Seasonal Activities and Events in Chapel Hill and Orange County

Spring in Chapel Hill is prime time to enjoy all the outdoor family-friendly happenings in the area. April through October, La Dolce Vita hosts their popular mid-week event, Wine Down Wednesday. The kid (and dog) friendly social gathering features live music on the patio, wine specials, small plates, sorbetto, and gelato.

Another family favorite Orange County event that kicks off in April is Fridays on the Front Porch at The Carolina Inn. Food trucks, live music, craft cocktails, and North Carolina beers can all be enjoyed against the dreamy backdrop the antebellum hotel’s wide porch and meticulously manicured grounds provide.

Chapel Hill and Orange County Events in the Summer

As temperatures rise and students head home for summer it’s a great time to see bold new works of public art on display sans the crowds. One inaugural Orange County event happening in 2023 is Uproar Festival of Public Art, hosted by the Orange County Arts Commission (OCAC). For twenty nine days from July through August, this event will showcase 60 large-scale bold works of art throughout public spaces and venues in downtown Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough.

Paperhand Puppet Intervention also returns in August with their 23^rd annual giant puppet pageant. Spectacular papier-mâché characters and life-sized puppets convey heartfelt stories of the human experience, incorporating myths and legends from around the world.

Fall Events in Chapel Hill and Orange County

Orange County events transition to festival season in the fall. Chapel Hill’s Festifall Arts Markets and More is in full swing Saturdays in October, featuring dozens of local artisans, performances, interactive arts experiences, and vendors. Or check out the Carrboro Music Festival (October); in recent years they’ve shifted their focus to performers from the Triangle-area, highlighting the varied musical styles they represent. In November there’s the Carrboro Film Fest, a multi-day event that brings Southern filmmakers and audiences together to celebrate independent cinema.

Chapel Hill and Orange County Events

As winter sets in, Orange County events evoke the season’s spirit in historic Downtown Hillsborough. Businesses participating in Hillsborough Hometown Holidays have gingerbread house scenes displayed in their windows for all to see. It’s also a festive time of year to return to The Carolina Inn. The opulently bedecked hotel hosts a variety of holiday programming from Santa visits to Christmas cocktails throughout the month. (A range of additional activities are also currently being planned for 2023-24 to celebrate the hotel’s 100^th anniversary.)

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