This list may include events from North Carolina counties of Edgecombe, Franklin, Nash, Johnston, Wake, Wayne, Wilson, and beyond — occasionally including unique coastal or mountain events. While most listed events are free, ticketed or fee-for-entry events may be included.
Events may be rescheduled/delayed or locations changed. Contact an event’s organizer directly.
To suggest an event for a future list, email the editor.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Center Street Jam Summer Concert Series
Thursday, July 11, 2019 @ 6-9pm
Come for these free, public, outdoor summer concerts. Bring lawn chairs for comfort. In addition to live music, each date food/drinks will be available for purchase and there will be activities for children. No coolers, no pets. ID needed for adult beverages. Address is 219 N John Street, Goldsboro, NC. See details and performers at www.dgdc.org/dgdc_events_type/center-street-jam. Future dates: July 25, August 8 and 22, 2019.
Friday, July 12, 2019
Franklin County Farmers Market
Fridays, July 12, 19, and 26, 2019 @ 9am-1pm
Come and pick up locally grown food from local farms, fresh eggs, and more. Check with market directly for any schedule changes related to weather and other factors. (The market is also open Tuesdays and Saturdays.) The market is located in the parking lot at 137 Shannon Village, Louisburg, NC. Follow their Facebook page for updates, closings, and produce available at this year-round farmers market.
Friday Morning Movie
Fridays, July 12, 19, and 26, 2019 @ 10am-noon
Join the Wilson County Public Library and Historic Downtown Wilson for this series of free summer movies. Watch a family movie and enjoy free refreshments as available. Movie showing at the Wilson County Public Library, 249 Nash Street W, Wilson, NC. No registration required; however, for large groups, email or call 252.237.5355 to arrange group visit. See more here.
Summer Night Lights
Friday, July 12, 2019 @ 6-8pm
Enjoy this event with a DJ, arts and crafts, games and inflatables, and family fun. Free hot dog, chips, and drink for the first 200 guests. Held Fridays at different city parks. This date (July 12) the location is Branch Street Park, 1731 Branch Street, Rocky Mount, NC. See full schedule here.
Note that the next Summer Night Lights will be July 19, 2019 (Stith-Talbert Park, 729 Pennsylvania Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC)
Friday Night On White Free Concert Series
Fridays, July 12, August 9, September 13, 2019 @ 6-9pm
Come and listen to live music at this outdoor concert on White Street, Wake Forest, NC. Food and beverages will be for sale at area restaurants and food trucks too. See full schedule here. (Article)
Wizard of Oz Movie Night at Town Square
Friday, July 12, 2019 @ 6-10pm
Join the Clayton Downtown Development Association for this free movie and to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of this beloved family film. Bring blankets and chairs for comfort. There will be free face painting, games/inflatable, and more. The Carolina Youth Theatre will be on-hand giving a live performance at 8pm. Food trucks will be on-site with meals/snacks available for purchase. Join the fun at 110 W. Main Street, Clayton, NC. Details here.
Free Family Movie Night
Friday, July 12, 2019 @ 7pm (doors open 6:30pm)
Enjoy a free movie with free popcorn and bottled water provided. Organized by the town’s Parks and Rec Department and held in the Zebulon Community Center, 301 S Arendell Avenue, Zebulon, NC. Follow P&R on Facebook here.
Lawn Chair Theatre
Friday, July 12, 2019 @ 8:30pm
Watch a free, family movie at the city of Rocky Mount’s Lawn Chair Theatre series. Bring a lawn chair / blanket and settle in on the lawn of the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount, NC. Upcoming dates: August 9, and September 6, 2019. For more information on Lawn Chair Theatre, visit www.imperialcentre.org. (Article)
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Wake Forest Farmers Market
Saturdays, July 13, 2019 @ 8am-noon (Spring/Summer hours)
Weekly offerings from farms, artisans, and crafters at this year-round farmers’ market. Check with market directly for any schedule changes related to weather and other factors. Located at 235 S Taylor Street, Wake Forest, NC. The Wake Forest Farmers Market website is www.wakeforestmarket.org.
