A pour at Legends Pub of Fayetteville is much more than what fills the glass. Owner Holly Whitley and her bartending staff, fondly known as the “Gypsy Women,” pour into the lives of their customers, a base that has become practically innumerable in the pub’s 30 years. Attracting military members, veterans, bikers and people from all walks of life, patrons may start out as strangers but soon become steadfast friends—a unique dynamic in this transient town.
The special atmosphere that helps Legends Pub earn its name extends well beyond the bar each May during Spring Fling. The three-day annual event combines the best things about this bar, namely its contagious community spirit and support for their own that rivals most families. Spring Fling, happening May 29-31 at Legends Pub, 4624 Bragg Blvd., turns 30 this year.
“Spring Fling is about camaraderie,” Whitley shared. “A lot of us have known each other and have been friends, taken care of each other and supported each other over the last 30 years. Legends and the people who come are family to us; we love them. We've been able to do a lot for our people. We've been able to help so many over the years.”
Initially launched as a fun community event, Spring Fling transitioned to a benefit event following a friend’s motorcycle accident. Proceeds have gone to help families and individuals affected by cancer, illnesses, emergency surgeries, motorcycle and car accidents and other health and financial challenges.
“Many times. we have helped when people have been put in a position where they could not pay their bills until they heal and get better and could go back to work,” Whitley explained. “Last year, we raised close to $50,000 out of our little bar. And that's kind of an average that we had for several years. I would say we're easily close to a million, if not over a million, through the years.”
The schedule of events for Spring Fling 2026 is as follows:
Friday: Pool tournament, pre-party and 50-50 raffle
Saturday: Scott Sather Memorial Poker Run, first bike out at noon and back by 4:30 p.m.; Pig Picking; Auction at 5 p.m. until over, plus 50-50 raffle.
Sunday: Bike Show (Sign-up, 1 p.m., judging, 3 p.m.), three best bikes recognized; Auction with 5 p.m. winner announcement of the Legends Pub Big Raffle for MetaQuest 3 Goggles
When asked if special activities were planned to celebrate the 30-year milestone, Whitley said, “We will do that in December. That’s our actual anniversary.”
The 2026 Spring Fling beneficiary is the non-profit Bail for Tails Rescue NC, a 100% foster-based cat rescue operating in Downtown Fayetteville. In addition to the event proceeds, donations of cat food and litter will be accepted all weekend.
Bail for Tails Founder and President Dianne Carrillo opened the rescue in 2019-20 to tackle the downtown district’s stray cat problem. The self-described animal lover’s former work as a bail bond agent downtown helped her become very aware of Fayetteville’s homeless cat challenges. After locating homes for the strays that she and volunteers trapped, Carrillo found that the service was needed full-time. She launched the rescue, trading bail for jail for “Bail for Tails.”
Carrillo emphasized these were not feral cats but abandoned pets; once on the streets, the town cats grew in population and colonized.
“They were cats that were dumped, and they were multiplying at a rapid rate. And, we went in and fixed the ones that were friendly. We spent two years controlling and adopting out one colony of 37 cats,” she said. “A female cat can have four litters of kittens a year, believe it or not. They can get pregnant as young as four months.”
Now, the non-profit rehomes some 300 cats/kittens a year, Carrillo said, with every cat coming from stray, abandoned or hoarding situations.
“We either trap the cats ourselves or accept them from others, provide medical care socialize and adopt these animals to families. We make sure they are spayed and neutered, have all their shots, and they have been medically cleared. Our vet partner is Raleigh Road Animal Hospital.”
It is important to note that Bail for Tails is not a shelter and does not accept drop-offs without permission. Those needing help with a cat or cats are asked to message the rescue through Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/bailfortailsrescuenc/ or its website contact form, https://lpstk6.wixsite.com/bftrescue or email bailsfortailsrescuenc@gmail.com. A public adoption event, held every Thursday through Sunday, teems with cute, furry kitties completely ready to be rehomed. The rescue also partners with and provides adoptable cats to Farmer’s Cat Café at 2589 Gillespie Street. Open every day except Tuesday, the café serves coffee and light fare, features a farmers market and operates a cat room for feline fun and socialization. Bail for Tails and Farmer’s Cat Café provide two purr-fect chances to find a fur-ever friend.
Want to help? Foster homes, volunteers and donations are always needed. As such, Carrillo is very grateful and excited for the exposure and financial assistance this year’s Spring Fling will bring.
“I appreciate anything and everything,” Carrillo said. “Anything we receive will go straight to the rescue’s medical fund. I have known Holly for 30 years, and she has been trying to do a fundraiser for me for years and I have always declined. And then this year, she said, ‘No, I'm going to do it for you, whether you like it or not.’”
Look for the Bails for Tails table at Spring Fling; Carrillo will have t-shirts for sale, adoption, foster and volunteer forms, plus “mug shots” of her adoptable, adorable cats.
Spring Fling is the largest of Legends many happenings; the pub’s chock-full calendar includes everything from birthday and retirement parties to memorial toasts and chili cookoffs. Whitley invites all, regulars and newcomers alike, to join the Legends Pub family and experience Spring Fling.

(Photo: Holly Whitley, center, owner of Legends Pub and her "Gypsy Women," have held an annual Spring Fling fundraiser for 30 years. The Legends Pub owner estimates the Spring Fling has raised over a million dollars. Photo by Royal Soleil)