Select pages from the Chapel Hill/Orange County 2026 Official Visitors Guide

Featuring the towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough plus UNC-Chapel Hill

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Experience Spring in Full Bloom in Chapel Hill & Orange County

Festivals, outdoor dining, scenic hikes, and vibrant downtowns

Spring is a spectacular time to visit the charming towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough in Orange County, North Carolina. With tree-lined streets in bloom, lush gardens awakening, and crisp spring air drawing hikers outdoors, this season brings our communities to life. Enjoy local festivals in April & May, dine al fresco on sun-soaked patios, and stroll through vibrant downtowns. Visit one of our many local farms for u-pick or cuddle with goats, or explore our bustling farmers markets, where you’ll find fresh seasonal produce, artisan goods, and a taste of the region’s agricultural roots.Whether you're seeking nature, culture, or simply a fresh perspective—Spring is calling you to Orange County.

Popular spring festivals and events to attend:

Revolutionary War Living History Day (April)

UNC Science Expo (April)

Tarheel Antiques Festival (April)

Tar Heel Ten Miler and Fleet Feet 4-mile Run (April)

Fields of Funk Beer Festival (April)

Piedmont Farm Tour (April)

Chapel HIll Garden Tour (April)

Last Fridays & Art Walk (April, May)

Carrboro Bluegrass Festival (May)

Preservation Fest (May)

Fridays on the Front Porch (May)

Art in the Garden Sculpture Exhibit (May)

Outdoor Fun Parks & Gardens

Coker Arboretum

  • 399 E. Cameron Avenue

Coker Arboretum is 5 acres of a wide variety of plantings including flowering trees and shrubs as…

Riverwalk

  • Nash and Kollock Streets

Riverwalk is a paved, accessible, urban greenway that stretches about 1.8 miles along the Eno River…

Bolin Creek Trail

  • 120 South Estes Drive

10' wide paved trail through meadow and wooded floodplain. Trail is 1.5 miles. Connects the…

Outdoor dining Restaurants & Bars

Carolina Brewery

  • 460 W. Franklin Street

Since 1995, the locally-owned and operated Carolina Brewery has been proudly providing…

Al's Burger Shack

  • 516 West Franklin St

Delicious made to order burgers and fries, hot dogs and shakes from the best local ingredients. Try…

Antonia's

  • 101 North Churton Street

Authentic Regional Italian Cuisine Prepared with Fresh and Local Ingredients. Check out their weekly…

Wooden Nickel Pub

  • 113 N. Churton Street

The Wooden Nickel has been the neighborhood pub of Hillsborough since 2003, featuring some of the…

Glasshalfull

  • 106 South Greensboro Street

Glasshalfull is a contemporary American restaurant, bar, and wine shop. Both the food and the wine…

La Residence

  • 202 West Rosemary Street

A Chapel Hill landmark since 1976, La Residence offers an American inspired twist on classic French…

Merritt's Grill

  • 1009 South Columbia Street

Defining Genuine Southern Culture... Since 1992. Famous for its BLTs and delicious sandwiches…