By Kay Whatley, Editor

This list may include events from North Carolina counties of Edgecombe, Franklin, Nash, Johnston, Wake, Wayne, Wilson, and beyond. Piedmont and Coastal events are sometimes on this weekly list. Contact information or RSVP deadlines, where applicable, have been included. Events below range from free happenings (majority) to mid-level and ticketed events.

Event information comes from organizers, event postings, and emailed announcements. Attempts are made to verify events from confirmed sources, or multiple sources when possible. Events may be added/updated.

Feel free to email event notices to the editor.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Wilson Farmers Market (July 12, 2017 @ 7:30am-noon)

This market is open from the end of April through August at two locations, depending on day of the week. Wednesdays (8am-1pm), the market is open at 207 W Green Street, Wilson NC. Saturdays (7:30am-noon), the market is at the Hwy 301, Wilson County Fairgrounds on Highway 301, Wilson NC. Updates are posted here.

SRC: Cardboard Creations (July 12, 2017 @ 3-5pm)

Held in the Computer Lab at Braswell Memorial Library, 727 N Grace Street, Rocky Mount NC. Make your own cardboard costumes, castles, or other creations.

Teen Advisory Board-TAB (July 12, 2017 @ 5:30-7pm)

Held in the Teen Area at Braswell Memorial Library, 727 N Grace Street, Rocky Mount NC. Meet with other teens to help shape Braswell’s Teen programming. Questions, call Scott Houston, Teen & Information Services Librarian at Braswell, at 252.442.1951 x.257.

The Lost Colony (July 12-15, 2017)

Outdoor theatre drama showcases Roanoke Island area history at the Historic Waterside Theatre, 1409 National Park Drive, Manteo NC. Ticket prices vary, with adult tickets $20-$35 and kids’ tickets offered at lower prices. See details and buy tickets at thelostcolony.org.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Coffee with a Cop (July 13, 2017 @ 8:30am)

Share a cup of coffee and conversation with the Goldsboro Police Department. Held at the Lantern Inn, 2201 E Ash Street, Goldsboro NC.

Sprinkler Fun Days (July 13, 2017 @ 3-4pm)

The Bridge Church presents this event every Thursday through mid-August. Held at Cornerstone Commons, 200 S Center Street, Goldsboro NC. Beat the heat this summer. Supervised by the City of Goldsboro Fire Department. See www.dgdc.org/events.

Tobs Baseball Super Splash Day (July 13, 2017 @ Gates 10:30am, Game at noon)

Head over to from Fleming Stadium, 300 Stadium Street SW, Wilson NC, for a Tobs home game. See game times, promotions, and more at wilsontobs.com.

Teen Summer Movie (July 13, 2017 @ 5:30-7:30pm)

Held in the Computer Lab at Braswell Memorial Library, 727 N Grace Street, Rocky Mount NC. Come and watch a PG movie. Free for teens.

Center Street Jam (July 13, 2017 @ 6-9pm)

Come and enjoy this free, after-hours summer concert series in downtown Goldsboro NC, with music, cold drinks, delicious food from local vendors, kids activities, and more. Bring a lawn chair, dancing shoes, and friends and family. See more details at www.dgdc.org/events. Next date is July 27, 2017.

Carolina Mudcats Baseball (Home Games: July 12-15, 2017)

Come and root for the home team at Five County Stadium, 1501 NC-39, Zebulon NC. Home games often include special promotions and Friday fireworks. See full schedule and game times online here.

Legally Blonde the Musical (July 13-15, 2017 @ 7:30-10pm)

Head to Edna Boykin Cultural Center, 108 Nash Street NE, in Wilson NC, for this presentation by the Arts Council of Wilson and barton College. Tickets $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. (Higher rates at the door). See www.historicdowntownwilson.com/events/legally-blonde-the-musical. This show is also being performed July 16, 2017 at 3pm.

