Looking for things to do in the NC Triangle this summer?
There’s always a great festival, market, celebration and more on tap. Mark your calendar for our editors’ local picks this season in Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties.
June
American Dance Festival
Through July 25
One of the largest and most influential modern dance festivals in the world celebrates its 93rd annual season with more than 20 choreographers and dance companies taking part in 45 performances across Durham this summer. Dancers from both emerging and long-standing companies like Pioneer Winter Collective, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Charlotte Ballet will perform at Reynolds Industries Theater, Page Auditorium, ADF‘s Scripps Studios, The Carolina Theatre, Jewish for Good and in von der Heyden Studio Theater at the Rubenstein Arts Center. Don’t miss your chance to bring your kiddos to its Children’s Saturday Matinee series, too!
Summer Concerts in the Park
June 13 & 27, July 11 & 25 and Aug. 8 & 22
Durham Parks and Recreation brings back this family-friendly summer pastime at Bull City parks. Pack your blankets and lawn chairs for live outdoor music (rain or shine!) from emerging local artists spanning a range of genres: Blue Cactus June 13 at Duke Park; Sabrosura June 27 at Forest Hills Park; Dr. Bacon July 11 at Duke Park; Damion Rashad July 25 at Forest Hills Park; Ally J Aug. 8 at Duke Park; and The Wilson Springs Hotel Aug. 22 at Forest Hills Park. Bring your friends, family, dancing shoes and an appetite to enjoy delectable fare from on-site food trucks while soaking in quintessential summer vibes.
North Hills Kids
June 16, July 21 & Aug. 18
Treat your little ones to a monthly summer series of interactive and entertaining opportunities for children to come together to learn, exercise and socialize in an outdoor environment at North Hills’ Midtown Park.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration
June 19
Join neighbors, friends and families at Chapel Hill’s Hargraves Community Center to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Celebrate Black culture, history and community while enjoying performances, speakers, food and activities that honor this holiday.
Juneteenth Black Arts Festival
June 20
Celebrate Black culture and community at Community Organizing for Racial Equity‘s ninth annual festival at the Chatham County Fairgrounds. This family-friendly gathering highlights Black artists, vendors and entrepreneurs from across the Triangle, featuring performances, food trucks, a community marketplace and civic engagement resources. Explore a heritage walk and educational activities that honor the history behind the holiday while examining persisting racial barriers.
Capital City Juneteenth Celebration
June 20
Head to Harvey Hill in Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park for an afternoon of reflection that honors the abolition of slavery in the U.S. This gathering brings the community together around live entertainment, children’s activities, local vendors and food, creating a space to celebrate history, culture and unity. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and experience the spirit of this meaningful annual event rooted in remembrance and community connection.
Arts on East
Wednesdays through June 24
Gather your friends, family and picnic blankets and head to Duke University’s East Campus for a free outdoor concert series from Duke Arts Presents. The weekly lineup, hosted by Stormie Daie, spotlights regional and Durham- based acts including Meltdown Rodeo, Lua Project, Brandon Woody’s Upendo, Rebecca Porter and Zoocrü – curated in tandem with community partners to highlight the breadth of artistic voices that shape our city. Browse a community market organized by Kamara Thomas, grab a bite from The Palace International and rotating foods trucks, or tune in on WXDU 88.7 FM if you can’t join in person.
Out! Raleigh Pride
June 26 & 27
An integral part of Raleigh’s downtown culture, this annual family-friendly event promotes diversity, awareness and inclusiveness for the LGBTQ+ community complete with live entertainment, local vendors and artists, great food, a KidsZone and a beer garden.
Chatham Celebrates American 250
June 27
Celebrate America’s 250th anniversary early at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center with live music, food trucks, vendors, exhibits and live demonstrations – the culminating event of a 250-day initiative of programming inspired by Chatham County and American history.
