By Kay Whatley, Editor
This list may include events from North Carolina counties of Edgecombe, Franklin, Nash, Johnston, Wake, Wayne, Wilson, and beyond (Inner Coastal Plains-Five County area of Eastern NC).
While most listed events are free happenings, some ticketed events may be included.
Events may be rescheduled, delayed by weather, canceled, times adjusted, or locations changed without our knowledge. Contact an event’s organizer directly for updates.
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Sprinkler Fun Days
Thursday, August 9, 2018 @ 3pm
The Bridge Church presents this event Thursdays at Cornerstone Commons, 200 S Center Street, Goldsboro NC. Beat the heat this summer. Supervised by the City of Goldsboro Fire Department. Remaining date is August 16, 2018. See www.dgdc.org/events. or the Facebook event.
Center Street Jam
Thursday, August 9, 2018 @ 6-9pm
Head downtown to the John Street parking lot at 130 N Center Street, Goldsboro NC, for this free Summer Concert Series. Bring a lawn chairs and dancing shoes. There will be live music, food, cold drinks, and children’s activities. Mandatory ID check for beer purchase; no coolers; no pets. See poster and details on the Downtown Goldsboro (DGDC) website.
Spare Change scheduled to perform on August 9. Future (final) date is August 23, 2018 with The Embers.
Friday, August 10, 2018
Franklin County Farmers Market
Friday, August 10, 2018 @ 9am
Head to the Franklin County Farmers Market, Shannon Village Shopping Center, Louisburg NC. and check out the farmers market. The market is on Facebook here. Also open on Saturdays at 9am and Tuesdays at 9am, according to NC Farm Fresh website.
Summer Night Lights
Friday, August 10, 2018 @ 6-8pm
Free evening of recreational activities at South Rocky Mount Community Center, 719 Recreation Drive, Rocky Mount NC. Enjoy games, inflatables, arts and crafts, and a DJ spinning top hits. Food will be provided to the first 200 people. For more about City of Rocky Mount special events, visit their online calendar.
Friday Night on White
Friday, August 10, 2018 @ 6-9pm
Join the crowd on White Street in downtown Wake Forest NC for a live concert each month. No admission fee. This date, music by Love Tribe. Event organized by White Street Brewing and the Town of Wake Forest. For complete information about Friday Night on White, visit www.wakeforestnc.gov/friday-night-on-white.aspx.
“I Can Only Imagine” Movie Night
Friday, August 10, 2018 @ 6:30-9:30pm
Join this free event at Bailey Baptist Church, 6646 Deans Street, Bailey NC. Free hot dog dinner and this music-oriented movie. Tickets are free but registration requested to ensure head count and enough food. See this EventBrite page for details and to register.
Zebulon Free Family Movie Night
Friday, August 10, 2018 @ 7-9pm
This Parks and Recreation Department movie event will be held at the Zebulon Community Center, 301 S Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC. The Center’s doors will open at 6:30pm to give everyone time to settle in before the movie begins. This is a free movie for the whole family, with free popcorn and bottled water provided for everyone. A family-friendly film will be shown. Due to restrictions imposed by the film studio, movie title may not be publicized except by Parks and Rec. Call 919.823.0432 and ask what the movie’s title is, or watch the Parks and Rec Facebook page for movie title announcement. Family Movie Nights are held on the second Friday of each month. All ages welcome.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Stepping Into The Past
Saturday, August 11, 2018
This series focuses on demonstrations and displays of traditional / old-time processes. This presentation is included with museum admission fee. See upcoming topics at www.tobaccofarmlifemuseum.org/events/stepping-into-the-past. Held at the Tobacco Farm Life Museum, 709 N Church Street, Kenly NC.
The August 11 theme is ‘Baccer Stringin’ & Tyin’ including demonstrations of preparing tobacco for curing, selling, and auctioneering.
Wilson Farmers & Artisan Market
Saturday, August 11, 2018 @ 8am-1pm
Shop a variety of locally grown and locally made goods. Held on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, 301 Goldsboro Street S, Wilson NC. See details at www.historicdowntownwilson.com/farmers-artisan-market.