Friday, July 14, 2017

10 Plants that Bloom in Shade (July 14, 2017 noon-1pm)

Part of the 10 Plant Tour series in the Nash County Arboretum, located at the Nash County Agriculture Center, 1006 Eastern Avenue, Nashville NC.  Tours are free; call call 252.459.9810 with questions. Next date is July 20, 2017. See all dates at nash.ces.ncsu.edu/2017/03/2017-ten-plant-tours.

Summer Night Lights (July 14, 2017 @ 6-8pm)

The city of Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation Department presents this free block-party style program every Friday night through August 18. Join the fun outside with sports, a DJ, inflatables, and more at a city park. July 7 the fun is in Martin Luther Park, 800 E Virginia Avenue, Rocky Mount NC. Questions, call 252.972.1151. Future date is July 21, 2017 in  Three Sister’s Park, 221 Water Drive, Battleboro). See schedule here.

Drum Circle with Eyes On Main Street (July 14, 2017 @ 6-7:30pm)

Held on the steps of Imagination Station Science & History Museum, 224 E Nash Street, Wilson NC. Bring a drum, a djembe, a bucket, or other instrument. This event is held in a collaboration with “Eyes on Main Street.” See more here.

Music in the Park (July 14, 2017 @ 6:30-9pm)

Come and enjoy the music of Generation III and Carter Trio. Held in the Black Creek Gazebo, W Center Street, Black Creek NC (Wilson County). See their Facebook page for updates.

Pokemon Friday Night Tournaments (July 14, 2017 @ 6:30pm)

Held at Uncle Sleepys Sports Memorabilia and Supplies, 6204 Main Street, Bailey NC. This location holds Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon Tournaments. See more on the shop’s Facebook page

Friday Night on White (July 14, 2017 @ 6-9pm)

The Town of Wake Forest holds free outdoor concerts along S White Street, Wake Forest NC. See details and future dates on the town website here.

Mill Music Sessions Free Concert (July 14, 2017 @ 6-9pm)

Chatham County Line plays on June 16 as part of the Rocky Mount Mills free music series. Held on the lawn at Rocky Mount Mills, 1151 Falls Road, Rocky Mount NC. Bring a lawn chair, blanket, family, and friends. Concerts are free, open to the public and are fun for all ages! No coolers; pick up a picnic dinner from one of the Mill restaurants and grab a drink from one of the local breweries and the bottle shop. Event is pet friendly. This this series and more events at www.rockymountmills.com/calendar-events. Next date is August 11, 2017.

Family Movie Night (July 14, 2017 @ 7pm)

Enjoy free family movie and popcorn on the second Friday of each month. Held at the Zebulon Community Center, 301 S Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC. Doors open at 6:30pm. Call Zebulon Parks and Rec at 919.823.0432 for movie title. See more on the town website at www.townofzebulon.org. Next date is August 11, 2017.

Outdoor Movie Night (July 14, 2017 @ 7pm)

Knightdale Parks, Recreation & Cultural Programs hosts this Series. Movies are free and open to the public. Bring a blanket and/or chairs for comfort. The series will be held at the Knightdale Station Park Amphitheater, 810 N First Avenue, Knightdale NC.  Movie will begin at dusk. “Doors” open before dusk so get there early, settle in, and check out the concessions too. (One movie make-up day is planned due to weather rescheduling of Trolls.) See more at www.knightdalenc.gov.

Fayetteville SwampDogs Baseball (Home Games: July 14 & 17, 2017 @ 7:05pm)

Enjoy a baseball game at “The Swamp” — J.P. Riddle Stadium, 2823 Legion Road, Fayetteville NC. See full schedule at www.goswampdogs.com.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Wilson Farmers Market (July 15, 2017 @ 7:30am-noon)

This market is open from the end of April through August at two locations, depending on day of the week. Wednesdays (8am-1pm), the market is open at 207 W Green Street, Wilson NC. Saturdays (7:30am-noon), the market is at the Hwy 301, Wilson County Fairgrounds on Highway 301, Wilson NC. Updates are posted here.

