1. With 20,000 people attending last year’s Raleigh International Food Festival, it’s a good thing there’s plenty to eat! More than 30 food and dessert trucks representing countries from across the globe meet beers and bazaars and a free downtown block party. Culture, cuisine, and nonstop performances make for a satisfying summer day out. Saturday, June 1, noon to 10 p.m. City Plaza, Raleigh. downtownraleigh.org/do/raleighs-international-food-festival-1
Photographed by Jonathan Fredin
2. Promising to be more than just a walk/run, and coinciding with National Cancer Survivors Day, the first annual Celebration of Life 5K Walk/Run will transform the E. Joyner Carroll Park into Survivorville — a place where survivors, caregivers, health care providers, and friends and family can gather and celebrate one another. Offering a survivors’ parade and closing awards ceremony, and with Survivorville open throughout, the race will trample cancer while celebrating life. Sunday, June 2, 7:30 a.m. $30 and up. 701 Harris Road, Wake Forest. runsignup.com
3. Come out to the Apex Pride Festival! With live music and entertainment, a kids’ zone filled with inflatables and games, food truck rodeo, and lots of local vendors, this day of diversity and inclusion will paint the town in rainbow colors — so head out and show the LGBTQ+ community some love! Saturday, June 8, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission. Apex Town Hall campus. apexnc.org/1605/Pride-Festival
4. Commemorate the end of slavery in the US at Morrisville’s Juneteenth event. This celebration of the longest-running African American holiday will feature music, games, entertainment, historical presentations, and the unveiling of a new mural at Shiloh Park — and, of course, plenty of food trucks and a fish fry by Morrisville Education & Community Services Enterprise. It doesn’t need to be June 19 to honor Juneteenth! Saturday, June 8, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shiloh Park, Morrisville. morrisvillenc.gov/juneteenth
5. The BrickUniverse is hitting Raleigh. As part of the Build It! Tour, this industry-leading LEGO® fan extravaganza will present celebrated contemporary artists’ miniscule to mammoth creations, all built by hand. At the expo’s 10th anniversary, explore exhibits and meet creators and other fans, enjoy presentations, or get hands on in building zones — it’s all possible in the BrickUniverse. Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 30, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2–5 p.m. $14.99 and up. Raleigh Convention Center. brickuniverseusa.com
6. Find your Fourth of July festivity of choice: Apex – Fireworks Frenzy. Wednesday, July 3, 5–10 p.m. Hunter Street Park. Olde Fashioned Fourth of July. Thursday, July 4, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Downtown Apex. Cary – Independence Day Celebration. Event details TBD. Raleigh – Fireworks Celebration. Thursday, July 4, 5 p.m. Dix Park. Fuquay-Varina – Independence Day Celebration. Monday, July 1, 6–9:30 p.m. South Park. Holly Springs – Annual fireworks show. Friday, July 5, 6–10 p.m. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park.
7. Get creative with chalk! Draw your own work of art at Chalk the Walk, a community event for artists of all ages. Sections of the path at Hunter Street Park will be sectioned off for participants to design and decorate with chalk — and try for a People’s Choice Award, voted on after the event. Whether you have your own chalk handy or grab some there, get your art into the park! Thursday, July 13, 6–7:30 p.m. Hunter Street Park, Apex.
Photographed by Jonathan Fredin
8. Two of the UK’s biggest soccer teams will be taking to the field in our own Kenan Stadium this summer. Clash at Carolina will feature elite clubs Manchester City and Scotland’s FC for a friendly match meetup in the 2024 FC Series, which showcases the top global soccer teams. This will be the third meeting between Manchester City and Celtic, with both teams looking to clinch a first series victory. Soccer fans won’t want to miss seeing these champions on home turf. Tuesday, July 23. Time TBD. Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill.
9. It’s more than a comic convention: It’s a celebration of comic books, pop culture, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, gaming, and cosplay. The galaxy is gathering at GalaxyCon Raleigh, so rub shoulders — costumed or not — with celebrities, artists, writers, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, creators, wrestlers, fan groups, panelists, exhibitors, and fellow fans in this ultimate four-day festival of fandom. Thursday, July 25, 2 p.m. to midnight. Friday, July 26, 10–12:30 a.m. Saturday, July 27, 10–1:30 a.m. Sunday, July 28, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. $40 and up. Raleigh Convention Center. galaxycon.com/pages/galaxycon-raleigh
10. The Amazing Pollinators Exhibit may just change the way you see the life that buzzes around us. Bats, bees, beetles, and butterflies will all become larger than life through survival missions, immersive environments, and classic parlor games with a winged twist at this family-friendly exhibition intended to educate and entertain on the vital role of pollinators in our lives. June 15 to July 31 (closed Mondays). $8 and up. naturalsciences.org
- Introducing Cary Magazine’s 2024 Movers & Shakers
- Notable Teens 2024
- Garden Adventurer: Cuban Oregano 101
- Liquid Assets: Lunch Break: Peanut Butter and Grape Jelly
- Liquid Assets: Where’s My Floatie
- Dampf Good BBQ
- Nonprofit Spotlight: Kids Together Playground
- Small Business Spotlight: Hunky Dory Record Shop
- E-Bike Adventures
- On Trend: Olympic Games, Home Edition
- Things to Do: June / July 2024
