Chapel Hill, NC ( July 10, 2024) – Thanks to a partnership between the Town of Carrboro and the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, residents and visitors will be able to utilize a free trolley car service for three days in July, to coincide with the excitement brought by the soccer match between England’s Manchester City and Scotland’s Celtic FC, taking place at Kenan Stadium on July 23. The event is part of the 2024 FC Series, a collection of friendly matches featuring top global soccer clubs.
Two air-conditioned Raleigh Trolley cars will allow visitors and locals to easily experience downtown Chapel Hill and Carrboro’s lively arts scene, brew pubs, eclectic shops, and university-driven energy.
On July 22, 23, and 24 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., the trolleys will continuously loop from Franklin and Henderson streets in Chapel Hill through Greensboro Street in Carrboro, taking riders through the heart of the two downtown communities.
No tickets or reservations are required – riders can hop on at any Chapel Hill Transit stop in downtown Chapel Hill or Carrboro. The route takes about 25 minutes to complete before the loop begins again.
Each trolley stop will be marked for easy navigation and will be located near participating businesses offering special deals and activities between July 22-24, such as:
- Bars to hang out with like-minded fans and watch the Manchester City vs. Celtic game on Tuesday night
- Specialty drinks and cocktails themed for the event
- Specialty food items
- Decorated storefronts
- Raffles and prizes
- Discounts for fans in team gear
- Soccer drills and penalty kicks
(Note: The trolley will not go directly to the soccer match at Kenan Stadium.)
"We’ve often heard from locals that they’re eager to explore downtown but are unsure about navigating it,” says Carrboro Town Council Member Randee Haven-O’Donnell, who also serves on the Visitors Bureau board. “With the international buzz around the Manchester City and Celtic match at Kenan Stadium on July 23, we saw a perfect opportunity to make our downtowns more accessible to everyone, from international visitors to our local Triangle community."
The Welcome Center, operated by the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, will provide free water, restrooms, and information. It will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. on July 22-24 and is located at 308 West Franklin Street, with limited parking. For more parking possibilities, go to parkonthehill.com/public-parking or carrboronc.gov/2774/Downtown-Parking
For more information about the trolley and related festivities, visit visitchapelhill.org/downtown-trolley.
The Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau serves as the official destination marketing organization for Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, North Carolina. Funded by Orange County, the Visitors Bureau is committed to promoting the region as a vibrant and welcoming destination, the Visitors Bureau collaborates with stakeholders to drive tourism growth and economic development.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Andrea Cash, Andrea Cash Creative, andrea@andreacashcreative.com
Laurie Paolicelli, Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, lpaolicelli@visitchapelhill.org