This month around town, enjoy markets of all kinds, Earth Day celebrations, outdoor festivals and Record Store Day!
by Addie Ladner

Cheep Cheep!

Urban chicken keeping has gained popularity in recent years in Raleigh. Chickens are low-maintenance and deliver richly flavored eggs, plus they act as tillers, pest controllers and fertilizers for your yard. But for their owners, that’s only part of the appeal. “Our chickens have such quirky little dispositions! They sit in my lap and will run up when we come out to visit,” says Stacie Kurtz, who keeps five of the birds in her Historic Oakwood garden. If you’re interested in starting your own backyard flock, there are several places that can help. Our local Tractor Supply (1201 Mammoth Drive, Knightdale; tractorsupply.com) hosts Chick Days each spring during hatching season, where, in addition to chicks themselves, you can get all the supplies you need, from the feed to the coop. Raleigh-based farm Barrett Hatchery specializes in selling rare high-laying chickens, such as the Polish, as well as popular breeds like the Silkie, a petite bird known for its charming temperament. Slightly further afield, Dragonfly Farm (407 Overton Road, Franklinton; dragonflyfarmnc.com) offers a variety of breeds known for laying eggs in gorgeous hues, including the Whiting True Blue, whose eggs are a dusty blue; the Ameraucana, which lays slightly green eggs; and the Black Copper Marans, whose eggs are a deep espresso color. For more information about chicken keeping, check out the North Carolina State University Extension Service. Enough chicken talk, there’s also Earth Day events galore, outdoor festivals, markets and tons of other things in store during spring’s peak.

See Come From Away at Theatre Raleigh

Opening Theatre Raleigh’s Main Stage season, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Come From Away follows the true story of about 7,000 airline passengers who were stranded in the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, after the events of 9/11. The surprisingly nuanced, lighthearted production shows how unexpected circumstances can change the course of one’s life and emphasizes the importance of kindness and community, no matter where you come from.
April 1 – 19 | various times; from $42; 6638 Old Wake Forest Road; theatreraleigh.com

Watch the North Carolina Courage Take on the Portland Thorns

It’ll be a match between East and West at this home game for the North Carolina Courage. In honor of Earth Month, the theme for the evening is Go Green. Expect activities and vendors that celebrate Mother Nature, and learn how the team and First Horizon Stadium practice sustainability throughout the season. The first 1,000 fans to show up to this match score a reusable North Carolina Courage tote bag.
April 4 | 6:30 p.m.; from $20; 101 Soccer Park Drive, Cary; nccourage.com

Catch Chatham County Line at The Rialto

Bluegrass band Chatham County Line, which includes lead singer and guitarist Dave Wilson, fiddler John Teer and bassist and pedal steel player Greg Readling, is playing its Annual Spring Hometown Show this month at The Rialto. Expect a range of songs from their long-standing musical career, from Raleigh favorite “The Carolinian,” which was released back in 2008, to more recent hits like “Right On Time.”
April 10 | 7 p.m.; from $30; 1620 Glenwood Avenue; therialto.com

Shop Spring Produce at Area Farmers Markets

Dive into the bounties of spring by exploring a seasonal farmers market. On the second and fourth Sunday of every month, the Black Farmers Market (April 11, 12 and 26, plus Saturdays throughout the season | Various times | Multiple locations | Black Farmers Market: 1 – 4 p.m.; 1436 Rock Quarry Road; blackfarmersmkt.org) comes to the Southeast Raleigh YMCA, bringing a mix of locally grown produce, baked goods and wellness products. The Midtown Farmers Market in North Hills’ The Commons (Midtown Farmers Market: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.; 4191 Main at North Hills; midtownfarmers.com) kicks off on April 11 and will run every Saturday through the end of October. Charming downtown Cary’s Farmers Market (Cary Farmers Market: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.; 327 S. Academy Street; caryfarmersmarket.com) also starts its regular season this month on Saturdays and is conveniently located near the recently renovated Downtown Cary Park, in case the kids need to blow off some steam.

