The 80’s Flashback Weekend event announced its full two-week schedule so fans can relive the quintessential Gen X decade while helping children with critical medical needs. The events will raise money and awareness for the Shriners Children’s Greenville Hospital.
Time Warps Mountain Town Back to the 1980s for Children – Annual 80’s Flashback Weekend Celebrates 10 Years and Raises Tens of Thousands of Dollars for Shriners Children’s Greenville Hospital.
Beginning July 27, the 80’s Flashback Weekend will celebrate icons like MTV VJs, Michael J. Fox, Eddie Murphy, and the music of artists like John Cougar Mellencamp while turning this beautiful mountain town into the home of western North Carolina’s largest fundraiser.
“It’s amazing that for 10 years people have traveled to our idyllic town to celebrate and help Shriners Children’s Greenville offer their life-saving work,” said organizer Dave Linn, a former Shriners patient himself. “As a parent and former patient, I know how important it is to have the healthcare industry’s best available for children in need thanks to the donations from so many good people.”
While the event is always held the first weekend of August to coincide with the original 1981 launch of MTV, this year is different because of the 80s Flashback’s 10th anniversary.
“We’ve moved the concerts to Main St. in downtown Franklin and we’re expecting massive crowds,” said Linn. “This new venue, along with the addition of food trucks and all the participating businesses, will make this annual celebration of Shriners Children’s Greenville more like a fundraising festival than anything else.”
Calendar of events:
- Saturday, July 27, 7:30 p.m. – The Miss 1980-Something Pageant at the Lazy Hiker Brewing Co. of Franklin, NC.
- Friday August 2, 7 p.m. – An Evening with John Mellencamp (featuring Cougar Town) on Main St. Opening act is Carbon Harry (performing the hits from the 70’s to 90’s).
- Saturday, August 3 at 9 a.m. – 80’s Flashback 5K Race
- Saturday, August 3 at 6 p.m. – 80’s Flashback Parade on Main St. Also, performing from 4:30 until 6 p.m. is Corey Stuart II on the Main Stage. (Best 80s theme floats win prizes. There’s no entry fee.)
- Saturday, August 3 at 7 p.m. Totally Awesome 80z Party (featuring 80z Nation, one of the leading 80’s cover bands of North Carolina).
About the 80’s Flashback Weekend
For 10 years in Franklin N.C., the 80’s Flashback Weekend has turned the first weekend in August (as an homage to MTV’s 1981 launch) into the largest fundraising event in Western North Carolina. Over two weeks, the 501c3 holds multiple events to raise money and awareness for the Shriners Hospitals for Children’s in Greenville. For more information or to donate, email 80sflashbacknc@gmail.com or visit the 80s Flashback Weekend fundraising page.
About Shriners Children’s
Shriners Children’s is a network of non-profit medical facilities across North America. Children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. Care for children is usually provided until age 18, although in some cases, it may be extended to age 21.
Shriners Children’s is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Shriners Children’s is a registered name under which Shriners Hospitals for Children conducts activities. For more information, please visit shrinerschildrens.org.
