July 2009

With the buzz of summer excitement in the air, Greater Raleigh is ready for the festivities to begin. From Independence Day fireworks to blockbuster museum exhibitions to rocking concerts, plan your summer getaway now and take advantage of Hot Deals and Special Offers at area hotels, restaurants and attractions.

Fourth of July

Greater Raleigh shows its patriotic pride with an endless list of choices for family-friendly events, and best of all, they’re FREE! Independence Day celebration highlights include patriotic picnics, historic reenactments, family concerts and, everyone’s favorite, fireworks at the N.C. State Capitol and the N.C. State Fairgrounds. Take a stroll back in time at the Sertoma Amphitheatre for the Independence Day Ole Time Celebration, or gather the family for a classic night with the N.C. Symphony at Koka Booth Amphitheatre—both part of Cary’s day-long festivities. Want some more excitement? Come watch the AA Baseball’s Carolina Mudcats take on the Tennessee Smokies at Five County Stadium and don’t forget to stay for the fireworks show after the game. Learn More

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Concerts

Make sure your summer rocks by experiencing the hottest concerts and performances in the Carolinas. Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek brings high energy performances from 311 with special guest Ziggy Marley (7/5), Toby Keith with Trace Adkins (7/11), Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynrd (7/24), and Aerosmith with special guest ZZ Top (7/7). Don’t miss a Thursday at North Hills for Midtown Beach Music Series (7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30) at the North Tower, and come to Triangle Town Center for Concerts at the Commons 2009 (7/3, 7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31). Koka Booth Amphitheatre is the home to the N.C. Symphony’s Summerfest Series featuring Play! A Video Game Symphony (7/11) and Russian Masterpieces (7/18). Come on back to Koka Booth Amphitheatre to jam out with John Legend (7/12), Corey Smith (7/17), Robert Cray Band (7/23) and Jason Mraz (7/29). Downtown Raleigh’s Moore Square is the place to be when bands such as Joan Jett and The Blackhearts (7/11) and The Charlie Daniels Band (7/25) hit the stage for the all-day, free music festival Bud Light Downtown Live. The N.C. Museum of Art will continue its outdoor concerts with Sisters of Soul Bettye Lavette and Marcia Ball (7/10), Dan Zanes and Friends (7/18) and “Local Bands Make Good” featuring Annuals and The Old Ceremony (7/25). Seaboard Station will be celebrating summer with Music on the Porch every Friday night with free music and fun. Learn More

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Performing Arts

Beat the heat and come for a performance by one of the area’s nationally known performing arts groups. Don’t miss out on the Broadway hit Jersey Boys (6/24-7/18) at Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts. Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy Theatre presents I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (7/08-7/19) and The Turn of the Screw (7/29-08/9). Join the N.C. Theatre for the American classic Sound of Music (7/25-26, 7/28, 7/31, 8/1-2) at Memorial Auditorium. Come for a cultural exploration with the Burning Coal Theatre Company for MusiCoal (7/12).
Learn more

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Museum Exhibitions

The interactive Marbles Kids Museum will push limits with full-body physical activities and inspire children to lead healthier, more active lives with Power2Play (through August). Send the kids to the IMAX to enjoy a 3D cinematic adventure of Under the Sea and the hit-movie Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Explore the legacy of pirates, from ancient times to the present, through intriguing artifacts, legends and history that bring their ruthless adventures to life with Knights of the Black Flag (through 1/4) at the N.C. Museum of History. The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is offering an in-depth look into everyone’s favorite sweet during the blockbuster exhibition Chocolate (through 9/7), and the N.C. Museum of Art will continue to showcase the Highlights of the American Collection (ongoing). Don’t miss out on Downtown Raleigh’s free First Friday Gallery Walk, offering a relaxed after-hours glimpse at the art galleries and shops. Learn more

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Outdoors

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Culinary Experience

One of Greater Raleigh’s great secrets is the surplus of wonderful restaurants and unique wineries and breweries. Take a break and gather some friends for a wine tasting at one of the area’s wineries, Chatham Hill Winery or Adams Vineyard. Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours hosts A Taste of Downtown Raleigh Gourmet Food Tour (every Wednesday) to uncover terrific gourmet meals from downtown Raleigh restaurants. Stroll through the Moore Square Farmers Market (every Wednesday) and enjoy the scenery or pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables. Downtown Wake Forest will continue its Wake Forest Farmers Market (every Saturday April-November) with unique vendors from offering specialties from the area. Take a free tour of local brewery Carolina Brewing Company (every Saturday). Have you ever wondered how your chocolate bar was made? Join the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences for Chocolate Making: From Bean to Bar (7/15), an in-depth exploration of how chocolate is produced. After learning about the production of chocolate, you can come on back to the museum for Wine and Chocolate Tasting (7/23) and impress your friends with your chocolate knowledge. Learn more