For the Love of Carrboro 2021

Three ways to show and share your #CarrboroLove this Valentine’s Day and celebrate all that makes Carrboro a great place to live, learn, work, play, and visit.

CARRBORO, N.C. -- The Carrboro Business Alliance and the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority (CTDA) encourage all local residents to show and share their #CarrboroLove this Valentine’s Day in commemoration of For the Love of Carrboro 2021, and celebrate all that makes Carrboro a great place to live, learn, work, play, and visit.

1. #CarrboroLove Gift Guide: Share your love of Carrboro with the purchase of uniquely Carrboro sweet treats and eats for your Valentine.  
2. #CarrboroLove Staycation: Fall in love with Carrboro all over again with a safe, shared weekend experience.
3. #CarrboroLove Social Media: Show your love of Carrboro with a selfie with your favorite Carrboro people, places, and spaces, and post on facebook and instagram with #CarrboroLove. 

“Covid has been tough on so many of us and a weariness has set-in,” said Bridget Pemberton-Smith, chair of the Carrboro Business Alliance Marketing Committee and executive director of the Art Therapy Institute. ”We want to take this opportunity around Valentine’s Day to show and share our love for our local Carrboro community, and hopefully lift spirits at a time when we need it most.” 

#CarrboroLove Gift Guide 

The new #CarrboroLove Gift Guide (CarrboroLove.org), coordinated by the Carrboro Business Alliance, features about 30 flirty gift ideas, meals, and experiences from member businesses to commemorate Valentine’s Day and encourage #CarrboroLove throughout February. 

The offerings are listed in three categories: 

• Eats: Dine deliciously this Valentine’s Day and all month long with romantic meals and delightful take-out treats, like heart-shaped biscuits from Neal’s Deli and fresh strawberry daiquiris from Acme Food & Beverage Co. 
• Treats: Add a bit of extraordinary to someone's day with gifts from local Carrboro retailers, like a handmade Valentine’s Day card from MyMuses Card Shop and a handcrafted, heart-shaped bird house from Fitch Lumber Company. 
• Retreats: Re-engage in the many safe local things to do in Carrboro, like taking a romantic stroll through downtown and appreciating the new Black Lives Matter murals, and booking a relaxing salt soak from Arete.  

#CarrboroLove Staycation

The CTDA encourages everyone to be a tourist in their own town and celebrate Valentine’s Day all weekend long with a romantic staycation. Book your stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites and check out VisitCarrboro.com for a safe and memorable weekend itinerary. The CTDA coordinates the #VisitCarrboro platform, which is complete with Covid-conscious list of activities, such as shopping at the renowned Carrboro Farmers Market and historic Carr Mill Mall, walking and biking through the many local parks and trails, and savoring some of the best cuisine in the state. 

“Rekindle that Carrboro feel free spirit with a staycation right here in Carrboro, where all are welcome, and rest-assured that our local businesses have implemented many important safety measures to ensure your safety,” said Donald Strickland, chair of the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority and area general manager for the Atma Hotel Group and the Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Carrboro.

Expand the #VisitCarrboro weekend itinerary with additional activities featured in the #CarrboroLove Gift Guide “Retreats” section, including family friendly options such as The ArtsCenter’s free Valentine’s Day TikTok workshop for kids and an affordable safe shopping experience at CommunityWorx. 

#CarrboroLove Social Media

Spread the #CarrboroLove by sharing a selfie capturing your favorite Carrboro people, places, and spaces, such as a favorite local business, park, landmark, or art installation, and posting the picture on facebook and instagram with #CarrboroLove. Posts should reflect gratitude and stir heart-shaped emojis, likes, and shares from followers - all “For the Love of Carrboro.” Your photos may be featured in the Carrboro People Photo Album and shared widely on the Town of Carrboro social media channels!

About For the Love of Carrboro: For the Love of Carrboro started as a local initiative coordinated by the local government more than five years ago. Over the last few years, local businesses affiliated with the Carrboro Business Alliance would partner with local nonprofit organizations and dedicate a portion of sales to charitable causes. Given Covid-19 complexities, the local government, businesses, nonprofits, and tourism board agreed to shift the scope of For the Love of Carrboro in 2021 to a wider effort to show and share #CarrboroLove and celebrate all that makes Carrboro a great place to live, learn, work, and play. Key features of the For the Love of Carrboro 2021 include the Carrboro Business Alliance’s #CarrboroLove Gift Guide, the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority’s VisitCarrboro.com safe staycation itinerary, and the organic #CarrboroLove social media effort on facebook and instagram.

About the Carrboro Business Alliance: The Carrboro Business Alliance (CBA), founded in 2014 on the shared belief that "local matters," is now more than 100 local businesses collaborating to help Carrboro thrive. The CBA mission is to 1) connect members with information and customers, 2) promote members and the Carrboro community, and 3) represent local business interests with policy makers. The success of the CBA was made possible by CBA Founding Champions: Carr Mill Mall, The Chamber For a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, and the Town of Carrboro; and CBA Founding Investors: Atma Hotel Group, Carrboro Creative, Chapel Hill Tire, Coastal Credit Union, CommunityWorx, Duke Energy, Eller Capital Partners, I-40 Films, New Media Campaigns, Weaver Street Market, and Wrenn Works. Follow the CBA on Facebook, Instagram, and twitter, and join the conversation with #LocalMatters.

About the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority: The CTDA is a public authority enabled through state legislation in 2001 and established by the Carrboro Town Council in 2012 to promote travel and tourism in the Town of Carrboro. The travel and tourism-related expenditures of the CTDA are funded through the proceeds of a 3% Occupancy Tax. The CTDA members are volunteer leaders from the Carrboro hospitality industry who are appointed to term-limited spots on the board by the Carrboro Town Council. The CTDA developed and manages VisitCarrboro.com.

Contact: For questions, contact CBA staff support, Katie Loovis, at (919) 696-0781 (cell) or KLoovis@carolinachamber.org.

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