50+ events happening this May in the Triangle
Plan your month with our list of live music, festivals and more fun this May.
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May 3: Melissa Etheridge: One Way Out Tour (Carolina Theatre of Durham, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham) - Melissa Etheridge stormed onto the American rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album, which led to an appearance on the 1989 Grammy Awards show. See her on stage May 3 at Carolina Theatre of Durham.
May 3-8: My Fair Lady (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - Boasting such classic songs as "I Could Have Danced All Night," "The Rain in Spain," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "On the Street Where You Live," MY FAIR LADY tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a "proper lady." But who is really being transformed? See this show on stage at DPAC May 3-8.
May 5: Beth Hart (Carolina Theatre of Durham, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham) - Beth Hart is as real as it gets. In a music industry full of glossy production and airbrushed photoshoots, this is one artist who throws down her cards, shares her darkest secrets and invites you to join her for the ride.
May 4: Star Wars Trivia (Sir Walter Coffee, 145 East Davie Street, Raleigh) - May the 4th be with you during this themed-trivia night at Sir Walter Coffee in Raleigh.
May 5-7: Tony Rock at Goodnights (Goodnight's Comedy Club/The Grille at Goodnight's, 861 W. Morgan St., Raleigh) - A comedian, actor, writer, and producer, Tony Rock is a man of many talents. The younger brother of Chris Rock, Tony is a bona fide comedy star in his own right, with credits ranging from the box office hit "Think Like a Man," to the BET favorite "Real Husbands of Hollywood," to his own Comedy Central Presents special. See him on stage at Goodnights from May 5-7.
May 5: MAKRS @ Golden Belt (Mill No. 1, 800 Taylor Street, Durham) - More than 40 local vendors will be at Golden Belt Campus on the first Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be live music and food.
May 6-7: Women Rock! with the North Carolina Symphony (Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts - Meymandi Concert Hall, 2 E. South St., Raleigh) - Celebrate the women who changed rock and roll forever. Guest vocalists and the Symphony perform hits from Carole King, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, Heart and more during these shows on Friday and Saturday at Meymandi Concert Hall.
May 6: Friday Family Flicks (Garner Recreation Center, 215 W Main St, Garner) - The Town of Garner hosts this free screening of "Encanto" on May 6 starting at 8:15 p.m
May 6: Tori Amos: Ocean to Ocean Tour (Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts - Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, 2 E. South St., Raleigh) - A trailblazing musician, author and activist, Tori Amos is bringing her new album, Ocean to Ocean, to life and include some career-spanning fan favorites during this show May 6 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.
May 7: Transfer Co.'s Kentucky Derby Day Party (Transfer Co. Food Hall , 500 East Davie Street, Raleigh) - Dress up in your best seersucker, big hats, suspenders, and crazy outfits to enjoy our full lineup of Derby Day activities at Transfer Co. Food Hall. Prizes and giveaways will be awarded to the winners of Best Seersucker, Best Hat, and the Best Dressed Couple!
May 7: Kentucky Derby Day (The Willard Rooftop Lounge, 9 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh) - Dust off your big hats and seersucker suits for Derby Day at The Willard Rooftop on Saturday, May 7, from noon to 11 p.m. There will be mint juleps at the bar and Kentucky-inspired food specials.
May 7: AJR - The OK Orchestra Tour (Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. McDowell St., Raleigh) - AJR will be performing live at Red Hat Amphitheater on May 7.
May 7: Apex PeakFest (Historic Downtown Apex, N Salem St & Center St, Apex) - PeakFest is the largest public event in Apex. Enjoy live music, shop local vendors and enjoy great food on May 7 on Salem Street in downtown Apex.
May 7: Meet in the Street Festival (Historic Downtown Wake Forest, N. Main Street, Wake Forest) - The Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Meet in the Street festival will be held Saturday, May 7, in downtown. There will be vendors, food trucks, live music and more family fun.
May 7: Ham & Yam Festival (Town of Smithfield, 200 S Front St, Smithfield) - Head to Smithfield for this annual festival featuring vendors, inflatables, entertainment, and ham and yam foods. The festival is happening May 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be a barbecue cook-off, rubber duck race, and the always popular "What's That Yam Thing?" contest.
May 7: Fest in the West (Thomas Brooks Park, Cary, 9008 Green Level Church Rd, Cary) - The 6th annual Fest in the West will celebrate Cary's rural past. There will be live music, a beer garden, food truck rodeo, Kid's Zone, arts and crafts village, petting zoo and more fun! Admission is free. The event will be held May 7 at the USA Baseball Training Complex' Thomas Brooks Park in Cary from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 8-14
May 10: Views from The Durham (The Durham Hotel, 315 East Chapel Hill Street, Durham) - Head to The Durham Hotel rooftop on May 10 for this stargazing series hosted by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Come up to the open-air Roof for telescopic stargazing with Morehead educators, and music from DJ Mic Check. DJ Mic Check will spin out-of-this-world tunes 8 to 10 p.m. Stargazing will take place 9-11 p.m. The Roof opens at 5 p.m.
