
Here’s a look at spring festivals in the Triangle. It’s a big list of festivals in spring of 2023 in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and surrounding areas.
Spring festivals include Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations, art festivals, cultural festivals and much more.
First take a look at some of the major spring festivals in the Triangle, but then, keep reading for an even longer, day-by-day list.
Check out our big list of U-pick farms in the Triangle and farmers’ markets throughout the Triangle.
Spring Festivals in the Triangle
The Town of Morrisville is hosting a Holi Festival on Saturday, March 18th, 2023, at the Cedar Fork Community Center.
Join the community to celebrate Holi, the ancient Hindu festival marking the end of winter and welcoming the spring season.
The Festival is free, and will feature dancing, Holi powders, and food for purchase.
Celebrate National Puppy Day on March 23rd, 2023, at this festival at Moore Square in Raleigh. There will be an on-site dog park, pet-themed vendors, dog contests with prizes, the movie "Best of Show," and more. Free event.
LuminoCity Festival is a lighted lantern festival at Pullen Park through April 9th, 2023. Experience an immersive wonderland of lights and oversized, illuminated lanterns that depict fun characters and scenes, including monkeys in trees, majestic tigers, friendly bugs in a garden and much more. There are even dinosaurs in motion! Ticket prices vary depending on the day, but make sure to use the promo code TOTC10 at checkout for 10% off.
NC Science Festival is a month-long celebration of science. All through April, all throughout the state, there are fun science events, including star parties, hands-on activities, festivals, nature events and more. There are a lot of Science Festival events in the Triangle.
Skyfest NC is a community festival that features aerial demonstrations, live music, static displays, a beer garden and a kids’ zone.
The event includes parachute team jumps, flyovers, helicopter rappelling and other aerial performances.
It takes place March 25th, 2023, at Johnston Regional Airport in Smithfield, and tickets are $5.
On March 25th, head to Brooks Street in Downtown Wake Forest for Cars and Carnivores. The highlights of the festival are the classic/modern car show and a steak cook-off. This event is presented by Wake Forest Rotary Club to raise funds for “Wake Forest Medical Debt Relief,” which alleviates financial stress for patients and their families.
Angier's Spring Fling takes place at Jack Marley Park on March 25th, and includes live music by the British Invaders, bounce houses, egg hunts, touch-a-truck, vendors, food trucks and more. Free event.
We've collected all the Easter events in the Triangle, including egg hunts, Easter Bunny visits, and festivals, into one big list. It's growing all the time!
Wake Forest Veg Vest, on March 25th at Carroll Joyner Park, celebrates a plant-based lifestyle, with presentations, music, exhibitors and more.
The Viking Experience Fesitval, in Stem, NC, is an immersive Viking themed weekend, with interactive characters, fairies, dragons, barbarians, music, dancing, games, vendors, and more. It takes place March 25th and 26th, and a day pass is $18.
Tarheel Antique Festival is a large antique event that takes place March 25th and 26th, 2023, at Lloyds Farm in Efland. Tickets are $5 with kids 12 and under admitted for free. There will be auctions, antique and craft vendors, activities and entertainment.
Knightdale's Spring Fling takes place on April 1st at Knight Station Park. Enjoy live music, food trucks, inflatables and a vendor market. Bring your Easter basket because vendors will have eggs at the stations to distribute.
Bond Brothers Beer Company is hosting the Mid-Town Square Spring Festival in Cary on April 8th. The festival includes new beer releases, vendors, craftspeople, food trucks and live music. There will also be a Kids' Zone.
NC State University is hostings its annual Earth Fair on Wednesday, April 12th, at Stafford Commons. It includes educational exhibits, displays, student groups and more.
Head to Wake Forest for Forest Fest on April 15th. The free family festival includes entertainment, food trucks, children's activities, a tree seedling giveaway, an artisan market and more. You can also bring paper for shredding.
The town of Broadway (near Sanford) is hosting Broadway Our Way on April 15th. The festival includes a street fair, food truck rodeo, live music all day, and kid zone activities.
Cuegrass, on April 15th, 2023, brings live music and barbecue to Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh. The festival is free to attend.
Taste of China takes place on April 15th on Academy Street in Cary. The festival is free to attend. Just pay for your food. Enjoy music, traditional performances, history, art music, cooking demonstrations and more.
On April 16th, 2023, from 12 to 4 p.m., Weaver Street in Carrboro will be closed to traffic and open to fun. There will be tons of free activities taking place.
Raleigh's Earth Day Celebration takes place at Dix Park on Friday, April 21st, 2023. It's free to attend and features liv emusic, games, activities, earth-conscious vendors, and the movie WALL-E.
This global celebration takes place April 22nd, 2023, at Cary Town Hall. Enjoy multi-cultural dance performance, face painting, balloon animals, food trucks and more. This is a free event.
On Friday, April 21st, 2023,, Brewgaloo features a tasting event that requires tickets, but on Saturday, April 22nd, it's a free street festival on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh. There will be multiple stages of live entertainment at no cost. There will also be 110 craft beer and cider vendors, and nearly 50 food trucks.
