Weekend best bets: Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, Spring Daze in Cary
There are several festivals happening this weekend, including one in Fayetteville!
Festivals
April 27-30: Fayetteville Dogwood Festival – This annual festival kicks off on Thursday with the Cork and Fork food and wine event. It continues on Friday night with a concert from David Nail and Ashland Craft at Festival Park, plus local food vendors and carnival rides. The weekend continues with a downtown street fair with a Kids’s Zone and BMX Bike Show. Buckcherry and Lit will perform a Saturday night. On Sunday, there will be a Car, Motorcycle and Truck Show in addition to the downtown street fair. Who’s Bad – The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience will perform that evening.
April 27-30: MerleFest - Merlefest will celebrate two milestones this year - its 35th anniversary and what would have been founder Doc Watson's 100th birthday. This year's festival definitely includes a diverse lineup from Maren Morris to The Avett Brothers. The festival is planned April 27-30 and features nearly 90 bands over four days. Headliners also include Brothers of a Feather with Chris and Rich Robinson of the The Black Crowes, Nickel Creek and Tanya Tucker.
April 29: 2023 Annual NC Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival - Head to Lafayette Village for this event from 1 to 6 p.m. Explore the unique shops at Lafayette Village as you sample wines, cheeses and chocolates. Tickets are $39.99 in advance and $50 at the door.
April 29: Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival - The annual Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival features 170 local artists, entertainment on four stages, delicious food and several activities for the kids. It will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bond Park in Cary.
April 29: SpringsFest 2023 – The Town of Holly Springs will host this outdoor festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be food trucks, live music, a beer garden, car show and children’s activities. Admission is free.
April 30: Earth to Raleigh: Your Mother’s Calling – RUMAH (Raleigh United Mutual Aid Hub) and Climate Action NC will host this Earth Day Festival at Clouds Brewing on Front Street in Raleigh on Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. There will be live music, local artists, food trucks and more fun. Admission is free.
April 29: MaiBike Fest – Crank Arm Brewing will be site of this market on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. There will be 25 local and regional vendors who specialize in artisan crafts, handmade goods and vintage clothing and art. Admission is free.
April 29: All Booked Up - Library Fest 2023 - Enjoy this after-hours party at the Durham County Main Library from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $75 and includes food, drink, a DJ, behind the scenes access, library tours, live demonstrations and more. The event is 21 years and older.
April 29: Northside Festival - Head out to Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill for the Northside Festival, a celebration of Northside, Pine Knolls, and Tin-Top. Returning for the first time since 2019, there will be performances from home-grown talents, free food, crafts and games for all ages, hundreds of community members, an interactive history exhibit, and a photo booth!
Food, beer and more fun
April 29: Taps for Toys – This third annual event will be held Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Tobacco Road Sports Café and Brewery in downtown Raleigh. There will be 30 North Carolina breweries competing with their favorite beer or seasonal specialty beer. Tickets are $50 and include a souvenir glass to taste all the brews and a pig pickin’. Proceeds will go to Zach’s Toy Chest, which provides toys for children in local cancer hospitals.
April 29: Bull City Beer Mile - Brought to you by The Glass Jug Beer Lab and Bull City Running Co., Durham's only official beer mile takes place at Durham Central Park on April 29. Heats will run all afternoon, and everybody will be partying in the park with live music, food trucks, and of course, beer.
April 29: Serenity and Wellness Pop Up - The Patio at Unscripted Durham will host a Serenity and Wellness Pop Up event, featuring complimentary chair massages from Vole Massage Company, music by DJ Big Fella and drinkable wellness shots from Doc Swiner from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Music and Theatre
April 28-30: Chicago - After 25 years, this show is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake. See it at DPAC from April 28 to 30.
April 29: Ruben Studdard & Clay Aiken: Twenty | The Tour - Join these two powerhouse voices for one night together. This special night will benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
April 29: Beats n Bars Festival 2023 - Enjoy a day of art, trivia, dancing and fashion show during this event at American Tobacco Campus on Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. VIP tickets ($50) include a curated food item from ATC restaurants, premium festival seating and a grab bag.