May 10: The Offspring (Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. McDowell St., Raleigh) - The Offspring, with special guests Radkey, perform their Let the Bad Times Roll tour, live at Red Hat Ampitheater.
May 11: Triangle Rising Stars (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - The Triangle Rising Stars Showcase and Awards will feature performances by student finalists from across Central North Carolina, as well as a special performance by 2021 Triangle Rising Stars Best Actor, Joshua Messmore, and 2021 Jimmy Awards and Triangle Rising Stars Best Actress, Elena Holder.
May 12: Get The Led Out (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out (GTLO) has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage.
May 13-14: Longleaf Film Festival (North Carolina Museum of History, 5 East Edenton Street, Raleigh) - This free film festival screens films that demonstrate a Tar Heel State connection, through the people involved in making them or through their subject.
May 13-15: Slingshot Festival (Durham Fruit and Maison Fauna’s pop-up space, 506 Ramseur Street, Durham) - Slingshot, the international nexus for music, electronic art, and technology in the South, has moved from Athens, Georgia to Durham for this year's event. Curated by former Moogfest director, Kai Riedl, Vivek Boray, and Maison Fauna, the 3 day fest will showcase artists that are pushing electronic music to new heights.
May 14-15: Greek Festival (St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 8306 NC Highway 751 , Durham, NC 27713, Durham) - Experience the flavors, sounds, and traditions of Greece during this event on May 14-15 at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Durham. This is a scaled down celebration from previous years. The event will feature the most popular festival food and pastry offerings available for take-out or to enjoy in dining tents, surrounded by Greek music.
May 14: Cary Dog Days and Pet Expo (Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 801 High House Road, Cary) - Cary Dog Days is back with a new name! This event will be held Saturday, May 14, at Bond Park Spillway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be vendors, food trucks, pet contests and live demonstrations.
May 14: Localista Summer Bazaar (Moore Square, 226 E Martin Street, Raleigh) - Check out more tahn 35 local vendors and artisans featuring clothing, jewelry, ethnic wares, spices, teas, artwork and more during this event in Moore Square on May 14 tom 3 to 7 p.m. There will be music from Cosmic Horizon and Mysti Mayhem. Food trucks Curry in a Hurry and Hotchix hotcakes and chicken and Funky Munkey Sweets 'n Treats will be serving.
May 14: Renée Fleming with the North Carolina Symphony (Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts - Meymandi Concert Hall, 2 E. South St., Raleigh) - This special one-night-only event features soprano Renee Fleming and the North Carolina Symphony under the baton of Grant Llewellyn. It is happening May 14 at Meymandi Concert Hall.
May 15-21
May 15: The Block Party (Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary) - This event will feature food trucks, retailers and dessert vendors who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Expect live music, community dance groups, great food and more.
May 17: KISS (Coastal Credit Union Music Park (formerly Walnut Creek Amphitheatre), 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh) - KISS will perform live at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on May 17.
May 17-June 5: Hamilton (Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham) - The hit Broadway show is back on stage at DPAC May 17-June 5.
May 19: Raleigh Night Market (Moore Square Park, 200 South Blount Street, Raleigh) - Find locally-made goods and enjoy a night filled with music and entertainment with Triangle area artisans, food, and drinks at this market at Moore Square Park on May 19.
May 19: LIVE at Lake Raleigh with Shirlette Ammons (Lake Raleigh , Campus Shore Dr, Raleigh) - This free, family-friendly concert series is happening Thursday, May 19, at Lake Raleigh. The series celebrates the unique voices of North Carolina's extraordinary music scene.
May 20-22: 2022 Got to Be NC Festival (North Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh) - This festival will feature three days of fun at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. There will be rides, exhibits and food. Admission is free.
May 20: Museum Movie Night: Soylent Green (N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh) - On Friday, May 20, grab a bite during Museum Movie Night and discover the secret behind the fictional food of future, Soylent Green! Enjoy pre-show science tables, soy-like green-themed treats, and learn about the chemistry, engineering, and latest research on taste, nutrition, and edibility! After the movie, test your film knowledge with trivia hosted by A/V Geeks.
