CHARLOTTE, N.C.--The Democratic National Convention does not officially start until Tuesday--but delegates are arriving on Sunday and the "official" welcome parties are this evening. The convention originally was to cover four days--with a big event at the NASCAR Stadium here--but that opener was dropped months ago--the venue was just too big and too expensive to fill.

Anyway--Charlotte was promised four days of business and Democrats are giving it to them. There is a big "CarolinaFest" on Monday with Democratic caucus group meetings and lots of entertainment--including James Taylor, Jeff Bridges and more. On Sunday night, there are state delegation welcome parties around town.

Illinois is grouped with Delaware, Hawaii, Ohio and Pennsylvania for a welcome party at the Mint Museum Uptown, located in a historic district here.

The Sunday Sun-Times has a package of stories previewing the Democratic National Convention.