Charlotte is flocking to these laid-back park meetups

Alexis Clinton

Sunny park with many families picnicking on a grassy lawn near trees. Tents and a white canopy are in the foreground; groups sit on blankets under a clear blue sky with a few clouds. — Touch Grass Picnic pop-up at Freedom Park on May 17. Some attendees say it was their introduction to local green space. Photo: Alexis Clinton/Axios

A new pop-up picnic series is taking over Charlotte parks.

Why it matters: Organizer and local DJ Darryl McNeil created Touch Grass to help people unplug from social media and connect in real life.

What they're saying: McNeil, a local DJ, tells us he wanted to create a slower, low-stress alternative to meeting people outside of Charlotte's nightlife scene. He describes Touch Grass as a "reset" where people can spread out on blankets, listen to mellow R&B and actually talk to each other.

"I started Touch Grass because I wanted a space where people could be social without all the loud, overstimulating club energy," said McNeil.

Zoom in: Charlotte is starting to see more community-centered hangouts pop up around the city as people look for social spaces.

Event series like 704 Party are bringing dancing into more casual environments, while morning coffee mix events and park meetups are creating lower-pressure ways for people to gather and connect.

Catch up quick: Around 1,400 people showed up for Touch Grass' last meetup at Freedom Park on May 17.

The event grew from just about 40 people at his first gathering in April to a crowd that surprised even McNeil.
He hopes to host another event next month around Father's Day and will make an official announcement on Instagram once the date and location are confirmed.

What to expect: The meetups are free and open to everyone. Events typically run 3–7pm on Sundays, so people can wind down before the workweek.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets, chairs and picnic setups while McNeil spins low-stimulation R&B tunes.

Some attendees play games, dance or catch up with friends while others read, journal or keep to themselves.

"It's a great middle ground. If you're still a little reserved, you can retreat back into your safety bubble. Or you can be in the presence of people and take your own steps to being social." McNeil said.

What's next: McNeil's goal is to eventually host an R&B festival in one of Charlotte's parks to give people another "third place" to simply be around each other.

Until then, he says he'll keep popping up in parks around the city so people can actually get outside and touch grass.

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Charlotte is flocking to these laid-back park meetups

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