Everything a local should do, plus seasonal favorites
Photography by John Michael Simpson
1 Grab an ice cream from S&T’s Soda Shoppe and stroll along Hillsboro Street
2 Find your new favorite vintage tee, bespoke candle or retro home decor at Marigold, Little Boho Valley or Screaming for Vintage in Pittsboro
3 Watch a movie at the historical Varsity Theatre
4 Jam with live, local bands at Nash Street Tavern or Hot Tin Roof in Hillsborough or The City Tap in Pittsboro
5 Finish a blue cup at He’s Not Here
6 Visit Chapel Hill’s most perfect sunset spot – Merritt’s Pasture
7 Nibble on a nutty fruitcake at Southern Supreme Fruitcake & More
8 Rush Franklin Street after a UNC victory over Duke
9 Groove to a favorite band at Cat’s Cradle or catch an up-and-coming hip-hop artist at Local 506
10 See the Belted Galloway cows and stroll the walkable Fearrington Village
11 Go antiquing at Countryside Collectibles Antique Mall or check out refinished furniture at Gathered Home Decor
12 Catch an independent film at the Chelsea Theater
13 Learn about the history of Tar Heel hoops at the Carolina Basketball Museum
14 Better yet, cheer on UNC during a game at the Dean E. Smith Center or watch it at Four Corners
15 Choose among different tasty salsas at Carrburritos
16 Try a Bell Tower Blueberry Wheat beer at Top of the Hill
17 Drink from the Old Well
18 Play a round of golf at the newly renovated UNC Finley Golf Course
19 Release some steam by ax-throwing at Chatham Axes
20 Use your Italian dinnerware purchased at the VIETRI outlet store in Hillsborough
21 Enjoy the latest exhibition at the Ackland Art Museum or stroll through the artist-owned FRANK Gallery in Carrboro
22 Get local produce from the Carrboro Farmers Market, the Chapel Hill Farmers Market, the Eno River Farmers Market, the Fearrington Farmers Market, the Pittsboro Farmers Market or the Chatham Mills Farmers Market
23 Take a nature walk at the North Carolina Botanical Garden
24 Beat your friends in a round of pool at Zog’s Art Bar & Pool Hall or play your favorite old-school arcade game at The Baxter
25 Enjoy a pickup game of mahjong or pingpong, take a Zumba class or watch a performance at the Seymour Center
26 Stroll on one of our many beautiful greenways, like the Tanyard Branch Trail, where metalwork art is on display by local artist Leo Gaev
27 Go on a burger tour with stops at Johnson’s Drive-In in Siler City and Buns and Al’s Burger Shack in Chapel Hil
28 Satisfy your sweet tooth with a slice of cake at Nantucket Grill or a creative confection at Glasshalfull
29 Pick up a six-pack at Beer Study or The Casual Pint
30 See a Carolina Performing Arts show at CURRENT ArtSpace + Studio or Memorial Hall
31 Greet the UNC football team and cheerleaders as they make their way to Kenan Stadium during the pregame Victory Walk
32 Relax on the lawn of Weaver Street Market in Carrboro
33 Order a coffee and a treat at The Chatham Rabbit in Siler City or at
Aromatic Roasters in Pittsboro
34 Head to Chatham Park‘s Penguin Place for a beer from House of Hops, a sandwich at Café Root Cellar and some freshly made guacamole at Mi Cancun
35 Order a single, double, or, if you dare, a triple BLT at Merritt’s Grill
36 Buy a cut of meat from Cliff’s Meat Market
37 Hike the trails in the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area
38 Sip different flavors of honey wine at Starrlight Mead
39 Walk or bike along the banks of the Eno River on the Riverwalk
40 Look sharp in a Carolina blue tie from Julian’s
41 Slurp a milkshake at Sutton’s Drug Store
42 Take a step back in Chapel Hill town history at the Horace Williams House, home to Preservation Chapel Hill
43 Dig into a North Carolina-inspired plate of poutine or a sky-high sandwich at Breakaway Cafe
44 Enjoy a cone at Whit’s Frozen Custard and head to Gold Park with a blanket
45 Bike the 298-mile system of trails in Chatham or take it easy on the Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten Bikeway in Carrboro
46 Belly up to the Lantern bar – or sit outside – for creative dishes from Andrea Reusing, who previously won the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southeast for her blend of Asian flavor with North Carolina ingredients
47 Learn and explore with your kids at Kidzu Children’s Museum
48 Explore the great presents at This & That Gift Gallery or Liquidambar Gallery and Gifts
49 Walk the sidewalks and gallery hop during Last Fridays & The Art Walk in Hillsborough or 2nd Friday ArtWalk in Carrboro and Chapel Hill
50 Have a picnic lunch on a blanket in the Coker Arboretum
51 Explore a classic neighborhood like the Franklin-Rosemary Historic District or Gimghoul Historic District and admire the distinct architecture and beautiful homes
52 Sip award-winning chambourcin at FireClay Cellars, the only commercial vineyard in Chatham County
