Free public events at the Gregg Museum this summer: family fun day, artist talk and music on the lawn

NC State’s Gregg Museum of Art & Design, at 1903 Hillsborough Street in Raleigh, is open to the public and free to visit. Free parking is available adjacent to the building.

Currently open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Upcoming Events

Conversations on Catawba History and Arts with Aaron Baumgardner
Friday, June 5, 2026
3 p.m.
Free

Join the Gregg Museum of Art & Design for an illuminating discussion with contemporary artist Aaron Baumgardner (Catawba). In conjunction with the exhibition Stories Told by Breath: Native American Voices in North Carolina, Baumgardner will offer insights into the themes and techniques that define his work. As a Catawba artist with a background in ecology, Baumgardner’s work preserves ancestral pottery and revitalizes basketry traditions, ensuring they thrive for future generations. Through traditional arts, he explores the interconnectedness of the land, culture and history, honoring the resilience of the Catawba people. The presentation will conclude with a Q&A session, inviting attendees to engage directly with the artist about his creative practices. After the presentation, attendees can explore the exhibitions at the Gregg and connect further with Baumgardner.

Family Fun: Native Voices, Cultures and Art Making
Saturday, June 6, 2026
3 p.m.
Free

Gather your family and friends for a day at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Native American communities. All are welcome to come learn, create and experience tradition through hands-on artmaking, games, artist demonstrations, storytime and engaging performances. Experience:

• Hands-on artmaking and traditional games from 3 to 6 p.m. (Attendees can participate in various art activities and crafts and engage in various games.)
• Artist demonstrations from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. and 5 to 5:30 p.m (Aaron Baumgardner (Catawba), and Johnny (Muscogee Creek) and Amy Postoak (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) will conduct demonstrations.)
• Storytime from 3:45 to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 5:45 p.m. (Storytime sessions will occur on the lawn.)
• An American Indian cultural performance from 4 to 5 p.m. (Ryan (Lumbee), Idalis (Coharie) and Raven Dial (Lumbee) will perform)

This event is in partnership with the NC State American Indian Advisory Council and is designed to honor, respect, and share the heritage of Native people. Come spend the afternoon at the Gregg Museum to celebrate and experience belonging.

Music at the Gregg with Mountain Walrus and Brittany Stephenson
Friday, June 12, 2026
7 p.m.
Free

This is an outdoor concert on the lawn. Please bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Headlining the Gregg Museum’s Music at the Lawn concert will be Mountain Walrus, a group that serves up a unique brand of southern funk from the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Led by Foster Burton’s soulful songwriting, Mountain Walrus draws on elements of New Orleans funk and southern rock to create a sound that’s right at home in Appalachia. The band is quickly growing a fan base across the Southeast thanks to their dynamic live shows and appearances at festivals, such as FloydFest, Rooster Walk, the Mountain Music Festival and Floyd Yoga Jam. Burton is backed by Mason Jennelle on drums, Ben Hite on keys, Ryan Ratliff on saxophone and multi-instrumentalist Brach Rauchle. The band just released their new album, Less Is More, and has more music coming very soon.

Opening for Mountain Walrus will be Brittany Stephenson, a Dallas-based vocalist and multimedia artist blending folk storytelling with contemporary themes. Raised in a West Texas musical family, she performed extensively as a vocalist for The Coverlets at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, as well as the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum. Now she creates performance art pieces that witness the weight and electricity of being human.