The City of Hickory’s Sails Original Music Series returns to downtown Hickory this spring and fall, presenting free concerts of live original music under The Sails on the Square. Performances will begin at 7 p.m., Friday evenings in May, June, and September 2024.

Music fans will also enjoy a change of venue for a special Sails Original Music Series concert at the Samuel William Davis, Sr. Multipurpose Field in Taft Broome Park on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 5 p.m.

“The Sails Original Music Series is an event that the City of Hickory has been proud of for years. Having unique bands from all over the United States perform in Hickory is exciting,” said Hickory’s Communications and Marketing Manager Dana Kaminske. “We appreciate the work that Bob Sinclair does every year to attract new bands and to also bring back some favorites from the past that the Hickory community, and beyond, visit downtown to enjoy.”

Sinclair describes each of the bands in this year’s lineup as follows:

June 28 – Empire Strikes Brass
A nine-piece, New Orleans-inspired second line BrassFunkRock band with horns and keys and voices galore. Their live shows are legendary. Come see what all the fuss is about!

Sept 6 – Certainly So
Infectious brother-harmonies laid over great indie rock layers. Will you love them? Certainly So!

Sept 13 – Damn the Banjos
Tim Carter (Carter Brothers) has put together a Pseudo-Supergroup of Funked-Up Folkified Americana Blues Roots Rock Music guys. These in-demand songwriters and session players are making great musical things happen!

Sept 21 – Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues
We can’t get enough of Mac Arnold and his homemade gas can electric guitar. He has played with the country’s best bluesmen and has stories to tell. And his band rocks out. *Performance at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Samuel William Davis, Sr. Multipurpose Field in Taft Broome Park

Sept 27 – Jacoozy
Their social media says they are “5 Heady gentlemen from NC” playing high energy, improvisational, and groovy music. They are from the Boone area, but are gathering traction and a following around the South.

The Sails Original Music Series offers excellent musical entertainment from all over the United States with the help of numerous sponsors. “We are thrilled to announce the 2024 season’s presenting sponsor is Protection Products, Inc.,” said Kaminske. “We are excited to partner again with this local company on this well-established music series for the community.”

Returning supporting sponsors of the series include Atriax, Bob Sinclair Music, Larry’s Music & Sound, Pfahlert Creative Labs, Olde Hickory Brewery, and Crowne Plaza.

In addition to the seating available at Union Square, Audience members are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets. A variety of close-by bars and restaurants offer food and beverages.

The Hickory Downtown Social District allows patrons of downtown ABC permitted establishments to drink an alcoholic beverage on sidewalks, Union Square, and other public areas within the designated boundaries of the social district. For more information about the Hickory Downtown Social District, special restrictions, and a detailed map of the coverage area, visit HickoryNC.gov/Downtown-Social-District.

For more information about the Sails Original Music Series and upcoming bands,

please visit HickoryNC.gov/SailsMusic and follow the Sails Original Music Series

Facebook page, Facebook.com/SailsMusic.

Janet lives in Hickory North Carolina. She has an associate’s degree in computer science for computer-aided design and had 10+ years of working as a CAD drafter. She enjoys spending time with family, singing, dancing, as well as looking for ways to grow and expand her knowledge. She is bilingual and excited to be able to assist in easing the home buying process by being fluent in English and Spanish. 

“We are happy that Janet is joining our firm,” said Mike Kelly Broker/Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. “As one of our agents, Janet has access to high-quality training, great marketing tools, powerful technology, and an unmatched social media program in the Catawba Valley area.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential and commercial properties in the Foothills of North Carolina. Since starting in 2010, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills has continued to grow to over 40 agents.

Feel free to contact Janet Ramos to help you with your real estate needs.

You can contact Janet by phone (828) 461-6039 or,  
visit her website Janet.Ramos.BetterFoothills.com

The Hickory community is invited to watch the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 from 6:30-10 p.m. on Union Square in Downtown Hickory.

The draft will be displayed on five big screen TVs set up under The Sails on the Square. The watch party will also feature a live DJ on the CommScope Stage, games and pre-draft activities for the whole family, and free food for those in attendance. Audience members are encouraged to bring blankets or lawn chairs to comfortably enjoy the event.

Hickory native Robert Dillingham, a freshman guard for the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team, is a top-ranked prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The NBA Draft Celebration is presented by the City of Hickory Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Department with the support of several community sponsors.

For more information about the NBA Draft Celebration,

please contact Todder Clark at 828-324-8007 or nclark@hickorync.gov.