Rocky Mount Farmers Market
Saturday, August 11, 2018 @ 8am-1pm
The Farmers Market is located at 1006 Peachtree Street, Rocky Mount NC. The Rocky Mount Farmers Market is open on Saturdays. (Check out Tuesdays at The Market too.) See updates on their Facebook page. Market webpage is www.co.nash.nc.us/175/Farmers-Market; see also the Nash County Co-op Ext Service market page.
Zebulon Farm Fresh Market
Saturday, August 11, 2018 @ 9am-1pm
Head to the Zebulon Farm Fresh Market, 1003 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC, for the market day with a variety of local produce, handmade goods, homemade treats, and more. Updates may be posted on their Facebook page.
The August 11 market will include a free watermelon to the first 200 customers, a “largest watermelon” contest, a watermelon recipe contest, an imploding watermelon event, Las Gringas Tacos Food Truck, live music by the Highway 56 Bluegrass Band, and the regular market vendors. (See our ZFFM article for future dates.)
Authors in August
Saturday, August 11, 2018 @ 10am-5pm
Braswell Memorial Library is holding its annual gathering of local authors to meet area readers. The “Authors in August” invites all to come and hear these accomplished writers introduce themselves and their works, learn more about NC-written books, and peruse the library’s offerings. This special, annual event will take place in the Warner Meeting Room, Braswell Memorial Library,727 N Grace Street, Rocky Mount NC. See our article on this event here for more details and local author information.
Wake Forest Family Movie Nights
Saturday, August 11, 2018 @ 7:15pm (movie 8:30pm)
The Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department shows monthly outdoor movies in Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest NC. Prior to the movie, there will be activities in the park. Pre-show activity starts at 7:15pm. Then, the movie shows at 8:30pm and you can enjoy watching Beauty and The Beast. Arriving early is strongly recommended, as space fills quickly. See movie nights information on this Town of Wake Forest web page.
On August 11, bring a used book to donate.
Shaw RV Family Movie Series
Saturday, August 11, 2018 @ 8:15-10:15pm
Enjoy a free movie outdoors on the football field at Rolesville Middle School, 4700 Burlington Mills Road, Rolesville NC. Watch the film Ferdinand. Bring a chair or blanket for comfort. Concessions will be open for purchases during the movie. See full movie series here.
Smithfield Movie at Town Commons
Saturday, August 11, 2018 @ 8:30-10pm
Enjoy a family movie under the stars, presented by Smithfield Parks and Recreation. The location is Smithfield Community Park, 600 E Booker Dairy Road, Smithfield NC. Watch the film, Peter Rabbit, and bring a picnic if you like. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfort. Check out, or follow, the Smithfield Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page for updates and other events.
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Starry Night Campout
Sunday, August 12, 2018 @ 6pm-late (3pm-overnight camping optional)
Held at A Time for Science, 949 Contentnea Lane, Grifton NC. View the Perseid meteor shower and enjoy a variety of evening activities, or stay the night and leave the next morning. Evening activities are $5 per person; $10 per person to camp overnight. See full schedule of festivities and skywatching at atimeforscience.org/whats-happening.
Skywatching: The Perseid Edition
Sunday, August 12, 2018 @ 9-11pm
Free program overseen by folks from the Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society, and Raleigh Astronomy Club. Held at Dorothea Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh NC. See details and register via this EventBrite event.
Coming Soon
Rocky Mount Farmers Market
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 @ 4-7pm
The Farmers Market is located at 1006 Peachtree Street, Rocky Mount NC. The Rocky Mount Farmers Market is open on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Next date is August 21, 2018. See updates on their Facebook page. Market webpage is www.co.nash.nc.us/175/Farmers-Market; see also the Nash County Co-op Ext Service market page.
Downtown Tarboro Live Summer Music Series
Thursday, August 16, 2018 @ 6-9pm
Come to the Courthouse Square in downtown Tarboro NC for this free, community, live music event. Bring a chair for comfort. Food and beverages will be on sale (bring cash to buy). Shop late downtown with participating merchants. No outside alcohol allowed. See the town calendar here.
Downtown Live!
Thursday, August 16, 2018 @ 6-9pm
Come and enjoy free, live, outdoor music at Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount NC. Bring a lawn chair for comfort. Free concerts held every-other Thursday. Future dates are August 30 and September 13, 2018. See all of the City of Rocky Mount’s Downtown Live! dates at imperialcentre.org/events/downtown-live.
