2016 Guide to Summer Events in Cary
Cary, NC – It’s time to dust off the picnic cooler and shake out the lawn blanket for our 2016 Guide to Sumer Events in Cary.
Concerts at Koka Booth Amphitheater
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
In addition to other concerts and outdoor movies, Koka Booth will have its two concert series: Hob Nob Jazz Series and the North Carolina Symphony’s Summerfest.
Hob Nob Jazz Series
There are only four shows left in the series. All shows are on Wednesdays. Tickets $5 for adults with kids 12 and under free. Shows go from 5:30 to 8:30 PM.
- May 11 – Atomic Rhythm All Stars
- May 25 – Peter Lamb and the Wolves
- June 1 – Yolanda Rabun
- June 8 – La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet
Details: Hob Nob Jazz Series.
Photo by Brian Speice.
NC Symphony Summerfest
Kids 12 and under free. All shows start at 7:30 PM.
- Saturday, May 28 – Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony
- Friday, June 3 – Gershwin and Jazz with Joey Alexander
- Saturday, June 4 – Classics Under the Stars
- Friday and Saturday, June 10-11 – John Williams Festival
- Thursday and Friday, June 16-17 – Beethoven Festival
- Friday, June 24 – Broadway at the Booth
- Saturday, June 25 – The Music of David Bowie
- Monday, July 4 – Independence Day Concert
- Saturday, July 9 – Beach Music with Jackie Gore and the North Tower Band
Details: NC Symphony Summerfest
Other Shows at Booth Amphitheatre
- Wednesday, May 18 – Styx with Kansas and Don Felder
- Friday, May 20 – Chris Stapleton with Sam Lewis
- Saturday, May 21 – Comedian Russell Peters
- Sunday, May 22 – Willie Nelson and Family
- Sunday, May 29 – Triangle Wind Ensemble Presents “Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue: An American Celebration”
- Wednesday, July 6 – Modest Mouse with Brand New
- Monday, July 18 – Flight of the Conchords
- Friday, July 22 – Wheels of Soul
- Sunday, August 7 – Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Ticket prices and times vary. Details: Booth Amphitheatre
Music at The Cary Theater
122 E. Chatham St., Cary
Year-round, The Cary Theater plays classics and independent films, including films from local artists. But The Cary Theater is also a location for musical acts and stand-up comedy all summer long.
- Friday, May 6 – Wyatt Easterling and Friends with Wes Collins, Presented by Six String
- Friday, May 20 – Comedy with Tom Simmons and Will Jacobs, Presented by the Town of Cary
- Saturday, May 21 – Tres Chicas with Steph Stewart, Presented by Six String
- Friday, June 10 – Chuck Brodsky with Rod Picott, Presented by Six String
- Friday, June 24 – Craver, Hicks, Watson and Newberry, Presented by Six String
- Saturday, June 25 – Comedy with Scott Novotny and Jamie Utley, Presented by the Town of Cary
The Cary Theater also will be showing classic films as part of “Disaster Weekend,” from Thursday, May 12 to Sunday, May 15. Details: Cary Theater
Fest in the West
7119 O’Kelly Chapel Road, Cary
CaryCitizen’s own event, located at the Parkside Town Commons in West Cary. There’s a little bit of everything, from food and beer vendors to live music to demonstrations by local artisans and a kids’ zone with activities and a magician.
Fest in the West is Saturday, May 21, 2016 from noon to 6 PM. Details: Fest in the West
Photo by Hal Goodtree.
Food Events
Chatham Street Chowdown
With more than a dozen food trucks as well as local breweries and wineries and live music on top of that, Cary’s food truck rally gathers along Chatham Street in downtown Cary.
This summer’s food truck rallies will be Sunday June 26 and July 31, from 5 to 9:30 PM. Details: Chatham Street Chowdown
Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
Held on the lawn at Koka Booth Amphitheater, it has all kinds of beers and bourbons to taste, plus a BBQ competition and live music. Goes from Friday, August 5 to Saturday, August 6.
A portion of proceeds goes to the Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation. Details: Beer, Bourbon and BBQ
Arts and Crafts
Downtown Food and Flea
200 S. Academy St., Cary
Once every month, food trucks, musicians, artists and more gather at Ashworth Village in Downtown Cary from noon to 4 PM.
This summer, the Ashworth Village events are Sunday May 8, June 12 and August 14. Details: Food and Flea.
Lazy Daze
316 N Academy St., Cary
For the 40th anniversary of Lazy Daze, the annual arts and crafts festival will be a two-day event. This year’s will be at Cary Town Hall Campus.
The festival goes from Saturday, August 27 to Sunday, August 28. Details: Lazy Daze.
Free Concerts
All summer long, there are many concerts and music events in Cary that are free and open to anyone, including:
- Live at Lunch – Downtown Cary
- Parkside Town Commons – Spring Concert Series
- Live in the District – Park West Village
- Starlight Concert Series – Page-Walker Arts & History Center
- Sertoma Concert Series – Bond Park
- Wind Down Wednesdays – Waverly Place
For more information, check out our Guide to (Free) Outdoor Music in Cary.
Photo by Brian Speice.
Other Events and Festivals
Independence Day Events
Across Cary, there will be several July 4 events.
801 High House Rd., Cary
At Bond Park, there will be a fishing tournament at the waterfront, starting at 8 AM. Then later, there will be a July 4 parade starting at the Kiwanis Shelter in Bond park and ending at the boathouse. The parade starts at 10:30 AM but kids can gather and decorate their bicycles, wagons and more at the shelter starting at 9:30 AM.
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
From 3 to 10 PM, Koka Booth Amphitheatre will be free and open to the public, with food, crafts, music and fireworks at night.
Dog Days of June
801 High House Rd., Cary
Saturday, June 4, a day of events for dogs, including a frisbee-catchin
National Train Day
211 N Academy St., Cary
Saturday, May 14, a day of excitement for train lovers and hobbyists at the Cary Train Station, followed by a tour of the Page-Walker Hotel and its history with North Carolina’s train system. There will be other vendors, tents, activities and more and everything is open and free to the public. Co-sponsored by the Heart of Cary Association, AMTRAK and the Town of Cary. Goes from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Wheels on Academy Cary Show
316 N Academy St., Cary
Saturday, May 21, gather on Academy Street to see vintage and antique cars all lined up to both admire, inspect and transport you to an earlier time. There will also be food and other activities, with the whole show free and open to the public.
And More!
Find a complete listing of Cary events on our CaryCitizen calendar, and follow us on Facebook to stay engaged on what is happening around town.
Story from staff reports. Events coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by Waverly Place in Cary.
