March
Art in Bloom
This annual five-day floral fundraiser features the stunning creativity of floral designers from across the state and nation who interpret works of art in the North Carolina Museum of Art’s People’s Collection March 18-22, all in support of the museum’s programming, special exhibitions and the NCMA Foundation Inc.
Crop Hunger Walk
Join the community to raise funds for programs that seek to eradicate hunger. A quarter of the funds raised go to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, and Church World Service will receive the remaining funds for local and global efforts. Live music and other activities start at Carrboro Town Commons March 22 at 1:30 p.m. Be sure to take a photo with UNC mascot Rameses, who will be there to cheer on participants!
Graham 100: The Centennial Celebration
Experience the power of movement as the legendary Martha Graham Dance Company returns to Carolina Performing Arts March 25 with a program that is the culmination of the three-season celebration of its 100th anniversary. Immerse yourself in an evening of fiery modern dance curated around the timely and timeless question: What is an American?
Bull City Food and Beer Experience
This 13th annual event features food from 30 Triangle restaurants paired with breweries. Guests will get unlimited food and beer samplings March 29 throughout all three floors of the Durham Performing Arts Center, along with options from local food trucks. Proceeds benefit Ripe for Revival, a nonprofit that addresses food insecurity.
Durham Crop Walk
The 52nd annual event combines fun and fundraising to combat hunger locally and around the world. Durham’s event has raised more than $5 million since its inception in 1974. This year’s walk will be held March 29, starting in front of Duke Chapel.
April
Durham Craft Market
This outdoor market at Durham Central Park features more than 40 rotating artists who showcase their work every Saturday morning from 9 a.m.-noon year-round, plus an additional Shop Small event after Thanksgiving and a holiday market in December.
Arts on Market
This spring and fall community event in Southern Village features handcrafted art and gifts made by regional artists, artisans, bakers and makers.
Carrboro Earth Day & Open Streets
East and West Weaver streets close to traffic and welcome this eco-friendly event in celebration of Earth Day. On April 6, take part in community activities including cycling, walking, learning more about sustainable living and even blending smoothies on a bike blender to celebrate our beautiful planet.
North Carolina Science Festival
The monthlong, statewide festival produced by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center includes activities in Orange, Durham, Chatham and Wake counties that aim to spread science education through informative, fun, hands-on events like stargazing, science olympiad competitions and scavenger hunts. Check it out from April 1-30!
Spring Egg Hunt
Kids roam the grounds of Duke Homestead to find hidden eggs and turn them in for prizes. Get the whole family playing with egg-themed games, as well as the site’s traditional historic games, and enjoy a puppet show April 4 from 10 a.m.-noon! This event is BYOB – bring your own basket. There will be different times and areas for each age group to participate.
Midtown Beach Music Series
Dance the night away to classic beach music hits at North Hills’ Midtown Park during this community-building event where guests can enjoy live tunes, food, drinks and fun with their friends, neighbors and colleagues.
Tar Heel 10 Miler
This race takes you through iconic downtown Chapel Hill, UNC’s beautiful campus and the surrounding historic neighborhoods – a true Carolina tradition! Get your steps in or cheer on this year’s runners on April 18.
Carrboro Day & Earth Day Celebration
East and West Weaver streets close to traffic and welcome this eco-friendly event in celebration of Earth Day. On April 19, take part in community activities including cycling, walking, learning more about sustainable living and even blending smoothies on a bike blender to celebrate our beautiful planet.
Earth Day Festival
Celebrate environmental awareness and sustainability on Earth Day – Sunday, April 19 – with Durham Parks & Recreation. Enjoy a day filled with earth-friendly activities, educational resources, a host of vendors, good music and even better food!
Angels Among Us
Participants gather on Duke’s Medical Center campus each April for Angels Among Us, a community-filled day featuring a professionally timed 5K run benefiting the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, along with a Walk for HOPE, Li’l Angels Dash, KidZone activities, food trucks, vendors, a silent auction and more. This year’s 5K will be held April 25.
Canine Field Day
Join Durham Parks and Recreation for a fun day in the park with your canine friend April 25 at Rock Quarry Park. There will be opportunities to watch and participate in activities and competitions, such as the Hyperflite Skyhoundz disc dog competition.
Piedmont Farm Tour
A part of the nation’s largest sustainable farm tour, Carolina Farm Stewardship Association partners with Weaver Street Market to bring visitors to farms throughout North Carolina’s Piedmont region. Bring a cooler and the family out on April 25 or 26 to take home farm-fresh products.
