Greensboro

Visit

Higher Ed Hotspot With a Booming Downtown

Situated among seven nearby colleges and universities — and close to more than a dozen more within 40 miles in High Point and Winston-Salem — Guilford College proudly calls Greensboro, N.C., its home.

With better than 40,000 enrolled students living among the population of 307,000, Greensboro offers access to many exciting internship and employment opportunities in its robust business community. Equally as important, a vibrant downtown — only a 10-minute drive from campus — consistently rolls out art, music, and cultural events that fuel a lively social scene.

Growth Stage

In addition to claiming First Horizon Coliseum, one of the Southeast's premier venues for national touring music acts and regional sporting events, the city welcomed the $90-million Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts downtown in 2021.

Easy to Reach

With three major train lines running from New York to New Orleans, and 60 direct daily flights to most U.S. cities from Piedmont Triad International Airport, getting in and out of Greensboro is a breeze.

1.5 Million (and 110,000)

Those are the respective totals of residents and college students in the area known as the Triad, a nearly 6,000-square-mile stretch connecting Greensboro with Winston-Salem and High Point.

A Notable History of Social Change

Playing a significant role in America's Civil Rights history, Greensboro is widely recognized for its diverse population and progressive work for social justice. Many area museums and cultural institutions pay homage to this legacy in addition to other aspects of the city's rich history.

Photo of the exterior of the Greensboro International Civil Rights Museum

International Civil Rights Center and Museum

Recounting African Americans' struggle for equality, this museum houses an engaging and interactive group of exhibitions detailing one of the Civil Rights movement's landmark moments inside the original downtown location of the F.W. Woolworth and its famed lunch counter.

Photo of the exterior of the Greensboro Historical Museum

Greensboro History Museum

A 1900s-era Greensboro setting gives visitors a chance to peer into the city's past, while the adjoining restored First Presbyterian Church Cemetery provides a garden-like setting with stone-lined walkways past residents that include Revolutionary War veterans.

Photo of the exterior of the Blandwood Mansion

Blandwood Museum

The former Italianate villa home of Gov. John Motley Morehead contains an impressive collection of 19th-century art and furnishings. Originally a simple two-story farmhouse constructed in 1795, the house's stunning expansion was completed in 1849. Its grounds boast a prime example of gardens characteristic of the Victorian era. (Temporarily closed)

City Festivals and Events

Throughout the year, Greensboro hosts a lively lineup of cultural events that showcase innovations in music, dance, drama, visual art, and the culinary arts.

Greensboro Fringe Festival

From late January through early February, the Greensboro Fringe Festival takes over downtown to present a series of new works that includes musicals, comedies, dramas, readings, and dance productions.

Food Truck Festival

With 50 vendors, the Food Truck Festival takes place twice a year (in early May and late August) to satisfy hungry crowds with everything from gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to Southeast Asian barbeque.

N.C. Folk Festival

The N.C. Folk Festival takes place each September and features more than 300 artists on multiple stages in downtown Greensboro. It's a three-day celebration of cultural heritage through music, dance, handmade crafts, food, and fun.

Beneficial Alliances

Guilford students have access to a wealth of service opportunities. Helping underserved people through immersive co-curricular programs, students' experiences extend beyond traditional community service.

500+ Restaurants

An ever-expanding dining scene draws culinary excellence and cuisines from around the globe, showing there's no shortage of places to grab an incredible bite in Greensboro.

The Gate City

Greensboro acquired its nickname for its role as a transportation hub in the 1840s. Today, many top-tier businesses are rooted here for the city's central locale, roughly halfway between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.

The Sporting Life

Whether you come alive in the great outdoors or you're an enthusiastic spectator of competition, you'll find a place for your passions. With more than 90 miles of trails and greenways and a variety of minor league teams, there are plenty of ways to stay fit and entertained.

Lake Brandt

Man-made in 1925, Lake Brandt gives anglers plenty of chances for prize catches including catfish, largemouth bass and crappie. Join the Guilford College Outdoors Club and enjoy a leisurely paddle around the 816-acre reservoir on a kayak, rowboat or canoe.

Garden Trails

From the floral paths throughout the Bicentennial Gardens and 1.7 miles of the Arboretum to the elevated boardwalk of the birdwatcher-friendly Bog Garden, there are myriad walkways to explore.

Head to First National Bank Field for the South Atlantic League's Grasshoppers baseball. The Single-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins draws large crowds to its wide concourses during the warmer months.

Greensboro Grasshoppers

Head to First National Bank Field for the South Atlantic League's Grasshoppers baseball. The High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates draws large crowds during the spring and summer.

Greensboro Swarm

Between November and April at the Novant Health Fieldhouse, catch high-powered professional basketball with Greensboro's NBA G League team, the Greensboro Swarm.