The sounds of rock, country and Christian music floated through downtown Winston-Salem last night as more than 30,000 people attended Rock the Block. The festival is the annual wrap-up of Winston-Salem's summer-music series.
People carried food, portable chairs and children as they strolled along the blocks of Fourth Street that were lined with street vendors selling food, drinks and crafts. Couples held hands as they chatted with other people.
"This is one of my outings since I have retired," said Herman Springs of Winston-Salem, who was watching the crowd from a parking lot off Spruce Street.
"I come to this so I can get some of my money back from the city," said Springs, a retired employee of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. "The city does a good job putting this on."
The city hasn't done a study of the festival's economic impact, said Ed McNeal, the city of Winston-Salem's marketing and communication director. People spend money on food, drinks and merchandise from vendors.
The celebration draws people from Forsyth County and five surrounding counties, McNeal said. City officials got calls this week from some people staying in downtown hotels who said they planned to attend.
Rock the Block began in 2002 as way for the city to showcase improvements to Fourth Street. Winston-Salem police estimated that between 30,000 and 35,000 people came out yesterday. The festival draws tens of thousands of people each year.
Stages were set up on Fourth, Spruce, Marshall and Cherry streets, where bands played rock, rhythm and blues, beach, Americana, country and Christian music.
About 80 people initially gathered in front of the stage of Spruce Street about 6:30 as the band, Freeport Jazz, rehearsed. When the four-member band began performing, their music filled the air over the festival.
About 300 feet from the band, people were shooting free throws at a basketball goal set up by the Winston-Salem Storm, an American Basketball Association team. Three team members rebounded misses and made shots and tossed the ball back to the shooters.
"We got some good people shooting here," said Kirk Champney, a Storm player who played at Reynolds High School. "A couple of people hit three in a row."
Katie Ford and Laura Philpot sat near the stage as the duo Jew(s) and Catholic(s), performed.
"We have been here the last couple of years, and we enjoy getting out," Ford said. "It is so nice seeing so many people enjoying themselves downtown."
■ John Hinton can be reached at 727-7299 or at jhinton@wsjournal.com.
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