Wendell Farmers Market (July 15, 2017 @ 8am-noon)

This market includes produce and goods from local farmers and crafters. Held at the corner of Pine Street and Wendell Boulevard, Wendell NC. Check schedule/updates on their Facebook page.

Rocky Mount Farmers Market (July 15, 2017 @ 8am-1pm)

The market is located at 1006 Peachtree Street, Rocky Mount NC. The market is open Saturdays (8am-1pm) from April to November. During summer months — June, July, and August — the market is also open on Wednesdays (8am-1pm). Updates are posted to this Facebook page.

Tarboro Home Grown Hand Made Market (July 15, 2017 @ 8am)

This farmers market is open the first and third Saturdays of the month. The location is 500 N Main Street, Tarboro NC. Updates may be posted on their Facebook page here, along with calls-for-vendors.

Franklin County Farmers Market (July 15, 2017 @ 8am-1pm)

Held outdoors at 137 Shannon Village, Louisburg NC, this market is open Saturdays (8am-1pm), Tuesdays (9am-1pm), and Fridays (9am-1pm). Updates are posted on their Facebook page.

“ZFFM” — Zebulon Farm Fresh Market (July 15, 2017 @ 9am-1pm)

ZFFM is open Saturdays from May to October 2017. The location is the Zebulon Municipal Complex, 1003 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC — just across Arendell Avenue from the Food Lion plaza. See market updates and weekly themes on their Facebook page.

Clayton Farm and Community Market (July 15, 2017 @ 9am-1pm)

Held at 348 E Main Street, Clayton NC. This market has two seasons: Regular Season runs Saturdays through October, and Winter Season is every-other Saturday November through March. See more on their Facebook page.

Stepping Into The Past (July 15, 2017 @ 10am-3pm)

This weekly series focuses on demonstrations and displays of traditional / old-time processes. This presentation is included with museum admission. Confirm topic and details at www.tobaccofarmlifemuseum.org/events/stepping-into-the-past. Held at the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, 709 N Church Street, Kenly NC. Next date is July 22, 2017. Note that November 10-11, 2017, a BBQ cook-off is scheduled.

Wright Kite Festival (July 15-16, 2017 @ 10am-4pm)

This 39th-annual festival and competition is held at the Wright Brother’s National Memorial, 1000 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills NC. Enjoy a walk on the hallowed grounds where Wilbur and Orville took their historic flight in 1903, then join the festival fun. Large 30-100 foot kites will be flying. Come fly kites, take free stunt/power-kite flying lessons, and bring the kids to the kite making station. Admission to the park is $7, but participation in the kite festival is free. See www.kittyhawk.com/event/wright-kite-festival.

Brown Bag Lunches (July 15, 2017 @ 11am-12:30pm)

Just about every Saturday, Zebulon United Methodist Church provides free “brown bag lunches” to anyone who drives or walks by the church at 121 W Gannon Avenue, Zebulon NC. For more information on food distribution for those in need, or to volunteer, visit www.zumchurch.org.

End Gerrymandering Fun Run (July 15, 2017 @ 11am-1pm)

Join Common Cause NC for a fun run/walk to raise awareness about the threat gerrymandering poses to democracy and learn more about their lawsuit, which goes to trial this summer, challenging the state’s recent partisan gerrymander of congressional districts. Run kicks off with mural unveiling, followed by run/walk the border of a gerrymandered district, and ends with a cold beer and free pizza and birthday cake at Trophy Brewing. This is a non-competitive fun run/walk and everyone is welcome. There’s no cost to participate, but donate $20 to Common Cause NC and  get an End Gerrymandering Now t-shirt. Also, $25 gift card for first place finisher. This fun run begins at Trophy Brewing Company, 827 W Morgan Street, Raleigh NC.

