A guide to downtown Cary and Downtown Cary Park: hours, parking decks, the Nest, Bark Bar, the social district, theaters, markets and festivals.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts come from Downtown Cary Park, the Town of Cary and each venue’s own site, linked below.

Downtown Cary, centered on Academy and Chatham streets, is the town’s main gathering place: a seven-acre park, The Cary Theater, the Cary Arts Center, the library, the Saturday farmers market and the town’s biggest festivals all sit within a few blocks.

Who to call

  • Downtown Cary Park Guest Services: Cary 311, or 919-469-4000 from outside town limits
  • The Cary Theater box office: 122 E. Chatham St.; thecarytheater.com
  • Cary police, non-emergency: 919-469-4012
  • Emergency: 911

Downtown Cary Park

327 S. Academy St., seven acres bounded by Academy, Walker, Park and Walnut streets, the result of more than 20 years of planning, the town says on its park page. The park is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (hours and rules).

What is inside:

  • The Nest: two giant cardinal play structures, slides, a toddler area and a summer splash pad. See our kids’ activities guide.
  • Great Lawn and Pavilion: movie nights, CaryLIVE! concerts, Jazz’d Up Sundays and fitness classes.
  • Academy Pavilion and Plaza: restrooms, event space, a sprayground and Market 317, a grab-and-go market for coffee, pastries, meals, beer and wine, open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (Market 317).
  • The Barkyard and Bark Bar: a pass-only dog park and an open-air bar beside it. See our dog-friendly guide.
  • Gathering House and Garden: an event building with 28 French doors opening onto a garden.
  • Frantz Square and the Park Street Courts: table tennis, volleyball and a putting green, plus the Saturday farmers market and food trucks on Park Street.

The park and Market 317 take cards and contactless payment only. Skateboards, scooters, bikes, glass, outside alcohol, grills and confetti are not allowed in the park.

Guest Services, at the bottom of the library near The Nest, sells dog park passes, handles registrations and lost and found, and hands out kids’ activity sheets. Hours: April to December, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday; January to March, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Social District. Inside the signed Downtown Cary Park Social District, alcoholic drinks may be carried and consumed 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily (social district page).

Getting there and parking

From the park’s getting here page:

  • Parking: the accessible public deck behind Cary Regional Library, the lot on Charlie Gaddy Lane, marked street parking and the Town Hall deck.
  • Rideshare: drop-off on South Walker Street near The Walker building.
  • Bus: GoCary routes meet at the Cary Depot, less than half a mile from the park; the park says GoCary is free to ride.

Arts, theaters and history

  • The Cary Theater, 122 E. Chatham St.: films, concerts, comedy and the BEYOND film festival; its box office also sells town concert tickets (calendar).
  • Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave.: the town’s arts center, with studios and a stage for its curated concerts.
  • Page-Walker Arts and History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop: the town’s arts and history center in a former hotel, with exhibits and its Performances at the Page concerts.
  • Cary Regional Library, 315 Kildaire Farm Road: open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (library page).

Markets and regular events

When What Where
Saturday mornings Cary Farmers Market East Park Street
One Friday a month, 5 to 9 p.m. Cary Night Market Downtown Cary Park
Last Friday of the month, 6 to 9 p.m. Final Fridays Art Crawl (Cary Art Loop) Downtown galleries and businesses
Final Fridays, March to October, 7 to 8:30 p.m. One Tribe drum circle and fire show Old Library Site, by the Ivey-Ellington House
Several evenings a month Trivia Night and Music BINGO The Bark Bar

Dates and times: the Downtown Cary Park calendar.

Festivals

  • Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival: the 50th edition, Aug. 22-23, 2026, featured more than 250 artists to the Town Hall campus (Lazy Daze page).
  • Wheels on Academy car show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15, 2027, on North Academy Street (town page).
  • Holidays: the Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, and the Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade; see our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
  • Halloween: Downtown Scary Park and the police trunk-or-treat; see our Halloween events page.

Eating downtown

Brunch at Peck & Plume, 301 S. Academy St., and La Farm Bakery, 220 W. Chatham St., is in our brunch guide. For dinner and drinks, see our date night guide and live music and nightlife guide.

What this means for you

  • Park in the library deck or the Town Hall deck rather than circling for street spaces on event nights.
  • Bring a card: the park’s market and bar are cashless.
  • Check Guest Services for kids’ activity sheets and dog park day passes.

Frequently asked questions

What are Downtown Cary Park’s hours?

The park is open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Guest Services, under the library near The Nest, is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday from April to December, with shorter hours January to March.

Where do I park for Downtown Cary Park?

The park points visitors to the accessible public deck behind Cary Regional Library, the lot on Charlie Gaddy Lane, marked street parking and the Town Hall deck. Rideshare drop-off is on South Walker Street near The Walker building.

Can you drink alcohol in Downtown Cary Park?

Yes, inside the Downtown Cary Park Social District, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, within the signed boundaries. Glass containers and outside alcohol are not allowed in the park.

What is the address of Downtown Cary Park?

327 S. Academy St., Cary, NC 27511. The park covers seven acres bounded by Academy, Walker, Park and Walnut streets.