May 21-22: Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival (Downtown Raleigh, Fayetteville St., Raleigh) - This arts festival returns to downtown Raleigh on May 21-22 with its award-winning art market, live performances and one of a kind art installations throughout Fayetteville Street. The Kidsplosure celebration will include free arts and crafts for families.
May 21: Girl's Night Out (Koka Booth - Town of Cary's Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary) - This concert will feature sets by KT Tunstall, Judith Hill, Jeanne Jolly, Haley Johnsen and Rodes. A portion of the proceeds from the Saturday, May 21, concert will benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund,
May 21: Durham Blues and Brews Festival (Durham Central Park, 502 Foster St., Durham) - The Durham Blues and Brews Festival will be held May 21 at Durham Central Park. Expect an evening of fun with unlimited 12 oz. pours from some of NC's finest breweries (wine and ciders also offered). There will be music from three great blues bands. All proceeds go to local charities and non-profit programs.
May 21: Tim McGraw (Coastal Credit Union Music Park (formerly Walnut Creek Amphitheatre), 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh) - See Tim McGraw with special guest Russell Dickerson on stage at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on May 21.
May 21: Bimbé Celebration (Rock Quarry Park, 701 Stadium Drive, Durham) - This family-oriented event is a celebration of African and African American history, culture, arts and traditions. There will be live music, arts and crafts and more fun from 1 to 7 p.m. on May 21 at Rock Quarry Park.
May 22-28
May 22: John Mulaney: From Scratch (PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh) - See this Emmy award-winning writer, actor and comedian on stage at PNC Arena on Sunday, May 22.
May 24: The Lumineers (Coastal Credit Union Music Park (formerly Walnut Creek Amphitheatre), 3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh) - The Lumineers will perform live at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek on May 24.
May 26: Vidrio Taste Tour of the Mediterranean: Egypt! (Vidrio, 500 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh) - Raleigh's Vidrio restaurant is hosting a "Taste Tour of the Mediterranean" monthly dinner series. The destination and menu inspiration will change each month and we work our way through the Mediterranean. The next destination: Egypt! Dinner is $85, plus tax and gratuity.
May 26: NC Beer Mile 2022 (Bond Brothers Beer Company, 202 East Cedar Street, Cary) - 4 beers. 1 mile. People will be drinking one 12 oz. cup of beer and then run a quarter of a mile. They will do this four times. The fastest Beer Mile runner wins bragging rights for an entire year. Costumes are highly encouraged.
May 26: Durham Night Market (American Tobacco Campus (ATC), 318 Blackwell St, Durham) - Shop local merchants during this outdoor market at American Tobacco Campus from 5 to 9 p.m.
May 26: Spring Wine & Brew Walk (Waverly Place Shopping Center, 307 Colonades Way, Cary) - Sip, shop and stroll at the Wine & Brew Walk on Thursday, May 26, at Waverly Place. from 5 to 8 p.m. Guests can sample red, white and sparkling wine along with local craft beers at select Waverly Place merchants. A $25 donation to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund allows access to the event, along with a sampling glass and Waverly Place Wine Walk Passport.
Memorial Day Weekend events
May 27-29: Animazement (The Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S Salisbury St, Raleigh) - Celebrate all things anime during this event at the Raleigh Convention Center May 27-29. The convention attracts thousands of attendees and features a huge range of events, such as videos, cultural demos, fan and guest panels, J-pop/rock concerts, martial arts demos, craft classes, artists, vendors and more. Tickets are $65.
May 27-29: Carolina Fear Fest (Jim Graham Building, NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh) - Celebrate all things horror during this event at the Jim Graham Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds from May 27-29.
May 28: Taste of Soul NC (Variety Edition) (The Pavilion at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St, Durham) - Enjoy the ultimate cookout experience at Durham Central Park on May 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. There will be barbecue, seafood, hibachi, smoothies and Italian ice. Shop local vendors, while your children enjoy bounce houses and games.
May 29: NC Sugar Rush (Raleigh City Plaza, 400 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh) - Raleigh's All-Dessert Food Rodeo will be Sunday, May 29, at City Plaza from 1 to 5 p.m.
May 29: An American Celebration: Film Music from the Magical World of Disney (Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary) - The Triangle Wind Ensemble will present this Memorial Day weekend concert with music from everything from "Fantasia" and "Encanto" to "Star Wars" and the "Avengers." It is May 29 at 7 p.m. at Booth Amphitheatre.
May 27-30: 2022 First Fruits Farm Memorial Balloon Festival (First Fruits Farm, 832 Mort Harris Rd, Louisburg) - The First Fruits Farm Memorial Balloon Festival will return on May 27-30. The event will include live music, fireworks, a beer garden, food court, vendor market, a hot air balloon glow and tethered balloon rides.
