What's On in Cary
Events, markets, games, library and parks programs in and around Cary, with times, prices and the organizer's own link.
Top story
Things to do in Cary this weekend, Oct. 16 to 18
Cary Night Market Friday, free CaryLIVE! with Harvey Street and the Light The Night Walk Saturday, and Trampled by Turtles at Koka Booth on Sunday.
Coming up
The full month- Now through Oct. 25 N.C. State Fair
- Fri. Oct. 23 Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park
- Fri. Oct. 23 Trunk or Treat with pumpkin patch
- Fri. Oct. 23 Trunk or Treat at Koka Booth Amphitheatre
- Fri. Oct. 23 Zombiepalooza
- Fri. Oct. 23 Trunk or Treat
- Fri. Oct. 23 High school football: Jordan at Green Level
- Fri. Oct. 23 High school football: Apex at Panther Creek
- Sat. Oct. 24 Downtown Scary Park: Haunted Hotel
- Sat. Oct. 24 Movie Night: Halloween Double Feature
- Sat. Oct. 24 Haunting at the Old Hotel
- Sat. Oct. 24 Gavin Adcock: The Day I Hang It Up Tour
Plan your weekend
Fourth of July
Cary Fourth of July fireworks 2026
Cary's July 4 fireworks are at Koka Booth Amphitheatre over Symphony Lake. In 2026 gates opened at 6 p.m.; fireworks at 9:25 p.m. Lawn free.
Halloween
Trick-or-treat hours in Cary 2026
Halloween is Saturday, Oct. 31. Cary sets no official trick-or-treat hours. Trunk-or-treats: Koka Booth Oct. 23, Cary police downtown Oct. 29.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Cary 2027: events, dinners and date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 is a Sunday. What Cary held last year, from a free date night in Downtown Cary Park to Valentine's concerts, and when to look for 2027.
Spring break
Spring break in Cary 2027: school dates, camps, things to do
Wake County traditional-calendar students are off March 26 to April 5, 2027. Cary camps, Spring BreakOUT at Downtown Cary Park and what is open.
Easter
Easter in Cary 2027: egg hunts, brunch and services
Easter 2027 is March 28. Cary's free Hippity Hoppity Easter Egg Hunt, church egg hunts, what is closed and when registration opens.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Cary 2027: brunch, events and gift markets
Mother's Day 2027 is May 9. What Cary held last year, from Mother's Day at Fenton to the Saturday farmers market, plus free outings with mom.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day in Cary 2027: ceremony, closings, trash pickup
Cary's Memorial Day Remembrance is 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2027, at Veterans Freedom Park. What is open and closed, and how trash pickup changes.
Summer
Summer in Cary 2027: camps, pools and splash pads
Summer in Cary: town day camps at Bond Park and Mills Park, Triangle Aquatic Center's pools, splash pads at Jack Smith Park and Downtown Cary Park.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Cary 2027: events, car shows, brunch
Father's Day 2027 is June 20. Cary's Wheels on Academy car show is May 15, plus what ran last Father's Day and free outings with dad.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Cary 2027: events, closings, trash pickup
Labor Day 2027 is Monday, Sept. 6. What is open and closed in Cary, how trash pickup shifts, and the last weekend for splash pads and boat rentals.
Christmas
Cary Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026
The 47th Cary Jaycees Christmas Parade is 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, on East Chatham and South Academy streets. Santa visits that morning.
High school football
Friday night football 2026: Cary high school schedule
Green Hope is 6-2 and Panther Creek 5-2. Cary's last home games: Oct. 23 at Green Level and Panther Creek, Oct. 30 at Green Hope, all 7 p.m.
Fall festivals
Fall festivals and pumpkin patches in Cary 2026
Phillips Farms of Cary's fun park and corn maze are open Thursday to Sunday, with a haunted farm Friday and Saturday nights. Plus Harvest Fest.
Halloween
Halloween events in Cary 2026
Halloween 2026 in Cary: Pumpkin Flotilla Oct. 23, Downtown Scary Park Oct. 24, police trunk-or-treat Oct. 29 and Rocky Horror Oct. 30-31.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Cary 2026: turkey trot, closings, trash pickup
Thanksgiving in Cary is Thursday, Nov. 26: the Turkey Trot 8K, town offices closed Thursday and Friday, no GoCary buses Thursday, trash pickup changes.
Black Friday
Black Friday and holiday shopping in Cary 2026
Black Friday is Nov. 27 and Small Business Saturday Nov. 28. Cary shopping center hours, Waverly Place's Nov. 20 tree lighting and holiday markets.
Christmas
Holiday lights and Christmas events in Cary 2026
Cary's 2026 holiday season: the Chinese Lantern Festival Nov. 21 to Jan. 10, Santa photos at Downtown Cary Park and the menorah lighting Dec. 7.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Cary 2026: lanterns, fireworks, closings
New Year's Eve 2026 in Cary: the Chinese Lantern Festival keeps normal hours, Raleigh's Acorn Drop and fireworks, and what is closed on Jan. 1.
Brunch
Brunch in Cary: 7 places with weekend brunch hours
Where to get brunch in Cary, with days and hours from each restaurant's own site: Peck & Plume, Herons, Superica, La Farm Bakery and more.
