Pop Quiz. When was the last time you visited Eventbrite.com and saw “Sneakers Mandatory” in the same sentence as “Dress Code Strictly Enforced”? Better yet, when was the last time you attended an event aimed at the “21+ and older community” that awarded prizes for the ‘Best Dressed Couple,’, ‘Sneakerball King,’ ‘Sneakerball Queen’ and ‘Best Custom Sneakers’? If your answer was the Uptown Fresh Sneakerball, then you probably live near the headquarters of Uptown GSO, Inc. a non-profit organization based in Greensboro, NC.

Photos by Alexis Armstrong of 43 North 77 West for INSIDE Monthly
Photos by Alexis Armstrong for INSIDE Monthly

1. The Uptown Fresh Sneakerball made its debut during Juneteenth weekend.

In addition to fashion and apparel from Greensboro area designers, the inaugural sneakerball also showcased the works of local artists. The music paid homage to the 1990s era hip hop culture and a 360-photo booth was set against a timeless black & white backdrop featuring artists like Kanye and Kendrick.

Photos by Alexis Armstrong for INSIDE Monthly

2. The event was held at the Khalif Event Center in Greensboro, NC.

Since 2013, the Khalif Event Center (KEC) has been a staple of East Greensboro and prime location for special events. The venue has a total capacity of 700 with four distinct banquet rooms for weddings, events and corporate gatherings. KEC was renovated in 2018 and is conveniently located off Wendover Avenue.

Photos by Alexis Armstrong of 43 North 77 West for INSIDE Monthly

Uptown GSO, Inc. (UGI) is an economic development 501(c)(3) organization focused on stimulating investment activity in the “northeastern section” of Greensboro, N.C. As a nonprofit entity, our mission is to establish a business improvement district (BID) that will have a transformative impact on community revitalization. We provide leadership and service in advancing the arts as an additional powerful vehicle to implement positive public health, incremental change, and economic growth through our Arts Uptown Greensboro division.

Source: Uptown Greensboro, Inc. (https://www.uptowngso.org/what-we-do)
Photos by Alexis Armstrong of 43 North 77 West for INSIDE Monthly