Touch a Truck
This family-friendly event at The Friday Center offers kids the chance to explore an exciting variety of more than 40 vehicles, from construction machinery to emergency vehicles at Chapel Hill’s Friday Conference Center April 26. On-site food trucks will be available for refreshments. Admission is $6 per person, with a maximum of $24 per family, and free for children younger than two. All proceeds benefit UNC Children’s Hospital and Scouts BSA Troop 39.
May
PLAYlist Concert Series
Every first Friday from May to October, Durham Central Park and WNCU 90.7-FM present a free concert featuring national and local artists at DCP’s Pavilion and lawn – rain or shine. Bring a blanket or a chair and enjoy the live music plus food trucks, craft beer and a variety of vendors on site.
Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance
Camp, explore and groove at this biannual music festival at Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, a four-day event held from May 7-10 and again in October.
Spring Chicken Festival
Shake your tailfeathers at this free outdoor festival that takes place on Saturday, May 2 along East Second Street in Siler City with live musical performances, vendors of handmade goods, information booths, games, rides and more.
Got to Be NC Festival
This annual event is held from May 15-17 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds and features food, wine and beer from across North Carolina, rides and games, farm animals, music and one of the largest displays of antique tractors and farm equipment in the Southeast.
Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival
Honoring African and African American history, culture, arts and traditions, Durham Parks & Recreation hosts an afternoon of live music, arts and crafts, ethnic food and fun family activities at Rock Quarry Park. The annual festival, hosted this year on May 16 for free and open to the public, was established in 1969 by a group of local students and community members to honor the West African festival of harvest and celebration. Remember to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Artsplosure
Explore the eclectic, award-winning arts festival and market on May 16 and 17 in the heart of downtown Raleigh, featuring approximately 175 fine artists and craftspeople exhibiting original works of art across multiple categories, including paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodwork and more – all of which will be available for purchase. Kids enjoy free arts and craft activities at Kidsplosure, and a main stage hosts live performances.
Preservation Durham Home Tour
Each year, Preservation Durham – with its mission to protect Durham’s historic assets – offers the public a glimpse into a different historic neighborhood or thematic group of historic properties. It will be hosted on May 16 and 17 and will follow the theme “Hope Valley Centennial”.
Inter-Tribal Pow Wow
Celebrate Native American culture during a full day of competition dancing and drumming, live music and local vendors at this lively annual gathering May 30 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Harvey Hill. The event, hosted by the Triangle Native American Society in partnership with Dorothea Dix Park and the City of Raleigh, highlights the rich traditions of North Carolina’s Indigenous communities.
Walk For The Animals
Bring your furry friend on May 30 to Duke University’s East Campus lawn for a 1.5-mile walk to benefit the Animal Protection Society of Durham, which cares for close to 5,000 animals annually. Enter your pooch in pet contests; watch agility demonstrations; visit the dozens of vendors, from doggy day cares to vets and other animal-supportive businesses; meet adoptable dogs; and more.
Raleigh Greek Festival
Bite into generations of authentic Greek food while you enjoy live performances and shop from local vendors at the Raleigh Greek Festival, held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in the Jim Graham Building late May through early June.
June
Small Town Pride
Commemorate Pride in June as the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill co-present a monthlong celebration that includes the Chapel Hill Pride Promenade on at Peace & Justice Plaza in downtown Chapel Hill, plus drag storytimes, art installations, live entertainment, food, treats and more.
Beaver Queen Pageant
This unique and often wacky – in a good way! – pageant started in 2005 when the construction of I-85 threatened Durham’s Duke Park beavers. Head to the park June 6 and watched as contestants dress up in themed costumes, vying for the title of Beaver Queen by bribing the judges, all to benefit the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association.
International Food Festival
Celebrate Raleigh’s diversity, art, culture and traditions at City Plaza on June 6 while enjoying food truck fare, desserts, beer and wine from around the world, with more than 60 countries represented among the local vendors. Stick around for one of the largest outdoor international dance parties with nonstop performances.
Rhythm & Reels Concert & Movie Series
Durham Parks & Recreation offers this free summer series that includes outdoor concerts and movies on the big screen at the city’s parks June 13-Aug. 22. Food can be purchased from on-site vendors. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Need more play in your day? Follow us on Instagram to see what’s going on in the Triangle this week!
