Downtown Cary Park is the new central gathering spot for the Town of Cary. It officially opened in November, 2023, and has already been the site for festivals, holiday events, and performances.
It’s a draw during the holiday season, with festive light displays and a free ice skating rink.
The park will be home to varied programming, including art exhibitions, performances, concerts, fitness classes, book clubs, movies and more.
The address of Downtown Cary Park is at 327 S. Academy Street. It’s bounded by E. Park Street to the north, Walnut Street to the south, S. Walker Street to the east, and S. Academy Street to the west. Cary Arts Center is just to the southwest of the park.
Many FREE events are being hosted at Downtown Cary Park, including fitness classes, art workshops, and more. Read on, or jump right to the list of events (including the outdoor movie series!)
Features of Downtown Cary Park
The Nest
Downtown Cary Park features adventurous play areas for kids, including The Nest, a cardinal-themed play set, and a massive slide.
Park Street Courts
Park Street Courts is filled with table tennis, foosball and other games.
The Great Lawn
Look out for frisbees on the Great Lawn! This is where visitors are stretching out and playing, as well as enjoying the entertainment from the Pavilion.
The Barkyard
The Barkyard is not your average bark park. It has tunnels, water features, small hills and more. You’ll need to register your dog and buy an annual membership or day pass to use the Barkyard.
The Skywalk
Get a bird’s eye view of the park from the Skywalk.
Academy Pavilion and Plaza
Here you’ll find Market 317, for grab-and-go sandwiches and more. The building also contains restrooms and an event space.
Frantz Square
This area, at the corner of Academy Street and Dry Avenue, features Cary’s iconic fountain, which, once again, lights up at night.
Parking
There are several parking options near the park. Here’s a map with various parking options throughout Downtown Cary. The closest parking lots and garages are listed below.
Cary Regional Library Parking Deck
113 Walnut Street, Cary, NC
Cary Arts Center Lot
101 Dry Avenue, Cary, NC
Free parking 24/7
Accessible parking available
First United Methodist Church Lot
110 Waldo Street, Cary, NC
Closed for public parking Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. Open to the public other times. Free.
Old Cary Library Parking Lot
310 S Academy Street, Cary, NC
Free parking. 24/7.
Public Transportation
During busy times, especially festivals, you might prefer to take the bus to Downtown Cary Park. GOCary’s fixed routes and door to door tier 1 trips are fare free through June 30, 2024. Learn about the routes here.
Events at Downtown Cary Park
Make sure to go to the downtowncarypark.com/calendar and register for the events, if required.
Live at Lunch
Multiple dates
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Academy Plaza
Free
Free lunchtime concerts.
CaryLIVE!
Various dates
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Great Lawn Pavilion
Free
Free concerts!
Trivia Night
August 14 and 28, 2025
6 to 8 p.m. each night
Downtown Cary Park’s Bark Bar
Free
Get ready to test your knowledge and unleash your competitive spirit at Trivia Night in Downtown Cary Park’s Bark Bar! Led by the witty hosts from Hammered Trivia, it’s an evening packed with brain-teasing questions, laughter, and prizes. Gather your friends, grab a drink, and let the games begin!
Movie Night
6 to 10 p.m.
Great Lawn Pavilion
Free
Before each movie, there will be related activities, so come early! Bring blankets and chairs. Food trucks will be on site. These dates are in 2025.
- July 3 – Top Gun
- July 11 – Shrek
- July 26: The Lion King (rescheduled date) Pre-show activities include DIY rain sticks and safari scratch art. Then there will be a community drum circle by One Tribe Rhythms at 6:30 p.m.
- August 8 – Guardians of the Galaxy
- August 20 – Wicked
- September 5 – Inside Out 2
- October 10 – The Nightmare Before Christmas
- October 25 – Double Feature: Hotel Transylvania & 1408
- November 7 – Big Hero 6
Summer BreakOUT!
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
4 to 10 p.m.
Free
Wrap up summer in the most magical way at Downtown Cary Park! Join us for Summer BreakOUT, a free, family-friendly celebration packed with wicked fun for all ages. Enjoy arts and crafts, playful activities, bubble art by Imagine Circus, and roaming magic with the Wizard himself. Follow the Yellow Brick Road to discover a whimsical photo op wall and a sparkling tattoo booth! Plus, meet two iconic characters from Wicked (Part One) before we end the night with a movie screening of the film under the stars. Come hungry—there will be food trucks and sweet treat vendors on site serving up tasty eats! Don’t miss this enchanted evening of fun!
- 4 – 7 p.m.: Imagine Circus Bubble Artist on Frantz Square Lawn
- 4 – 7 p.m.: Wicked Themed Activities in Academy Pavilion
- Bracelet Making
- Oz BINGO
- 4 – 7:30 p.m.: Emerald City Photo Op and Tattoo Booth on Frantz Square Plaza (follow the Yellow Brick Road!)
- 4 – 7:30 p.m.: Art Cart in the Nest Pavilion
- 4 – 9 p.m.: Food Truck (MunchiLove) available at Park St Courts
- 5 – 6:30 p.m.: Roaming Magic with The Wizard
- 5 – 8:30 p.m.: Spunderful Cotton Candy and Geluna Gelato available on the Great Lawn
- 6 – 7:30 p.m.: Meet & Greet with Elphaba and Glinda on Frantz Square Lawn
- 7:30 p.m.: Wicked (Part One) Screening Begins at the Great Lawn Pavilion
Discover Dance: Latin Session
August 29, 2025
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Downtown Cary Park
Free
Join Mambo Dinamico Dance Company and experience vibrant Latin rhythms like Mambo, Rumba, Cha-cha, Merengue, and more—brought to life by their energizing live band! Watch, enjoy, and learn about the vibrant music, dance, and culture. These experienced dancers and instructors will guide you through a few dance steps, ensuring that the whole family can join in on the fun! Dive into the rich traditions and rhythms, and create memorable moments together as you experience the joy of dance!
As always, this event is an additional hub for the Cary Art Loop where you can explore artistic creations, crafts, and imaginative activities. Come to the Park for this family-friendly celebration, where retailers and food trucks add to the festive atmosphere of local arts and delicious cuisine.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
More Events
Check out our list of free and cheap events in Raleigh and the rest of the Triangle this weekend, or our full event calendar in the Triangle, or just look at few upcoming events here:
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