There is plenty to look forward to in downtown as we approach closer to springtime! Live performances, games, shopping, shows, the return of both the Night Market and Movie Nights in the park, and more. Plus the massive Pimento Cheese Festival! Browse below to make note of everything you want to participate in, all in one convenient place.
Spring BreakOUT!
April 2 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Set sail for a unique adventure at our Pirate-Themed Spring BreakOUT, where the Park transforms into a lively port full of treasure, music, and mischief. Young buccaneers can search for hidden loot in a park-wide treasure hunt, create pirate crafts at the Art Cart, and even discover their very own pirate name. Meet Captain Blackbeard and his crew at an interactive encampment, catch roaming performances from Pirates of the Piedmont, and cheer on funny sword-fighting shows. Keep an eye out for roaming pirates, magical mermaids, and a spirited youth costume contest and parade. There’s face painting, tattoos, and sweet treats! For more visit Downtown Cary Park.
Trivia Night
April 2 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Get ready to test your knowledge and unleash your competitive spirit at Trivia Night in Downtown Cary Park’s Bark Bar! Led by the witty hosts from Hammered Trivia, it’s an evening packed with brain-teasing questions, laughter, and prizes. Gather your friends, grab a drink, and let the games begin!
Cary Farmers Market
April 4, 18, and 25 @ 8:00 am – 12:00 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Join the Cary Farmers Market for the traditional market season along East Park St., next to Downtown Cary Park.
Find a wonderful lineup of vendors offering all locally made and locally grown items. Shop for freshly-harvested produce, humanely-raised meat, and artisan-made goods. Stop by the info booth to learn about their matching program for SNAP/EBT.
Children can also get their very own Farmers Market Passport and participate in the Eat-A-Rainbow program, which encourages children to eat healthy, nutritious foods. Learn more about the new location, nutrition programs, and other information on their website or their Facebook and Instagram pages for regularly updated weekly information.
Children’s BINGO
April 6 @ 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Join in on the fun at our drop-in Children’s BINGO in the Park! Little ones, with each call of the numbers, you’ll discover a world of friendly competition and opportunities to win small prizes. It’s an afternoon of delightful moments for our youngest park enthusiasts! For more visit: Downtown Cary Park.
Live at Lunch
April 9 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Spend lunch at the Park enjoying live musical performances during the break in your day. Live music will be performed by Zach Burrus on Academy Plaza. Zach performs popular rock and pop favorites with a lively style that keeps audiences singing along. Grab lunch from home, from Market 317, or any of Cary’s great downtown dining options. For more visit: Downtown Cary Park
Movie Night: The Princess and the Frog
April 10 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Downtown Cary Park
As a tasty lead-up to Saturday’s Pimento Cheese Festival, join us for a magical screening of The Princess and the Frog (PG).
A prince is transformed into a frog and accidentally curses a beautiful princess with an amphibian form when he kisses her, in an attempt to break the spell set on him. The two then go a wild journey through the bayous of Louisiana in hopes of finding a voodoo priestess who may be able to restore their true forms.
Come early to enjoy pre-screening activities for all ages, making it a fun night out for everyone. Grab your cushions, blankets, and chairs for ultimate comfort as you settle in to enjoy the film. Food trucks will also be on site. For more visit: Downtown Cary Park
Cary Players presents Deathtrap
April 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18 @ 7:30 pm – Cary Arts Center
April 12 and 19 @ 3:00 pm – Cary Arts Center
Comfortably ensconced in his charming Connecticut home, Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers, is struggling to overcome a dry spell which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college—a thriller that Sidney recognizes immediately as a potential Broadway smash. Sidney’s plan, devised with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student for co-credit. Or is it? DEATHTRAP provides twists and turns of devilish cleverness and offers hilariously sudden shocks in such abundance that audiences will be spellbound until the very last moment.
For Tickets: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/72476168/deathtrap-cary-cary-arts-center
Pimento Cheese Festival 2026
April 11 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Pimento cheese is a Southern delicacy worth celebrating. The nation’s premier festival dedicated to pimento cheese is once again taking over the Park. Vendors will be serving up inventive, delicious pimento cheese-infused creations. Past offerings have included pimento cheese infused ice cream, egg rolls, empanadas, and more.
Visitors can enjoy food from more than 50 vendors, live music, games and activities, the annual pimento cheese sculpting contest, and more.
