The Taste of Raleigh, Now in a Can: Meet 'Oak City Sparkle'.

About Oak City Sparkle

Straight from the Tap to the Can! We took Raleigh's award-winning water—naturally sourced and locally filtered—and gave it a bubbly, Oak City twist. Clean, crisp, and made right here in Raleigh. It's the taste you trust, with a little fizz!

Blue Oak City Sparkle can with condensation

Blue can in canning machine being spun around

employee standing in front of a canning machine

What Inspired the Name Oak City Sparkle?

It was a team effort! Raleigh Water wanted not only to give the community a chance to enjoy our tasty tap water in a new bubbly format, but also to involve all of our crews in the process. That meant nine divisions and hundreds of voices contributing creative name suggestions, which were later voted on. And of course leading to the winner you see today: Oak City Sparkle.

Raleigh Water Introduces Oak City Sparkle

Where (and When) Can I Try Oak City Sparkle?

Details are coming soon! For the fastest update on where to grab your first can of 'Oak City Sparkle,' follow Raleigh Water's social media channels.

Oak City Sparkle Can design showing blue can with white writing

Meet the mind behind the Oak City Sparkle can design!

There are hundreds of faces and personalities that make up the dedicated City of Raleigh staff. Some members you’ll see out in the community—repairing water pipes, paving roads, or answering your questions at events. Other members spend their days typing, clicking, and creating modern marketing designs behind the scenes.

That’s where you’ll find Eric Bannister, senior graphic designer for the City of Raleigh. There's not a department or division where his creative touch cannot be seen, thanks to his 12 years with the city. When the graphic design artists teamed up with Raleigh Water to brainstorm ideas for Oak City Sparkle, we knew we needed a can design that really captured the spirit of Raleigh and the importance of water. That’s when the design team jumped in—and Eric got busy turning the vision into reality.

Here’s what Eric shared about his inspiration:

“Ultimately, the label design was inspired by the sustainable process that makes the City of Raleigh’s water drinkable—rainfall, collection, purification, and responsible usage. Visually, the can was influenced by the City of Raleigh’s brand identity. Drawing from the city’s visual language, color palette, and guiding principles, the design reflects Raleigh’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community pride.”

The can design highlights many of the prominent buildings that shape the Raleigh skyline. Eric noted that one of his favorite parts of the project was incorporating those familiar landmarks, making the design feel more personal and welcoming for residents.

He also shared that the City of Raleigh has built a refined brand identity to ensure every design is clean, clear, and accessible. That same thoughtful approach shines through in the fun, vibrant artwork that decorates the Oak City Sparkle cans today.

Contact

Kimberly Holmes-Iverson
Communications Manager, Raleigh Water
kimberly.holmes-iverson@raleighnc.gov

Department:: Water

Service Categories:: Water Treatment

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