Have fun in the North Carolina summer sun this month with music, baseball and festivals galore — then top it all off with fireworks! 
by Addie Ladner

Thank a Volunteer Gardener

If you’ve ever admired a cluster of flowers or a lovely tree in one of Raleigh’s parks, chances are you have a volunteer gardener to thank — and two long-standing community gardening groups are celebrating anniversaries this year. The Raleigh Garden Club turns 100 this year, and an exhibit at the Raleigh City Museum, Planting Power, will showcase the its contributions, which include planting roses and redwoods at the Raleigh Rose Garden and the maintenance of the courtyards at Fred Fletcher Park. At the COR Museum, expect to find a wall display of the RGC’s history, flower-forward installations (including a photo backdrop with live plants!) and interactive activities like seed-packet decorating for visitors (learn more at raleigh-garden-club.org or visit the exhibit at 220 Fayetteville Street; cityofraleighmuseum.org). The Oakwood Garden Club is honoring its 75th anniversary by revitalizing Vallie Henderson Park, a shaded pocket park across from Oakwood Cemetery that’s named for the founder of the club. “We’re working with the City of Raleigh to add a ton of native plants and hardscaping to open the park up but keep its canopy,” says volunteer Miranda Miller (learn more at historicoakwood.org/garden-club). In addition to admiring all the summer color thanks to these two clubs this month, read on for more July fun both indoors and out.

Learn About the Fascinating World of Blue Whales at NCMNS

Did you know that the heart of a Blue whale is the size of a small vehicle? And that their noises can travel 1,000 miles under the surface of the ocean? Get to know these fascinating creatures — the Earth’s largest animals! — at the interactive Blue Whales exhibition at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. In addition to the exhibit, each month there will be a talk from a renowned scientist to learn more about this remarkable mammal. This month, on July 10, it’ll be Dr. David Johnston from Duke University with Blue Whales: Bigger than Your Imagination (tickets for monthly talks sold separately). Now – Jan. 11, 2026 | Various times; Free for members, from $18 for nonmembers; 11 W. Jones Street; naturalsciences.org

Try Out a Silent Book Club at Oberlin Regional Library

Have a goal to read a little more this summer? Bring a book to the Oberlin Regional Library for one of their Silent Book Club sessions. Unlike a traditional book club, where you choose a book and discuss it, the silent book club does not involve any required reading or official book discussions — just bring whatever you happen to be reading, and commit to being in a comfy, quiet spot to dig in for an hour. The session will start with a few moments of library staff sharing what they’re currently reading to inspire your next pick, and afterwards, there is time for optional mingling and discussion. Be sure to sign up in advance on the website. July 3 | 6:30 – 8 p.m.Free; 1930 Clark Avenue; wake.gov/events

Head to Durham for Festival for the Eno

Celebrate one of our favorite local watering holes at the Festival for the Eno in Durham, a celebration of craft, North Carolina roots music, community, and, of course, the Eno River! Proceeds from the event go toward keeping the river and its open-access spaces clean and available for all to enjoy. Held at West Point on the Eno Park, guests can enjoy entertainment on four different stages, including the Gospel Jubilators, folk group Honey Magpie and the Paperhand Puppet Project. As a new addition this year, look forward to a juried craft show displaying the work of more than 60 makers from the region.
July 4 & 5 | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. From $35; 5101 N. Roxboro Street; enofest.org

Cheer on the Durham Bulls!

It doesn’t get more all-American summer than a steamy baseball game! This month, the Durham Bulls — our movie-famous minor league team — have a bunch of special home games to entice friends or family to the heart of Bull City. On Friday and Saturday, enjoy fireworks after the game. The two Thursday home games (July 10 & 24) have dinner covered, on the cheap, with Dollar Dog Thursdays, where you can score a Sahlen’s Hot Dog for just a buck. On the two Sunday home games (July 13 & 27), kids 12 and under get to run the bases after the game.
All month | Various times; From $13; 409 Blackwell Street, Durham; milb.com/durham

See the City’s Fourth of July Fireworks

After years of hosting its annual fireworks display at Dorothea Dix Park, the City of Raleigh is moving the show to the stadium complex around the Lenovo Center and Carter-Finley Stadium. This year, there won’t be any vendors or festival activities — but Raleighites know what to do when we’re in a parking lot for hours before a big event, don’t we? The gates will open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 9:30 p.m. Visit the City of Raleigh website ahead of time for more information about parking and what you can bring in.
July 4 | 6 – 10:30 p.m. Free; 4600 Trinity Road; raleighnc.gov

Stretch it Out with Yoga in Dix Park

All fitness levels are welcome at this weekly yoga session at Dorothea Dix Park led by instructor Erica LaGarde. Yogis as young as 12 years old are invited to bring their mats and water for an hour-long zen session centered around movement, breath, flexibility and mental clarity. Take advantage of the chance to wind down outside on 4 acres of shaded hillside with views of the city behind you.
Mondays | 6 – 7 p.m. Free; Harvey Hill, 1030 Richardson Drive; dorotheadixpark.org

Take a Guided Hike in Lake Raleigh Woods

Tucked in the back of North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus is one of Raleigh’s best-kept secrets: a patch of woods with trails weaving through dense pines along the banks of Lake Raleigh. Explore these trails during a free monthly hiking series organized by the NC State community. Bring closed-toe shoes and water, and be ready to enjoy some bird-watching in addition to exploring the trails. The hikes are about 1.5 miles long and take around one hour. Don’t want to brave the heat in July for this one? The series takes place on the second Tuesday of every month through the rest of the year.
July 8 | 9 – 10:30 a.m. Free; 2450 Alumni Drive; calendar.ncsu.edu

