DNC speedway event moved to uptown Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Organizers of the Democratic National Convention announced Monday night the site for the Labor Day kick-off party is being moved from Charlotte Motor Speedway to uptown Charlotte.

DNC Host Committee spokeswoman Suzi Emmerling said the group wanted CarolinaFest to have a connection to the convention, and when they realized all of the caucus meetings would be in uptown Charlotte, they decided to move the event.

The festival’s location will be on the Tryon Street corridor. While the exact location has not been announced yet, Emmerling said it would be a street festival similar to other events, such as Speed Street.

Emmerling said the decision was made in the last week.

The schedule change is the second made this year to the DNC. In January, officials announced the convention would be shortened to three days and, instead of a traditional convention opening, it would involve a community-based festival at the speedway.

Organizers said the change would make it notably different than all other conventions before it.

WSOC-TV is working to gather more information about the decision and what reactions the decision has garnered.

WSOC