story by ODILE FREDERICKS
STARGAZING
Look to the skies July 10 at a private reserve in Creedmoor during Friday Under the Stars. Register online. triangleland.org
Enjoy the night sky, shareable plates, and cocktails from the rooftop of The Durham Hotel on July 21. thedurham.com/events
BALLGAMES
Catch a Durham Bulls home game on select Fridays and Saturdays, complete with postgame fireworks. mlb.com/milb/durham
The Holly Springs Salamanders play select nights in July and August. salamandersbaseball.com
Watch the Wilson Warbirds play their first season and enjoy fireworks on select evenings. milb.com/wilson
The Durham Bulls’ home season runs through September 13 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham. Photo courtesy of the Durham Bulls
PARKS AND MORE
Many parks and trails—such as Dix Park and Shelley Lake Park in Raleigh; Downtown Cary Park; Knightdale Community Park; White Deer Park in Garner; Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham; River Walk in Hillsborough; and Piedmont Nature Trails and Bolin Creek Trail in Chapel Hill—are open until dusk.
Some garden centers offer evening fun, including Norwood Gardens’ Rock ‘N the Garden in Raleigh, which features live music and rotating food truck fare on Thursday evenings. norwoodgardens.co/events
Raleigh City Farm’s Wine+Weeds event on Wednesdays is a chance to care for the farm and learn about plants. Register online. raleighcityfarm.org/events
ART WALKS
Join in the Golden Belt’s Third Friday Art Walk in Durham. goldenbeltarts.com
Striking sculptures line the streets and public spaces of downtown Apex through the Brett Gantt Sculpture Walk. apexnc.org/1558
NIGHT MARKETS
First Friday Market and Movie Night features local vendors, food trucks, live music, and a featured outdoor movie in the heart of downtown Raleigh July 3 and August 7. raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation
The Cary Night Market brings food trucks, local artists, and vendors to Downtown Cary Park August 21 and continues monthly through the end of the year. thenightmarketcompany.com
Last Fridays Makers Market features community art and family activities on the last Friday of the month in Hillsborough. hillsboroughartscouncil.org/last-fridays-markets
SUNSET YOGA
Soak in Sunset Yoga + Sound Bath at Shelley Lake Park in Raleigh. Register online. eventbrite.com
Ages 16 and up can head to Morris Peaceland Farm in Raleigh on the first and third Mondays through September 21. morrispeacelandfarm.com
Yoga in the Park at Harvey Hill in Dix Park in Raleigh on Mondays is open to adults and youths age 12 and older. Minors must be registered and accompanied by an adult. dixpark.org/event/yoga-park
Unwind at Sunset Yoga at Morris Peaceland Farm. Breathe deeply, stretch gently, and soak in the beauty of a peaceful sunset—the perfect way to relax, recharge, and reconnect with nature through September 21. Photo courtesy of Morris Peaceland Farm
THE NATURAL AND THE NOT-SO-NATURAL
Brumley Forest Nature Preserve in Chapel Hill offers a rare glimpse into the diversity of nocturnal life at Midnight Mothing July 19, midnight–3 a.m. Register online. triangleland.org
Stop and smell the roses at the Raleigh Rose Garden, where blooms put on a show through mid-November. raleighlittletheatre.org/visit-us/rose-garden
Chapel Hill Ghost Walk, Durham Ghost Walk, Raleigh Ghost Walk, and US Ghost Adventures in Raleigh offer spooky tales after dark. Purchase tickets online. usghostadventures.com and trianglewalkingtours.com
OUTDOOR CONCERTS AND MOVIES
APEX
Soak in Rhythm & Reels, a free concert and movie series on select Saturday evenings, at Nature Park Amphitheatre. apexnc.org/1673
CARY
Find seasonal evening events at Fenton, a mixed-use development with a welcoming green space and dining options. fentonnc.com/events
Head to Bond Park for live music, food trucks, and after-hours boat rentals on the first Friday of each month through October. carync.gov
Nighttime entertainment at Downtown Cary Park on select Saturdays through October features movies, musicians, and comedians. downtowncarypark.com/calendar
The Town of Cary features its monthly Summer Vibes Music Series Wednesdays in various parks. carync.gov
CHAPEL HILL
Catch movies or the “Sundays at Sundown” concert series on the green at Southern Village. visitsouthernvillage.com/events
The wine flows and the bites follow (weather permitting) at La Vita Dolce’s Wine Down Wednesdays through October. lavitadolcecafe.com/wine-down-wednesday
Fridays on the Front Porch of the Carolina Inn through October features live performances. carolinainn.com/fridays-on-the-front-porch
DURHAM
Durham Parks & Recreation’s Summer Concerts in the Park series offers live music and on-site food trucks in various parks. dprplaymore.org/318
Enjoy PLAYlist, featuring live music, vendors, and food trucks, on the first Friday of the month through October at Durham Central Park. durhamplaylist.com
The Old Mill Farm’s Fridays at the Farm offers live music, food truck fare, and local beer and wine Fridays through November. oldmillfarmdurham.com/fridays
GARNER
Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources’ Friday Family Flicks on the lawn of Garner Recreation Center will screen “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” on August 14. garnernc.gov
The Groovin’ in Garner concert series, featuring EnVision August 21, takes place on the lawn at the Garner Recreation Center. downtowngarner.com/events
HILLSBOROUGH
The Live on the Lawn Performance Series, held on the last Fridays of each month at the Old Courthouse, features a variety of live acts, including dance troupes, bands, and more. hillsboroughartscouncil.org/last-fridays-live-on-the-lawn
HOLLY SPRINGS
Enjoy live music and food truck fare Fridays on the lawn at the Holly Springs Cultural Center’s Summer at the Springs monthly concerts July 17 and August 21. hollyspringsnc.gov/1417
MORRISVILLE
The Town of Morrisville offers a live concert and food trucks August 7 and September 4 at Indian Creek Trailhead. morrisvillenc.gov/events-directory/music-in-the-park
RALEIGH
The Summer Concert Series at Pullen Park and Fred Fletcher Park features entertainment from local artists who donate their time on select Sunday evenings. raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation
Moore Square, in partnership with Get2KnowRaleigh, is hosting outdoor movies, local vendors, and food trucks downtown the first Friday of each month through November. get2knowraleigh.com/events
WAKE FOREST
Take in Family Movie Night at Joyner Park on July 18 and August 1. wakeforestnc.gov
Watch “Zootopia 2” from your poolside lounge chair at Holding Park Aquatic Center’s Dive-In Movie Night on August 22. Tickets are $7 per person. wakeforestnc.gov
Friday Night on White concert series downtown on the second Friday night of each month features local and regional bands. wakeforestnc.gov
Pack a blanket, grab the family, and enjoy a magical evening under the stars at Family Movie Night in Joyner Park July 18 and August 1. Photo courtesy of the Town of Wake Forest