Friday Nights on the Tar
Friday, August 17, 2018 @ 6:30-9:30pm
The Town of Louisburg invites everyone to their “Friday Nights on the Tar” Summer Concert Series with live music and food trucks. Doors open at 5:30pm; live music starts at 6:30pm. Held at Downtown Louisburg Amphitheatre, 116 N Main Street, Louisburg NC. Concerts held every-third Friday, April-September. Next date is September 21, 2018 See more on this Town of Louisburg web page.
Tarboro HomeGrown-Handmade Market
Saturday, August 18, 2018 @ 8am-noon
As the name implies, a variety of goods are available at this market, which is open on first- and third-Saturdays of the month. The market is open, rain or shine, and runs through October 31, 2018. First and third Saturdays market are held at 526 N Main Street, Tarboro NC. The HomeGrown-HandMade Market Saturday dates may be found on this Facebook event. Upcoming dates include September 1 and 15, 2018.
Let’s Go Butterflying
Saturday, August 18, 2018 @ 10am-noon
Join Lori M. Carlson of Backyard Butterflies and learn how to identify butterflies. Seating is limited; call 919.969.6778 to reserve a spot. Suitable for ages 10 through adult. See this event and more via the Wild Birds Unlimited-Chapel Hill Facebook page.
Also check out the butterfly walk at Brumley Forest Nature Preserve in Chapel Hill NC to test newly-learned identification skills. See event details.
Family Sundays
Sunday, August 19, 2018 @ 2-4pm
Free in the art gallery at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount NC. Held every-other Sunday. Bring the family for an afternoon full of family-friendly activities. Drop into the gallery for art making, interactive play, gallery sketching, or go on your own exhibition tour! Ages 3 and up with accompanying adults. Next date is August 19, 2018 See their Facebook event for updates, or call 252.972.1632 or email with questions.
Popsicles and Stories in the Park: Sunset Park
Tuesday, August 21, 2018 @ 10am-noon
Enjoy this City of Rocky Mount event, held at Sunset Park, 1550 River Drive, Rocky Mount NC. This mix of “books, crafts and free popsicles” promotes reading and is free, open to children of all ages. Bring a chair/blanket for comfort. See details via this www.rockymountnc.gov web page.
Town Square Concert Series
Thursday, August 23, 2018 @ 6:30-9:30pm
Free concert outdoors in Downtown Clayton’s Town Square, 110 W Main Street, Clayton NC. Arrive early and set up your lawn chairs and/or blanket. Activities, vendors, and inflatables will be available starting at 6pm. Live music will start on-stage at 6:30pm. Next date is September 7, 2018. See the full concert series on Facebook here and on the town website.
Downtown Garner Pop-up Market
Saturday, August 25, 2018 @ 10am-2pm
Head to Downtown Garner for this monthly public market with baked goods, locally made items, fresh produce, food trucks, and more. Held in Garner Recreational Park, 221 E Garner Road, Garner NC. Future dates are September 29, October 27, and November 24, 2018. See event here.
Southern Authors Book Club
Thursday, August 30, 2018 @ 6:30-7:30pm
The month’s book is Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail by Louise Shivers. This book club is hosted by the Farmville Public Library, located at 4276 W Church Street, Farmville NC. The Library’s Southern Authors Book Club is free to join and open to the public. Meet generally on the 4th Thursday each month. With questions or to join, contact Connie Widney via email or call 252.753.3355. See this event and more via the library’s Facebook page.
Later This Year
Support Local Authors
Saturday, September 1, 2018 @ 2-5pm
Organized by and held at CreativeMindz Book Lounge, 3715 Airport Blvd NW, Wilson NC. A chance for published authors and publishers to showcase their work, let the public meet them, and promote reading. Author spots available; requested donation $35. Attendance donation requested. See details and ticket link on EventBrite.
