Downtown Asheboro Inc. previews upcoming events

ASHEBORO — Many interesting tidbits came out of the monthly meeting of merchants in Downtown Asheboro (and others) in the August meeting run by Downtown Asheboro Inc. Here are some of the key notes from a summary provided by DAI.

Sportsplex events

■ A volleyball tournament will take place there on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 6 a.m. to  9 p.m.

■ A larger event, the annual Labor Day Shootout soccer tournament, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30 and 31, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. The tournament is expected to bring 5,000 or more visitors to Asheboro, providing an opportunity for additional business activity throughout Asheboro’s downtown. 

■ Looking ahead, expect more traffic to be drawn to the Sportsplex as season for youth football and youth soccer begins in earnest.

Other events

■ Bicentennial Park will be blocked off from Academy Street to Sunset Avenue all day on Saturday, Aug. 23, for a pair of events. A 5K race will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Later, a concert is scheduled for the park from 4 to 9:30 p.m.

■ DAI is partnering with Asheboro City Schools on a family night out on Sept. 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. Details to come.

■ The Tourism Development Authority said that on Oct. 7, a group of up to 1,000 cyclists will be traveling through North Carolina from the mountains to the coast and are planning a stop in Randolph County. Hospitality tents will be set up for them at the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA. There will also be some activities in Seagrove related to the event. 

Some downtown community news

■ PRETTY IN CULLER — The storefront will be a space for fulfilling online orders and warehousing merchandise. The retail storefront is closing because the owner (Gabby Culler) has taken a new job, but she will continue the online sales part of the business. 

RANDOLPH PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN — RPC has launched a project called Adventures on the Go, which is intended to provide story time for families unable to go to the public library for those.  RPC has already completed three trips, which are funded by a grant from Toyota. 

MINKOLOGY — The store announced it is discontinuing its sale of paints. Also, a selfie station is being added.

UPSTYLED GOODS — Jenny Ortega, who has been cutting and styling her family’s hair from the age of 12, has been hired. Her specialty is men’s haircuts, but she also offers services for others. Her current prices are $12 for kids’ haircuts, $15 for men’s haircuts, and prices that begin at $20 for ladies’ haircuts. ... Also, the company is starting a new collection and new name during the week of Fall Festival, and helping companies that need aprons, totes, bags and other promotional items. Banners for old tote bags are turned into something new

■ Several businesses have planned or are planning back-to-school events, including Little Mustard Seed, Luxe Lash Studio, Minkology and Upstyled Goods. Check with each for more details.

Some Fall Festival news

■ The Randolph Arts Guild, which organizes and runs the annual Asheboro Fall Festival, said preparations are under way for this year’s Oct. 4 to 5 event. Last year, an estimated 21,000 people attended. The festival will be in the same location, and a map is being developed and will likely be completed by late August. Streets will only be closed on Saturday. On Sunday, the focus of the festival will be on humanities, with venues offering poetry reading, dancing, lectures and similar performative arts. 

New RCC mobile endeavor

■ Randolph Community College’s Small Business Center is working on a new mobile unit to bring the college to the community. A vehicle wrap for a Ford F-250 Truck and 35-foot trailer is being created. The mobile unit will consist of 15 stations for outreach.