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.
Friday, September 7, 2018
Franklin County Farmers Market
Friday, September 7, 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.
Raleigh Greek Festival 2018
Friday, September 7, 2018 @ 5-10pm
Enjoy Greek foods (so many foods and pastries!), dancing, cooking demonstrations, vendors, and more at this annual festival. The location is the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh NC. This annual event is sponsored by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity and several other causes. See details and schedules on raleighgreekfestival.com.
Note that admission can cost $2-$3, OR print the free admission coupon from that website.
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.
Town Square Concert Series
Friday, September 7, 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 October 19, 2018. See the full concert series on Facebook here and on the town website.
Saturday, September 8, 2018
Stepping Into The Past
Saturday, September 8, 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 September 8 theme is “Capturing Our Past” (painting class).
Wilson Farmers & Artisan Market
Saturday, September 8, 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, September 8, 2018 @ 8am-1pm
The Farmers Market is located at 1006 Peachtree Street, Rocky Mount NC. The Rocky Mount Farmers Market is open on Saturdays. (Tuesdays at The Market has ended for the season.) 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, September 8, 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 September 8 market theme is Honey Day. There will also be live music and the regular market vendors offering local goods and crafts. (See our ZFFM article for future dates.)
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. See www.selma-nc.com/selma-saturdays.
Raleigh Greek Festival 2018
Saturday, September 8, 2018 @ 11am-10pm
Enjoy Greek foods (so many foods and pastries!), dancing, cooking demonstrations, vendors, and more at this annual festival. The location is the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh NC. This annual event is sponsored by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity and several other causes. See details and schedules on raleighgreekfestival.com.
Note that admission can cost $2-$3, OR print the free admission coupon from that website.
NC Hot Sauce Contest/Festival
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.
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.
Shaw RV Family Movie Series
Saturday, September 8, 2018 @ 8-10pm
Enjoy a free movie outdoors on the football field at Rolesville Middle School, 4700 Burlington Mills Road, Rolesville NC. Watch the film The Wizard of Oz. Bring a chair or blanket for comfort. Concessions will be open for purchases during the movie. Future movie is The Greatest Showman (Saturday, October 13, 2018 @ 7:30-9:30pm). See full movie series here.
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Raleigh Greek Festival 2018
Sunday, September 9, 2018 @ 11am-6pm
Enjoy Greek foods (so many foods and pastries!), dancing, cooking demonstrations, vendors, and more at this annual festival. The location is the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh NC. This annual event is sponsored by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. A portion of the proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity and several other causes. See details and schedules on raleighgreekfestival.com.
Note that admission can cost $2-$3, OR print the free admission coupon from that website.
Coming Soon
2018 Ten Plant Tour Series
Friday, September 14, 2018 @ noon
On this date, the topic is “10 Plants that Have Stories” in this event by the Nash County Co-op Extension Service. Held at the Nash County Arboretum, located at the Nash County Agriculture Center, 1006 Eastern Avenue, Nashville NC. Next date is October 12, 2018 at noon with “10 Plants that are Creepy.” See full 2018 tour at nash.ces.ncsu.edu.
Friday Night on White
Friday, September 14, 2018 @ 6-9pm
Join the crowd on White Street in downtown Wake Forest NC for a live concert each month. No admission fee. 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.
Tarboro HomeGrown-Handmade Market
Saturday, September 15, 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 date: October 6, 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.
Bingo for Seniors
September 20, 2018 @ 7-9pm
Bingo is held monthly on first and third Thursdays, for ages 55 and up. Held at the E.L. Roberson Senior Center, 305 W Baker Street, Tarboro NC. Prizes and time to socialize; soda and popcorn available for purchase.
Friday Nights on the Tar
Friday, September 21, 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. See more on this Town of Louisburg web page.
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.
Downtown Garner Pop-up Market
Saturday, September 29, 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 October 27, and November 24, 2018. See event here.
Family Sundays
Sunday, September 30-December 23, 2018 @ 2-4pm (every-other Sunday)
Sundays are for families, and are free. Bring your family to the Art Gallery for an afternoon full of family-friendly activities instructed by April Dickens. Drop into the gallery for art making, interactive play, gallery sketching, or go on your own exhibition tour! Registration is not required, drop-ins of age 3 and up with accompanying adults welcome. Held at Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount NC. For more information, visit imperialcentre.org. (Article)
Later This Year
Outdoor Movies on the Back Lawn
Thursday, October 4, 2018 @ 7pm
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. In case of bad weather or rain, this event will be canceled. No pets.
OkTARberfest & More
October 19-20, 2018
Louisburg NC will be the place to be this weekend, as a variety of events collide including the OkTARberfest Weekend (free concerts plus living history in the park), the Chamber Oyster Roast (ticketed), and the Franklin County Arts Council “Six Pack of Authors” book event by the Writers’ Guild. Multiple locations. (Article)
Black Creek 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.)
2018 Fall FunFest
Saturday, October 27, 2018 @ 10-4pm
The Town of Rolesville’s annual festival takes place on Main Street, Rolesville NC. There will be arts and crafts vendors, informational booths, small businesses selling goods, hot dogs, live music, and costume contests.
Interested in being a vendor? See vendor application form here (PDF).
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.
