Long before social media made convening easy, a small group of friends—all graduates of Winston-Salem State University—wanted to say farewell to a fun summer, so they held a cookout in a Mecklenburg County park.

Over the years, the cookout grew, and hundreds of people began showing up.

The event survived eviction from the park and, years later, the covid pandemic.

On Saturday, that once-humble event, now a full-fledged community festival known as A Vibe Called Fresh, will attract thousands to West Complex (1600 W. Trade St.) for a celebration of Charlotte’s Black creatives.

Winston Robinson, the festival’s founder, described A Vibe Called Fresh as “the epicenter to immerse yourself in the Westside culture.”

“It is so dynamic from a multitude of perspectives,” he said, listing some of

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