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Mount Holly unveils Springfest line-up, rebrands run as River Hawk races
Summary
City staff introduced a rebrand of the Run Mount Holly race to the River Hawk races and outlined a Springfest series including a Greenway 5K, tailrace 10K, kids' dash, a senior dinner (sponsored by Caremont Health), and a new Piedmont Arts and Cultural Experience as a festival finale.
Mount Holly staff presented details for Springfest on Jan. 12, announcing a rebrand of the Run Mount Holly race as the River Hawk races and previewing a broader multi‑day event series.
Eric Smallwood said the race rebrand addresses scheduling conflicts with other regional events and improves place-based recognition, noting that the River Hawk name better signals races on the River Hawk Greenway adjacent to the Catawba River. He described a planned Greenway 5K, the tailrace 10K and a kids’ "tadpole dash," and suggested future expansion could include water activations and bike events.
Chloe Clary described additional Springfest programming: a rejuvenated Kids Fest with a homeschool field day, a themed senior dinner (Caremont Health is sponsoring this year), the expanded Community Awards dinner (now a nonprofit with nomination processes and awards), Mount Holly Nights to kick off downtown event season, and a new Piedmont Arts and Cultural Experience to serve as a signature, curated finale highlighting local vendors, artisans and interactive art installations. Chloe emphasized local nonprofit partnerships and vendor curation, plus branding and merchandising plans to boost tourism and community engagement.
On vendor fees, Chloe said standard vendor booths require a refundable deposit (refunded if vendors remain all day), but nonprofits that offer volunteer help or provide space and energy for activities may be exempt from the deposit.
Why it matters: the series seeks to broaden downtown activation, grow visitation, and create a distinct brand for Mount Holly’s spring events while providing family- and senior-oriented programming.
Quotes (from the record): "We're really excited for Springfest events in 2026," Eric Smallwood said when introducing the River Hawk races rebrand.
Chloe Clary said, "We're gonna host a homeschool field day...we're looking forward to providing that to this great community that we've been fostering."
Ending: Staff invited council and the public to ask questions and promised to return with additional event details and marketing plans as the series is finalized.
