All Month
MOVIES IN THE GARDEN

Gaze on all the stars in July at the Louise “Scottie” Stephenson Amphitheatre. Raleigh Little Theatre’s Movies in the Garden ‘19 presents Mary Poppins Returns July 11; Bohemian Rhapsody July 18 and Beetlejuice July 25. This family-friendly flick-fest is free. Come early and enjoy food truck fare and on-site concessions, including adult beverages from Raleigh Brewing. Outside food and beverages are prohibited; all you need are a blanket and your favorite movie-watching companions.
8:30 p.m.; free admission; 301 Pogue St.; raleighlittletheatre.org.

July 4-6 • FESTIVAL FOR THE ENO

Shall we gather at the river? This July marks the 40th anniversary of the Festival for the Eno held at the West Point on the Eno City Park in Durham. Part music festival, part craft festival, The New York Times best describes it: “like a giant backyard barbecue for the creative class: it’s homey and raucous, full of music, dancing, crafts and sweaty kids slurping giant glasses of lemonade.” The two-day event will feature over 80 performers on five stages (see website for the full line-up); over 80 artisans and a fleet of food and beverage trucks. And, for the ultimate feel-good: the festival benefits the Eno River Association, which works to protect the natural resources of the river (the beautiful, beautiful river).
See website for dates and times; $11 – $35; West Point on the Eno City Park, Durham; enofest.org.

July 10-21 • I AM MY OWN WIFE

Theatre Raleigh presents I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright July 10-21 at the Kennedy Theatre in the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and 2004 Tony Award, the one-man play is based on the life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, an openly gay German transgender woman who lived through Nazi oppression and the communist East German regime.

See website for show dates and times; from $30; 2 E. South Street; theatreraleigh.com.

July 11 • TAI CHI

Get in touch with your yin and yang at Tai Chi in the Garden at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design July 11. Imari Colón, instructor and owner of East Cloud Kung Fu, will lead a class in the ancient Chinese martial art in the tranquil Pollinator Garden.

6 p.m.; free; 1903 Hillsborough St.; gregg.arts.ncsu.edu.

July 12 • SUNSET PADDLE

Take a break from the hot summer sun with a sunset paddle on Falls Lake in Durham County July 12. Guides from Frog Hollow Outdoors will lead a group out to a prime sunset-viewing location on the lake, then paddle back after dark. Get wet behind the ears and experience a whole different kind of nightlife.
7:30 p.m.; $30; Falls Lake, Durham; froghollowoutdoors.com.

July 13 • ANDREW BIRD & TIFT MERRITT

Birdwatching in the park just got more interesting. Singer-songwriter, violinist and whistler Andrew Bird performs at the Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park July 13. He is joined by Raleigh’s own Tift Merritt, who frequently collaborates with the indie rock darling, for a relaxed evening of melodic birdsong.
8 p.m.; from $30; 2110 Blue Ridge Road; ncartmuseum.org.

July 15-18 • N.C. GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL

The 24th annual North Carolina Gay + Lesbian Film Festival (NCGLFF) returns to the Carolina Theatre August 15-18. The second largest film festival in the Southeast of its kind, the NC-GLFF presents films about gay, lesbian and transgender life and brings the community together to celebrate one love.
See website for festival schedule and tickets; 309 W. Morgan St., Durham; carolinatheatre.org.

July 18 • BEAUVAIS LYONS

Fantastical beasts and where to find them: the Gregg Museum of Art & Design exhibit Fantastic Fauna-Chimeric Creatures by Beauvais Lyons opens July 18. Dr. Lyons is the director of the Hokes Archives and an art professor at the University of Tennessee. He is also a creative zoologist, as is reflected in his realistic, but fictitious scientific illustrations of animals including the Giraffe Boa (above), the Monkey Centaur and the Nordic Hare Falcon. See the evidence of these rarely-seen creatures at the opening reception in the Thomas E. Cabaniss Historic Residence gallery at 6 p.m. July 18.
See website for museum hours; 1903 Hillsborough St.; gregg.arts.ncsu.edu.

July 24-27 • MERGE MUSIC FESTIVAL

30 for 30: Merge Records celebrates its 30th anniversary with a music festival featuring over 30 bands past and present that have made the Durham record company a pioneer in the independent music scene. MRG30 takes place July 24-27 in multiple venues including the Carolina Theatre, Motorco Music Hall in Durham and the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro. The festival kicks off with a special performance by Hiss Golden Messenger, H.C. McEntire and the Mountain Goats at the Carolina Theatre in Durham. Festival passes have already sold out, but single-day tickets are still available for some shows. Rock on.
See website for festival schedule and tickets; mergerecords.com.

July 25 • ADULT SUMMER CAMP

Hello muddah hello fadduh, here you are at… AfterHours: Adult Summer Camp at the Museum of Life + Science in Durham. This 21+ event unleashes the kid inside. Make crafts, play with a bow and arrow, climb a wall, hide in a treehouse, flit in the Butterfly House and ride the train. Fuel the fun with adult beverages and camp-inspired fare. Mmm, s’mores!
6:30 – 10 p.m.; from $20; 433 W. Murray Ave., Durham; lifeandscience.org.

July 26 • FRIDAY FAMILY FLICK & CAMPING

Make a little summer magic happen for the family on July 26 at Lake Benson Park in Garner when Garner Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources present Friday Family Flicks & Camping: Mary Poppins Returns. Enjoy the new classic film outdoors; bring a picnic or purchase concessions on site. And, for the adventurous, pitch a tent and camp out for the night for a small per-family fee. Registration is needed only for those who wish to camp. Supercallifragilisticexpialidocious!
8:30 p.m. – 8 a.m. the following day; $12 (camping registration); 921 Buffaloe Road, Garner; facebook.com.

July 27 • KIRBY DERBY

The fast and the not at all furious come together for Kirby Derby July 27 at Harvey Hill in Dorothea Dix Park. This wacky, family-friendly event is a good, old-fashioned pinebox and soapbox derby that was started by neighbors in the Pullen Park Terrace neighborhood in 2002. The kids’ pinecar derby is at 3 p.m., followed by the infamous Kirby Derby Day Parade at 5 p.m. The day concludes with the soapbox derby at 6 p.m. Dress to impress, enter the competition or just cheer on your friends. Derby dos: Registration is required to participate and there are strict rules for qualifying cars. Gentlepeople, start your creative engines.
See website for derby schedule, registration, rules and regulations; kdd.gamil.com.