Summer 2017 Under the Stars Movie Series (July 15, 2017 @ dusk)

Come for an outdoor movie presented by the Nashville Parks and Recreation Department at Glover Field — J W Glover Memorial Park, 1434 S First Street, Nashville NC. Click link to see the Town of Nashville movie series PDF with movie titles. Next movie date is August 19, 2017.

Soul Sistas The Musical: Dinner Theatre (July 15, 2017)

Spend an evening at the Barn Dinner Theatre, 120 Stage Coach Trail, Greensboro NC. Tickets and show information available at www.barndinner.com or by calling 336.292.2211. Show tickets and times listed here.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Sunday in the Park (July 16, 2017 @ 6-8pm)

Enjoy a concert at Dorothea Dix Park – Harvey Hill, 693 Palmer Drive, Raleigh NC. Bring a blanket or short lawn chairs and enjoy the music. Register for this free event at www.eventbrite.com. For refreshments, Food Trucks will be on-site.

Coming Soon

Night Sky Over Hatteras (July 18, 2017 @ 9-10pm)

Check out the night sky over Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This free skywatching night is held every Tuesday (summertime) by the National Park Service. Meet at the parking lot near ORV Ramp 43 in Buxton NC.  See details, upcoming dates, and other Cape Hatteras National Seashore events at www.nps.gov/caha/…/event-details.htm.

Concert at Clayton Town Square (July 20, 2017 @ 5:30-9pm)

Join the crowd for a free concert in Town Square, 110 W Main Street, Clayton NC. Event begins at 5:30pm with food trucks, inflatables, vendors, and more, with live music starting at 6pm. This Clayton Downtown Development Association (CDDA) concert series offers free concerts August 17 and September 8, 2017. See the town website here.

Downtown Live! Featuring The Main Event Band (July 20, 2017 @ 6pm; doors 5pm)

Join the fun Thursday evening on the lawn at the Imperial Center for the Arts and Sciences, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount NC. Doors open at 5pm, and admission is free. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the site. For more information, call 252.972.1266 or visit downtownrockymount.com. Next date is August 3, 2017.

Art Exhibit Opening Reception (July 20, 2017 @ 5:30-7:30pm)

Andrea Horton-Morton, Wilson Active Artist Association, is the Featured Artist starting with the July 20 reception. Andrea Horton-Morton is an artistic crafter and painter, who lives and has a studio in historic downtown Wilson. She is owner of Art 123, which is located on Barnes Street in Historic Downtown Wilson. Come for the reception in the Lowe Gallery,  Arts Council of Wilson, 124 Nash Street E, Wilson NC. Her work will remain on display at the gallery through August 26, 2017.

Food Truck Thursday (July 20, 2017 @ 6pm)

Stop by to purchase dinner 6-8pm near the Knightdale Station Park Amphitheater, 810 N First Avenue, Knightdale NC. Food trucks arranged weekly at the park. See the full schedule on the town website here. This date is dinnertime only — no lunch trucks — on July 20, 2017 with live music. Next date is August 17, 2017.

RTP 180 “Biomedical Engineering” Presentation (July 20, 2017 @ 6-8pm)

Held at The Frontier, 800 Park Offices Drive, Research Triangle Park NC. At RTP180 events, speakers from universities, local companies, and the community take the stage to speak about what matters to them. Doors open at 5pm for networking. Show kicks off at 6pm. The hashtag for this event is #RTP180. Tickets are free, but often “sell out” — so they always livestream from their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/TheRTPNC for those unable to attend. See future event dates and topics at www.rtp.org/program/rtp-180.

Lawn Chair Theatre (July 21, 2017 @ 8:30pm; doors 7pm)

Bring chairs/blankets and get comfortable on the lawn at the Imperial Center for the Arts and Sciences, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount NC. Doors open at 7pm, and admission is free. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the site. For information, call 252.972.1266 or see imperialcentre.org/events/lawn-chair-theater.