Angela lives in Granite Falls with her family and her 2 fur babies. She has built 5 houses and has moved over 17 times. She has a deep passion for real estate, and she is eager to turn your dreams into reality. Her goal is to make each client feel comfortable and at ease with the process of buying and selling a home by providing clear communication and updates along the way. Beyond her love for real estate, she finds joy in spending time with her family, attending church, organizing, and decorating.

“We are excited that Angela is joining our firm,” said Mike Kelly Broker/Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. “As one of our agents, Angela has access to high-quality training, great marketing tools, powerful technology, and an unmatched social media program in the Catawba Valley area.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential and commercial properties. Since starting in 2010, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills has continued to grow and helps buyers and sellers in the Foothills area.

Feel free to contact Angela Shook to help you with your real estate needs.

You can contact Angela by phone (828) 446-4605 or,  
visit her website Angela.Shook.BetterFoothills.com

Yamila was born and raised in Newton, NC and has lived there her whole life. She graduated from Newton- Conover High School. She looks forward to using her customer service experience to help clients. She also speaks both English and Spanish which will further expand her communication. Yamila plans to pursue a degree in marketing to further enhance her real estate skills. She enjoys running and exercising daily. She also likes going on hikes and seeing great mountain views.  Real estate is a new adventure, and she is excited  to be joining Better Homes and Garden Real Estate Foothills because she thinks it will be a great fit for her career.

“We are thrilled that Yamila is joining our firm,” said Mike Kelly Broker/Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. “As one of our agents, Yamila has access to high-quality training, great marketing tools, powerful technology, and an unmatched social media program in the Catawba Valley area.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential and commercial properties. Since starting in 2010, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills has continued to grow and helps buyers and sellers in the Foothills area.

Feel free to contact Yamila Olvera-Ramirez to help you with your real estate needs.

You can contact Yamila by phone (828) 244-4401 or,  
visit her website Yamila.Olvera.BetterFoothills.com

The 2024 Foothills Folk Art Festival is this Saturday, May 11, 2024 with Visit Downtown Newton, NC!

This annual festival located in Downtown Newton will see thousands of visitors from all over as juried folk and fine artists from the region come to call Newton home for a few hours and show off their talents!

In addition to work for display and purchase, festival-goers can enjoy live music, free children’s activities, artist demonstrations, and local food and flavor from Downtown Newton establishments and food trucks!

This Saturday will surely be another great one in the history of the fabled festival.

More information about the event, including photos of the artists’ work,
can be found at Foothills Folk Art Festival or at the link below:
🔗: FoothillsFolkArtFestival.com

Hickory’s & Catawba County’s 18th Annual Charity Chase Half Marathon & 5k will be Saturday April 13, 2024.

These are premier regional events run through Hickory’s streets, parks, and along the waterfront. The event is picturesque but also a challenge to even experienced runners and has often been used as preparation for big name marathons. Participants range from expert runners to families and youths.

This year’s races will be starting and ending in Union Square in downtown Hickory.

The Charity Chase 5K will start at 7 am and the Half Marathon at 7:30 am.

Runners can sign up at RunSignUp.com.

Fees are currently at $55 for the Half Marathon and $30 for the 5K.

Weather is typically mild for Hickory in April.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is pleased to announce that Kelsie Blevins has joined its firm as a REALTOR®/Broker

Kelsie has been a resident of both Caldwell and Catawba Counties and graduated from South Caldwell High School.  She attended Caldwell Community College and realized that she wanted to pursue a career in real estate.  Kelsie previously worked at Cloninger Ford in Hickory and was often awarded top salesperson of the month. She looks forward to using that experience to help buyers and sellers with their real estate needs. Her interests include interior design, fashion, and outdoor activities like bonfires and spending time on the lake.

“We are thrilled that Kelsie is joining our firm,” said Mike Kelly Broker/Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills. “As one of our agents, Kelsie has access to high-quality training, great marketing tools, powerful technology, and an unmatched social media program in the Catawba Valley area.”

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills is a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential and commercial properties. Since starting in 2010, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills has continued to grow and helps buyers and sellers in the Foothills area.

Feel free to contact Kelsie Blevins to help you with your real estate needs.

You can contact Kelsie by phone (828) 221-6070 or,  
visit her website Kelsie.Blevins.BetterFoothills.com

Not able to participate in this year’s Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on March 23?

You’re in luck!

The City of Hickory of Parks and Tourism is hosting a separate Glow In The Dark in the Park Egg Hunt at Brown Penn Recreation Center on Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 7:30-9pm.

Designed for children pre-school and kindergarten.