Southeast Crab Feast
June 27
Enjoy all-you-can-eat blue crab, a side of fish and chips and live music in a family friendly environment at Lake Wheeler Park. Proceeds support cancer research and treatment organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society, among others.
Prism
June 27
Pride, play and discovery come together at the Museum of Life and Science during this joyful, all-ages celebration! Explore the 84-acre campus while engaging with storytimes, crafts and science activities led by community partners like Rainbow Collective for Change. Hands-on experiments and animal encounters invite guests to rethink assumptions and investigate the rich diversity of the natural world, while rainbow-themed moments pop up across the grounds for a colorful day of connection and curiosity.
July
Pre-Fourth of July Patriotic Celebration
July 3
Celebrate the Fourth of July at this annual event, which focuses on the meaning and history of the country’s Independence Day, at the Cary Arts Center with a moving performance from the Cary Town Band.
Children’s Independence Day Parade
July 4
Bring the whole family down to Durham Central Park for this Fourth of July celebration! Decorate bikes, tricycles, wagons or strollers with ribbons, trinkets and other colorful flair before joining the festive parade through the park. Cool off and recharge afterward with hot dogs, brews and free popsicles, then let the little ones explore Durham Fire Department trucks to round out a perfectly patriotic morning.
July Fourth Celebration with The Durham Bulls
July 4
Celebrate patriotism and civic pride with Durham Parks & Recreation and the Durham Bulls. Attend the baseball game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and enjoy a dynamic fireworks show following the game.
Fourth of July Drone Show in Chapel Hill
July 4
Get to Chapel Hill High School early with your blankets and chairs for a good spot at the Fourth of July drone show hosted by Chapel Hill Community Arts & Culture. Event parking opens at 7 p.m. with the fireworks display beginning around 9 p.m.
Acme Tomato Fest and Tomato Day at the Farmers Market
July 11
This 25th annual festival features dozens of tomato varieties prepared nearly every way imaginable at the Carrboro restaurant. The Carrboro Farmers Market also celebrates peak tomato season with a raffle, live music, special themed merchandise and samples of fresh, locally grown tomatoes.
Playmakers Repertory Company’s Summer Youth Conservatory Musical
July 16-26
See some of the best high school talent around perform in the company’s Summer Youth Conservatory musical. This year’s show is “Hello, Dolly!” The professional company’s regular season takes place September through April.
Summer Block Party
July 18
Celebrate reading, summer and community at Book Harvest’s sixth annual free outdoor event. Head to Durham Central Park for a lively afternoon filled with family-friendly activities and entertainment, plus take home your picks from an abundant selection of free, culturally inclusive children’s books for readers of all ages – from infants through high schoolers.
GalaxyCon Raleigh
July 23-26
Celebrate comic books, pop culture, sci-fi, fantasy, gaming and anime at this four-day festival of fandom at the Raleigh Convention Center. Meet some of your favorite celebrities, artists, writers, voice actors and entertainers, plus enjoy afterparties, swag, pose for photo ops and more. Some of this year’s celebrity guests include Hayden Christensen, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Edgar Wright and cast members of the “Scream” franchise.
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
July 31 & Aug. 1
This quintessentially Southern festival features more than 60 beer offerings, 40 bourbon brands and all forms of barbecue – from whole-hog pulled pork to ribs to brisket and all the fixin’s you can imagine – over two days at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Admission includes a sampling glass to enjoy all the beer and bourbon your heart desires; a souvenir glass; lawn games like cornhole and giant Jenga; live rock, blues and bluegrass music; seminars with master distillers, brewmasters and pit masters; and exhibits of hot sauces, barbecue accessories, cookware and more.
August
Okra Jamboree
Aug. 2
Okra lovers unite at this festival celebrating flavor, culture and, of course, eating! The Plant hosts its third annual event offering opportunities to sample creative dishes, tour an okra farm and learn all the benefits of the vegetable – or the fruit – depending on who you ask. Listen to Dubfire Reggae Band while browsing pop-up vendor stands or pick up a signed copy of Chris Smith’s James Beard Award-winning book, “The Whole Okra.”