Friday Nights on the Tar (July 21, 2017)

Come and join the Town of Louisburg, Tar Bank Brewing Company, and local business sponsors for this free Summer concert Series in downtown Louisburg NC. The band performing is Big Fat Gap. This event is family friendly. Bring lawn chairs or blanket for comfort. No Pets. Food and beverages will be offered for sale, and there will be games to play. No coolers. See lineup and food truck information at townoflouisburg.org. Next date is August 18, 2017.

North Carolina Watermelon Festival (July 21-23, 2017)

Organized by the Fair Bluff Watermelon Growers Association, Inc. this festival is held around 100 Main Street, in downtown Fair Bluff NC (Columbus County). This family-friendly festival includes a parade, entertainment, vendors, and more. The festival’s website is www.ncwatermelonfestival.org.

Real to Reel International Film Festival (July 26-29, 2017)

This Cleveland County (NC) Arts Council festival is held in Kings Mountain NC. See film schedule and purchase tickets at www.ccartscouncil.org/realtoreel. In addition to the regular screenings, “Real to Reel Kids Fest” screenings take place Saturday, July 29, 2017, 10am-noon.

Family Movie Night at Joyner Park (July 29, 2017 @ 8:30-10:30pm)

This Town of Wake Forest event is being held at the E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest NC. The town’s “free, monthly outdoor movie series features a variety of family-friendly film favorites and genres, all projected on an inflatable movie screen in the park’s amphitheater.” There will be on-site food vendors. Movie night is free and open to the public. Bring a blanket and/or chairs, and arriving early is recommended. No alcohol, smoking, or unleashed pets. (To obtain the movie title, sign up for The Week Ahead, www.wakeforestnc.gov/enews.aspx or call 919.556.7063.) If it rains, Family Movie Night will be moved inside Flaherty Park Community Center, 1226 N. White Street, in Wake Forest. Next date is August 12, 2017. See details at www.wakeforestnc.gov/family-movie-nights-at-joyner-park.aspx.

Coming in August

2017 Outdoor Movie Series (August 3, 2017 @ 8-10pm)

Held on the back lawn of the Garner Performing Arts Center, 742 W Garner Road, Garner NC. Free outdoor movie starting at sunset, around 8pm. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfort. No pets. Parents are asked to use discretion when deciding to bring children under age 13. In case of rain, the movie will be cancelled, so watch this event on Facebook for updates. See more about this event at downtowngarner.com/event/outdoor-movie-groundhog-day.

1st Friday on the Lawn (August 4, 2017 @ 6-9pm)

Held at the Wilson County Public Library, 249 Nash Street W, Wilson NC. The first Friday of each month, from July to October, join the city of Wilson on the library lawn for a free community concert. Next date is September 1, 2017. See www.wilsonnc.org/…/1st-fridays-on-the-lawn.

First Friday Flix (August 4, 2017 @ 7pm)

The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts, located at 405 S Brooks Street, Wake Forest NC, hosts free, movie showings on the first Friday evening of each month. Concessions will be available for purchase. For information, call the Renaissance Centre Box Office at 919.435.9458 or visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/featured-events.aspx.

The Market @ Knightdale Station Park (August 12, 2017 @ 10am-2pm)

The 2017 market operates the second Saturday of each month (May through October). Each market Saturday has a will be a themed event with live music and activities. Held at the Knightdale Station Park Amphitheater located at 810 N First Avenue, Knightdale NC. See details at www.knightdalenc.gov.

Bluegrass Picnic Summer Series (August 12, 2017 @ 5-7pm)

Hear local artists live at these free, family-friendly, alcohol-free outdoor concerts. Held at J. Ashley Wall Town Square, Wendell NC. Future date is September 9, 2017.

Family Movie Series (August 12, 2017 @ 8:15pm)

Come and watch a free movie on the football field at Rolesville Middle School, 4700 Burlington Mills Road, Rolesville NC. Concessions available. See more on this and other events at secure.rec1.com/NC/town-of-rolesville/catalog. Future movie date is September 15, 2017.