Family fun
April 28: Teen Beauty Night: - The City of Durham Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a teen beauty night. Enjoy a fun night of sharing beauty tips: make up lessons on how to create a flawless look and hair weaving installation techniques. Pre-registration required. This event is for teens ages 13-18.
April 29: Durham Bulls Star Wars Night - Head to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park for this special night. Bulls players and coaches will wear specialty jerseys. Be on the look out for some Star Wars characters at the game. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.
April 29: Canine Field Day - Durham Parks and Recreation will host this event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rock Quarry Park. You and your dog will have an opportunity to participate in a Hyperflite Skyhoundz Dog Disc Classic Qualifiers competition. Spectators and competitors can enjoy additional fun interactive pet-friendly games, an agility zone, and contests for all skill levels. Pre-registration is required for each dog competing.
April 29: Raulston Blooms! – The JC Raulston Arboretum will hold this event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be gardening talks, hands-on activities for children and families, food trucks and NC State Howling Cow ice cream cups, a plant sale and more fun. Admission is free for members and students with a university ID. It is $5 for nonmember and $10 per family.
April 29: Special Needs Carnival – Brooks Avenue Church of Christ will be hosting its 20th annual Spring Carnival for children with special needs and their families living in the Research Triangle area on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is Free. There will be inflatables, games, crafts, face painting, food, concessions and visits from local heroes and mascots.
April 29: Acorns and Irons Kids Health and Wellness Event – Oak and Iron Fitness will host this event on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Brier Creek Park. This free health and wellness event is for children. There will be al variety of games and challenges, plus food, music and vendors. Admission is free but registration is encouraged.
April 29: STEM Saturday - Celebrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, STEM Saturday will expose students in grades K-12 to a variety of STEM career options, while featuring STEM-related exhibits, demonstrations, and hands-on learning activities. This is a free event at Joyner Park in Wake Forest.
April 29: STEM and Story time: Enjoy a special Stem Story time with The Wonder Lab a part of Durham County's Libraryfest! With a birds/nest theme children will hear a story and sing songs before exploring hands on stations at their own pace. This event is for children ages one to three years old. Registration is required.
April 29: International Dance Day - Bring the family for a free dance class with McDaniel Roberts at 11:30 a.m. at ADF Scripts Studio in Durham.
April 29: Cat Castle Building - Stop by the Eva Perry Library in Apex between 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. this Saturday to create a pawsome hang out spot for your cat or other small animal. All ages welcome. Library staff will provide the cardboard boxes and decorations.
April 29: Family Performance Series: The Magic Of African Rhythm is a Durham-based ensemble that uses traditional and original songs, music, dance, and storytelling to explore African history and culture. Tickets are only $10. Children under age five are free. This weekend the group will present a dance and drumming teen workshop, family performance, and an all-ages community tapestry project at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro.
April 29: Art Adventures at Ackland Museum - In this art-inspired, hands-on art-making class for six- to nine-year-olds, participants will create their own masterpieces inspired by works of art at the Ackland. Classes are led by instructor Allison Tierney. There are two: 10:30 a.m.-Noon & 1:00-2:30pm.
April 29: Day of the Books - Chatham County Partnership for Children will host our 2023 Day of the Books / El Día de los Libros this Saturdayfrom 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Enjoy live arts performances, music, family friendly activities, and giveaways including interactive arts and crafts and more! Bilingual books will be given away along with a take-away picnic lunch for families. This event takes place at Bray Park in Siler City.
April 29: Artspace Spring Family Day: Join Artspace in downtown Raleigh for our Spring Family Day celebrating Earth Day! Enjoy art making experiences exploring the environment and live performances.
April 30: Public Wild Neighbors + Raptors Program - Come learn all about Piedmont Wildlife Center and some of the animals that call PWC home. We'll get the chance to meet 5-6 native North Carolina species including reptiles, mammals, and birds of prey. Registration online is required. Tickets are just $8.
April 30: Six Sundays Kickoff - The Town of Wake Forest will kickoff the 2023 Six Sundays in Spring concert series. It is scheduled for six consecutive Sundays from April 30-June 4. Sponsored by ARTS Wake Forest, these free concerts are scheduled rain or shine from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater.