53 Root for your local high school team at Cedar Ridge High School, Orange High School, Chapel Hill High School, East Chapel Hill High School, Carrboro High School, or, in Chatham County, Northwood High School, Jordan-Matthews High School, Chatham Central High School or Seaforth High School
54 Get a book signed by an author at Purple Crow Books, Flyleaf Books, McIntyre’s Books, Epilogue Books Chocolate Brews or Circle City Books
55 Kiss your sweetheart below the Davie Poplar tree on UNC’s campus
56 Join a guided tour at the Historic Chatham County Courthouse and Chatham Historical Museum
57 Dance through an evening of music outside at Fridays on the Front Porch at The Carolina Inn (April-October)
58 Pile a cone high with Carolina Crunch from Maple View Farm
59 Enjoy a relaxing turn down Poet’s Walk at Ayr Mount in Hillsborough
60 Feel like family as you’re greeted by Vincenzo Marrone and Angelo Marrone at Italian Pizzeria III
61 Try some classic calabash-style popcorn shrimp and fish at Dry Dock Seafood
62 Sip a cocktail outside on the porch of the restored The Colonial Inn
63 Catch an afternoon show at Morehead Planetarium & Science Center or go stargazing at Jordan Lake in the evening
64 Pick your medium and let your creative self flow while enjoying a beverage at Wine & Design Chapel Hill
65 Enjoy the beautiful weather – and a pint – at Franklin Motors
66 Pose in front of the iconic “Chapel Hill” mural by artist Michael Brown
67 Learn about the historic Alexander Dickson House, which also serves as the Hillsborough Visitors Center
68 Visit The Cheese Shop in Carrboro – a one-stop shop for all your cheese desires
69 Check out all the funky sculptures and international goods at French Connections and pop by Fragments for unique home decor
70 Shop for trendy pieces at Uniquities, Monkee’s, Whilden or Dovecote
71 Learn about Eastern Carolina-style barbecue at Allen & Son Bar-B-Que or Hillsborough BBQ Company
72 Gobble down late-night cheese fries or loaded sweet potato tots at Linda’s Bar & Grill
73 Enjoy one of the rotating exhibits featuring local and regional artists at the NC Arts Incubator in Siler City
74 Catch a show performed by the Bouncing Bulldogs, a youth jump rope team of international acclaim
75 Learn pottery or drawing in a class at the new, state-of-the-art location of The ArtCenter
76 Try the fried chicken at Bestfood Cafeteria
77 Explore the hottest food and drink spots with a guided Taste Carolina tour
78 Visit the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery on UNC’s campus
79 Head to Silverspot Cinema or The Lumina Theater on Terrific Tuesdays when tickets are a bargain
80 Choose a unique piece for your home from Whitehall Antiques
81 Wait in line on a weekend morning at Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen or have a late-night chicken biscuit at Time-Out
82 Order a hot dog during the UNC baseball season opener at Boshamer Stadium under Carolina blue skies
83 Peruse the art at the Eno Arts Mill or take a mosaic-making class
84 Sip a smoothie or dig into an acai bowl at The Purple Bowl
85 Stroll through the Northside neighborhood as you listen to an audio tour full of stories and history, told by longtime residents and community members
86 Savor vegetarian-friendly dishes at Vimala’s Curryblossom Cafe and Spotted Dog
87 Check out Mosaic at Chatham Park, a new mixed-used venue with retail stores, restaurants, a coworking space and concert venue
88 Don’t miss the Southern fixins at Mama Dip’s Kitchen
89 Stop by SallyMack Life Furnishings for stylish home goods, jewelry and gifts
90 Celebrate a special occasion with dinner at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills and a nightcap at The Beagle
91 Go see and learn about the wild cats at Carolina Tiger Rescue
92 Paddle in a kayak or canoe out on the waters of the Haw River or rent a boat to cruise or water-ski on Jordan Lake
93 Start the day off right with a big breakfast at Breadman’s or Virlie’s Grill
94 Choose your favorite cuisine ranging from Japanese and Indian to French and Italian and prepare a four-course meal with guidance from C’est si Bon! Cooking School chefs
95 Tour the Civil War-era Burwell School Historic Site, and learn about the bravery of Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, who escaped life as an enslaved person to become a close confidant of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln
96 Volunteer at the SECU Family House by preparing and serving meals or dropping off supplies to keep the pantry stocked
97 Sample treats like flan, bolillos, tres leches cake and conchas at Carolina Cravings
98 Have a pint at some of the newest breweries in town – Carrboro’s Haw River Tap & Table or Pittsboro’s Havoc Brewing Company