Wilson Farmers and Artisan Market
Saturdays, July 13, 2019 @ 8am-1pm
Local farm offerings and handmade/homemade goods. Open Saturdays (and Wednesdays 8am-1pm) through October 2019. Held in the Pavilion at Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, 301 Goldsboro Street S, Wilson, NC. See details here. Updates may be posted via the market’s Facebook page.
Farmers Market Rocky Mount
Saturdays, July 13, 2019 @ 8am-1pm
Check out local farm and craft offerings at this weekly market. Held at 1006 Peachtree Street, Rocky Mount, NC. Updates may be posted to the market Facebook page. Note that during June, July, and August the market will be open Tuesday afternoons in addition to Saturday mornings.
Zebulon Farm Fresh Market
Saturdays, July 13, 2019 @ 9am-1pm
Vendors at the Zebulon Farm Fresh Market offer farm produce, baked goods, handmade goods, arts, plants, and more. The market is open Saturdays through October 12, 2019. Zebulon Farm Fresh Market is located at the Zebulon Municipal Complex (town hall), 1003 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon NC. Free parking available in the town hall parking lots. Follow the market on Facebook for updates and market theme information. If vendor spaces are available, information and 2019 application may be found on the town’s market web page.
Note: Stop by and enjoy a free roasted corn on this date (June 29).
Clayton Farm and Community Market
Saturdays, July 13, 2019 @ 9am-1pm
The market will be open every Saturday for its regular season through the last Saturday in October 2019. The Clayton Farm and Community Market is located at 348 E Main Street, Clayton, NC. Contact information may be found at www.cfcmnc.org/contact. Follow this market’s Facebook page for updates.
ABC Craft and Learn: A Kindergarten Readiness Program
Saturdays, July 13 and 27, 2019 @ 11:30am-12:15pm
Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers are invited to participate in this pre-reading skills development time. Held at East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale, NC. East Regional Library information may be found via the Wake County Libraries website.
Note: This program is often held at the Zebulon, NC library and Wendell, NC library on the same/similar dates as Knightdale, though times vary.
Summer Movies @ The Library
Saturday, July 13, 2019 @ 2:30-3:30pm
Enjoy a family movie at the library. Time may be approximate if movie is longer. Held at East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale, NC. Future dates: July 27 and August 10, 2019. Access library event including movie title via this library page.
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Cars and Cops
Sunday, July 14, 2019 @ 1-4pm
Show off your vehicle or bring family and friends to see the vehicles. Food trucks will be on-site. Goldsboro Police Department will have MRAP and other vehicles on display. Held at Berkley Mall, 625 N Berkeley Blvd, Goldsboro, NC. Weather may affect this event. See details here.
Coming Soon
Carolina Mudcats Baseball
Home games July 17-22, 30, and 31, 2019 @ Various Times
The Mudcats baseball Home games are played at Five County Stadium, 1501 NC-39 Hwy, Zebulon, NC. See the team’s schedule here.
Sweet Tea and Spicy Talk
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 @ 11am-noon
The topic on this date is “The Real Downton Abbey.” Come for this “spicy look at the American Heiresses who married into the British Nobility in the 19th and 20th centuries. Enjoy iced tea and cookies during this “lighthearted look at the fictional Downton Abbey based on the actual history of the period.” Held at the Max G. Creech Selma Historical Museum, 104 W Anderson Street, Selma, NC. With questions, call 919.333.4899 or email. Museum information via the museum’s Facebook page.
Downtown Live!
