A Music-Filled July Kicks Off with the Rolling Stones!

For the first time in eight years, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood are back on tour in North America and making a special stop at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh for The Rolling Stones ZIP CODE tour (7/1). The iconic band will treat their generations of fans to a special, one-night-only show with a set packed full of classic Stones hits, plus an opening performance by N.C. band The Avett Brothers. Can't Miss: Fourth of July celebrations in downtown Raleigh. The ‘Works! (7/4) on Fayetteville St. features live music by Army Band, Outside Soul, Matt Phillips, Hammer No More the Fingers and more. Red Hat Amphitheater hosts Barenaked Ladies with special guests Violent Femmes and Colin Hay of Men at Work (7/4) :: All Music Maniac events

Summer Sports Action

Head to Five County Stadium in Zebulon to cheer on the Carolina Mudcats! July's lineup includes games against Winston-Salem (7/1-3 and 7/15-18), Myrtle Beach (7/4-6), Wilmington (7/19-21) and Frederick (7/28-30). Also, catch the newest member of the Coastal Plain League, the Holly Springs Salamanders, when they play High Point-Thomasville (7/2), Florence (7/7), Wilmington (7/10), Petersburg (7/16), Asheboro (7/18), Peninsula (7/23), Wilson (7/25), Morehead City (7/27) or Fayetteville (7/31) at the North Main Athletic Complex. See the schedule and get details here. Can't miss: The Carolina RailHawks when they play Minnesota United FC (7/4), the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (7/8) and the San Antonio Scorpions (7/18). See the schedule and get details here :: All Adrenaline Junkie events

Have an Artful Summer

Celebrate our nation's birthday with Fourth of July concerts across the Raleigh area. Koka Booth Amphitheatre offers free lawn seating for spectacular performances by the Cary Town Band and North Carolina Symphony (7/4) that promise to make guests feel patriotic. You may also enjoy the Independence Day Celebration (7/4) at the North Carolina State Capitol, with a patriotic concert and picnic. Can't miss: Go back in time at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh with two musical performances in July. Enjoy Theatre Raleigh's Hot Summer Nights Series performance of Dreamgirls (7/8-26) and North Carolina Theatre's Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story (7/21-26) :: All Creative Genius events

Fresh Food Fun

Weekly farmers' markets in the Raleigh area offer more than fresh produce; take in live entertainment, grab some local eatables and, at some of the markets, taste local brews. Stroll through The Growers Market of Fuquay-Varina (Wed. and Sat.), Raleigh Downtown Farmers Market (Wed.), Apex Farmers Market (Sat.), Holly Springs Farmers Market (Sat.), Wake Forest Farmers Market (Sat.), Waverly Place Farmers Market (Sat.) in Cary and the Zebulon Farm Fresh Market (Sat.). Can't miss: The Chatham Street Chowdown: Food Tuck Rally (7/26). Choose from 15 food trucks while listening to local musicians and enjoying the beer and wine garden :: All Foodie events 

July Fourth Fun

Celebrate Independence Day the old-fashioned way: with fireworks! Get details on where to see fireworks on July 4 here. Can't miss: Historic Independence Day Open House (7/4) at the Joel Lane Museum House. Enjoy old-fashioned crafts and games, tour the house with costumed docents and view reenactors demonstrating various aspects of colonial life at "The Birthplace of Raleigh." :: All Fourth of July Events

Header photo credit: Brian Rasic