There’s a lot to celebrate in the Triangle! Plan ahead with this guide to summer festivals. We’re adding more festivals to this list all the time, so keep checking back.
We focus on free and cheap events here on Triangle on the Cheap, and all of these events fall into that category. Make sure to click each link for details like location, time, and any cost.
We highlight a few of the festivals that take place in summer of 2024 in the Triangle, but then keep reading for a much more extensive list.
You can also jump right to the part of the list you’re interested in:
May Festivals
Taste of Soul
Taste of Soul
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2024
Time: 3 to 8 p.m.
Place: Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham, NC
Cost: Free admission (pay for food)
Features: There will be lots of food trucks to choose from, as well as kids’ activities, a DJ, live performances and more.
First Fruits Memorial Balloon Festival
First Fruits Memorial Balloon Festival
Date: May 25 and 26, 2024
Time: 3 to 10 p.m. each day
Place: First Fruits Farm, 2323 E River Road, Louisburg, NC
Cost: $15 per person over 12 years old; $5 for ages 5-12; $15 for parking
Features: Live music, parachute team, midway rides, more.
June Festivals
International Food Festival
Raleigh’s International Food Festival
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Place: City Plaza, 420 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free admission (pay for food)
Features: International music and dance performances, food and drink.
International Children’s Day
International Children’s Day
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Place: City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Fun-filled day of storytelling for the whole family, including puppetry, crafts, art, a children’s book fair, storytime and more.
Raleigh Greek Festival
Raleigh Greek Festival
Date: May 31 to June 2, 2024
Time: 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
Place: NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC
Cost: $5; Free for kids under age 13
Features: Live music and dancing, and food for purchase.
Beaver Queen Pageant
Beaver Queen Pageant
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Place: Duke Park, 106 West Knox Street, Durham, NC
Cost: Free admission
Features: This festival is a special mix of folly, pageantry, humor and competition. Vote for your favorite contestant by donating to the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association.
Juneteenth Celebrations
Juneteenth Celebrations
Date: Various dates
Time: Various times
Place: Various places
Cost: Most are free
Features: Learn about all the Juneteenth celebrations throughout the Triangle. Juneteenth marks the date that the Emancipation Proclamation was finally read to enslaved African-American people in Texas.
Pride Month Celebrations
Pride Month Celebrations
Date: Various dates in June
Time: Various times
Place: Various places
Cost: Most are free
Features: All throughout June, enjoy festivals, parades and more to celebrate Pride Month.
July Festivals
Triangle 4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations
4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations
Date: Various dates
Time: Various times
Place: Various places
Cost: Most are free
Features: Huge list of 4th of July fireworks, parades and celebrations in the Triangle.
Festival Cultural Del Día Del Niño
Festival Cultural Del Día Del Niño
Date: Sunday, July 7, 2024
Time: 3 to 7 p.m.
Place: Raleigh Rose Garden, 301 Pogue Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This Children’s Day Cultural Festival celebrates cultures and traditions through folkloric dances, music, art, crafts, workshops and more.
Summer Fest at State Farmers Market
Summer Fest
Date: Thursday, July 11, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Place: State Farmers Market, 1201 Agriculture Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Celebrate the summer bounty with free tomato slices, free peach samples, free watermelon slices, live cooking demos, kids’ crafts and a selfie booth.
Raleigh’s Summer Festival
Raleigh’s Summer Festival
Date: Saturday, July 13, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Place: City Plaza, 443 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Food truck rodeo, contests, games, prizes, music and dance
August Festivals
Durham Fiesta Latina
Durham Fiesta Latina
Date: Sunday, August 4, 2024
Time: 12 to 4 p.m.
Place: Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Live music and dancing from Latino performers, activities and games, community resources, food.
River Rat Regatta
River Rat Regatta
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024 (rescheduled date)
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Place: The race starts at the Boat Ramp on the Town Commons, at 295 Front Street Smithfield, and ends at the Hwy 70 Bridge.
Cost: Free
Features: Competitors build boats made of cardboard, duct tape and glue, and race them on the Neuse River.
S’Morrisville
S’Morrisville
Date: Saturday, August 10, 2024
Time: 4 to 7 p.m.
Place: Morrisville Community Park, 1520 Morrisville Parkway, Morrisville, NC
Cost: Free
Features: A variety of vendors will be selling their versions of s’mores. The first 800 people get a ticket for a free s’more from one of the vendors. There will also be music, inflatables and activities from the Scrap Exchange.
Kirby Derby
Kirby Derby
Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024
Time: 3 to 9 p.m.
Place: Richardson Drive and Tate Drive, in Dix Park, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Parade, pinebox car competition, costumes, and the soapbox derby race.
CaribMask Caribbean Parade and Festival
CaribMask Caribbean Parade and Festival
Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024
Time: 12 to 8 p.m.
Place: City Plaza, 400 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: The parade starts at the NC State Capitol at noon and proceeds to the festival village at City Plaza, where there will be live entertainment, vendors and more.
Mud Day
Mud Day
Date: Saturday, August 17, 2024
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Place: Walnut Creek Wetland Center, 950 Peterson Street, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: A fun, messy, outdoor day for kids, with a mud kitchen, live animals, fort building, an obstacle course, crafts, water play, food trucks and more.
Cary’s Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival
Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival
Date: August 24 and 25, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Place: Cary Town Hall Campus, 316 N Academy Street, Cary, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Over 300 artists, live music, children’s activities and food and drink vendors.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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