Rissi Palmer, Chatham Rabbits, Patrick Dougherty and More to Headline Big Night In This Year

A regional fundraiser will bring big local musicians and artists to the screen for the third year in a row to raise money for the arts.
by Addie Ladner

Three years ago, the Arts Councils of Wake County, Durham County and Chatham County, along with the Orange County Arts Commission, united to raise money for local artists.

It was the height of the pandemic, a time when live concerts and art exhibitions were canceled and working artists struggled. Their efforts took shape as Big Night In, a musical revue and arts show that was broadcast on televisions throughout North Carolina.

The fundraiser was such a success that it’s become an annual tradition, raising more than half a million dollars to support arts and culture through grants to nonprofit cultural organizations, public art and artist-in-residence programs.

This year, Big Night In’s lineup includes country musician Rissi Palmer, husband-and-wife folk duo Chatham Rabbits, sculptor Patrick Dougherty and poet Dasan Ahanu, who was recently named the Piedmont Laureate.

Catch the show live on WRAL or head to the Mayton Inn in downtown Cary for the official Big Night In Watch Party to enjoy the music live and in person, along with food and drinks.

“We are thrilled to be presenting these incredibly accomplished artists from across the Triangle,” says Jennifer McEwen, president and CEO of United Arts. “The donations they bring in make the Triangle the unique and beautiful place in which we all love to work and live.”

March 9 | 7 p.m.Free to watch; broadcast and live-streaming, WRAL-TV; bignightin.org