ArtSpin ~ A Downtown Arts Experience
2025 Fall ArtSpin Main Attractions:
Raleigh Rickshaw Rides
Bundle up in a cozy blanket and enjoy a whimsical ride through downtown, taking in the golden glow, street sounds, and autumn charm of ArtSpin. | Free
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Local Business Specials & Jazzy Activities:
Amerimex Bubble Tea Shop | 115 Tarboro St. SW | Stop by for a refreshing treat and enjoy free face painting—fun for kids and families!
Casita Brewing Company | 217 South St. S
Jazz Doodling – Grab a drink and get creative! Doodle on paper-covered tables while enjoying live jazz or vinyl. Includes tips, prompts, and a playful connection between music and art.
Catopia at North Star | 307 Green St. N
Grab your bestie, bring your favorite adult beverage, and unwind to the sounds of jazz while creating your own music-themed painting, led by local artist Elisabeth Farnsworth Grant | Class begins at 1:00pm | Cost: $45 (includes all materials). To register, email wenmoore@catopiaatnorthstar.com, text/call (252) 315-4044, or message via Facebook @CatopiaatNorthStar.
Dress for Success | 128 Goldsboro St. S
Visitors from all eras are invited to stop in and try their hand at expressing themselves through a different art form – jazzing up a mannequin! Come by and take a selfie with a fashion statement of your own design, and learn about how Dress for Success Triangle empowers women of all ages and stages in their career journeys.
The Edge Gallery | 127 Barnes St. W
Stop by to see new Rockstars and Flowers paintings featuring iconic jazz musicians! Kids can get creative with a pop-up coloring activity out on the deck—color your own jazz musician masterpiece while enjoying the ArtSpin vibe. | Free
Horton Morton Arts | 123 Barnes St. W
Join us for a Make & Take Funday! Create your own charm bracelet ($20), personalized hat ($25), or canvas painting (choose flowers or a seahorse – $20). Projects take up to one hour. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
The Novel Nest Bookstore | 120 Goldsboro St. S | The Novel Nest will be open during ArtSpin—drop in to browse their cozy collection of books, gifts, and more!
Phil’s Music Exchange | 207 Tarboro St. W
Get rewarded while you shop with Phil’s Special ArtSpin Promotion—available all day!
Earn bonus stamps on your Customer Loyalty Card based on your purchase total:
· $10–$19.99 = 1 Stamp
· $20–$24.99 = 2 Stamps
· $25–$29.99 = 3 Stamps
· $30–$39.99 = 4 Stamps
· $40–$49.99 = 5 Stamps
· And so on!
Whether you’re building your vinyl collection or hunting for hidden gems, Find it at Phil’s—Your Physical Media Destination!
Wilson Active Artists Association at the Edna Boykin Cultural Center | 108 Nash St NE
Celebrate the season with Falling Into Art, a brand-new exhibit curated just in time for ArtSpin and JazzFest. Inside the Boykin lobby, enjoy a special Pop-Up Show featuring 8×8 artworks inspired by jazz music, created by local member artists. Visitors of all ages are invited to take part in a hands-on postcard-making activity, where you can paint your own jazz-inspired watercolor postcard to take home or share. A curated jazz playlist will set the mood, playing both inside and outside the venue. You may even spot local artists painting live as part of a plein air demonstration throughout the day!
Drop by, get inspired, and connect with Wilson’s creative community.
Wilson Arts Center | 204 Nash St. S
Stop by Wilson Arts during ArtSpin for hands-on fun, unique gifts, and a sneak peek of what’s coming next! Try the Art-o-Mat—just $5 for a one-of-a-kind, artist-made gift! While we’ll be between exhibitions, you’re invited to explore our gift shop and enjoy interactive art activities, including:
o Pottery demonstrations with local ceramicist Lorren Marsh—a preview of the creative possibilities coming soon in our future MakerSpace
o A jazz-themed watercolor station using the “wet-into-wet” technique, inspired by our upcoming exhibition with the North Carolina Watercolor Society
o Make your own pendant with metals and jewelry artist Lisette Fee—add texture to metal using a rolling mill and get excited about the hands-on opportunities the MakerSpace will bring! You can also shop Lisette’s handcrafted line, Elysian Jewelry
Wilson Signs and Graphics | 203 Nash St. E
Get creative at Wilson Signs and Graphics! Design and make your very own miniature custom sign—a fun, hands-on way to take home a piece of ArtSpin.
Wilson County Public Library Bookmobile | Parked in front of Wilson Arts
Stop by the Bookmobile to:
· Register for a library card · Browse jazz-themed books featuring legendary musicians · Try a fun STEM craft that blends learning with creativity!