Shop the Spring Vintage Spectacular

Handmade and vintage collective TrunkShow is hosting its annual shopping festival in the shop’s parking lot. Browse all sorts of finds from vendors, from home furnishings and decor items to jewelry and art, and see if you unearth any treasures. In addition to shopping, you can taste local baked goods, get a tarot reading, enjoy adult beverages or even adopt a pet.
April 12 | 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; free; 1526 Wake Forest Road; trunkshowraleigh.com

Browse the Forest Park Art Show

Thirteen local makers will showcase their work at the Forest Park Art Show, which features varied work including photography, pottery, painting and jewelry. Held in the historic Brown House Gallery on Hillsborough Street, the event is designed to be welcoming and accessible for art lovers, collectors, families and curious passersby alike.
April 12 | 2 – 5 p.m.; free; 1310 Hillsborough Street; forestparkartshow.com

Support Oak City Cares at the Gift of Home Celebration

Enjoy a dinner in community for a good cause with Oak City Cares, a public-private partnership dedicated to supporting those experiencing homelessness in Raleigh. The organization is aiming to raise $225,000 at this year’s Gift of Home Celebration to go toward efforts to provide healthcare, food assistance, legal aid and other services to those in need. Attendees will also have access to a live auction and raffles.
April 16 | 6 p.m.; $100; 510 W. Martin Street; oakcitycares.org

See Community Leaders Perform at Wake on Stage

The United Arts Council of Wake County is putting on a unique fundraiser in support of the organization’s Artists in Schools program, which places professional artists in schools across the county to lead workshops and performances. At Wake on Stage, community leaders and businesspeople will present their hidden talents on stage for an uplifting and entertaining evening. On the docket so far: Raleigh City Council member Christina Jones performing a monologue, former Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson presenting “The World’s Greatest Magic Trick” and former WRAL anchor Valonda Calloway dancing an original piece. In addition to the performances, enjoy a live auction, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
April 17 | 6 p.m.; $100; 123 E. Vance Street, Fuquay-Varina; unitedarts.org

Celebrate at ’Cuegrass Festival

Enjoy this barbecue- and bluegrass-centered festival, hosted by hospitality group Empire Eats, which benefits children’s causes in the local community. Anchored at the intersection of Hargett and Fayetteville Streets, the festival boasts live music, a variety of smoked meat dishes, a silent auction, kids’ zone, mini market and all-around good vibes. In the evening, head to The Raleigh Times for the official afterparty until 10 p.m.
April 18 | 12 – 6 p.m.; free; Downtown Raleigh; cuegrass.com

Celebrate Record Store Day at The Pour House

Independent music shop and venue The Pour House will be celebrating Record Store Day — a national holiday that originated in Raleigh — with an early opening, coffee and donuts, exclusive EP releases, a raffle and more. Get there early to secure your spot: the records are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and a line usually forms before opening time.
April 18 | 8 a.m.; free; 224 S. Blount Street; pourhouseraleigh.com

Learn Wildlife Habitat Gardening with Helen Yoest

Gardener and writer Helen Yoest is hosting an educational program where participants can learn how to attract wildlife like birds, bees and butterflies to their own yards or community gardens. The session will take place at Yoest’s Bee Better Teaching Garden, a space within her own property that has won the City of Raleigh Sustainable Award for its use of native plants. Yoest will be passing out handouts with more information, and her latest book, Cultivating Native Plants for Pollinators: A Comprehensive Guide to Attract Birds, Bees, and Butterflies, will be available for purchase or signing, as well.
April 18 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; $25; 3412 Yelverton Circle; beebetternaturally.com

See St. Paul and the Broken Bones at The Ritz

Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, this eight-member soul and jazz ensemble is making a stop at The Ritz on its 2026 tour across the country promoting the album St. Paul and the Broken Bones — Live at Southern Grooves. Known for rollicking live shows, the band has toured with the likes of Lizzo and the Rolling Stones.
April 19 | 7 p.m.; $43; 2820 Industrial Drive; ritzraleigh.com

