There are plenty of spots downtown to visit, like Camino Bakery and Oh Calcutta restaurant on 4th Street. | Photo courtesy of Visit Winston-Salem
Visit Winston-Salem is reaching new heights. The tourism bureau representing Forsyth County announced its groundbreaking year as the organization wrapped up its most successful fiscal year ( July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025). The magic is in the sauce.
The city has seen higher hotel revenues, record web traffic, and increased booked group events — all contributing to an estimated economic impact of $84 million.
Let’s talk numbers:
Hotel revenue jumped 10% compared to state revenue, which was up 4%
$1.8M+ revenue generated from hotel room nights sold in Forsyth County
The Benton Convention Center generated $7.9 million in revenue — up by 20% from previous year
66 million impressions across a wide range of digital platforms.
“Our goal this year was to grow by leaps and bounds,” said Stephanie Pace Brown, President and CEO of Visit Winston-Salem. “The dramatic increase in tourism-related revenue tells us our strategies are working hard to enhance the reputation of Winston-Salem as a great place to visit.”
National Vanilla Ice Cream Day | 1-4 p.m. | Carl H. Russell Community Center | Free | Bring the kiddos for a sweet celebration of the classic flavor outdoors.
“The Write Stuff” | 6-7:30 p.m. | Lewisville Branch Library, Lewisville | Free | Unleash your words and discover your voice during the peer-to-peer writing group for adults.
Thursday, July 24
Reimagine Northwest Boulevard: Public Input | 5:30-7 p.m. | The Parenting Path | Free | Pitch in your ideas to city officials to make the roadway safer and more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists between University Parkway and North Liberty Street.
Friday, July 25
House Hangs | 5-8 p.m. | NCMA, Winston-Salem | Donations accepted | Hang out on a scenic terrace and enjoy dinner from Mexican food truck Mariscos No Manch3s + pop-up pizzeria The PZA while listening to live music.
Saturday, July 26
Bulls, Bands, & Barrels | 6:30 p.m. | LJVM Coliseum | $69+ | Get ready to experience a night when rodeo collides with live country music and intense barrel racing.
Plan Ahead
Dash are Home | July 29 - August 3 | Tuesday, July 29-Sunday, Aug. 3 | Times vary | Truist Stadium | $10+ | Gear up for a full week of fun at Truist Stadium, featuring a Hawaiian Shirt Giveaway, Pups in the Park night, plus special Hype Hens rebrand with custom jerseys and on-field caps.*
Is it just aging or something else? Know the signs of NPH.
Presented by Novant Health
Recently diagnosed, Billy Joel aims to raise awareness of this often-misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition. | Photo provided by Novant Health
For many older adults, subtle shifts — like feeling unsteady or more forgetful — can raise fears of dementia or Parkinson’s. But there’s another possibility: normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that’s often mistaken for other disorders but may be treatable.
Christmas in July is here. UNCSA will host “Nutcracker in July” tomorrow, July 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Tanger Center in Greensboro with themed activities, complimentary ice cream, and custom characters. If you needed an enticing reason to go, the first 60 attendees can purchase prime seats for $60.
Shop
Visual Index welcomed its newest local maker to the crew. NC artist Kendra Jones’ art showcases sisterhood, unity, and strength — a great gift for the special woman in your life. Shop online or head the art gallery on Trade Street.
Regional
It’s not too late for that day trip to the mountain — the Blue Ridge Parkway reopened this week after Hurricane Helene left major road damage behind. The remaining repairs are expected to be complete by Fall 2026. Check for updates before hitting the road. (WXII 12 News)
Learn
Ever curious about why traffic signal lights go out during extreme weather? WFDD reporter Amy Diaz sat down with NCDOT engineer Nick Zinser to find out why NC hasn’t yet adopted backup batteries to keep them running during an outage.
History
Did you know NC’s first African-American fire chief lived in Winston-Salem? Twin City native Lester Edward Ervin, Jr. rose through the ranks, retiring after 38 years in the public safety sector. These Winstonians have also left a mark on the community. (WFMY 2 News)
Try This
Laid-back lawn vibes and music that moved us — the recent live taping of The Martha Bassett Show hit all the right notes. Watch our reel from this free summer concert.*
Community
Do you need hiring help? We’ve got your back. Post your open roles on the WStoday Job Board + get connected with local candidates quickly and efficiently. Pssst — did we mention it’s free?
Health
Preventive care is more than a routine checkup — it’s a safeguard for your future health.Novant Health emphasizes the importance of yearly screenings, as many conditions can go unnoticed until it’s too late. Explore how regular checkups can play a crucial role in your well-being.*
Finance
Finance
From Italy to a Nasdaq reservation
Presented by Pacaso
Pacaso plans to expand to Italy. | Photo provided by Pacaso
How do you follow a record-setting year? By getting stronger.
Take Pacaso. Their real estate co-ownership tech set records in Paris and London in 2024. No surprise. Coldwell Banker says 40% of wealthy Americans plan to buy abroad within a year, so Pacaso’s planned Italy expansion is big.
They’ve already made $110 million+ in gross profits to date, including 41% YoY growth last year. (They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.) And you can invest for $2.90/share. †‡
Teva’s original universal sandal, now 50% off on Nordstrom Rack. A cushioned footbed + adjustable canvas straps make this a hikeable, wadeable, walkable sandal that will see you through all of your outdoor summer adventures.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
I’m so ecstatic to see Winston-Salem being put on the map. Though I’m not originally from here, this place certainly feels like home to me. Are you a transplant to the Twin City or a native? Drop me a line to share what makes Winston feel like home for you.
‡This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approvals. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
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