Salisbury NC Friday Night Out Offers Free Trolley Rides and More

Have Fun at Salisbury Friday Night Out © Katrena

Salisbury, North Carolina, located in the Piedmont area in Rowan County, encourages folks to come out and enjoy what their downtown has to offer. On certain Fridays, they have a fun assortment of activities, and many of the shops are open.

Trolley Rides in Salisbury NC © Katrena

My kids are particularly fond of the free trolley rides. They have trolley stops stationed along a route that will take folks near businesses and activities offered during the special night out. It is not completely about the destination. The ride is the big thrill for my kids.

Brian Moore and the Karaoke Trolley Ride in Salisbury © Katrena

Brian Moore, the kids' favorite trolley driver, might invite people to come up front and belt out a few tunes as Salisbury's trolley is transformed into the Karaoke Trolley. It doesn't matter if the song is "I'm a Little Teacup," the latest song from American Idol, or opera, Mr. Moore makes sure that the singers all feel welcome and that the riders enjoy their time.

Salisbury Night Out Offers Lots of Fun Activities © Katrena

Different months feature different themes, with some more geared toward kids while others are more geared toward adults, but the free trolley rides have been offered each time we have attended. The kids have enjoyed a wide variety of entertainment, such as:

• Jumping castles (you might want to get there early or look for the smaller one near Simply Good to avoid the larger crowds)
• Dogs brought from the Humane Society
• Animals from Dan Nicholas Park
• Clown that blows up balloons for the kids
• Horse rides (both live ones during one Kids Night Out and a musical carousel-type one on Main Street)
• Musicians
• Car shows
• Drum circle
• Artwork (both the work of others and sometimes offered the opportunity to make their own works of art)
• Games
• Shopping - my kids are especially fond of the shop near the square that has a cat

This Horse Was a Gentle Giant at Friday Night Out © Katrena

Some nights out offer special extra opportunities for a fee. For example, the October Night Out has a guided walking ghost tour through part of the historic section and a haunted trolley. You could easily make a day of visiting Salisbury with several family-friendly places nearby such as Dan Nicholas Park, Lazy 5 Ranch, Dunn's Mountain Park, and the North Carolina Transportation Museum.

Great Country Cooking on the Grill at Salisbury Night Out © Katrena

They offer a nice variety of food at the various downtown restaurants and cafes, and some street vendors offer food as well. My kids have multiple food sensitivities, so we couldn't do a lot of taste testing, but one guy near the square who brought a huge grill looked like his food would have absolutely melted in your mouth!

Fun Family Activities in Salisbury and Rowan County © Katrena

The Salisbury Night Out dates for 2012, according to the Downtown Salisbury, Inc. web site are (all offered 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.):

• April 20 - Earth Night Out
• May 11 - Spring Night Out
• July 20 - Crazy Night Out
• August 3 - Summer Night Out
• September 7 - Kids' Night Out
• October 12 - OctoberTour Night Out
• November 23 - Holiday Night Out

Wide Variety of Music Offered at Salisbury Night Out © Katrena

We have met so many nice people at the Salisbury Night Out on Fridays, and each one has been unique. This can be a great opportunity to simply enjoy a family evening together for free or you can make it into a time to shop after normal business hours and enjoy a meal together.

Fun Free Things to do With the Kids in the Piedmont © Katrena

Check out the Travel NC With Kids site map for more great family activities in North Carolina! Readers may also wish to see the 2013 dates and themes for the Salisbury Night Out activities.