The temperatures and humidity, the heat advisories and reminders to stay hydrated, the air conditioning running non-stop: all sure signs that it is summer time in North Carolina. As tempting as it may be to stay inside until October when the heat (maybe) finally breaks, there will be a good reason to get outside in downtown Fayetteville in July.
Midsummer Magic is returning to Downtown Fayetteville on July 24 for the 11th year. This long-running event is part of the monthly 4th Friday celebration, and is produced by the Downtown Alliance and Spark Downtown, two organizations committed to the growth and success of downtown Fayetteville.
Midsummer celebrations are much older than our city’s celebration, going back more than 500 years in Europe. With its oldest origins in Scandinavia, Midsummer celebrations included music, dancing, flowers, eating and drinking. With origins in pagan festivals, believed to bring about a good harvest, in time the church blended these traditional celebrations with St. John the Baptist’s feast day…