Wilson County Public Library | 249 Nash Street N | Whimsical Watercolors Workshop: Autumn Veggies & Gourds – Join us for a free watercolor class for adults, where you’ll explore whimsical techniques inspired by fall harvest favorites like pumpkins and gourds.
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is required. To sign up, please email ahoward@wilsoncountync.gov or contact Alison Howard at 252-237-5355 ext. 5068.
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park Museum | 230 Goldsboro Street | Jazzy Kindness Rocks! Pick your rock and let your creativity shine! Design your own Jazzy Kindness Rock to uplift, inspire, and spread positivity—because a little kindness goes a long way
WhirliDogs Café | 215 Nash Street S
Scoop, Sprinkle, Jazz it Up! Create a sundae that swings at WhirliDogs during ArtSpin! Kids (and kids at heart) can design their own candy creatures with a jazzy twist—think saxophones, musical notes, or even a bebop bug. Let your sweet style shine while the music plays. | $5 per creation
Whirligig Popcorn | 222 Tarboro Street W
Join us during ArtSpin for an all-day Jazz & Popcorn Tasting! Come try our “Jazzberry” Popcorn and our “Jazzberry” hand-crafted soda. Enjoy flavorful popcorn pairings set to a smooth jazz soundtrack—perfect for snacking and strolling as you explore downtown.
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Activities throughout Downtown:
Bankers Plaza (108 Goldsboro Street):
Gravity Trio Band
This lively piano trio blends contemporary favorites with timeless jazz classics—perfect for a crisp autumn afternoon. Whether you want to sway, stroll, or swing, they’ve got your soundtrack, from Miles Davis to Britney Spears. Requests welcome! | Free
Courthouse Plaza (115 Nash Street):
360 Photobooth by Jo & Ace Events
Step onto the platform and be captured in smooth, slow-motion style—like autumn leaves drifting through the air. This interactive 360° photobooth is a dazzling way to remember your day. | Free
Mini Flapper Dance Lessons by Dakota Fox Entertainment | Step back into the roaring ’20s! On the hour, join a costumed pro for quick flapper-style lessons—like a little burst of autumn energy on the dance floor. | Free
Living Statue by Dakota Fox Entertainment
Strike a pose beside this magical living sculpture—a whimsical, seasonal photo op that’s as enchanting as a fall evening. | Free
Kid Zone – Parking Lot #1 – Behind The Porch at Iconostar/Phil’s Music Exchange
Pumpkin Decorating Station
Nothing says fall like pumpkins! Decorate your own mini pumpkin with washable markers for a festive keepsake—fun for all ages. | Free
Jazzy Bubbles
Watch the air fill with shimmering giant bubbles—catching the light like dew on an autumn morning. | Free
Bouncy Houses
Let the kids jump and play with inflatables and yard games from T&A Inflatables, while you soak in the music, sights, and flavors of the season. | Free
Corner of Barnes & Tarboro Street:
Rick the Interactive Scat Man
Let the rhythm and playfulness of jazz warm you like a cup of cider, with live vocal improvisation and fun audience participation. | Free
Literary Alley off Tarboro Street (Alley between 122 & 116 Tarboro Street):
Poetry Fox Give the fox a word, and he’ll type you an original poem—maybe inspired by harvest moons, falling leaves, or whatever word you choose—on his vintage typewriter. | Free
Farris & Thomas Parking Lot (104 Nash Street):
Henna Tattoos by Kreaturez Kids
Choose a beautiful design that’s as unique as a leaf in the fall breeze. | Free
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Wilson Jazz Festival
Downtown Wilson, 11:00 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
The third annual Wilson Jazz Festival fills downtown with smooth sounds all day long! Free performances begin at 11:00 a.m., with a ticketed main stage concert at Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park from 1:00 to 8:30 p.m. and the return of the Second Line March after the final performance!
Day Party Times & Locations:
11:00AM-12:00PM – Sallie B. Howard Jazz Ensemble – Bankers Plaza
11:00AM-1:00PM – Daniel Delorenzo Trio – Casita Brewing Co.
1:00PM-5:00PM – ArtSpin Presents: Gravity Trio – Bankers Plaza
2:30PM-4:00PM – Phill Allen Octect – Larema Coffee House
5:30PM-7:00PM – Root Down Collective – The Porch at Iconostar
New this year: An all-day Jazz Jam Tent (location TBD) and ticketed main stage events!
More info at wilsonjazzfest.com.