Schedule of Events
| TIME | PROGRAM | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. | The Embers Performance | Great Lawn Pavilion |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Mouse Trap Kids Games | Gathering Garden |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Scrap Exchange | The Nest Pavilion |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Food Trucks and Breweries (see list below) | Surrounding the Park |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Marketplace | Frantz Square |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Lounge featuring DJ Tegan | Ivey Ellington Lot |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Merch Tent | Academy Plaza |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Closest to the Pin Golf Simulator | Park Street Arena |
| 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Cheese Carving by Sarah Kaufmann | Academy Pavilion |
| 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Puppy Cup with TST and Peak Lab Rescue | Park Street Arena |
| 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Pimento Cheese Sculpting Contest | Great Lawn Pavilion |
| 3 p.m. | Announcement of the Marketplace’s Best Pimento Cheese | Frantz Square Lawn |
| 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. | The Embers Performance | Great Lawn Pavilion |
For more details visit: Downtown Cary Park
Drop-in Puzzling & Puzzle Swap
April 13 @ 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Find the missing piece of your day at our drop-in puzzle program featuring a lively swap meet. Bring your favorite puzzles, trade with fellow enthusiasts, and enjoy a casual day of collaborative problem-solving and camaraderie. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover new challenges, share your passion for puzzles, and connect with like-minded individuals in a fun and relaxed family-friendly setting. For more visit: Downtown Cary Park
Cary Night Market
April 17 @ 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Discover a lively showcase of locally-crafted treasures while enjoying an evening of music and entertainment at the Cary Night Market, organized by The Night Market Co. Join Triangle area artisans for a monthly gathering where an eclectic array of goods meets delectable food and drinks! For more visit: Downtown Cary Park.
Children’s Day Festival
April 18 @ 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Downtown Cary Park
This celebration focuses on the importance of the next generation, our children, with the intent of helping them develop an appreciation for the colorful mosaic of cultures in our area. This event will include stage performances and lots of arts and crafts amusements for kids. The Children’s Day Festival of Cary is organized by the American Turkish Association of NC as a gift to the community and made possible in part, by a grant from the Town of Cary. For more visit: Downtown Cary Park.
Live at Lunch
April 23 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Spend lunch at Downtown Cary Park enjoying live musical performances during the break in your day. Live music will be performed by Ed Kincade on Academy Plaza. Ed is a jazz musician who has performed with numerous bands across the Triangle. He currently holds a weekly residency at the Aloft Hotel in Raleigh, where he performs every Thursday night.
Grab lunch from home, Market 317, or from any of Cary’s great downtown dining options. For more visit: Downtown Cary Park
Music BINGO
April 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Get ready to sing, dance, and BINGO your way to victory at Music Bingo in the Park!
Join us for a night of high-energy fun, where your favorite tunes become the soundtrack to an epic bingo game! Whether you’re a music buff or just love a good time, we’ve got the perfect mix of hits, laughter, and prizes waiting for you. Grab your friends, bring your game face, and get ready to mark off those bingo cards to some serious jams.
Don’t miss out – this is one musical event you won’t want to miss! For more visit: Downtown Cary Park
A Starry Night In Candyland: Family Prom Fun for the whole family!
April 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Herbert C. Young Community Center
When Lord Licorice stole the sun, he plunged Candyland into shimmering starlight! Now, families are gathering for a magical evening under glowing skies, sweet treats, and sparkling music. Dress your best and dance through a galaxy of gumdrops as we prove that joy shines brightest—even in the dark! Price includes up to four family members. Register here.
Marvelous Music Series Town of Cary presents The Big Blues Show with The Music Maker Foundation
April 24 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Cary Arts Center
The Big Blues Show is an incredible night of entertainment styled on the rhythm and blues shows of yesteryear. Presented by the Music Maker Foundation which has been supporting underappreciated yet startlingly original Southern music and folk artists since 1994. Jimbo Mathus (co-founder of the Squirrel Nut Zippers) will act as bandleader and MC for the evening, and his Mississippi-based house band Creatures of the Southern Wild will provide a solid rhythm section for the night’s featured performers: The Crimestoppers, a super group trio of eastern Carolina’s best vocal talent and Houston blues sensation Leonard “Lowdown” Brown. It is an evening jam-packed with soul and staged with acclaimed American roots-based artists.
Featuring Jimbo Mathus & The Creatures of the Southern Wild, Leonard Lowdown Brown, and The Crimestoppers.
Triangle Wind Ensemble presents Maslanka Symphony No. 4 Celebrating TWE’s 25th Anniversary
April 26 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Cary Arts Center
Triangle Wind Ensemble presents Maslanka Symphony No. 4 Celebrating Triangle Wine Ensemble’s 25th Anniversary
For tickets and more information https://www.trianglewind.org/maslanka-symphony-no-4-apr-26-2026.html
Performances at the Page: Ladies of Swing
April 26 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Page-Walker History Center
Enjoy an afternoon of jazz, swing, and standards, celebrating Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday & Sarah Vaughan, featuring vocalist Maria Howell and pianist/vocalist Noel Freidline.
This show is presented by Christian Tamburr/Icons of Jazz Concert Series. Light refreshments are served at intermission. This is the Friends of the Page-Walker annual Carol J. Wright Memorial Concert. Tickets are $25.00 and available at The Cary Theater box office and on ETIX. For more information, visit Performances at the Page.
Dungeons & Dragons
April 30 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Downtown Cary Park
Join us for Dungeons and Dragons in the Park! Dive into a great adventure with a pre-made storyline, original to the Park, where you’ll choose your characters, solve puzzles, and battle monsters. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, this event promises a good time for all! All materials are provided. For more visit: Downtown Cary Park.
Be sure to come back for May 2026!