Dogs
Dog-friendly Cary: dog parks, patios, trails and leash rules
Cary's four dog parks and how to get a pass, the Bark Bar at Downtown Cary Park, dogs on greenways and the town's leash ordinance.
Kids
Kids' activities in Cary: playgrounds, story times, rainy days
Things to do with kids in Cary: The Nest playground, library story times, splash pads, nature centers and indoor picks for rainy days.
Greenways
Cary walking and biking trails: greenways, distances, parking
Cary's main greenways with distances, trailheads and parking: Black Creek, White Oak Creek, Crabtree Creek, Hinshaw and the American Tobacco Trail.
Downtown Cary
Downtown Cary: a visitor's guide to the park, parking and food
A guide to downtown Cary and Downtown Cary Park: hours, parking decks, the Nest, Bark Bar, the social district, theaters, markets and festivals.
Live music
Live music and nightlife in Cary: venues and late spots
Where to hear live music in Cary and stay out late: Koka Booth Amphitheatre, The Cary Theater, free park concerts, Fenton bars and breweries.
Free
Free things to do in Cary
Free things to do in Cary: Downtown Cary Park, free concerts and movie nights, Hemlock Bluffs, greenways, splash pads, library programs and festivals.
Date night
Date night in Cary: dinner, wine bars, shows and late spots
Date night ideas in Cary from official sources: Peck & Plume, Herons, CRÚ wine bar, The Cary Theater, Fenton's ice rink and late bars.
Chinese Lantern Festival
N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary: dates, tickets, parking
The N.C. Chinese Lantern Festival returns to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary Nov. 21, 2026, to Jan. 10, 2027, open 6 to 10 p.m. nightly.
Spring Daze
Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival in Cary: date, shuttles, parking
Cary's Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival is Saturday, April 24, 2027, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bond Park, with 170-plus N.C. artists and four stages.
Lazy Daze
Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival in Cary: dates, shuttles, rules
Lazy Daze, Cary's downtown arts festival, is held the fourth weekend of August. The 50th ran Aug. 22-23, 2026, with 250-plus artists and four stages.
Restaurants
Where to eat in Cary: lists by category
Every Cary dining list in one place: wings, pizza, Mexican, barbecue, breakfast, burgers, sushi and Asian, ice cream, bakeries, patios and brunch.
Wings
Where to get wings in Cary: Maynard Road, Walnut Street and more
9 places to get wings inside Cary town limits, on Maynard Road, Walnut Street, Cary Towne Boulevard, Bass Pro Lane, Kildaire Farm and Chapel Hill roads.
Pizza
Where to get pizza in Cary: Kildaire Farm, Maynard Road and west Cary
17 pizza places inside Cary town limits, on Kildaire Farm Road, NW and NE Maynard Road, downtown Chatham Street, Parkside and Bradford.
Mexican food
Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Cary: Chatham Street to Parkside
19 Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants inside Cary town limits, from East Chatham Street and Maynard Road to Kildaire Farm Road, Fenton and Parkside.
Barbecue
Where to get barbecue in Cary: downtown, Maynard Road and Crossroads
6 barbecue restaurants inside Cary town limits: pit barbecue downtown, on NW Maynard Road and Ashville Avenue, plus Korean barbecue and two grills.
Breakfast
Breakfast and coffee in Cary: downtown, Maynard Road and Preston
20 breakfast spots, bagel shops and coffee shops inside Cary town limits, from downtown Chatham and Academy streets to Maynard Road, Preston and NC 55.
Burgers
Where to get burgers in Cary: Harrison Avenue, Walnut Street and more
11 burger places inside Cary town limits, on North Harrison Avenue, Walnut Street, Kildaire Farm Road, Waverly Place, Parkside and Cary Parkway.
Sushi
Sushi and Asian restaurants in Cary: High House Road to downtown
50 sushi, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Nepali restaurants inside Cary town limits, on High House Road, Maynard Road, downtown and more.
Ice cream
Ice cream and desserts in Cary: downtown, Fenton and west Cary
13 ice cream, gelato, frozen custard and dessert shops inside Cary town limits, from downtown Chatham Street to Fenton, Parkside and Green Level.
Bakeries
Bakeries in Cary: downtown Chatham Street, Maynard Road and more
12 bakeries and bakery cafes inside Cary town limits, with three on West Chatham Street downtown, plus Maynard Road, Preston, Parkside and Tryon Road.
Patios
Patios and outdoor dining in Cary: downtown, Fenton and more
11 Cary restaurants and bars whose own sites list a patio, terrace or outdoor bar: downtown Chatham and Academy streets, Fenton, Waverly Place and more.
Event news
Veterans Day
Veterans Day in Cary 2026: ceremony, closings, trash pickup
Cary's Veterans Day Observance is 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Freedom Park, with a shuttle from Cary Academy. Plus what is closed that day.
Arts
Arts and exhibitions in Cary: October 2026
Arts in Cary, October 2026: Legacy of Jazz Oct. 24-25, the Art Loop and a free Cary Town Band show Oct. 30, and the Old North State Storytelling Festival.