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August 13, 2025

🏟️ (Potential) Downtown Amphitheater

A privately funded 5,000-seat amphitheater could be coming to downtown Winston-Salem next spring.

The Amphitheater: The proposed amphitheater would be constructed between the Benton Convention Center and First Baptist Church. The venue would host a mix of national touring acts and community events.

Who's Behind the Project? The project would be 100% privately funded through a joint venture between Flow Automotives CEO Don Flow and Concert Stuff Group CEO Jim Brammer. 

The Details 👇

• Funds: Privately funded with no public money, tax breaks, or incentives.

• Parking: The venue will use nearby surface lots and underused parking decks.

• Noise: Concerts will end by 11 PM to meet city noise ordinances.

• Tax Impact: Expected to generate ~$50,000 annually in property taxes.

What's Next? The project needs City Council approval for temporary street closures on event days and for leasing the 1-acre city-owned vacant parkland for back-of-house operations.

• Zoom In: The project enters public comment on Monday, August 18, with a City Council vote set for Tuesday, September 2.

• Timeline: If approved, the amphitheater is projected to be complete by Spring 2026.

Big Picture: A downtown amphitheater has long been considered, with the idea included in the 2023 Downtown Plan and explored by a dedicated subcommittee.

• Benefits: An amphitheater could boost foot traffic and spending at nearby businesses, energizing the downtown area.

• Yes, but: Some citizens have raised concerns about parking, downtown noise, effects on the nearby Crystal Tower residents, and the potential $1/month leasing agreement. 

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• 🔥 Explore a wide range of group fitness classes like Yoga, BODYCOMBAT, and BODYPUMP.

• 🔥 Get 3 free Wellness Coach sessions to reach your goals

• 🔥 State-of-the-art equipment

Sign up today and enjoy a $0 join fee through August 25!*

🗓 Events

Live Music | Recurring Events

Saturday, August 16

• Winston-Salem Open - It’s time for tennis! Watch top players from over 15 countries compete at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex through August 23.

• Boots & Brews - Enjoy a BBQ dinner, sip signature cocktails, and learn to line dance at WinMock! 6 PM

• Block Party - Join the Delta Arts Center in East Winston for live music, local art, food trucks, a kids zone, and more at Cameron Avenue! 1-5 PM

• Food Trucks & Cars - Check out a lineup of food trucks and classic cars at the Jerry Long Family YMCA! Event supports the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Employee Relief Fund. 4-8 PM

• Retro Rewind Party - Step back in time to the late ‘80s at Dram & Draught—enjoy cassette-tape-themed cocktails and a Polaroid photo station! Free to attend, but registration is required. 10 PM - 1 AM

• The Shark is Broken - Watch this comedic and chaotic play about the making of “Jaws” at Theatre Alliance. Rated R. Runs through August 23.

• Night Swim - Swim under the stars at this adults-only event at Bolton Pool. The Tacos Las Gringas food truck will be onsite. 7-9:30 PM

• Honeybee Festival - Celebrate World Honeybee Day at Fourth of July Park, featuring over 130 vendors, live music, food trucks, and honey! 10 AM - 5 PM

• Makers Night Market - Browse handmade items, listen to live music from Gipsy Danger, and grab a bite from Uptown Pizza at Incendiary Brewing in Lewisville. 4-8 PM

• Reynolda Exhibit - Now open! Learn about the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company’s impact in “Camel City: Tobacco & Transformation, 1875-1964.” On display at the Reynolda House Museum through January 4, 2026.

Sunday, August 17

• Salem Sampler - Take your kids to Salem Gymnastics & Swim to sample swim lessons, gymnastics classes, or ninja classes—for free! 2 PM*

• Back to School Bash - Celebrate the start of the school year with local vendors, kids games, food trucks, and live music at Wise Man Brewing! 12-3 PM

• Adult Book Fair - Relive the joys of school book fairs at Bookmarks as you search through curated fiction and nonfiction selections. 11:30 AM - 4 PM

Monday, August 18

• Puzzle Palooza - Join Miller Park Community Center every Monday to work on puzzles and participate in weekly challenges! 6:30-8 PM

• DIY Workshop - Craft a beautifully decorated handmade card at the Generations Center. 1 PM

✅ Still haven’t checked ‘catch a Dash game’ off your summer bucket list? Only three homestands left, but there’s still time! Check out their loaded lineup ahead:

• 🤠 90's Country Night | August 14

  $2 drafts, $8 beer bats, music from Megan Doss, and you can bring your pup!

• 🎓 Peaked in High School Night | August 22
  Break out the letterman jackets and relive your glory days.

• 🪄 Harry Potter™ Night | August 23
  Their first-ever! The first 750 fans score a scarf repping their house.

• 🎉 Bolt’s Birthday Bash | August 24
  Bolt’s throwing a party, and all his mascot friends are crashing it!

Summer’s still on at Truist Stadium — grab your tickets now!*

🗞 Other News

• 💵 Finances: Have you taught your kids about managing money? Piedmont Federal Bank encourages starting as soon as they begin earning an allowance. If they're already a teenager, empower them to build smart money habits with a Student Checking account—open one today.*
  
  

• 💪 Health: 20,000 crunches—that’s what one EMSCULPT NEO session is equivalent to. Sculpt muscle and burn fat in just 30 minutes, with no downtime. BONUS: Buy one package and get a second for 50% off this month! Call Renewal Med Spa to set up a free consultation!*
  
  

• 🍻 Update: Campus Gas has completed a remodel, and Bull City Ciderworks and Celestial Wellness are now operating in the building! The owners, who also founded Bull City Ciderworks, are bringing the cidery even closer to home. Bull City Ciderworks began its soft opening today, August 13—more updates on food and coffee are coming soon! 
  
  

• 📚 Literature: Bookmarks released its lineup of authors for this year’s Bookmarks Festival! Notable attendees include Shannon Hale (“Princess Academy”) and Heather McGhee (“The Sum of Us”). The Bookmarks Festival takes place September 25-28 in downtown Winston-Salem.
  
  

• 🍽 Dining: Six Hundred Degrees will rebrand as Tuscani on September 5. The rebrand follows the restaurant’s purchase by the team behind Sage & Salt Bistro.
  
  

• 🌳 Nature: The Piedmont Land Conservancy transferred 24 acres of historic farmland to the City of Winston-Salem. Located between Clemmons and Hanes Mall Boulevard, the land will become a passive park in the future.
  
  

• ☕️ Opening: Okay Coffee opens this Sunday at 505 N Cherry Street! Owned by husband-and-wife team Matthew and Karla, the coffee shop will serve a limited menu of crash-chilled nitro coffee. The grand opening celebration will include breakfast by Native Root, lunch by Keating Provisions, and music by DJ p.s. edekot.

SPONSORED

Upcoming Events

• Evening in the Atrium - Listen to the Matt Kendrick Trio perform while enjoying small bites from The Downtown Grille at 500 W 5th on August 21.

• Forsyth Gem, Mineral, Fossil & Jewelry Show - Discover custom jewelry, watch artisan demonstrations, and browse lapidary tools at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Event Center from September 5-7.

🌀 The Wrap

• 💁‍♀️ Have more time to yourself now that kids are back in school? Catch up with a friend over a small plate!

• 🟠 Taylor’s got a new album. We might be getting an amphitheater. Winston-Salem’s showgirl era?

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

* denotes sponsored content

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