LOL at Babes at NCMA

At the North Carolina Museum of Art, enjoy a special supper and cinema in the comfort of air conditioning. This month, they’ll be showing the film Babes, a raunchy 2024 comedy about friendship and baby-making featuring Ilana Glazer and Michelle Buteau. Before the movie (as early at 5 p.m.), the NCMA Café will offer fun entrées and cocktails inspired by the movie, and classic theater concessions like popcorn and candy will also be available for purchase. Tickets to the film and reservations for dinner must be made separately.
July 11 | 8 p.m.From $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers; 2110 Blue Ridge Road; ncartmuseum.org

Hear Iron & Wine on the Robin’s Egg Tour

Samuel Ervin Beam, a South Carolina artist known as Iron & Wine, is co-headlining with female folk trio I’m With Her for their Robin’s Egg Tour this July. They’ll be supported by Ken Pomeroy, a Cherokee singer-songwriter originally from Oklahoma. Expect Beam’s feel-good, chill tracks like “Such Great Heights,” “All in Good Time” and “Each Coming Night,” along with I’m With Her’s twangy tracks like “Ain’t That Fine” and “Crossing Muddy Waters” in this evening of thoughtful
melodies.
July 13 | 6:30 p.m.From $60; 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary; boothamphitheatre.com

Enjoy Music and Shopping at the Raleigh Underground Market

Event producers Oak City Music Collective and MAKRS Society have put together a fun daytime market and concert series at Midtown Park. On the second Sunday of the month, enjoy local food trucks, artisans, art installations, music and more at the Raleigh Underground Market. For July, Charlotte native Emanuel Wynter, a songwriter and violinist, will take the stage.
July 13 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Free; 4011 Cardinal at North Hills Street; makrs.com

Hear Spafford with Chill Paxton at Bowstring

At neighborhood beer and pizza spot Bowstring Brewyard, catch two Raleigh-born jam bands in one night. Spafford — a rock band that has performed at festivals all over the country, including Bonnaroo — will headline the evening. Funk-blues fusion quartet Chill Paxton will open. For dinner, consider pairing Bowstring’s New York-style pizza with a Surfside Vodka Lemonade for a quintessential summer evening. July 17 | 7 – 10 p.m. From $25; 1930 Wake Forest Road; raleigh.bowstringbrewyard.com

See Nate Bargatze at the Lenovo Center

One of the most popular stand-up comedians in the country is coming to Raleigh for two special shows. As part of his summer Big Dumb Eyes World Tour (set to coincide with the release of his new book, Big Dumb Eyes: Stories From A Simpler Mind), Nate Bargatze will take the stage at the Lenovo Center to deliver his dry, monotone humor. Bargatze has had three well-received Netflix specials, been nominated for a Grammy and gained a wide audience in recent years thanks to his clean, kind and funny family-friendly bits.
July 17 & 18 | 7 p.m.From $54; 1400 Edwards Mill Road; lenovocenter.com

Shop the Village District Summer Sidewalk Sale

Want a summer refresh for your wardrobe or home? Shop the sidewalk sales of more than 20 retailers at The Village District. From Bailey’s Fine Jewelry to Great Outdoor Provision Co. to If It’s Paper stationery to Kannon’s Women, there will be a variety of vendors offering a range of store markdowns. In between all the shopping, consider stopping into one of the many food or beverage outlets for a refresher — maybe wine from Postino or a wood-fired pizza at Tazza?
July 18 – 20 | Various times; Free; 2068 Clark Avenue; shopvillagedistrict.com

Experience GalaxyCon Raleigh at the Convention Center

A four-day celebration of comic books, sci-fi, fantasy and anime, GalaxyCon is an opportunity to suit up as a favorite character and mingle with other fans at the Raleigh Convention Center.  The three-day event includes panels featuring artists, writers, voice actors and creators from (almost) every fandom in the galaxy. Nearly as fun as the event: walking around downtown to see what the 30,000-plus guests are wearing.
July 24 – 27 | Various times From $45 for a day pass; 500 S. Salisbury Street; galaxycon.com 

See Hadestown: Teen Edition at Raleigh Little Theatre

Experience a captivating retelling of the ancient Greek myth about free spirits and lovers Orpheus and Eurydice, whose relationship is intertwined with the immortals King Hades and Lady Persephone. Hadestown incorporates jazz and folk elements in its score, and the storytelling will offer themes of passion, loyalty and fear in this musical production that caps off the theater’s 2025 Teens on Stage and Teens Backstage summer program.
July 25 – August 10 | Various times From $16; 301 Pogue Street; raleighlittletheatre.org

Jam Out at the Outlaw Music Festival at Coastal Credit Union Music Park

Established in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 2016, the Outlaw Music Festival celebrates rock, blues, country and folk music in America. It has since grown into one of the largest annual touring musical festivals in the world, featuring longtime headliner Willie Nelson and Family plus iconic musicians like Neil Young, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton, Bonnie Raitt and Sturgill Simpson in past years. This summer, the Outlaw Music Festival will again make a stop at Coastal Credit Union Music Park. Joining Nelson will be Bob Dylan, country acts Turnpike Troubadours and Charles Wesley Godwin, and rock artist Willow Avalon for a long, hot afternoon filled with legendary music.
July 27 | 3:45 p.m.From $68; 3801 Rock Quarry Road; coastalcreditunionmusicpark.com 

This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of WALTER magazine.