Following the success of its inaugural District Day event earlier this year, the Downtown Business Alliance (DBA) is bringing the event back in July, according to a news release.

The second District Day will take place from noon to 7 p.m. July 11 and invites residents and visitors to explore seven downtown Wilmington districts – Brooklyn Arts, Cargo, Castle Street, Central Business, North Waterfront, Soda Pop and South Front – with free, continuous trolley service, the release stated.

"Due to strong community participation and positive feedback from the first event, District Day will expand from two trolleys to three 28-passenger Azalea Limo trolleys operating throughout downtown," according to the release. "The trolleys will run on a continuous loop, stopping in each district approximately every 15 minutes, making it even easier for attendees to experience multiple areas in a single afternoon."

The release stated that participating businesses across the seven districts will offer shopping specials, promotions and experiences throughout the day.

"The response to our first District Day exceeded expectations," stated Andrea Arth, president of the Downtown Business Alliance, in the release. "We saw people exploring districts they had never visited before, discovering new businesses, and spending more time downtown. Bringing back the event with additional trolleys allows us to make the experience even more accessible and enjoyable."

According to the release, visitors are encouraged to park once at the Skyline Center deck or the Second Street deck and use the complimentary trolley service to travel between districts. Parking deck fees are not included, but trolley transportation throughout the event is free.

To help attendees plan their day, real-time trolley tracking will again be available online at https://dba.shuttleworks.ai, allowing riders to see exactly where each trolley is along the route, the release stated.

Business participation in District Day is free for DBA members, with the DBA covering the cost of the three trolley routes, event marketing and promotion, the District Day Trolley App and district-wide coordination, according to the release.

"Businesses are asked only to create a reason for visitors to stop in, whether through a special promotion, live entertainment, a demonstration, a tasting, family-friendly activities, exclusive merchandise or another distinctive experience," the release stated. "With nearly 5,000 participants expected throughout the day, the event offers local businesses an opportunity to increase foot traffic, reach new customers, drive same-day sales, and build lasting relationships at no cost."