Sneads Ferry Shrimp Festival (August 12-13, 2017)

Enjoy shrimp, entertainment, cooking demonstrations, fun activities, and fireworks too. Adult admission is $6, children 6-12 are $3, and ages 0-5 are free. See full schedule at www.sneadsferryshrimpfestival.org/events.

Winterville Watermelon Festival (August 24-26, 2017)

Held annually in Winterville NC, the festival includes entertainment, watermelon, and much more. Watch for coming schedule at www.watermelonfest.com.

Triangle Vegfest (August 26-27, 2017)

This year’s festival is in Durham. Day 1 is “Presenter Day” 10am-5pm at the Durham Arts Council’s PSI Theater,120 Morris Street, Durham NC. Day 2 is “Vendor Day” 11am-5pm, at the Durham Armory, 220 Foster Street, Durham NC. Admission to this plant-based diet event is free. Come and learn, eat, have fun, and do something good for your family and the Earth. See details at www.trianglevegfest.com.

MUFON-NC Chapter Meeting (TBD Summer 2017 @ 2-5pm)

The Mutual UFO Network – North Carolina’s next chapter meets several times a year, rotating between Winston-Salem NC and other locations.  Admission is usually $10, payable at the door, which includes the presentation, networking, and often door prizes. An optional dinner gathering follows meetings, for those who’d like to continue discussions. See upcoming announcements at www.mufon-nc.com.

Coming in September

2017 Raleigh Greek Festival (September 8-10, 2017)

Music, dancing, cooking demonstrations, vendors, and Greek food on sale. Held in the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh NC. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and ages 13-18, and kids under 13 are free. Note that a free admission ticket might be available on the website. See performer information, ticket link, and more at raleighgreekfestival.com. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

North Carolina Hot Sauce Contest (September 9, 2017 @ 11am-4pm)

This spicy, 11th-annual event takes over Main Street in Oxford NC. Celebrate North Carolina hot sauces and BBQ sauces, breweries, wineries, and fiery foods. Compete, or enjoy a Classic Car Show, watch “North Carolina’s only Pepper Eating Contest” with Bailey Farms, live local bands, food trucks, children’s rides, a craft show, an Antique Farm Show with the Lord Granville Agricultural Heritage Association, and a day of family fun. See more at www.nchotsaucecontest.com.

Eastern Triangle Farm Tour (September 23-24, 2017 @ 1-5pm)

One fee per car and visit dozens of farms from Durham to Bunn/Louisburg, Rougemont to Angiers, depending on farm signed up for 2017. Drive where you want to drive, and see what you want to see, from a wide variety of farms. See details, maps, and ticket information at www.carolinafarmstewards.org/eastern-triangle-farm-tour (Note that they need volunteers each year.)

Downtown Clayton Movie Nights (September 29, 2017 @ 7pm)

When it starts getting dark early, Clayton breaks out the Town Square for free, Friday night movies. Bring a blankets, drinks, and food and enjoy a free film outdoors at Clayton Town Square, 110 W Main Street, Clayton NC. Fun begins at 7pm with face painting, inflatable, games, and more. Refreshments, food trucks, and vendors will be available before and during the movie, which begins when the sun goes down. Additional dates October 13 & 27, 2017. See www.townofclaytonnc.org/…/movie-night.

NC Muscadine Festival (September 29-30, 2017)

Entertainment, cooking contests, shag dancing, vendors, food, and more. Held at the Duplin County Events Center, 195 Fairgrounds Drive, Kenansville NC. Tickets range from $5-10, with more details at www.ncmuscadinefestival.com/tickets.html.

Ed. Note: Event information gathered from various sources. While attempts are made to verify data, for most events contact details are included. If you’re planning to attend an event, use contact information or event links to confirm, check for updates or changes, or verify space is available. These events are publicized by The Grey Area News, but are not events overseen by this news site or staff.