After the thrills and chills of Halloween, settle into a crisp and cozy November with North Carolina’s best folktales, stories, and music. The Cary is hosting our state’s most treasured storytellers at the Old North State Storytelling Festival, followed by an afternoon of folky, heartfelt, musical stories by long-time WRAL anchor Bill Leslie.
Cotton House is wrapping up the spooky season with their Nightmare on Academy Street, including magical live fire dancing and electric violin performances, haunting tales of the old Pasmore House, and food and drinks.
This weekend is also the official ribbon cutting for the new Cary Regional Library! It’s the perfect place to read a story on a quiet, cool afternoon. This is a great weekend for storytelling and stories, so go see all the amazing cultural events Downtown Cary has to offer!
Thursday, October 31
- Halloween Movies at The Cary, 2-10 p.m. Looking for a spooky way to celebrate Halloween? How about a scary movie marathon at The Cary! They’re showing the original Halloween (1978), the modern Halloween (2018) and the Witches of Eastwick.
Friday, November 1
- Nightmare on Academy Street at Cotton House Craft Brewers, 7 p.m.-midnight. Celebrate All Saint’s Eve with wild fire dancing and electric violin performances, haunted tales of the Pasmore House, Cousin’s Maine Lobster food truck, and seasonal craft drinks on the Cotton House deck. Attendance is free.
- Old North State Storytelling Festival at The Cary, 7 p.m. Nationally and regionally beloved storytellers share tales from North Carolina folklore, myths, history, and good old fashioned memories. Donald Davis, Michael Reno Harrell, Donna Washington, and many others will perform multiple times through out the weekend. Don’t miss this incredible event put on by the North Carolina Storytelling Guild.
Saturday, November 2
- Old North State Storytelling Festival at The Cary, 10 a.m – 9 p.m. Nationally and regionally beloved storytellers share tales from North Carolina folklore, myths, history, and good old fashioned memories. Donald Davis, Michael Reno Harrell, Donna Washington, and many others will perform multiple times through out the weekend. Don’t miss this incredible event put on by the North Carolina Storytelling Guild.
Sunday, November 3
- Bill Leslie CD Release and Performance at The Cary, 3 p.m. Come watch North Carolina treasure, WRAL journalist, storyteller and musician Bill Leslie is perform his new album at The Cary. With 14 original songs, Storyteller explores the stories of Leslie’s life, with love songs, lullabies and lessons he’s learned from local history and heroes. Tickets are $7.00 and include a meet-and-greet afterwards.
- Cary Regional Library Ribbon Cutting, 2-5 p.m. At long last, the new library’s doors are officially open! Come watch this historic moment, celebrated by a performance by the Parkside Elementary School Chorus in Downtown Park. Explore the 90,000 books, 32 computers, wi-fi, and new programming for all ages.
Monday, October 4
- Pie and Beer Pairing at Bond Brothers Beer Company, 6:30-8 p.m. Kick your holidays off right with fresh, homemade pie! Pair three pies from local company, Slice Pie Company, with three popular Bond Brothers beers. Tickets: $30 online; $35 day-of.
Tuesday, November 5
- Run Club at Bond Brothers Beer Company – 6:30 p.m. Cheers to your health! Take a run around the beautiful streets of Downtown Cary, then celebrate with craft beer!
This Weekend Only: Famous North Carolina Storytellers
North Carolina has dozens of folktales and myths, especially in the heart of Appalachia. Lore like mermaids in the Cape Fear River, fairies in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and mysterious booms from the Coastal Plain make up the deepest roots of our North Carolina culture. Storytellers like Donald Davis or Bill Leslie have multi-generational roots in this state, with rich stories that capture the soul of what it means to be a North Carolinian.
This weekend, The Cary Theater is hosting both of these incredible storytellers–along with a bushel of others–and it’s the perfect opportunity to see them perform in-person. Grab a warm, seasonal cider, cocoa, or coffee from BREW, and settle in for a weekend of the best stories in the state.