30+ Outdoor Concert Series in the Triangle

There’s nothing better on a warm evening than listening to music outdoors. Here’s a big list of free summer concert series for 2018 in the Triangle–Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham and beyond. Maybe “summer” stretches a little bit into spring and autumn too. Most of these concert series are family friendly. At many you can purchase food from food trucks. Know of more that should be on this list? Email me at jody@triangleonthecheap.com and let me know! Make sure to follow each link to get all the details. We’ve included the band schedule if available.

You might also be interested in:

• Free things to do this week in the Triangle
• Free museums and free museum days in the Triangle
• Triangle Event Calendar

Also, if you haven’t done so yet, you might want to sign up for emails from Triangle on the Cheap. It’s the best way to keep up on all the free and cheap things to do. Never more than one email a day.

This is a growing list. Concert series from previous years that haven’t been announced yet are noted as well. So far all of these concert series are free, but if they’re not that will be noted. Tips and CD purchases are always appreciated by the bands.

Apex Outdoor Concert Series

Apex Music in the Park
Select Fridays and Saturdays from May 25th to August 31st, at 7 p.m.
They take place at two locations:
Nature Park Amphitheatre, 2600 Evans Road, Apex
Apex Historic Depot, 220 N. Salem Street, Apex

Carrboro Outdoor Concert Series

Freight Train Blues Music Series
Fridays: May 18, May 25, June 1, June 8
6:30 p.m.
Carrboro Town Commons (Farmer’s Market), 301 Main Street, Carrboro
This 4-part blues series highlights blues and roots music, celebrates the life and legacy of Piedmont blues legend, Elizabeth ‘Libba’ Cotten, born in 1893 in Carrboro.

Jazz Brunch at Weaver Street Market Carrboro
Sundays from May 20th to October 14th
Weaver Street Market, 101 E. Weaver Street, Carrboro
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cary Outdoor Concert Series

Starlight Concert Series
One Friday a month May through August
Usually 7 p.m. (but follow link for exception)
Page-Walker Arts & History Center Garden, 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary

Park After Dark
Four Wednesdays: June 27, July 11, August 8, September 12
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Downtown Park, 319 South Academy Street, Cary

Cary Live
Three Saturdays: June 30, July 21, September 22
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Downtown Park, 319 Academy Street, Cary

Bands, Bites and Boats at Bond Park
One Friday a month, from April to October
Start time varies. Follow above link for schedule details.
Bond Park Boathouse, Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Rd, Cary
Enjoy the music from a boat or on land. Each event also includes a food truck and local brewery.

Sertoma Music Series
Second Saturday of the month from May to August
7 p.m.
Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park, 801 High House Road, Cary

Wind Down Wednesdays at Waverly Place
Wednesdays from June 6th to August 1st
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Waverly Place, 575 New Waverly Place, Cary

Chapel Hill Outdoor Concert Series

Meadowmont Music Series
First Friday of month, May through October, plus a couple of Saturday shows
Meadowmont Village, 300 Meadowmont Village Circle, Chapel Hill
Meadowmont Gazebo, 101 Old Barn Lane, Chapel Hill
Follow above link to see which location each concert is at.

Live Music on the Village Green
Sunday, from April 8th to September 9th
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Market Street at Southern Village, 600 Market Street in Chapel Hill

After Hour Fridays
Fridays from May 25 to August 3
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Market Street at Southern Village, 600 Market Street, Chapel Hill

Wine Down Wednesday at La Vita Dolce
Wednesdays starting April 18
La Vita Dolce at Southern Village, 610 Market St, Chapel Hill
Live music, free treats for the kids, food sampling

Music on the Porch
Thursdays. So far, concerts are announced for March 29-April 12
5:30 p.m.
Love House and Hutchins Forum, on Thursdays. 410 East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill
UNC’s Center for the Study of the American South presents this free concert series as part of their commitment to strong research and scholarship on the history, contemporary experience, diverse cultures, and global context of the South.

Fridays on the Front Porch
Fridays April 27h to October 5 p.m.
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Carolina Inn, 211 Pittboro Street, Chapel Hill
Each week there will be one band and two food trucks.

Chatham County Outdoor Concert Series

Bynum Front Porch Fridays
Every Friday from May 4th to August 31st
Bynum Front Porch, 950 Bynum Road in Pittsboro

Live Music at The Roost Beer Garden
Thursdays through Sundays, starting in April
The Roost Beer Garden, 270 Market Street, Fearrington Village, Pittsboro

Durham Outdoor Concert Series

PLAYlist Concert Series
Fridays June 8th to August 10th
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street

Music on Main
Saturdays, April 14th to September 29
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Streets at Southpoint, 6910 Fayetteville Road, Durham

Rock the Park Movie and Concert Series
June through August
Various Durham parks
Once a month, a concert takes place at a Durham park, and once a month, there’s a movie. Follow above link to see the schedule.

Check back soon for:

• Back Porch Music on the Lawn at American Tobacco Campus
• Brightleaf Summer Concert Series
• Music/Blues on the Plaza at Northgate Mall

Fuquay-Varina Outdoor Concert Series

FM2FQ Concert Series

April 12, April 26, May 10
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Hillsborough Outdoor Concert Series

Last Friday Concert Series
The last Friday of month from April to September
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Part of the Last Friday Art Walk in Hillsborough

Jazz Brunch
Weaver Street Market, 228 S. Churton Street, Hillsborough
Sundays from May 20th to September 30th
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Holly Springs Outdoor Concert Series

Summer at the Springs
2nd and 4th Fridays from June to August
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs

Morrisville Outdoor Concert Series

Live in the District
Thursdays, April 19th to June 7th
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In front of Stone Theatre — Park West 14, Village Market Place, Morrisville

Acoustic Nights in the District
Fridays and Saturdays from June 15th to October 20
In front of Stone Theatre — Park West 14, Village Market Place, Morrisville
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Raleigh Outdoor Concert Series

Midtown Beach Music Series
Thursdays, April 19th to August 16th
North Hills Common, 4158 Main at North Hills Street, Raleigh

Midtown Bluegrass Series: Sunday Ramble in the Park
May 20th, September 16th
3 p.m.
Midtown Park, 4011 Cardinal N Hills S, Raleigh
Two concerts presented by PineCone. Follow above link for band lineup.

LIVE @ Lake Raleigh
April 12 and May 10
6 p.m.
Lake Raleigh, Main Campus Drive & Campus Shores Drive, Raleigh
NC State is presenting this new free, family-friendly concert series. Bring a picnic or buy dinner from one of the food trucks. BYOB.

Summer Concert Series in Raleigh Parks
Dates in June and July
Sundays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Fred Fletcher Park
Tuesdays and a Wednesday 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Pullen Park

Saxapahaw

Saturdays in Saxapahaw
Saturdays from May 12th to August 25th
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
1735 Saxapahaw Bethlehem Church Road, Saxapahaw

The farmers’ market is open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the music goes on from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Haw River Festival kicks ooff the series on May 5th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wake Forest Outdoor Concert Series

Friday Night on White
2nd Friday of month, April through October
6 p.m.
South White Street, Wake Forest

Six Sundays in Spring
Every Sunday from April 29th to June 3rd
5 p.m.
E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater at 701 Harris Rd., Wake Forest

Music at Midday
Thursdays from May 10th to May 31st
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Centennial Plaza, the gateway to the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks Street, Wake Forest
Dessert trucks will be on site