Festivals, Art Walks, And Other Regular Events
Triangle ArtWorks strives to include all Triangle groups in this listing, but needs your help in keeping it complete and current. Please inform us of any changes/additions at our email.
These entries are for convenience only and the information regarding each organization was provided by the organization or taken from their website. Triangle ArtWorks makes NO endorsement or recommendation regarding any of the businesses or organizations listed. Be sure to review their websites and other sources independently before you patronize them.
Cary
Farmers Fall Festival– Hosted by: Cary Downtown Farmers Market in partnership with the Town of Cary. This festival will take place along West Chatham Street and Ivey-Ellington grounds in Downtown Cary on September 24th from 9 am to 3 pm. The event celebrates the harvest season when our farmers are bringing in their fall bounty during the first crisp days of fall. There will be live music on the main stage, a kids performance area, fun games and interactive exhibits, local food and craft beer, art & crafts and a mid-day pie-eating contest. Website.
Cary Art Loop – The Cary Art Loop is an art walk event held by participating galleries and venues in Cary from 6 pm to 9 pm on the final Friday of every month in Cary. The Cary Art Loop was founded by artists and artisans in Cary and the surrounding communities dedicated to supporting the Arts. Website.
Fest in the West – A festival to celebrate Cary’s rural past in western Cary that promises fun for everyone. Our main stage has live music all day, the Beer Garden features 4 local breweries, the Food Truck rodeo has cuisines from around the world, the Kid Zone will keep your child busy while you browse the Arts & Crafts Village, and then you can reward them with a visit to the petting zoo and fun activities at the Kid’s Corral. Don’t miss the 2 hilarious contests: Pie Eating and Hillbilly Horseshoes! Admission is free. Goodtree Studio partners with the Town of Cary to bring the fastest growing area in Wake County a festival in their backyard. Website.
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival – The Town of Cary’s Lazy Daze Festival takes place the 4th Saturday of August. Four hundred artists from across the country are selected through juried process to showcase their works along the charming streets of downtown Cary. For over 30 years art lovers from across the region and beyond and sought out unique works and also enjoyed outstanding local entertain from 3 stages. Consistently ranked the highest one-day festival in the country, Lazy Daze is a great capstone to summer. Website.
Marvelous Music Series and Sertoma Amphitheatre Series – The Town of Cary’s two music presenting series provide citizens the opportunity to experience a variety of music events throughout the year. The Marvelous Music Series offers ticketed concerts of touring artists in varied musical forms from jazz to classical to world music. The outdoor Sertoma Series takes place in the Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park and provides free concerts primarily in spring and fall showcasing both local artists and family friendly events in a variety of musical forms. Website.
Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival – The Town of Cary’s Spring Daze Festival takes place the last Saturday April in Bond Park. Focusing on artists from Wake County, the festival also includes an area for outstanding North Carolina artists that are selected through a jury process. Approximately 150 artists line the winding paths of Bond Park while it is decked out in spring splendor. Spring Daze provides a wonderful showcase for the many fine artists we have here in our own backyards. Website.
Chatham County
Shakori Hills – The Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is a collaboration between the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center and the GrassRoots Festival Organization, providing a family-friendly celebration of music, dance, art and education; a Music Lovers’ Paradise! Website.
ClydeFEST – ClydeFEST is the Chatham Arts Council’s annual old-school kids’ carnival that celebrates local folk artist (AKA “critter artist”), Clyde Jones, and his creative and colorful wooden creatures. Families have been going to ClydeFEST year after year, and it never gets old. Many of the hands-on arts and crafts projects and cool games are for elementary-aged kids and keep them smiling and engaged throughout the festival. From face painting, bubbles, and hula hoops to arts and craft projects and good old-fashioned carnival games, ClydeFEST has an activity for all ages. Website.
Durham
Durham Art Walk Spring Market – The Durham Art Walk Spring Market celebrates the creative energy of our local artists, arts organizations and downtown entrepreneurs by placing local artists and performers in downtown spaces and businesses in a unique showcase weekend. Unlike conventional studio tours, the Durham Art Walk Spring Market features visual and performing artists in both traditional and unexpected sites throughout downtown Durham. Sites are within easy walking distance around downtown but there is also free shuttle service provided. The event is free and open to the public. Website.
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market – The Durham Art Walk Holiday Market is a festive celebration of visual arts and fine crafts held in downtown Durham each November, featuring the work of over 200 talented artists in various large downtown venues including the Durham Armory, the Durham Arts Council, Golden Belt Arts and Vega Metals. Like the Durham Art Walk Spring Market, this event aims to help revitalize downtown Durham by bringing thousands of art lovers for a weekend of art and exploration of all that Durham has to offer including world-class restaurants, great shopping, innovative businesses and fascinating historic sites. The event is free and open to the public. Website.
