyards, and two distilleries. (Psst: Did you know Johnston County is the Moonshine capital of NC?).
A note from our team: While Hurricane Helene has impacted many communities in Florida, South Carolina, and Western North Carolina, Johnston County was spared from the storm and is ready to welcome visitors. Our hearts go out to the communities + individuals impacted.
 
News Notes
Regional
  • President Joe Biden is visiting Asheville and the NC mountains today to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Helene. He’s expected to ask Congress for additional funds for disaster assistance this week. (WCNC)
Travel
  • East and westbound lanes along I-40 have reopened for emergency travel in and out of Asheville. The interstate was closed due to debris and storm damage. Gov. Roy Cooper and NCDOT say the roads should still be considered closed for non-essential travel. (WCNC)
Answered
  • Mountain Island Lake’s water levels exceeded Duke Energy’s target for September, leading homeowners to question why the water levels weren’t dropped before Helene. See the company’s response. (WCNC)
Watch
  • Using a life vest and rope, an Ashe County man rescued a woman trapped in a home swept by flood waters. Watch the rescue caught on camera. (WCNC)
Number
  • 37,344. That’s how many cans Triple C Brewing is providing to Noda Brewing Co. to be filled with potable water for people affected by Helene in western NC. The breweries are also accepting supply donations. Find other ways to help.
Edu
  • A Wake County judge ordered athletes across NC can now profit from their name, image, and likeness. The State Board of Education has yet to set guidelines on the rules and regulations but states athletes can be paid for public appearances, autographs, and endorsements. (The Charlotte Observer)
Development
  • Developers Greystar and Whitman Peterson broke ground on their latest apartment complex, Birchway Eastfield Station. The new community in north Charlotte will offer 402 units, a pool, co-working space + proximity to I-485 and I-77. Pre-leasing is expected to begin in late 2025.
Transit
  • Improvements at the Pearl Way Park are underway along Kenilworth Avenue between Charlottetown Avenue and Morehead Street. Lane closures are anticipated 9 a.m.-4 p.m. every day through May 2025. (WSOC)
Ranked
  • A ranking for royalty. The Queen City just ranked No. 6 on a recent list of the best US cities for dating. The study looked at criteria like number of singles, divorce rates, and quality of life. Got a hot date yourself? Try one of these date night ideas. (TimeOut)
Sports
  • Ahead of the first preseason game on Sunday, Oct. 6, the Hornets spoke about what to expect on the court. Go beyond the hardwood for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornets with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Wellness
    • Upgrade your morning cup of joe when you switch to VitaCup’s Genius Coffee. It’s infused with vitamins and minerals that support all-day energy + focus. Try it in coffee pods.
    Health
    • Stop missing out on the conversations that matter — try these stealthy, barely noticeable next-gen hearing aids. No wonder 400,000+ customers love them.*
     
    Festival

    🍻 Huzzah, it’s RenFest season

    The Carolina Renaissance Festival returns to Huntersville

    A group of people lined up in renaissance festival attire.
    Guests visiting the Carolina Renaissance Festival can rent full outfits for the day’s revelry. | Photo via WCNC
    Hear ye, hear ye. The time has come for the annual Carolina Renaissance Festival, kicking off Saturday, Oct. 5 through Nov. 24.

    City Editor Maria, here. This is one of my favorite events in the Charlotte area and this is just a taste of what to expect.

    “Fairhaven” boasts sixteen stages with continuous music, dance, comedy, and circus shows, including jousting and the Birds of Prey exhibition.

    New this year, guests can learn the travels of Princesses Sofia and Catalina, the daughters of the village’s queen + experience a witch trial with a comedic twist.

    Within the 245 acre village, 140+ vendors and artisans provide jewelry, handmade candles, toys, ornaments, and more.

    Tickets sell out quickly, so it’s best to purchase them online or at local Harris Teeter stores. Keep in mind, tickets are date specific.

    There is ample free parking on site.
    Plan your trip
    Asked
     

    What’s your favorite thing about the Renaissance Festival?


    A. The food - I feast like royalty
    B. Jousting - the more dramatic, the better
    C. Shopping - handmade items are perfect gifts
    D. Costumes - the attire is so unique
     
    The Buy

    The Buy 10.02.24 (Affiliate)

    Pantene’s Keratin Leave-In Conditioner — it can repair split ends + protect against future damage, helping you achieve strong, silky-smooth hair. Psst, it’s less than $20.
    More worth The Buy
    6AM City In-house
     
    The Wrap
     
    Headshot of CLTtoday author Maria Delgado

    Today’s edition by:
    Maria

    From the editor
    ICYMI — Fly Kid Fly, a new coffee shop, is opening at The Bowl at Ballantyne this Saturday, Oct. 5. Personally, I’m excited to order a latte and try a one of the breakfast burritos made by Chef Hector Gonzalez (of Noche Bruta).
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