April marks the true beginning of spring, and that means that spring festivals and outdoor concerts are in full swing in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the rest of the Triangle region of North Carolina.
Plan the beginning of spring with this list of the top things to do this April in the Triangle
We’re highlighting more than 20 events this month. But then, keep reading for our huge calendar of things to do in the Triangle in April. This calendar will be updated all the time. You can jump right to the calendar if you’d like.
Of course, we focus on the “free and cheap” here, so most of these events are absolutely free.
April Highlights in Triangle
North Carolina Science Festival
North Carolina Science Festival
Date: All month
Time: Various times
Place: Multiple locations
Cost: Many events are free
Features: North Carolina Science Festival is a month-long celebration of science. Some events in the Triangle include Astronomy on Tap, Jane Goodall’s Birthday Celebration, UNC Science Expo, NC State Earth Fair, multiple star parties and more.
Earth Day
Earth Day Events
Date: Earth day is April 22, 2024, but events take place various dates
Time: Various times
Place: Multiple venues, both inside and outside
Cost: Varies. Most events are free.
Features: The Triangle goes all in for Earth Day, with multiple festivals in the region.
National Burrito Day
National Burrito Day
Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024
Time: All day
Place: Multiple locations
Cost: Varies
Features: Celebrate National Burrito Day with several money-saving deals.
Revolutionary War Living History Day in Hillsborough
Revolutionary War Living History Day in Hillsborough
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Hillsborough, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Historical reenactment, colonial dancers, colonial crafts, cooking demonstrations, much more.
Tarheel Antiques Festival
Tarheel Antiques Festival
Date: April 6 and 7, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days
Cost: $5/day, or $7/weekend. Free for kids 12 and under.
Place: Lloyds Farm, 226 North Lloyd’s Dairy Road, Efland, North Carolina
Features: Simple antique appraisals, shopping from antique vendors, entertainment, auctions.
Sanford’s 150th Birthday Bash
Sanford’s 150th Birthday Bash
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Sanford Lions Club Fairgrounds, 507 N 7th Street, Sanford, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, magic show, petting zoo, train rides, inflatables and more. Cake and ice cream will be free, while supplies last.
Holi Celebration in Apex
Holi Celebration in Apex
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Apex Nature Park Amphitheatre, 2600 Evans Road, Apex, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Live music, colored powder, performances, food vendors, more.
UNC Science Expo
UNC Science Expo
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: This annual celebration of science features more than 100 hands-on activities and science demonstrations lead by STEM students, researchers, and practitioners from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Partial Solar Eclipse
Partial Solar Eclipse
Date: Monday, April 8, 2024
Time: 1:57 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the peak around 3:15 p.m.
Location: Anywhere
Cost: Free
Features: In the Triangle around 80% of the sun will be obscured by the moon. Make sure to use solar eclipse glasses to look at it. There will also be a number of solar eclipse parties in the area.
Outdoor Concerts
Outdoor Concerts
Date: Multiple
Time: Varies
Location: Many locations
Cost: Mostly free
Features: Many of the Triangle’s summer concert series start in April and continue through the summer or fall. Follow the above link for a list of outdoor concert series and a day-by-day list.
Bone Suckin’ Sauce Peak City Pig Fest
Peak City Pig Fest
Date: April 12 and 13, 2024
Time: 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday
Place: Downtown Apex, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Chefs compete in BBQ contest. Also, music and more.
Pimento Cheese Festival
Pimento Cheese Festival
Date: Saturday, April 13, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Downtown Cary Park, 327 S Academy Street, Cary, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Purchase pimento cheese dishes from food trucks and vendors. Also, enjoy a pimento cheese sculpting contest, live music, trivia, pimento cheese samples and more.
Fairgrounds Southern Ideal Home Show
Fairgrounds Southern Ideal Home Show
Date: April 12 to 14, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Place: Exposition Center and Jim Graham Building, 4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh, North Carolina
Cost: $12, but save 50% with promo code CHEAP
Features: Great deals and new ideas for your home. Talk to trusted local experts. See HGTV stars of Fixer to Fabulous, Jenny and Dave Maars.
Durham Central Park Spring Food Truck Rodeo
Durham Central Park Spring Food Truck Rodeo
Date: Sunday, April 14, 20234
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.
Place: Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham North Carolina
Cost: Free to attend. Food and drink for purchase.
Features: There will be dozens food trucks to choose from. In addition, celebrate the Lao Solar New Year with flower crown making, a string ceremony, Bull City Inflatables, a DJ, dancers and more.
ClydeFEST
ClydeFest
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Time: 12 to 5 p.m.
Place: Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, 1192 US-Bus, Pittsboro, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: The festival honors Chatham County folk artist Clyde Jones and celebrates creativity and kids. There will be tons of hands-on arts and crafts projects for kids, plus face painting, bubbles, hula hoops, carnival games, music and more.
Free Cookie Day at Tonya’s Cookies and Bake Shop
Free Cookie Day
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: Tonya’s Cookies and Bake Shop, 400 S Elliott Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Celebrate National Pecan Day by stopping by for two free Pecan Crisp Cookies, while supplies last.
Triangle Lebanese Festival
Triangle Lebanese Festival
Date: April 20 and 21, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday; 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Place: 241 Horizon Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Music, dance, kids’ activities, Lebanese food and drink, fortune teller.
Mebane Dogwood Festival
Mebane Dogwood Festival
Date: April 26 and 27, 2024
Time: 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday
Place: Downtown Mebane, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Rides, live music, movie night, car show, beer garden.
Brewgaloo Local Beer Fest
Brewgaloo
Date: April 26 and 27, 2024
Time: 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday; 12 to 8 p.m. on Saturday
Place: Fayetteville Street, Raleigh
Cost: Free admission both days. A tasting ticket on Friday is $45 in advance and $55 the day of the event, but use promo code TriangleontheCheap to save $20! The promo code is case sensitive.
Features: Craft beer and cider vendors. Live music.
Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival
Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Bond Park, 801 High House Road, Cary, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: 170 local artists. This event is also an Earth Day celebration.
Raulston Blooms
Raulston Blooms
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Place: JC Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, North Carolina
Cost: $5 per person. $10 per family. Admission is free for garden members and for college students.
Features: Plant sale, birdhouse competition, makers market, gardening talks, hands- on fun for kids, demonstrations, food trucks and more.
Grand Opening of Dueling Dinosaurs
Grand Opening of Dueling Dinosaurs
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Nature Research Center at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 121 W Jones Street, Raleigh, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Be among the first to see the new exhibit, Dueling Dinosaurs at NC Museum of Natural Sciences. This is the only day that you won’t need a ticket for the exhibit, although it will always be free.
Magical Hill Festival
Magical Hill Festival
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: Chapel Hill Community Center, 120 E Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Cost: Free
Features: Fairy house contest, art activities, adventure activities, face painters, archery, more.