Durham Arts Council’s CenterFest – Held the third weekend in September in the heart of downtown Durham, CenterFest is the longest running street arts festival in the state and the largest in downtown Durham. Featuring 130 artists from 18 states, 63 performers on five stages, over 40 area nonprofits, kids’ activities and festive food, the festival offers something for everyone. Website.
Orange County / Chapel Hill / Hillsborough
Festifall Arts Festival – Chapel Hill’s Festifall Arts Festival is held annually.. The main focus of the event is the diverse artist market representing the vibrant art community in Chapel Hill and beyond. Website.
Second Friday ArtWalk – Each second Friday of the month, Carrboro and Chapel Hill area galleries host the 2nd Friday Art Walk. 2nd Friday is a free festive evening of art, entertainment and hors d’oeuvres held to spotlight area art exhibit venues. A map is available on the website. Website.
Hillsborough Last Friday Art Walk – Last Fridays & the Art Walk occur on the last Friday of each month, March - November, from 6-9 PM in historic Hillsborough! Activities span both the downtown area and Nash Street's West End. Last Fridays & the Art Walk are a cornerstone program of the Hillsborough Arts Council (HAC) and are inextricably woven with the identity of Hillsborough’s creative community. Every Last Friday & the Art Walk features unique and rotating programming. Website.
Solstice Lantern Walk: In Hillsborough, NC, the winter solstice has become a special evening to gather and gently usher in the peaceful quiet of the winter season. The Solstice Lantern Walk, hosted by the Hillsborough Arts Council, encourages creativity and community participation. All are invited to craft a handmade lantern and join a procession to light up the night along Hillsborough’s River Walk. Through this nondenominational and multicultural tradition, participants help celebrate the hope and promise of light amidst darkness. The event is gradually expanding to include winter-market festivities such as after-walk entertainment, food & beverage, and arts & craft vendors. Learn more at. Website.
Handmade Parade & Market: Hillsborough's bi-annual Handmade Parade is a grassroots, Mardi Gras-style street parade featuring wild costumes, painted faces, puppets (both small & giant), stilt-walkers, marching bands, dancers, and so much more. The Hillsborough Arts Council hosts multiple workshop in the lead up to the parade and invites community members to "adopt a puppet" or craft their creative addition to the show. Occurring the same day, the Handmade Market features 50+ local artists, food & beverage vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities in River Park, serving as the hub for pre-parade festivities and a post-parade jamboree. Learn more at: Website
Orange County Artist Guild Studio Tour – The Studio Tour is a two-weekend event held annually in November. Members of the Orange County Artist Guild open their studios and homes to visitors. Website.
Raleigh
Artsplosure- The Raleigh Arts Festival – Artsplosure is one of the Southeast’s premier fine arts festivals and is an annual rite of spring for Triangle residents. Now in its fourth decade, Artsplosure is held in the third full weekend of May around the historic Moore Square and City Market area of downtown Raleigh. The event features a juried Art Market comprised of over 170 fine artists and craftspeople from across the state and country, Kidsplosure—activities, crafts, and entertainment for children and families, large scale temporary art installations, and live music on two stages featuring regional and nationally-recognized jazz, blues, and roots music performers. Website.
First Night Raleigh – First Night® Raleigh is a family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration of the arts in an alcohol-free environment. Held every December 31st in downtown Raleigh, the event features local and regional performing and visual artists. Festivities begin in the afternoon with the Children’s Celebration. The 6:00 People’s Procession moves thousands of participants southward down Fayetteville Street for the Early Countdown on City Plaza, followed by evening performances of music, dance, comedy, theatre, and interactive programs in over two dozen venues across downtown Raleigh. First Night® concludes at Midnight with music on the Main Stage, the famous Raleigh Acorn drop and a spectacular fireworks show. Admission to First Night® Raleigh activities is by admission button only. Presented by Artsplosure. Website.
International Festival – The International Festival is an annual celebration that offers 3 days of international performances, food, games, art and cultural exhibits at the Raleigh Convention Center. Over 50 different groups from around the world participate to showcase their cuisine, traditional dance and music; share traditions, and celebrate the Triangle’s unique diversity. The Festival features traditional ethnic dances performed by artists in authentic dress, culinary offerings from around the globe, cultural and historical exhibits, and shopping for global arts and crafts, among other festivities. Website.
