r/Gastonia

Moved here a couple years ago due to a job change. Ended up moving near the old mall but… man this place feels like it’s trying to become a ghost town. Would like to live closer to work in Charlotte but housing is so expensive.

Nothing is walkable (common here in the US outside of bigger cities) There’s a fair-to-large amount of homeless people and drug rattled people that walk the street I’m on. Which isn’t necessarily a problem… but I’ve had 3 packages stolen from my porch.

City council should look at Concord/Kannapolis and take notes of how their downtowns look and feel and copy it. Not whatever “Fuse” is trying to be.

Didn’t intend to rant, but I’ll leave it for posterity and hopefully city council lol.

Since moving from Catawba valley area, I've had no luck at a job actually working out. First job was manufacturing kratom and 7oh. Shortly after they laid the entire plant off because the laws changed regarding kratom and 7oh. It was disappointing because I liked the job. I got my severance benefits but those funds are gone. I swear I've applied to every job on indeed and hardly any calls back. Red valve Gastonia gave me a job offer. Day before orientation I was sending adverse action email. Over a misdemeanor that happened 6 years ago. I was 17 when that event happened. I even try to explain to the HR guy, I was a 17 year old kid he spray-painted my ex-boyfriends car. Anyways didn't matter. They withdrew their offer. I finally got a interview. I went to it today at 4:30. I used every little bit of gas I had to get there. I got the job. But now I am stuck in a parking lot in a city I know nothing about because my car started to spit and tried to cut out. If and when, I'm able to come up with a way to get gas, I'll most likely be pushing the car the gas pump. At least 7 11 is the the shopping center. I just wanna get back to the house. Crazy how I'm one step closer, yet 2 steps backwards.

On a the side note - is anyone passing through Charlotte heading towards Gaston county? If so if I'm not to far out of the way, wanna stop and get me and drop me off in Bessemer City? I'm hungry and sitting in a parking lot exhausted wasn't on my agenda. Also anyone know how long I can leave my car in the Walmart parking lot before it gets towed? I'll have some gas money Saturday.

Check out the video of the little guy on her Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/p/Da8FLB4FumA/?img\_index=4&igsh=aW0zOHhnemJxM2tt

GO-SEE-DO GASTON
LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS
Belmont Farmers Market — Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.Dallas Farmers Market — Select Sundays, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.Gastonia Farmers Market — Tuesday, Thursdays & Saturday, 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Kings Mountain Farmers Market — Saturday, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.Mount Holly Farmers Market — Saturday, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
GASTONIA GHOST PEPPERS (Upcoming Home Games)
Tuesday (8/18) — Charleston Dirty Birds @ 6 p.m.Wednesday (8/19) — Charleston Dirty Birds @ 6 p.m.Thursday (8/20) — Charleston Dirty Birds @ 7 p.m.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (PRESEASON)
Saturday (8/15) — Buffalo Bills @ 1 p.m.
PLAN AHEAD
Crafted with Carolina Caring Muddy River Distillery, 250 N. Main St., Mount Holly Thursday, August 27 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.Enjoy a guided rum flight, paired small bites and an exclusive behind-the-scenes distillery tour supporting Carolina Caring. Tickets are $45, and proceeds help local patients and families. More Details. ($)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
Windy Hill Orchard Opens for Fall Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill, York 10 a.m.Windy Hill Orchard opens its 2026 fall season with its farm stand, cider bar and activities scheduled through December. More Details.Village Market Farmhouse Courtyard, 6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont 4 to 6 p.m.Shop seasonal produce, baked goods, flowers, prepared foods and handcrafted items from local farmers and makers. Admission is free. More Details.Music Bingo at Local Logic Local Logic, Mount Holly 7 p.m.Test your music knowledge and compete for prizes during Thursday night Music Bingo at Local Logic. More Details.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
Mount Holly Nights: The Catalinas Downtown Mount Holly, 131 S. Main St., Mount Holly 6 to 10 p.m.Enjoy performances by Trace Casanova and The Catalinas, plus food trucks, a beer tent and a kids zone. Admission is free. More Details.Next Stop Comedy Primal Brewery, Belmont 8 p.m.Next Stop Comedy brings a fresh lineup of touring stand-up comedians to Primal Brewery in Belmont. More Details.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
August Vendor Market Falls Family Farms, 2954 Forbes Road, Gastonia 10 a.m.Shop locally made goods from area vendors during the farm’s monthly outdoor market. More Details.Collector’s Vault Card Show Gastonian Halls, Gastonia 10 a.m.Browse sports cards, Pokémon cards, trading card games and other collectibles, with door prizes awarded throughout the day. More Details.Pollinator Gardening Workshop Creekside Nursery, Dallas 10 to 11 a.m.Tour Mimi’s Monarch garden and learn how to attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators. More Details.Back-to-School Bash With Transit Vocal Band Cramerton Centennial Center, Cramerton 6 p.m.Transit Vocal Band presents a kid-focused program at 6 p.m., followed by an all-ages a cappella concert at 7 p.m. Guests may bring school supplies to donate. More Details.Clean Comedy Night Gastonian Halls, Gastonia 6:30 p.m.Try the open mic at 6:30 p.m., followed by a free, all-ages comedy show hosted by Craig Collin at 7 p.m. More Details.Live Music feat. Michael Tracy w/ Kudzu Jam 334 W. Main Ave., Gastonia 8 p.m.Michael Tracy and Gaston County’s Kudzu Jam perform an all-ages evening of rock, blues and Americana. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. More Details.Movies in the Park feat. Homeward Bound Stowe Park, 24 S. Main St., Belmont 8 p.m.Bring a chair for a free outdoor showing of Homeward Bound plus retro arcade games, concessions and immersive sound. More Details.Black Copperhead Sting 50K Rocky Branch Park, 103 Sacco St., Belmont 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.Runners take on the trails at Rocky Branch Park during this endurance event featuring 5K, 25K and 50K distances. More Details.Bug Day The Schiele Museum of Natural History, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Meet insects and bug experts, play Bug Bingo, explore hands-on activities and watch brave contestants sample creepy-crawly cuisine. More Details.Live Music feat. David Childers and Jason Ringenberg Confluence South Fork, 117 Center St., Cramerton 7 to 10 p.m.Enjoy a free evening of live music featuring North Carolina singer-songwriter David Childers and special guest Jason Ringenberg. More Details.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
Watercolor Paint Your Pet Whiskerville Kitty Cat Cafe, 508 Beaty Road, Belmont 3 to 5:30 p.m.Create a watercolor portrait of your pet during a guided class surrounded by adoptable cats. The $45 ticket includes materials and cat lounge time. More Details.Hannah Whitten and Jen Julian in Conversation Belmont Bookshop, 7 N. Main St., Belmont 6:30 to 9 p.m.New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten discusses her horror debut, “Reliquary,” with author Jen Julian. Admission includes a copy of the book. More Details.