Arts & Entertainment

Despite our relatively small size compared to major cities in North Carolina and elsewhere, you can visit nearly three dozen art galleries (some representing well known contemporary and early artists), attend world-class concerts and plays at the newly renovated Memorial Hall and the PlayMakers Repertory Company theatre, both on the University campus, see local and improvisational theatre and comedy performances and participate in a wide range of other cultural events and activities that you wouldn't find in most major cities of the U.S. and foreign countries—and would!

DSI Comedy Theater

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200 North Greensboro St (Carr Mill Mall)
Carrboro, NC 27510

phone (919) 338-8150

Call for show times.

DSI Comedy Theater entertains audiences with its energetic and extremely committed take on improvisational theater. DSI offers two critically acclaimed touring shows, a growing college improv network (’Implosion’) and a national improv festival. It’s more than just another comedy theater; it’s recognized for its development, promotion and performance of the art of improvisation.

Glazed Expectations

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US Highway 15-501 South at Smith Level Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

phone (919) 933-9700

Open Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm; weekends and evenings by appointment only. Summer hours, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5pm.

A paint-it-yourself ceramic place, a studio for clay sculpture classes and a gallery. Teaches summer camp, after school, winter camp and adult sculpture classes.

Hanes Art Center

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South Columbia St (just south of East Franklin St)
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3405

phone (919) 962-2015

Open during regular class and department office hours, plus some evenings.

Horace Williams House

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610 East Rosemary St (Downtown)
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

phone (919) 942-7818

Open Tue.-Fri., 10am-4pm; Sun., 1-4pm; closed Sat., major holidays and first two weeks in Aug.

The only historic house in Chapel Hill open to the public.  19th century house owned by a succession of University professors.  On the death of Horace Williams, a UNC philosophy professor, the University of North Carolina became the sole owner of the house named for him. Restored in 1974, the house is maintained by the Preservation Society of Chapel Hill as a cultural resource and art exhibition space. 

Lumina Theater

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620 Market St (Southern Village)
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

phone (919) 932-9000

Call for show times.

Movies at Timberlyne

120 Banks Dr (Timberlyne)
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

phone (919) 933-8600

Call for show times.

North Carolina Botanical Garden

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Old Mason Farm Rd (off US Highway 15-501)
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3375

phone (919) 962-0522

Open year-round Mon.-Fri., 8am-5pm; Sat., 9am-5pm; Sun., 1-5pm; and Apr.-Oct., one hour later on weekends.

The largest natural botanical garden in the southeast, consisting of more than 800 acres of preserved land with nature trails, carnivorous plant collections, aquatics and herb gardens. Also offers revolving exhibits of paintings, quilts and other media, plus sculpture in various sections of the botanical collection. Free guided tours of the display gardens every Sat (Mar-Nov), 10am. Parking. In 2008, the garden began construction of a new “green” Visitors Center to include an auditorium, classrooms and gift shop.

Orange County Historical Museum

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201 North Churton St (Downtown)
Hillsborough, NC 27278

phone (919) 732-2201

Open Tues-Sat., 11am-4 pm, Sun., 1-4pm.

Located on the site of North Carolina’s 1788 Constitutional convention, museum interprets the history of Orange County from pre-settlement period through the 1950s. Collection includes the only complete set of Colonial weights and measures in the U.S. and the desk of Governor Thomas Burke. A second-floor gallery features special exhibits on local history. Suggested donation, $2.

Paint The Earth

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316 West Franklin St (Downtown)
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

phone (919) 968-0400

PlayMakers Repertory Company

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Country Club Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3230

phone (919) 962-7529 (PLAY)

Call for show times.

PlayMakers has been North Carolina’s premier resident professional theatre company for more than 30 years. Six mainstage plays are performed from Sep to Apr in the Paul Green Theatre—from reimagined classics to the best new American and British works, plus three plays in the innovative PRCs2 second-stage series in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre. Performances are Tue-Sun, 8pm; and Sun, 2pm. Ticket prices, $10-$40, depending on event (discounts for students and seniors). Parking.

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Did You Know?

The arts scene in Orange County includes many diverse public art displays, commercial galleries, arts & crafts studios, performing arts events and movie showings.