Aug. 6. As a nationwide blood shortage continues unabated, the Carolina Renaissance Festival will host a Red Cross Blood Drive at the Huntersville Blood Donation Center, 9800 Kincey Ave. on Aug. 15.
The first 100 donors will receive a free ticket to the Carolina Renaissance Festival. All remaining donors will receive a coupon for a free child admission and two discounted adult tickets. Additionally, those who give blood in the month of August will get a $20 Amazon Gift Card by email. 
Hours: 1 pm to 7 pm.
Background
The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces dangerous levels of heat and people head out for final summer travel plans. Heat impacted more than 100 blood drives nationally in July in nearly every state where the Red Cross collects blood – compounding other seasonal obstacles to blood donation, such as travel and summer activities. Additionally, severe summer storms and weather events like storms, tornadoes, flooding and more can strike at any time and can disrupt the ability to collect enough blood products for patients who need immediate help. Together these factors contributed to a shortfall of more than 19,000 blood donations in July.
Donors of all blood types – including platelet donors and type O blood donors – are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, visiting RedCrossBlood.org using sponsor code ‘CARRENFEST’, or downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App.
