With Spring comes lots of great outdoor events around Raleigh, N.C.! And those not only include signature events in downtown Raleigh like Brewgaloo in April and Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival in May, but also fun springtime festivals in Raleigh's surrounding towns. Apex, CaryHolly Springs, Morrisville, Wake Forest, Wendell and other Raleigh area towns offer up opportunities to get outside and take in some of the best of the towns—a good number of the events are great opps to try local beers and food trucks, hear some of the best live music around and shop for local art, crafts and eatables. Plan ahead to hit these festivals and events this spring 2019!
 

ProTown BMX 2019

Sat., March 30, in downtown Wendell
Watch pro BMXers catch air in Wendell on the town's Main St. If you're looking for a high-energy, fast-paced day out, you'll find it here. Bike enthusiasts can catch pros showcasing their talents with high-altitude tricks during two shows (11am and 2pm), plus meet them to get autographs and participate in bike clinics.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Beer & Bacon Fest

Sat., April 6, in Cary at Koka Booth Amphitheatre
What's not to like? Two of our favorite things in one festival at the beautiful Koka Booth Amphitheatre make for a perfect way to spend a day in Cary. And this year the event only gets better as it's the Mac & Cheese Edition, featuring a Mac & Cheese Pavilion with 16 different types of mac and cheese! On the drinks side, grab your souvenir glass and get to tasting with a selection of 75+ craft beers and wines, and make a dent in the two tons of griddled-on-site gourmet bacon from 12 vendors across the country. The Main Stage will host live music all day, plus fun foodie exhibits like a new bacon art display will be on-site to add to the festivities.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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4th Annual Mid-Town Square Spring Festival

Sat., April 13, in downtown Cary
In its fourth year, this festival is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Held at Bond Brothers Beer Company, which was voted the country's "Best New Brewery" in the 2017 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, the festival features food trucks (CockADoodleMoo, The Humble Pig, Chirba Chirba Dumplings, FRESH. Local Ice Cream and more), local artists, live music (featuring touring artists and headliner Tall Tall Trees) and, of course, Bond Brothers' delicious beer. There's even a dedicated kids' zone from noon-4pm, complete with a bounce house, rock wall and face-painting station.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Great Grapes! Wine and Food Festival

Sat., April 13, in Cary at Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Hundreds of wines from more than 22 N.C. wineries will be on hand at one of the region's biggest wine festivals, where you can taste and sample the rich heritage of N.C. vines. And it wouldn't be complete without live music, food and arts and crafts to shop. Tip: Take lawn chairs and blankets to relax, with a view of both the music stage and the venue's gorgeous Symphony Lake. Also, admission is free for kids 12 and under!
 

HerbFest

Fri.-Sun., April 19-21, and Fri.-Sun., April 26-28, in downtown Wake Forest
Those who love to cook will love Herbfest! Stroll through Wake Forest's charming White St. and shop organic, non-GMO herbs and vegetables, plus heirloom tomatoes and peppers and beautiful perennials specific to the area.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Children’s Day Festival of Cary

Sat., April 20, in Cary at Sertoma Amphitheatre
A festival just for the kids is on the horizon in Cary! The Children’s Day Festival of Cary focuses on the importance of the next generation by helping them develop an appreciation for different cultures. This festival features performances by more than 200 children representing various cultures, face painting, an international tasting zone, food trucks, crafts zone and more!
 

Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival

Sat., April 27, in Cary at Fred G. Bond Metro Park
Celebrating its 26th year, Spring Daze features more than 170 N.C. artists, entertainment on four stages with music, storytelling, a food festival and Cary's annual Earth Day Celebration under the shady canopy of Bond Park. Bring the kids! This family-friendly event also offers fun, interactive activities and entertainment for the little ones.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Cary Music & Arts Festival

Sun., April 28, in Cary at Koka Booth Amphitheatre
This free concert and festival showcases the talents of band, chorus and visual arts students from Cary high schools. Expect jazz bands, symphonic bands and more! Relaxation and music with friends and family on the Koka Booth lawn make for a great spring day. Tip: Bring a picnic and the whole family!
 

39th Annual Apex PeakFest

Sat., May 4, in downtown Apex
Salem St. in historic downtown Apex comes alive during this time-honored arts and crafts festival. What started as a small community day in a school parking lot has grown into a 22,000-attendee event, featuring live music all day, artists, entertainment for kids, fair-themed food and more.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Fest in the West

Sat., May 4, in Cary at the USA Baseball National Training Complex
Celebrate Cary's rural past at Western Cary's big festival! Enter a contest, try some local craft beer and have lunch from some of the best food trucks in the area. The Beer Garden will include local breweries Bond Brother Beer Company, Fortnight Brewing Company and Jordan Lake Brewing Company, plus Naughty Penguin Hard Cider. Watch artists demonstrate their crafts and take some art home for yourself. Also, kids can have a blast at the KidZone with bunnies and llamas at the Petting Zoo. Lots of fun for the whole family!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Meet in the Street Festival

Sat., May 4, in downtown Wake Forest; pictured in header
The 39th Annual Meet in the Street Festival is a full day of art, food and music. Hundreds of booths featuring handcrafted arts and crafts highlight the family-friendly festival, along with multiple entertainment venues and a beer garden. Tip: You can't miss White Street Brewing Company when you're downtown—stop in to try their Scottish Ale (Gold Medal winner at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival) or the Emmalynn Belgian-style blonde ale (2017 U.S. Beer Open Championship Silver Medal winner).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Spring Into the Arts Walk 2019

Sat., May 11, in downtown Wendell
Wendell celebrates the arts with this outdoor gala. Join the fun and spend the day meeting artists from 9am-4pm, including a sidewalk chalk artist working from noon-3pm. Take part in the Arts & Crafts Fair from 9am-2pm and take some art and handmade items home for yourself or friends and family!
 

Longleaf Festival

Sat., May 18, in Holly Springs at Harris Lake County Park
Come out and celebrate the 10th annual LongLeaf Festival and the 20th anniversary of Harris Lake County Park! Outdoor enthusiasts will love this free festival celebrating the longleaf pine ecosystem. Get a ticket to ride the Longleaf Express through a beautiful, 60-acre longleaf forest. For kids (and adults!), live birds of prey, reptiles and amphibians, plus games and crafts are on the schedule.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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SpringFest

Sat., May 18, in Morrisville on Town Hall Dr.
SpringFest turns Morrisville's Town Hall Dr. into a carnival for the whole family! The event includes entertainment, midway games, rides, live music and local-favorite food trucks. Admission is free, but have some money on hand for food trucks and games (game tickets run at $20 for 25 or $1 per game ticket—they'll be available for purchase at the event).