Paperhand Puppet Intervention
Aug. 7- Sept. 27
Every weekend in August through early September, the Saxapahaw-based puppet troupe performs a larger-than-life outdoor show at The Forest Theatre in Chapel Hill. Now in its 26th year, this series of shows inspires and promotes social change.
Outsouth Queer Film Festival
Aug. 13-16
The Carolina Theatre hosts this signature event, the second-largest film festival in the Southeast and the largest cultural arts event serving the LGBTQ+ community in the Carolinas, with screenings of shorts, documentaries and feature films that celebrate a worldwide glimpse of today’s LGBTQ+ life.
Raleigh’s CaribMask Carnival
Aug. 15
Founded by the Raleigh/Durham Afro-Caribbean Association in 2012 to create a deeper appreciation for AfroCaribbean culture, performers and bands parade down the street at City Plaza in elaborate colorful costumes jamming to music traditional to their countries – more than 15 will be represented – while attendees enjoy great acts, artisan vendors and tasty, culturally significant foods.
Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival
Aug. 22 & 23
Enjoy the 50th anniversary of this annual two-day arts and crafts festival with almost 300 featured artists, a beer garden, live music, children’s activities and various food and drink vendors at Cary Town Hall Campus.
Durham’s Black August in the Park
Aug. 28-30
This annual festival at Durham Central Park connects people of African descent and inspires them to assert their value and engage in social and cultural change. The event is reminiscent of a Black family reunion or a homecoming, with an additional emphasis on providing a platform for, and elevating the causes of, social justice organizations.
September
Old-Fashioned Farmers’ Day
Sept. 5
This 51st annual event in Siler City includes working farm animals, displays of equipment and tools as well as family-friendly live entertainment, games, food and ice cream.
Hopscotch Music Festival
Sept. 10-12
Celebrating its 16th year this September, this three-day music festival returns to downtown Raleigh with its memorable performances and fan-friendly atmosphere. Music across multiple genres – from rock, hip-hop and folk to metal and electronic – will be on tap from both national and local acts.
Hillsborough Hog Day
Sept. 18-19
Indulge in a celebration of all things pork on East Margaret Lane, with delicious food, live music and family-friendly activities during this annual tradition that’s taken place for more than 40 years in Orange County. The event’s profits will go to support children’s projects, schools and nonprofits within the community.
Eno River Association’s 60th Anniversary Celebration
Sept. 12
The Festival for the Eno has brought the community together for nearly 50 years, celebrating music, art, creativity and care for the river. This year, West Point on the Eno will be closed for construction following Tropical Storm Chantal, so the festival is evolving! Carry on the spirit of the festival at Durham’s Carolina Theatre and DPLEX Plaza.
Pepperfest
Sept. 13
Warm up your taste buds! North Carolina’s spiciest outdoor food festival, hosted at The Plant, takes place on Lorax Lane in Pittsboro every September. Don’t miss out on local craft vendors and live music while trying pepper-themed dishes, cocktails and hot sauces made with locally grown sweet, hot and smoky peppers.
Hoppin’ John Fiddlers’ Convention
Sept. 17-19
This festival returns to Shakori Hills Community Arts Center in September, featuring band and instrument contests, concerts, square dances, workshops, showcases, film screenings, jam sessions and children’s activities, with on-site camping available.
Centerfest
Sept. 19 & 20
Presented by the Durham Arts Council, this is the longest-running street arts festival in North Carolina and the largest arts and community festival in Durham. The two-day event showcases paintings, photography, sculptures, jewelry, crafts and more by juried artists as well as entertainment, food and fun for the whole family in downtown’s City Center.
Need more summer fun? Follow us on Instagram or check out our online calendar for all the upcoming Triangle events to explore!