99 Sip a cocktail at The Crunkleton
100 Spend an afternoon shopping and sampling at The Plant
101 Stroll by Chatham Mills’ Pollinator Paradise Garden and its more than 225 species of perennials, trees, shrubs and grasses – 85% of which are native to North Carolina
Annual Must-Dos
Spring
Hunt for eggs and meet the Easter Bunny during the Community Egg Hunt at Southern Community Park
Throw it back with old-school field games, arts and crafts, and more on the lawn in front of St. Joseph C.M.E. Church during the Northside Festival
Run through town during the Tar Heel 10 Miler in April
Check out the local farm scene on the annual Piedmont Farm Tour in April
Take advantage of free cone day at Ben & Jerry’s in April
Bike, climb, dance and perform activities in the streets during Carrboro Open Streets in April
Join a group of Clean Jordan Lake volunteers to remove trash from the shores at the annual spring cleanup
Pet a Clyde Critter – the handiwork of Bynum-based folk artist Clyde Jones – at the Chatham Arts Council’s ClydeFEST in April
Head to Carrboro Day the first Sunday in May
Taste produce during Strawberry Jamboree at Carrboro Farmers Market in May
Enjoy free outdoor performances during the Freight Train Blues Concert Series in May and June at Carrboro Town Commons
Shake your tailfeather at the Spring Chicken Festival, Siler City’s unique street fair
Summer
Watch a summer movie under the stars at the Forest Theatre
Commemorate Pride Month in June during Small Town Pride presented by the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill
Stroll through downtown Pittsboro’s street fair Summer Fest in early July
Celebrate the Fourth of July at a parade in Carrboro
Watch talented high schoolers taking part in the PlayMakers Repertory Company’s Summer Youth Conservatory on stage during performances of a musical
Get to Southern Village early for a good spot at the Fourth of July fireworks
Take a dip in the Hargraves Community Center pool
Savor tomatoes, the star food of the annual ACME Tomato Festival, and enjoy peak tomato season during Tomato Day at the Carrboro Farmers Market, both in July
See Paperhand Puppet Intervention perform an outdoor show at the Forest Theatre
Watch an outdoor movie on the Southern Village Green
Enjoy music, food and dancing at the annual Latin American Festival in Carrboro in late August
Fall
Appreciate live music and traditional folk dancers during the annual Hispanic Heritage Fiesta in September put on by El Vínculo Hispano (The Hispanic Liaison)
Rock out to dozens of bands during the Carrboro Music Festival in September
Listen to music and sip beer and wine during the Bluegrass Festival at historic Moorefields in September
Step back in time at Silk Hope’s annual Old-Fashioned Farmers Day in September
Experience local bands and a barbecue cook-off contest at Hog Day in September
Celebrate mead during Starrlight Mead’s annual Mead Fest in September
Check out the Chatham County Agriculture Fair in September, featuring live performances, rides, children’s activities, food and more
Warm up your taste buds for the outdoor food festival, PepperFest, in Pittsboro
Camp, explore and groove at music festivals at Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, like the Hoppin’ John Fiddlers’ Convention in September and the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance in October
Browse artists’ booths in downtown Chapel Hill during Festifall on three Saturdays in October
Attend readings, workshops and panels during the West End Poetry Festival in October
Sip local brews during NC Beer Month in October
Spook your friends with Halloween fun on Franklin Street
Check out the carved pumpkins on display across the Bynum Bridge and around Fearrington Village in October
Catch films at the Carrboro Film Fest in November
Tour artist studios during the Orange County Artists Guild’s Open Studio Tour in November
Winter
Stroll the downtowns to check out decorated shop windows
Grab a seat for the Light Up The Night Holiday Parade in early December in downtown Hillsborough
Put on your antlers for the Reindeer Run 5K in Pittsboro
Tour the studios of more than 50 local artists in the self-guided Chatham Artists Guild’s Studio Tour during the first two weekends in December
Deck the halls with breakfast with Santa, cookie decorating, holiday tea and markets at The Carolina Inn in December
Sing along at the Bynum Front Porch Christmas Show
See Santa Claus come to town with a live-action performance of Miracle on Hillsboro Street in downtown Pittsboro
Nab a spot on the sidewalk for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade in December
Catch public performances by touring bands, artists in residence, UNC faculty and students at the annual Carolina Jazz Festival in February