Super Grit Cowboy Band set to close Kinston Summerfest Thursday

The Kinston Summerfest will end Thursday with local legends on the stage.

The country band Super Grit Cowboy Band will perform in Pearson Park at 6:30 p.m. to conclude the event once known as Sand in the Streets. The event is free and patrons are encouraged to bring chairs for seating, but outside beverages are prohibited.

Thursday's event will also be the kickoff for the 2018-19 Lenoir/Greene United Way campaign. United Way representatives will toss T-shirts to the crowd and board member and Neuse News Editor Bryan Hanks will emcee Thursday's event.

Pride of Kinston Executive Director Leon Steele said more than 3,700 people have attended the first four concerts in a series which started June 21 with the Jonathan Parker Band. Bounce!, Wicked Shimmies and Liquid Pleasure followed, providing Pearson Park with music.

“Kinston Summerfest is one of many great things we are involved in to bring people downtown to experience the significant improvements that have occurred lately,” Steele said. “We have many new businesses from retail to food to drink downtown with more in the pipeline. Summerfest guests should explore the Herritage at North Street area before and after the music.”  

Steele said the ultimate goal was to leave those in attendance with a positive experience in Kinston.

"This is the turning point of the revitalization of downtown and a lot of eyes are on us, watching what we're doing and possibly emulating us," Steele said. "The idea is to get people downtown and get them interested in Kinston, including the locals. For example, our last event with Liquid Pleasure was a rain-out, so they played in the Red Room. It was picked, but a lot of people from here never knew about the Red Room or been to it. 

"I'm happy to have a local band with notoriety to end the series on and they have a 7-year-old girl who will be playing drums (Thursday) who they say is very talented. I think we'll have a good turnout and another purpose is helping out some of the local businesses. When the concert is over, places like Sabor, Chef and the Farmer, Sugar Hill Pizza and Tap Room will still be open, so we want to continue doing our part to bring a positive experience here in Kinston."

In the event of rain, the group will perform at The Red Room, located on Herritage St.