37 Free Outdoor Concert Series in the Triangle 2019

Music on the Porch, Chapel Hill

There’s nothing better on a warm evening than listening to music outdoors. Here’s a big list of free summer concert series for 2019 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.

NOTE: We have updated all the concert series that have information for 2019. All the ones from last year that we don’t have information on yet are marked as TBD.This is a growing list.

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.

Scroll down for a day by day list of every outdoor concert on Triangle on the Cheap’s calendar for the next 90 days!

Apex Outdoor Concert Series

Apex Outdoor Music and Movies
Select Fridays and Saturdays from May 25 to September 27, 2019
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 24, May 31, June 7, June 14
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 (and more) Brunch at Weaver Street Market Carrboro
Sundays from May 19 to September 29, 2019
Weaver Street Market, 101 E. Weaver Street, Carrboro
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

After Hours at Weaver Street Market Carrboro
Thursdays from May 23 to June 27, 2019
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cary Outdoor Concert Series

Starlight Concert Series
Fridays: June 14, June 28, July 26, August 2
Usually 7 p.m. (July 26 at 6:30 p.m.)
Page-Walker Arts & History Center Garden, 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary

Park After Dark
Four Wednesdays: June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, 2019
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Downtown Park, 319 South Academy Street, Cary

Cary Live
Four Saturdays: June 29, July 20, September 21, October 12, 2019
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Downtown Park, 319 Academy Street, Cary

Bands, Bites and Boats at Bond Park
April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2, September 6, October 4, 2019
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
May 11, June 15, July 13, August 10, 2019
7 p.m.
Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park, 801 High House Road, Cary

Wind Down Wednesdays at Waverly Place
June 5 to July 24, 2019
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Waverly Place, 575 New Waverly Place, Cary

Crossroads Summer Concert Series
June 28, July 19, August 9, August 30, September 20
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Crossroads Plaza, 430 Crossroads Boulevard, Cary
Features local bands. The shows July 19, August 30, and September 20 will be followed by fireworks.

Chapel Hill Outdoor Concert Series

Meadowmont Music Series

Meadowmont Music Series
First Friday of month, May through September, 2019, plus Saturday, May 18 and Saturday, September 14
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
Sundays May 5 to September 15, 2019
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Also, Monday, May 20 at 7 p.m., and Thursday, June 13th, at 7 p.m.
Market Street at Southern Village, 600 Market Street in Chapel Hill

TGIF! Music on the Village Green
Fridays from June 7th to July 26th
Most at 7 p.m., except June 14th, which is 8 p.m.
Market Street at Southern Village, 600 Market Street, Chapel Hill

Wine Down Wednesday at La Vita Dolce
Wednesdays April 10 to October 16, 2019
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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 28, April 11, April 25, 2019
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 26 through October 18, 2019
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.

Music in the Meadow
June 8 and September 14, 2019
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Briar Chapel, 1342 Briar Chapel Parkway, Chapel Hill
There will also be food trucks.

Chatham County Outdoor Concert Series

Bynum Front Porch Friday

Bynum Front Porch Fridays
Fridays from May 3 to August 30, 2019, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bynum Front Porch, 950 Bynum Road in Pittsboro

Live Music at The Roost Beer Garden
Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Roost Beer Garden, 270 Market Street, Fearrington Village, Pittsboro

Durham Outdoor Concert Series

PLAYlist Concert Series
Every other Friday June 14 to September 20, 2019
7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street

Music on Main
April 13 – August 24, 2019
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Streets at Southpoint, 6910 Fayetteville Road, Durham

Rock the Park Movie and Concert Series
Saturdays in June, July and 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.

American Tobacco Music in the Down Under
318 Blackwell Street, Durham
May 23, June 13, June 20
6:30 p.m.
Music takes place on the Down Under Patio.

Brightleaf Summer Concert Series
May 17, May 24, June 7, June 21, July 5, July 19, August 2, August 16, August 30, September 6, 2019
Brightleaf Square, 905 West Main Street Durham

Third Friday Art Walk and Concert at Golden Belt
Third Friday of month, April through October
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Golden Belt’s SummerStage, 800 Taylor Street, next to Hi-Wire Brewing
Art studios open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Concert at 7 p.m.

Fuquay-Varina Outdoor Concert Series

fuquay-varina outdoor concert series

FM2FQ Concert Series
April 11, April 25, May 9
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Centennial Square, 102 North Main Street, Fuquay-Varina

Hillsborough Outdoor Concert Series

Last Friday Concert Series
The last Friday of month from April to September, 2019
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Part of the Last Friday Art Walk in Hillsborough

Holly Springs Outdoor Concert Series

Summer at the Springs
2nd and 4th Friday of the month from June to August, 2019
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 25 to June 13, 2019
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In front of Stone Theatre — Park West 14, Village Market Place, Morrisville

Acoustic Nights in the District
Fridays and Saturdays from June 14 to October 19, 2019
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 18-August 15, 2019 (except July 4)
North Hills Common, 4158 Main at North Hills Street, Raleigh
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

IBMA Midtown Bluegrass Series
May 19th and September 15th, 2019
2 p.m. to 6 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 11, April 25, May 9, May 23, 2019
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
Sundays from June 9th to August 18th, 2019
6 p.m.
Fletcher Park and Pullen Park

Saxapahaw

Stay tuned for information on Saturdays in Saxapahaw

Saturdays in Saxapahaw
Saturdays from May 11 to August 31, 2019
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 4th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Wake Forest Outdoor Concert Series

Friday Night on White
2nd Friday of month, April through September, 2019
6 p.m.
South White Street, Wake Forest

Six Sundays in Spring
Every Sunday from April 28 to June 2, 2019
5 p.m.
E. Carroll Joyner Park Amphitheater at 701 Harris Rd., Wake Forest

Music at Midday
Thursdays May 9 to May 30, 2019
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Centennial Plaza, the gateway to the Wake Forest Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks Street, Wake Forest
A dessert truck will be on site