Thursday, July 18, 2019 @ 6-9pm
The 2019 Downtown Live! free outdoor music series takes place on the lawn of the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount, NC. Food and beverage vendors will be available. Bring lawn chairs for comfort. Scheduled dates include: August 1, August 15, August 29, and September 12, 2019. The full schedule is also available at imperialcentre.org/events/downtown-live. (Article)
Friday Nights on the Tar
Friday, July 19, 2019 @ 6:30-9:30pm
Free outdoor concert for all ages. Come and hear live music, pick up a meal/snacks from food trucks, and enjoy this monthly community gathering. Concerts are planned for the third Friday of each month May through September. Future dates: August 16 and September 20, 2019. Concerts take place in the downtown Amphitheatre, 116 N Main Street, Louisburg, NC. See more on the town website. (Article)
Books with Brian Featuring See Spot Read
Saturday, July 20, 2019 @ 11:30am-12:30pm
This free literacy event gives kids an opportunity to practice their reading skills with a certified therapy dog. Open to readers of all levels. No need to register, just walk in and join the event. Held at the Zebulon Community Library, 1000 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon, NC. See this program and more via the Wake County website’s Zebulon Community Library page.
Discover Your World: Family Movies @ The Library
Sunday, July 21, 2019 @ 2-3:30pm
Bring the family for a free movie at the library. Snacks are provided. Designed for students in grades K-5th. Held at East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court, Knightdale, NC. Registration is not required. This is a monthly event. Future date tentatively set as August 18, 2019. See the Wake County public libraries’ East Regional Library web page to access calendar and movie details.
Teen Pizza and Paint Nights
Friday, July 26, 2019 @ 6-9pm
Teenagers in grades 9-12 are invited to hang out together. Pizza and soda provided. Students may bring an art project to work on while enjoying the company of others. Art materials are not provided. Held at the Arts Council of Wayne County, 102 N John Street, Goldsboro, NC, This event takes place at the same time as the Arts Council’s Community Drum Circle, and teens are welcome to join. Fee is $5 per student, which includes two slices of pizza and a soda. No outside food or drinks are allowed. See “fourth Friday” event info.
Wake Forest Family Movie Nights
Saturday, July 27, 2019 @ 7:15pm (movie 8:3opm)
Enjoy activities and a free, public movie under the stars. Before the movie starts, enjoy an activity or buy goodies from food trucks. Bring blankets/chairs for comfort. Also, it is suggested patrons bring bug spray, a flashlight, and an umbrella. No pets, smoking, or alcoholic beverages are allowed. Movies shown at E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest, NC. Future movie night: August 10, 2019. Follow the Town of Wake Forest on Facebook. (Related Article)
First Fridays on the Lawn
Friday, August 2, 2019 @ 6-9pm
Enjoy a free community concert with a live band, food vendors, and entertainment. Held on the lawn at the Wilson County Public Library, 249 Nash Street N, Wilson, NC. Visit the city’s calendar for this event and others.
First Friday Flix
Friday, August 2, 2019 @ 7-9pm
Held the first Friday of each month, this movie showing is free and open to the public. “Feature a variety of film favorites and genres, including comedies, dramas, thrillers and more, often with a seasonal or historical theme.” Held at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S Brooks Street, Wake Forest, NC. Future dates: September 6, October 4, and November 1, 2019. See this event and more on the Wake Forest Renaissance Center calendar.
Flix4Kidz
Monday, August 12, 2019 @ 10:30am-12:30pm
Bring the kids for a free, family-friendly movie. Held the second Monday of each month, and open to the public. Held at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 S Brooks Street, Wake Forest, NC. Call the centre’s Special Events Hotline at 919.435.9428 for movie title. Future dates: September 9, October 14, November 11, and December 9, 2019. For more information, visit the town’s event calendar.
Selma Saturdays Arts and Crafts Market
Saturday, September 14, 2019 @ 9am-1pm
Browse a variety of local vendors for arts and crafts, handmade items, and more. Live entertainment too. Held at the Uptown Gazebo, 100 block of E Anderson Street, Selma, NC (parking lot behind Town Hall). For information including vendor booth reservations, contact Melissa Dooley at 919.965.9841 x.8003 or via email.
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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.
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Event information may be 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.
Why are the day, date, and year included, repetitively, under each dated heading? The better for visitors to cut-and-paste complete event information to share with others… Though sharing of this full list’s link is encouraged, so readers may see all upcoming events.
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