Celebrate Earth Day Around Raleigh

There are multiple ways to honor Mother Earth this month. Raleigh Brewing is hosting Sound Rivers, a nonprofit that protects the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River watersheds, for a fun festival on April 22. (Free; 6 – 9 p.m.; 3709 Neil Street; raleighbrewing.com) On April 24, North Carolina State University is hosting a Lake Raleigh Clean Up; meet at the fishing pier in closed-toe shoes to collect litter from the trails and improve the health of this 9-acre forest surrounding a 75-acre reservoir.(10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; 2300 Main Campus Drive; calendar.ncsu.edu) On April 26, Dorothea Dix Park is hosting a lively Earth Day Festival that will include the City of Raleigh’s annual Trashion Show, featuring outfits made with recycled materials, as well as awards to recognize sustainability efforts. (5 – 10 p.m.; 1030 Richardson Drive; dixpark.org) During the day, shop green-themed vendors, then finish the festival with an outdoor movie.

Savor the Flavor at a Benefit Dinner

Leadership Raleigh and Ripe for Revival are teaming up for Savor the Flavor, an immersive culinary and community experience. The dinner will bring together area chefs, live music and passionate community members for an evening that celebrates good food and raises money to address food insecurity in the region. Jason Smith of Cantina 18, Jake Wood of Lawrence BBQ, Sera Cuni of Root Cellar in Chapel Hill and Katie Featherstone of White Clover Catering in Durham are among some of the chefs participating. All proceeds benefit Ripe for Revival’s Mobile Market program, which brings fresh, affordable food to communities across Wake County as well as eastern North Carolina.
April 23 | 6 – 9 p.m.; from $135; 622 Maywood Avenue; ripeforrevival.com

Run the Socks & Undie 5K Rundie

Nonprofit Note in the Pocket is on a mission to provide essential clothing items to 12,000 children in Wake County this year. Help them out by participating in this fun community race: register as a timed or untimed participant in person, a virtual participant or as a team of friends or co-workers. Your child can even wear their favorite pair of pajamas to join in the kids’ fun run. The 5K course starts and ends at Note in the Pocket’s Volunteer & Donation Center and weaves up and down Hargrove and Green Roads and their connecting streets. While some folks do opt to run in socks and undies, most wear their regular workout gear.
April 25 | 9 a.m.; from $15; 4730 Hargrove Road ;noteinthepocket.org

Attend the Roots for Reece Chef’s Picnic

Bring the family to this picnic in Clayton benefiting the NC Harm Reduction Coalition. Enjoy small plates prepared by more than two dozen five-star chefs, including Longleaf Swine BBQ’s David Mitchell, Cuya Cocina’s Kevin Ruiz, Mala Pata’s Zack Gragg and Locals Seafood’s Eric Montagne. Set on the pastoral property of the Landon Estate, the event also features kids’ activities, great views and live music.
April 26 | 12 – 5 p.m.; $109; 2035 Indian Camp Road, Clayton; undertheoakcatering.com

Watch Sandlot Revival at Durham Athletic Park

Live out your Sandlot or Bull Durham dreams at Historic Durham Athletic Park for this fun baseball event. For the third year in a row, recreational adult baseball teams from all over the country will gather to play in the original Durham Bulls venue in an event organized by the Carolina Sandlot Collective. In addition to area teams like the Raleigh Reapers and Durham Dirtbags, expect the People’s Baseball League of New Orleans and the New York Groove. Lawrence Barbecue will be on-site, too.
April 27 – 29 | Various times; free; 500 W. Corporation Street, Durham; carolinasandlotcollective.com

Experience the Art of Aperitivo with WALTER

Join WALTER at the historic Merrimon-Wynne House for an immersive Italian evening in celebration of VIETRI founder Susan Gravely’s latest book, Italy in a Glass. Over wine from Westgate Wine, bites from HL Catering and cocktails from Boatman Spirits Co., the evening will explore the distinctly Italian ritual of aperitivo — a time to gather, unwind and reconnect.
April 29 | 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.; $85; 500 N. Blount Street; waltermagazine.com

This article originally appeared in the April, 2026 issue of WALTER magazine.