Major Annual Events

(For details, go to Calendar of Events and search on a specific date, week or other period—or call the sponsoring organization.)

January

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, UNC campus, Chapel Hill. UNC Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, (919) 962-6962.

February

Art Exhibit: ‘Through Women’s Eyes, By Women’s Hands’, Chapel Hill. The Women’s Center, (919) 968-4610.
Carolina Jazz Festival, UNC campus, Chapel Hill. UNC Department of Music, (919) 962-1039.
Revolutionary War Living History Day, Hillsborough. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, (919) 732-7741.

March

Children’s Easter Egg Hunt, Carrboro. Orange County Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 245-2660.
Birdhouses on Parade, Chapel Hill. The Carolina Inn, (919) 933-2001.
NCHSAA Basketball Championships, UNC campus, Chapel Hill. North Carolina High School Athletic Association, (919) 962-2345.

April

Cool Jazz Festival, Hillsborough. Orange County Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 245-2660.
Outdoor Family Pops Concert, Hillsborough. Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, (919) 732-7741.
Piedmont Farm Tour, Countywide. Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, (919) 542-2402.
Spring Garden Tour, Chapel Hill (biennial in even-numbered years). Chapel Hill Garden Club, (919) 962-0522.

May

Bob Gibbon’s Basketball Tournament, UNC campus, Chapel Hill. Bob Gibbons, (828) 758-5827.
Carrboro Day, Carrboro Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 918-7364.
Greek Festival, Chapel Hill. Greek Orthodox Church of St. Barbara, (919) 682-1414.
Mother’s Day Skate, Hillsborough. Triangle Sportsplex, (919) 644-0339.
Spring Garden Tour, Hillsborough (biennial in odd-numbered years). Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, (919) 732-7741.
UNC Spring Commencement, Chapel Hill. UNC Office of Special Projects, (919) 962-0045.

June

Youth Fishing Rodeo, Chapel Hill. Orange County Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 245-2660.
Hillsborough Hog Day. Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce, (919) 732-8156.

July

Independence Day Events:

  • Entertainment & Fireworks, Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation Department, (919) 968-2784.
  • Family Celebration & Parade, Carrboro. Carrboro Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 918-7364.
  • Old-Fashioned Celebration and Band Concert, Chapel Hill. Preservation Society of Chapel Hill, (919) 942-7818.
  • Parade, Caldwell. Community of Caldwell, (919) 732-2231.

Southern Open Tennis Tournament, Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill Tennis Club, (919) 929-5248.

August

9 – Bike Fest: The Rural Heritage Tour, Hillsborough. Carolina Tarwheels Bicycle Club, (919) 383-9722.

September

27 – Cedar Grove Bluegrass Festival, Cedar Grove Park. Orange County Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 245-2660.
27 – Celebration of the Automobile Car Show, Historic Occoneechee Orange Speedway, Hillsborough, (919) 604-2292.
28 – Music Festival, Carrboro. Carrboro Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 918-7307.

October

5 – Festifall Street Fair, Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation Department, (919) 968-2784.
12 – University Day, Chapel Hill. UNC Office of Special Projects, (919) 962-0045.
31 – Halloween Carnival, Carrboro. Carrboro Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 918-7364.
31 – Halloween Street Festival, Chapel Hill. Town of Chapel Hill, (919) 968-2760.

November

1-2; 8-9 – Artists Open Studio Tour, Countywide (two weekends). Orange County Artists Guild, (919) 933-7880.
23 – Carrboro Film Festival, Carrboro Century Center, http://www.carrborofilmfestival.com.
Turkey Bowling, Hillsborough. Triangle Sportsplex, (919) 644-0339.

December

Holiday Events:

  • 6- Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, Hillsborough. Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce, (919) 732-8156.
  • 6-7 Christmas Crafts Show, Hillsborough. Daniel Boone Merchants Association, (919) 245-3330.
  • 7 – Christmas Candlelight Tour, Hillsborough. Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce, (919) 732-8156.
  • Franklin Street Festival of Lights, Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, (919) 967-9440.
  • 13-14 – Holiday House Tour, Chapel Hill. Preservation Society of Chapel Hill, (919) 942-7818.
  • Holiday Parade, Chapel Hill & Carrboro. Chapel Hill Jaycees, 919) 824-9971.
  • Kwanzaa Celebration, Carrboro. Carrboro Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 918-7364.
  • Twelve Days of Christmas Festival, Chapel Hill. The Carolina Inn, (919) 933-2001.
  • Skate With Santa, Hillsborough. Triangle Sportsplex, (919) 644-0339.

13 – 14 NCHSAA Football Championships. North Carolina High School Athletic Association, (919) 962-2345.
UNC Winter Commencement, Chapel Hill. UNC Office of Special Projects, (919) 962-0045.
Winterfest Jazz Concert, Carrboro. Carrboro Recreation & Parks Department, (919) 918-7364.


Did You Know?

The BikeFest in August features a 35-mile half metric, a 62-mile metric century, and a 100-mile English century ride, as well as a 7-mile fun-ride. This Hillsborough event attracts up to 850 cyclists. For more details, visit Carolina Tarwheels.