There’s nothing better on a warm evening than listening to music outdoors. Here’s a list of summer concert series for 2025 in the Triangle. You’ll find live music in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Pittsboro, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Wake Forest, and more.
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.
Most of these concerts are free, but we’ve also included some that are low-cost.
Read about some of our favorite outdoor concert series, and then scroll down for a day by day list of every outdoor concert on Triangle on the Cheap’s calendar for the next 60 days. You can jump right to the day by day list if you’d like, and see what’s going on today!
The day by day list includes outdoor concerts at festivals, breweries, and markets as well. Make sure to follow each link for details.
Learn about outdoor movies throughout the Triangle!
Outdoor Concert Series in the Triangle
Read on to learn about some of the outdoor concert series in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Wake Forest and beyond.
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough
Freight Train Blues
Freight Train Blues Concert Series
Fridays from May 16 to June 13, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Carrboro Town Commons
301 West Main Street, Carrboro, NC
Free
This concert series pays homage to Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten, the Carrboro blues legend. Donations go to Music Maker Relief Foundation, which helps elderly roots musicians who are living in poverty.
Southern Village’s Sunday Night Live
Sunday Night Live
Sundays starting April 13, 2025
7 p.m.
Southern Village, 600 Market Street, Chapel Hill, NC
Free
Fridays on the Front Porch
Fridays on the Front Porch
Will start back on August 22, 2025
5 to 8 p.m.
Carolina Inn, 211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill
Free
Each week there will be one band and a food trucks.
Last Fridays Makers Market
Last Fridays Makers Market
Last Friday of the month from May to October, 2025
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Old Courthouse Lawn in Hillsborough, 104 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC
Free
As part of Hillsborough’s Last Fridays Art Walk, the makers market features an outdoor concert.
Wind Down Wednesday
Wind Down Wednesday
Wednesdays from April 2 to October 22, 2025
6 p.m.
La Vita Dolce at Southern Village
610 Market Street, Chapel Hill, NC
Free
Kid-friendly, dog-friendly event. Wide variety of live music every week, plus wine specials.
Durham
PLAYlist
PLAYlist Concert Series
First Friday of the month, from May to October, 2025 (except the July concert, which takes place July 11)
6:30
Durham Central Park
501 Foster Street, Durham
Free
Each evening starts with a DJ spinning tunes live at the park at 7 p.m., and then the headlining band takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Finally, the DJ closes the night out with a dance party.
Music at the Stack
Music at the Stack
Wednesdays from April 30 to May 21, 2025
Stack Alley, at American Tobacco Campus
316 Blackwell Street, Durham, NC
6:30 p.m.
Free
The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle is presenting this concert series, featuring a wide variety of musical artists.
Music in the Gardens
Music Near the Gardens
Every Wednesday from May 28 to June 25, 2025
7 p.m.
Duke’s East Campus, behind the East Duke Building
1304 Campus Drive, Durham, North Carolina.
Free (no reservations required this year.)
This is a special edition of Music in the Gardens, relocated to Duke’s East Campus during the renovation of Duke Gardens. There will be a free after-party at The Pinhook.
Durham Parks and Recreation’s Summer Concert Series
Durham Parks and Recreation’s Summer Concert Series
June 14, July 12 and August 9, 2025
6 to 8 p.m.
Parks vary
Free
This concert series also featured a rotating lineup of food trucks.
Streets at Southpoint
Music on Main
Saturdays from May 10 to October 4, 2025
5 to 8 p.m.
Streets at Southpoint
6910 Fayetteville Road, Durham
Free
Raleigh
Live After 5
Live After 5
One Wednesday a month from May to August, 2025
6 to 9 p.m.
City Plaza
443 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh
Free
Live @ Lake Raleigh
Live@Lake Raleigh
Four Thursdays in April and May, 2025
6 p.m.
Lake Raleigh
Main Campus Drive and Campus Shores Drive, Raleigh
Free
This family friendly concert series presented by NC State LIVE features a diverse lineup of bands.
Midtown Beach Music Series
Midtown Beach Music Series
Thursdays from April 10 to June 26, 2025
6 to 9 p.m.
Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park, 4011 Cardinal at North Hills Street, Raleigh
$6.15, including fees
The concert series features beach music, Motown, oldies R&B and more.
Pop Up Music Series at North Hills
Pop Up Music Series at North Hills
Fridays and Sundays from April 4 to June 21, 2025, and from September 5 to October 26, 2025.
Fridays 6 to 9 p.m. and Sundays 2 to 5 p.m.
North Hills, 4321 Lassiter at North Hills Avenue, Raleigh
Free
The Friday concerts are in The Commons and the Sunday concerts are in Midtown Park.
Raleigh Summer Concert Series
Raleigh Summer Concert Series
Select Sundays from June 22 to September 21, 2025
Fletcher Park, 820 Clay Street, Raleigh
Pullen Park, 520 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh
6 to 8 p.m. through August 10, and 5 to 7 p.m. starting August 17
Free
Cary, Apex and Morrisville
Bands, Bites and Boats
Bands, Bites and Boats
First Friday of month from April to October, 2025 (except July, when it’s July 11)
Time varies a little
Bond Park Boathouse
801 High House Road, Cary
Free
This is a concert series that you can enjoy from land or in a boat on the lake! Each event also features a food truck and brewery.
