LAZY DAZE. Since 1977, Cary’s Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival has welcomed guests to downtown Cary for two days filled with art, entertainment, food and more. This year’s juried craft show takes place August 26–27, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and celebrates the “lazy daze” of summer, bringing together nearly 300 artists from 16 states across the U.S. The event features a beer garden, numerous interactive art activities, a kid’s world area and demonstrations from professional artists.
ON TARGET. The Shoot Like A Girl mobile range comes to Bass Pro Shops in Cary for a shooting-sports event on Saturday, August 26, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. The free, interactive event introduces women to shooting sports with a state-of-the-art mobile range, certified female instructors and quality gear. No experience is necessary to participate in this free event, and all equipment is provided to guests upon arrival. Inside the range, attendees who are 18 years of age or older will be able to handle and shoot a handgun and long gun with guidance from instructors.
NEW IN TOWN. Home for Entertaining, the new sister company of Southern Studio Interior Design, will open its doors for select shop hours on Thursday, August 24. Located at 119 West Park Street in Cary, the retail market will feature unique, heirloom serving pieces and tabletop goods for Western Wake shoppers. Home for Entertaining will also host workshops and events, including oyster shucking on Thursday, August 24 with Locals Seafood and crêpe making with The Crêpe Cakerie on Thursday, August 31.
SWEET TREAT. Andy’s Frozen Custard is serving a cannoli thunder concrete in partnership with NASCAR Xfinity driver Anthony Alfredo. The treat features Andy’s creamy, vanilla frozen custard blended with Italian cannoli shell, swirled with sweet cream filling and frozen chocolate chips, and topped with a dusting of pistachio flavor. The concrete is available through Saturday, September 30.
FREE PET ADOPTIONS. On Saturday, August 26, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Wake County Animal Center will eliminate all pet adoption fees as part of its annal Clear the Shelter event, which staff always hope will leave their building empty at the end of the day. Meet 72 dogs, 13 cats, 13 kittens, 3 rabbits and 1 bird waiting for a family to welcome them into their hearts and homes. View the gallery of animals here.
PLANS IN THE WORKS. Real estate firm Hines, one of the developers behind Fenton in Cary, has submitted a rezoning application and preliminary development plan for a major makeover for Cary’s Waverly Place, according to the Triangle Business Journal. The redevelopment would involve 6.5 acres that includes the CMX CineBistro and the two parking lots on either side of it. The preliminary plans show there would be buildings between four and seven stories that would have multifamily units, retail space and office space, a parking deck and 15,000 square feet of community gathering areas. Hines purchased the shopping center in 2022 for $88 million.
Plans to expand the capacity of the Raleigh Convention Center are moving forward after the Wake County Board of Commissioners voted to allocate $387.5 million to the convention center’s expansion and Red Hat Amphitheater relocation. The project will add 30 breakout rooms and 500,000 square feet of meeting space. The changes will double the center’s capacity to 20,000 people. The amphitheater will move one block to the south.
PACK IT UP! North Carolina State University’s Packapalooza block party and street festival caps off Wolfpack Welcome Week this Saturday, August 26, 2–10 p.m. NCSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and members of the local community pack Hillsborough Street for a day filled with music, entertainment, family-friendly activities, food and everything that embodies the Wolfpack spirit. The day will close with a performance by musical headliner David Cook—winner of season seven of “American Idol”—as well as a grand finale of fireworks and a laser light show.
SECOND-HAND SHOPPING. The N.C. Vintage Bazaar takes place at Raleigh Convention Center on Saturday, August 26, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. More than 130 vintage clothes vendors from across the country will be selling their best secondhand finds. Tickets are available online and run between $5–$20. Kids 12-and-under are free with parents.
DINING NEWS. Thursday night dinners return to the Nasher Cafe at Duke University on Thursday, August 24, 6–9 p.m. The same day, the Nasher Museum hosts the art exhibit, “Lyle Aston Harris: Our First and Last Love,” 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The 125–seat indoor/outdoor cafe overlooks the garden to provide a serene ambience. Reservations are available online.
HIGH MARKS. The website Livability ranks Cary No. 2 among best places to live in the Southeast U.S. thanks to top entertainment, job opportunities and low crime. The website studied more than 2,000 communities with a population between 75,000 and 500,000. The scores were based on environment, transportation, health, amenities, safety, education, economy, housing and cost of living.
Bailey’s Fine Jewelry has been named one of America’s Coolest Jewelry Stores by INSTORE magazine. The jeweler took third place for its Fenton location in Cary. Close to 100 stores were judged for exterior and interior appearance, store biography, marketing, web presence and overall individuality.
SAMPLES AND SWAG. Playa Bowls will give away free bowls and swag to the first 50 guests at its new Durham location (744B Ninth Street) on Saturday, August 26 at 10:30 a.m. The Durham shop serves superfruit bowl menu items including pitaya, coconut bowls and smoothies.
JITTERBUG KIDS. Express & Release Therapeutic Dance, a therapeutic dance company in Durham, will host a virtual therapeutic dance workshop for kids on Saturday, August 26, 3–4 p.m. The Zoom session is designed for kids who feel anxiety or excitement about the school year. Kids will have a chance to stomp, jump, laugh and release the emotions of returning to school.
FOR A CAUSE. ZTC Casino Night – Doubling Down on Childhood Cancer takes place at the Governors Club in Chapel Hill on Saturday, September 16 at 5 p.m. Zach’s Toy Chest welcomes guests for an evening of casino games and fundraising to support childhood cancer families across North Carolina. The event includes live and silent auctions. Table purchases and individual tickets are available online
HELPING HANDS. Unbridled Way Forward (4206 Bahama Road, Rougemont) will host a Herd Meditation at the farm on Sunday, September 10, 2–3:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to relax and spend some quiet time with the horses. The farm works with individuals, teams or groups, providing mental health and well-being services, organizational wellness and personal discovery and learning. Tickets are available online.
WORKOUT WARRIORS. The Streets at Southpoint will host a free workout class hosted by Move With Us and 360 Approach on Sunday, August 27, 10–11 a.m. The event takes place on the lawn in front of the AMC Theatre. Guests are encouraged to bring a mat and water.
PUMPKIN PATCH EXPRESS. Celebrate fall with a trip to the Museum of Life and Science’s pumpkin patch. Pick the perfect pumpkin to decorate and enjoy a variety of activities inspired by autumn. Then, climb aboard the train for a ride back to the station on the Ellerbe Creek Railway. Tickets cost $15 and go on sale August 28 for supporting members, August 29 for Explorer members and September 3 for the general public.
FLAMINGOS ON THE GO. The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro will say goodbye to 15 famous residents on Saturday, August 26. A flock of Chilean flamingos is set for transfer to the Greenville Zoo in South Carolina next month, following the closure of the aviary last year. The North Carolina Zoo will host a “Farewell Flamingos” event in the flamingo habitat that day from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Pink snacks will be served.