Outdoor Movies on the Back Lawn
Thursday, September 6, 2018 @ 7:30pm
Watch a movie under the stars on the back lawn of the Garner Performing Arts Center at 125 Avery Street, Garner NC. There will be food and fun too. Held on the first Thursday of each month from May through October. Times vary depending on dusk-time. Free Admission. Bring lawn chair/blanket for comfort. Food/treats on sale, but attendees are welcome to bring a picnic. Free Parking at two nearby locations. Check the Facebook event for movie titles, parking information, rules (no pets, etc.), and weather updates. In case of rain, the movie will be cancelled. Future date is October 4, 2018 (7pm). The full Garner movie series is listed here. In case of bad weather or rain, this event will be canceled. No pets.
First Friday on the Lawn
Friday, September 7, 2018 @ 6-9pm
The Human Relations Commission and the City of Wilson Human Relations Department are celebrating diversity through music on the first Friday of each month (July to October), Future date is October 5, 2018, scheduled for the Wilson County Library Lawn, 249 Nash Street NW, Wilson NC. See bands and more details here.
NC Hot Sauce Contest
Saturday, September 8, 2018 @ 11am-4pm
Held on Main Street in Historic Downtown Oxford NC. The Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation invites the public to this annual NC Hot Sauce Contest and festival. Food, crafts, car show, a Bailey Farms pepper eating contest, and more. See www.nchotsaucecontest.com. (Vendor opportunities.)
Selma Saturdays Arts and Crafts Market
Saturday, September 8, 2018 @ 9am-1pm
Markets are held once-a-month in Fall and Spring. The market welcomes arts and craft vendors and farmers to sell their wares. The location is the Uptown Selma Gazebo, in the back parking lot of Town Hall, near 100 E Anderson Street, Selma NC. The market season Facebook event is here. Spring dates are done for 2018. Fall market will start September 8, 2018. VENDOR FEES FOR FALL start at $20 per date, with seasonal rate available. Interested Fall vendors, see www.selma-nc.com/selma-saturdays.
Downtown Beats & Eats
Saturday, September 8, 2018 @ 2-6pm
This is the fifth year for the city’s fall concert series which will be at the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, 301 Goldsboro Street S, Wilson NC. Entry is free for this live music event. Additional concerts planned on alternating Saturdays through October 20, 2018. homegrown music . Food trucks on-site. Adults-only: wrist bands available for $1 allowing beer/wine purchase. Bring chair/blanket for comfort. No coolers. See event details on the Historic Downtown Wilson website. Future dates are September 22, October 6, and October 20, 2018.
Note that the deadline to sponsor this event series is August 3, 2018.
Movie Under the Stars
Saturday, September 15, 2018 @ dusk
Join the town as it puts up an outdoor screen, pops popcorn, and shows a free movie under the stars. Bring a blanket/chair for comfort. Held at Glover Memorial Park, 174 JW Glover Memorial Park Drive, Nashville NC. See the Town of Nashville’s Parks and Rec calendar for this event and more.
Hearkening back to the day of drive-in movies, we are throwing up a screen, popping some corn and watching a movie. The movie is free. Don’t forget to bring a blanket or some chairs and invite your friends and neighbors!
Nashville Creekside Music Series
Friday, September 21, 2018 @ 6:30-8:30pm
The Town of Nashville will be bringing back its popular Creekside Music Series for a second year with four concert dates. We hope that you will bring your friends and family out to this free community event at Stoney Creek Park in Nashville. The address for Stoney Creek Park is 455 West Washington Street, Nashville NC. Remaining series concerts are Alexa Rose (September 21) and Pat “Mother Blues” (October 19). Series details on this Town of Nashville web page.
Wake Forest Mini Comicon
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Held at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S Brooks Street, Wake Forest NC. See organizer’s on this Facebook page.
Heritage Day Festival
Saturday, October 13, 2018 @ 6:30-9pm
Come out for entertainment, vendors, and community fellowship at this 20th-annual festival. Held near 112 W Center Street, Black Creek NC. Follow the town on Facebook here. Vendor opportunities available.
Event organizers: News site display ads, with a link, are available for a monthly fee. Call 919.637.6973 or email Sales.
To request inclusion of a free or low-fee event, email details to the Editor. Sponsors and logos are not included in Things To Do in NC When You’re Bored listings. Events are added at the editor’s discretion.
Ed. Notes:
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.
Highlighted events are selected by staff, generally due to prior experience with the event, knowledge of offerings, or relation to a recent article on this news site.
