Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and Fayetteville’s downtown district is buzzing with activity.
Formed in 2017, Cool Spring Downtown District’s purpose is “to create and sustain an arts and entertainment district located in downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina, as a vibrant center of artistic, cultural, civic, and commercial activity,” according to their website. Events by CSDD encourage people to visit and enjoy the downtown area and to buy from local merchants.
This year marks CSDD’s fifth year, and the organization is going strong, especially with the comeback of face-to-face events.
Just around the corner, CSDD will host Hoppin’ Around Downtown Fayetteville on Saturday, April 16, from noon-4 p.m. The event will feature picture opportunities with Honey the Bunny, a storefront scavenger hunt, and a golden egg hunt.
Downtown businesses participating in the scavenger hunt include: Game Day; PRESSED – A Creative Space; Quack Quack Phone Repair; Cool Spring Downtown District Office; Rude Awakening Coffee House; Hummingbird Candle Co.; Turner Lane; A Bit of Carolina; MinxDiva Essentials; Vibra’s Hair Studio; Rising Phoenix Counseling Services, PLLC; Stevies; Kenji Services; TOWA/Volta Space; Greg’s Pottery; The Gilbert Theater; Uptown Fourjay; Downtown Market of Fayetteville; White Trash & Colorful Accessories; Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum; Xscape Factor; and ERA Strother Real Estate.
On April 16, CSDD will host its family-friendly Nerd Market event from noon-4 p.m. at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County, located at 301 Hay Street. Some of the highlights of the event include food trucks, a cosplay contest, and vendors with comic books, toys, and collectibles.
Cool Spring Downtown District celebrates National Poetry Month on April 22 with a ride in the “Can Do” Coldwell Banker Trolley with Fayetteville poet Nick Courmon.
Courmon has been featured in the  Los Angeles Times, NBC's Today, VICE News, and Narratively. Nick has work published in Teen Ink Magazine and BROAD Magazine. His art has been featured in collaboration with Beats by Dre, USA Today, the Museum of Contemporary Art: North Miami, Missourians Against the Death Penalty, Democracy NC, NC Black Alliance, the Wounded Warrior Project, Palta, and the Athletic Department at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
The event will have two showtimes: one at 7 p.m. and one at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 per person, and the trolley will depart from Bright Light Brewing Company.

Visit the Cool Spring Downtown District Facebook page or www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com for more information on purchasing tickets.