Head to North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on April 22nd for a free, family event that's part of North Carolina Science Festival. Explore a wide range of science and technology.
ClydeFEST takes place April 22nd at Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro. This festival honors folk artist Clyde Jones and celebrates creativity and kids. There will be hands-on arts and crafts projects, face paitning, bubbles, hula hoops, carnival games, music and more.
Celebrate Earth Day on April 23rd, 2023, at Durham Central Park. Enjoy live music, hands-on environmental education, an Earth Day Market and more.
There will be many more Earth Day festivals and celebrations throughout the Triangle. We've collected them into a big list. So, even if you don't see an Earth Day celebration in the list of spring festivals, it's probably in the Earth Day list!
The North Carolina Pickle Festival takes place in nearby Mount Olive on April 28th and 29th, 2023. There will be live music, a pickle eating contest, a pickle train for kids and much more.
The Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival takes place on April 29th, at Bond Park. It features 170 local artists, music on four stages, activities for kids, and more. It's free to attend.
Raulston Blooms take place at JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh on April 29th, 2023. It's a garden festival for all ages, including plant sales, outdoor fun, and garden and nature activities. It dosts $5 per person, or $10 per family. Free for Garden members.
Zebulon's Spring Fest, on April 29th, features arts, crafts, music and food.
Revista Latina NC is presenting a free festival, Festival Cultural Del Día Del Niño, on Sunday, April 30th, at Raleigh Rose Garden. It features folkloric dances, music, art, gastronomy, crafts, and workshops for children.
Apex's biggest festival is scheduled for May 6th, 2023. Enjoy three stages of entertainment, a kids' zone, food vendors and more. Salem Street in Historic Downtown Apex. Free.
Meet in the Street returns to downtown Wake Forest for the 41st year on May 6th. This free festival features more than 100 arts and crafts vendor, free activities for children, live music and food trucks.
This free community celebration in Cary will take place May 6th. Explore an arts and crafts village, contests, kids' activities, music and more. It takes place at USA Baseball Training Complex. Free.
Durham Greek Festival returns to St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 8306 NC Hwy 751, Durham, on May 6 and 7, 2023. Enjoy Greek music and folk dance performances, a Greek grocery, church tours, delicious Greek food and much more. Admission is free.
Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival, on May 6th, takes place in Historic Downtown Smithfield. It features a full day of art, music, kids' activities, food and more. A popular feature of the festival is the "What's That Yam Thing?", in which children turn sweet potatoes into works of art.
Central Park School for Children's 18th Annual Strawberry Festival takes place May 6th at Old North Durham Park. The festival features live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, an inflatable obstacle course, strawberry treats and more.
Cary Animal Services and Town of Cary are hosting Cary Dog Daze and Pet Expo on May 6th, at Cary Police Department. Shop for pet-related items, enjoy food from food trucks, and learn about adoptable pets.
Siler City's Spring Chicken Festival, on May 6th, features live music, rides, vendors and more. Traditionally there is a chicken pickin' contest, where the winner is the one who shreds the most meat from a whole roasted bird.
Head to downtown Selma on May 7th for the JoCo Latino Festival, featuring music, dance, a kid zone, food and vendors.
On May 13th, 2023, celebrate the cultures, music, dance of the Latino/Hispanic disaspora at Ritmo Latino Festival. It takes place outside Cary Town Hall. This is a free event.
Artsplosure will bring tons of visual art to Fayetteville Street in Raleigh May 20th and 21st. In addition, there will be live music and kids' activities. This is a free festival, with all art available for purchase.
The First Fruits Farm Memorial Balloon Festival is a Memorial Day Weekend festival in its third year. It takes place June 3 and 4, 2023, at First Fruit Farm, 2323 E River Road, Louisburg. It features a full entertainment schedule as well as hot air balloons.
The 52nd Annual Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival takes place on June 3rd at Rock Quarry Park in Durham. The festival is a celebration of African and African American history, culture, arts and traditions. It includes live music, a family fun zone, arts and crafts, and more.
Raleigh's very popular International Food Festival returns to Fayetteville Street on June 3rd. It will feature food and drink from more than 30 countries and lots of live entertainment. Admission is free. Pay for your food and drink.
The new International Children's Day festival will take place June 3rd at City of Raleigh Museum. Enjoy storytelling, spoken word, puppetry, crafts, dancing and more.
Ever After: Fairytales, Food & Flowers takes place June 3rd at Fred Fletcher Park in Raleigh. Kids can make food and flower crafts in a tea party setting, with fairytale character meet and greet opportunities. There will also be historic hands-on activities, like butter making and flower pressing, a garden-wide scavenger hunt, and plant-shopping with local nurseries.
Nuv Yug Indian Fest takes place June 10th, 2023, at the Jim Graham Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. It's free to attend. It features Bollywood dance, classical dance, classical Iindian music, traditional crafts, authentic food and more.
We don't have information on Juneteenth celebrations, but we will update soon when we do. We expect many Juneteenth celebrations in towns and cities across the Triangle.
You might also be interested in this list of botanical gardens around the Triangle.