The Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive (DTA) kicks off the weekend every Thursday night with music at NOMA Square on Main Street. Since its inception in 1986, more than 45,000 people attend this event annually, and it serves as the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council’s services and programs. It is also a major force in the economy of downtown Greenville. The City of Greenville Special Events Department has been an outstanding partner in organizing and handling all the logistics of the event.

To highlight the visual and performing arts, the city established the DTA-Metropolitan Arts Council tent. New for 2024, the City and MAC are inviting multiple artists to be a part of an art market called "ARTS AFTER DARK" - a row of 6 tents featuring artists selling their work and, if they choose, participating in demonstrations or offering workshops on the 3rd Thursday of each month. The presence of artists within DTA has always been instrumental in creating greater awareness of the many spectacular visual artists and cultural amenities that make Greenville such a wonderful city.