Aaahhh, September! It marks the transition from summer to autumn.

As the summer winds down and students are back in school, the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough, North Carolina are still hopping with a variety of activities to enjoy during the weekend. Whether you're drawn to educational, cultural, recreational, or entertainment-focused events, attending one or more of these events can add a positive and rewarding dimension to your weekend.

Here’s a compilation of just some of our favorite weekend things to do this September and like most, we like to start our weekends on Fridays!

 

Fridays on the Front Porch – It’s one of the best ways to start off the weekend and as it has it, there are Five Fridays in September to enjoy FOFP. No cover charge to kick back and relax on the front lawn and listen to some fantastic tunes.  Make plans to grab a cocktail at the bar and some fare from one of the food trucks from 5 – 8 pm. The excitement happens at The Carolina Inn, 211 Pittsboro St. UNC- Chapel Hill Campus. 

Here’s what to expect:

Sept. 1 Barefoot Manner Gussy's Greek, Cousins Maine Lobster

Sept. 8 Lee Gildersleeve & The Bad Dogs Death by Taco, Finca Burger

Sept. 15 Shannon Baker & Sometime Soon Bulkogi, Empanadas RD

Sept. 22 Morgan Creek The Paddy Wagon, How Bout Burger

Sept. 29 Emma Livingtson Island Coconut Kitchen, Mesas NC

 

Paperhand Puppets’ Where Our Spirits Reside - Imagine a world of giant wild forgotten gods of simplicity, creatures made of grapevine and sticks, stars beings and ancestors, tricksters and fantastical beasties set in the open-air, hillside amphitheater of the Forest Theatre on the beautiful Campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. The preshow starts at 6:20pm. Regulars Shows begin at 7pm. Friday, Saturday & Sunday through September 17. Admission: $20 adults, $10 children ages 4-14, and free for children 3 and under. 

Sunday Nights on the Southern Village Green are the best nights. Join them for live music every weekend through September. Most live music events are free. All are welcome! 

Movies with Goats - Goat Snuggles + Outdoor Movies Under the Stars = The Perfect Summer Night. Plenty of memories to be made with goats adding to the fun and antics - roaming around looking for goodies, snuggles, and head scratches throughout the entire movie. Sept. 2 and Sept. 8 (Date Night- Feel free to bring your own bottle of wine- or grab a microbrew at the bar). Come as early as 8 P.M., the movie begins at Sunset. 

Historic Hillsborough Guided Walking Tour - Experience American history through the unique perspective of one of North Carolina’s oldest and most historically significant towns, with a guided walking tour of downtown Hillsborough. Established in 1754 as the seat of government for Orange County, Hillsborough’s colonial legacy and signs of its importance in North Carolina and American history can be seen everywhere. The tour begins at the Hillsborough Visitors Center, located in the eighteenth-century Alexander Dickson Farm House (150 E. King Street), and guides visitors to a variety of historic places from the site of a 1790s African American-owned distillery to the 1840s Orange County Courthouse and the grave of one of North Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence. Sept. 2, 9, and 16 

Clyde’s, by PlayMakers Repertory Company performs on stage from Sept. 6 – 24. Sometimes a hero is more than a sandwich. When tough-as-nails sandwich shop owner Clyde offers her formerly incarcerated kitchen staff a shot at redemption, they find purpose and inspiration in their shared quest to create the perfect sandwich. This sweet and savory comedy serves up the story of ordinary people with extraordinary dreams. Weekend dates: Sept 8 (opening night), Sept. 10, 15, 17, 22, 23, & 24. Tickets start at $20

Free Walking Tours of Chapel Hill - This free walking tour starts at the sundial in front of the Morehead Planetarium, the place where the astronauts from the Gemini, Mercury and Apollo Missions trained. From there you will travel down Franklin Street, learning the history of this town that grew up around the oldest public university in America (opened in 1795). You will see some of the oldest original buildings and restaurants. Learn about the protests held at the Peace and Justice Plaza. You will see and discuss art museums, the place where the town got its name, a shady arboretum, and end up back at the Planetarium. You MUST sign up on the website. Groups will be limited to 12 participants and the entire tour is outdoors. Be sure to bring a water bottle and dress for the weather. Friday – Sunday beginning Sept 15 through Sept. 30. Tour begins at 10:30 am or 4:00 pm 

Concert on the Lawn at Ayr Mount- Gather on the lawn at Ayr Mount, Saturday, September 16 at 4pm for a special string music performance as the talented students of Alamance Strings (a Suzuki violin and cello studio) present their Fall Concert, Reflections. Admission is Free. Bring your Lawn Chair or Picnic Blanket. This performance is weather dependent. 376 St. Mary’s Road, Hillsborough. 

The Bazaar Craft & Art Market – Come for the handmade crafts and creations from 30+ talented local makers, enjoy awesome eats and drinks from local and neighboring eateries and drinkeries. Stay for some great music and entertainment.  Sept. 17 from 12:00-5:00 pm at Carrboro Commons, 301 W. Main Street 

Last Fridays & The Art Walk - With 20+ participating venues, each event features a new variety of gallery openings, live music, roaming poets, Living Arts Collective drum circles & dancewaves in River Park, Makers Markets, family activities/crafts, and so much more! Friday Sept. 29 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm Downtown Hillsborough. 

Jess Klein at the ArtsCenter - Prepare to be captivated by the soulful melodies and deeply introspective songcraft of the renowned singer-songwriter Jess Klein. The New York Times hails Klein as a songwriter with a "voice of unblinking tenacity," while The Bluegrass Situation applauds her work as "one part grassroots social activism, two parts alt-country guitar rock." Saturday Sept. 30 at 7:30 pm. Enjoy this concert at the ArtsCenter’s brand new location - 400 Roberson Street, Carrboro. 

Check out the full list of events for September at www.visitchapelhill.org/events

(Top Photo: Southern Village)