Summer Concert Series at Waverly Place
Summer Concert Series at Waverly Place
Sundays in June, 2025
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Waverly Place, 575 New Waverly Place, Cary
Free
Josh Cellars Jazz Series
KBA Jazz Series
Wednesdays from April 2 to April 23, 2025
5:45 p.m.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC
$7.73 for lawn tickets. Kids 12 and under do not need tickets for the lawn
Live in the District
Live in the District
Thursdays from April 17 to May 22, 2025
6:30 to 9 p.m.
In front of B&B Theatres in Park West
3400 Village Market Place, Morrisville, NC
Free
Features beach music. Local breweries and food trucks will be at each event.
CaryLive!
CaryLive!
April 26, May 17, June 28, August 23, October 18, 2025
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Downtown Cary Park
327 S Academy Street, Cary, NC
Free
Live at Lunch
Live at Lunch
Every other Thursday from March 27 to May 22, 2025 (maybe more will be announced)
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Downtown Cary Park
327 S Academy Street, Cary, NC
Free
Crossroads Plaza
Crossroads Plaza Weekly May Music Series
Every Wednesay in May, 2025
6 to 8 p.m.
Crossroads Plaza (on patio in front of Subway)
213 Crossroads Blvd, Cary, NC
Free
Summer Vibes
Summer Vibes Music Series
June 25, July 16, August 6, 2025
6 to 8 p.m.
Various parks in the Town of Cary’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department
Free
Music in the Park in Morrisville
Music in the Park
First Friday of the month from May to September, 2025, except for July. There will be an additional concert on June 20 for Juneteenth.
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Indian Creek Trailhead
101 Town Hall Drive, Morrisville, NC
Free
At each event there will also be a food truck.
Other Spots in Western Wake County
Groovin’ in Garner
Groovin’ in Garner
Friday, June 20, August 15, and September 19, 2025
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Garner Recreation Center Lawn, 215 W Main Street, Garner, NC
Free
Summer at the Springs
Summer at the Springs
First Friday of the month from June to September, 2025
Holly Springs Cultural Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., Holly Springs
Free
FM2FV Concert Series
FM2FV
Four Spring Concerts in April and May, 2025
There is usually a fall concert series as well
6:30 p.m.
Centennial Square
102 North Main Street, Fuquay-Varina, NC
Free
These fun gatherings in Fuquay-Varina feature beach music.
Wake Forest and Rolesville
Friday Night on White
Friday Night on White
2nd Friday of month from April to September, 2025
6 p.m.
White Street in Wake Forest, NC
Free
Top 40 and party bands.
Six Sundays in Spring
Six Sundays in Spring
Every Sunday from April 27 to June 1, 2025
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest
Free
Music at Mill Bridge
Music at Mill Bridge (Wake Forest/Rolesville)
August 16 and September 20, 2025
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Mill Bridge Nature Park Amphitheatre, 425 Nature Park Drive, Wake Forest
Eastern Wake County
Wendell’s Meet on Main Concert Series
Wendell’s Meet on Main
April 11, May 16, June 20, September 19, 2025
6:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Downtown Wendell, NC
Free
Spring Concert Series in Zebulon
Zebulon Spring Concert Series
Check back soon for 2025
6 to 9 p.m.
Lawn of Town Hall, 1003 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon
Free
Johnston County
New River Jam
New River Jam
3rd Friday of the month from March to June, 2025
7 p.m.
Neuse River Amphitheater
150 S Front Street, Smithfield, NC
Free
Chatham County
Bynum Front Porch Music Series
Bynum Front Porch Music Series
Scheduled on Fridays from May 2 to August 29, 2025
7 p.m.
Bynum Front Porch, 950 Bynum Road, Pittsboro
Free
This concert series takes place outside the old Bynum General Store in Pittsboro, Chatham County. There are also some storytelling events. It’s free but the hat (specifically, the pith helmet) is passed.
MOSAIC
Summer Jam Music Series at MOSAIC
Every other Friday from April 18 to June 27, 2025
Music starts at 7 p.m.
MOSAIC event lawn, 367 Freedom Parkway, Pittsboro
Free
Elsewhere
Saturdays in Saxapahaw
Saturdays in Saxapahaw
Every Saturday from May 3 to August 30, 2025
5 to 8 p.m. (music starts at 6 p.m.)
1624 Jordan Drive, Graham, NC
Free
Live music, a farmers’ market, and kids’ activities. If it rains and there’s nothing scheduled for the Haw River Ballroom, the concert will move inside. The May 3rd event is part of the Haw River Festival, which is from 4 to 8 p.m.
Sanford’s Downtown Alive Music Series
Downtown Alive! in Sanford
Spring and fall concert series. Check back soon.
6:30 p.m.
The Depot
106 Charlotte Avenue, Sanford, NC
Free
Beach and Top 40 music.
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park
Gig in the Park
Every other Thursday from April 24 to June 19, 2025
6 to 9 p.m.
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, 301 Goldsboro Street S, Wilson, NC
Free
Freeman Round House Summer Event Series
Freeman Round House Summer Concert Series
Sundays from May 4 to July 27, 2025
6 p.m.
Freeman Round House and African-American Museum
1202 Nash Street East, Wilson, NC
Free
Ckeeton says
Please cull the listings that no longer apply. Scrolling through lines of text for events that took place a month or two ago is frustrating.
Jody Mace says
Actually, we have a day by day list that starts on whatever day you’re looking at the post! Just jump to the “day by day” list. There’s a jump link to that part of the post before the descriptions of all the concert series. We won’t be removing the descriptions of the concert series, even if they’re over for now, because it’s helpful to see the annual events. But by jumping to the day by day list, you’ll be right where you want to be!