WHISKEY, WINE & FIRE
September 12 | 5 – 9 p.m.
Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Join us for an unforgettable night of flavor and fire at this exclusive foodie celebration! Sip and sample whiskey bars, elegant wines, and creative cocktails while enjoying live music, intimate fire pits, and curated food stations featuring gourmet BBQ and specialty grilled fare. boothamphitheatre.com
11TH ANNUAL ASIA FEST
September 19 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Celebrate Asian heritage and community at Asia Fest, one of the region’s most exciting cultural events! The festival features nearly 100 booths with cultural exhibits, games, health resources, and global street foods. Don’t miss the thrilling Dragon Boat Races on Symphony Lake. Join a team or cheer from the shore! Enjoy live music, dance, and performances throughout the day. carync.gov/asiafest
2026 HUM SUB DIWALI
October 10 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is India’s most celebrated cultural event, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. Hum Sub Diwali brings this vibrant tradition to life with music, dance, theater, Indian food, art exhibits, a handicraft bazaar, kids’ activities, and more! carync.gov/diwali
BEYOND: THE CARY FILM FESTIVAL
September 10 – 13 | The Cary Theater
Discover the best short films from around the world. Enjoy screenings, panels, workshops, and social events. thecarytheater.com
AUTUMN NIGHTS: AN EVENING OF SOUL AND R&B
September 19 | 7 p.m. | Cary Arts Center
Enjoy an evening of soul and R&B at the Cary Arts Center with Kathy Kosins and Teri Tobin. Kosins is an internationally acclaimed vocalist, songwriter, and artist known for blending jazz and soul, and has performed with noted artists such as Gregory Porter and Randy Brecker. Award-winning soul singer-songwriter Teri Tobin is celebrated for her authentic voice and blend of gospel, soul, jazz, and R&B. carync.gov/curatedconcerts
ME…JANE: THE DREAMS & ADVENTURES OF YOUNG JANE GOODALL
October 23 – 25 | Fri. & Sat. – 7:30 p.m., Sun. – 3 p.m. | Cary Arts Center
Applause! Cary Youth Theatre presents the regional premiere of “Me…Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall,” a new musical based on the book by Patrick McDonnell. Follow young Jane and her beloved toy chimpanzee, Jubilee, as they explore nature, spark a lifelong love of animals, and inspire the journey that would make Jane Goodall a world-renowned conservationist. carync.gov/applause
MUMMY & SON MASQUERADE
October 20 | 6:30 – 8:15 | Harold D. Ritter Park
This fun-filled, spooktacular evening is bound to be a hit with your little goblin! Mummies and sons will dress in their favorite costume and compete for prizes. Play eerily fun games, dance the monster mash, enjoy a spooky (not too scary) story time, and roast a ghost over an open fire for a tasty marshmallow treat!carync.gov/mummyson
ZOMBIEPALOOZA
October 23 | 6 – 9 p.m. | Downtown Cary Park
Get ready for undead fun at the 11th annual Zombiepalooza! Enjoy a night of family-friendly zombie short films created by North Carolina filmmakers. Costumes are highly encouraged. Don’t miss out. It’s going to be a scream!
thecarytheater.com/zombiepalooza
PUMPKIN FLOTILLA AT BOND PARK
October 23 | 5 – 7 p.m. | Bond Park Boathouse
Join us as dozens of carved jack-o’-lanterns take to the water, floating across Bond Lake in a one-of-a-kind Halloween spectacle. Enjoy live music, tasty snacks, and family-friendly fun. Drop off your carved pumpkin on Thursday, October 22, to have it included in the flotilla. Space is limited, and pumpkins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t wait! carync.gov/pumpkinflotilla
HAUNTING AT THE OLD HOTEL
October 24 | 6:30 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.
Page-Walker Arts & History Center
Who is haunting the old Page-Walker Hotel? Find out at this theatrical presentation by Cary Players.carync.gov/halloween
GLOW WORKSHOP SERIES BEGINS!
Starting October 3, the Town of Cary will offer a variety of art workshops for all ages and skill levels. Learn how to make your own paper incorporated with flower petals, build a botanical lantern, or make an LED matrix display that reacts to sound! carync.gov/glow
2026 DOWNTOWN CARY PARK DIWALI CELEBRATION
October 26 | Downtown Cary Park’s Great Lawn Pavilion
Join us for a Diwali Celebration at Downtown Cary Park! Experience an evening of music, dance, and community at the Great Lawn Pavilion as we celebrate the Festival of Lights together. carync.gov/diwali
MEDIEVAL FEAST AND FUN: A ROYAL FAMILY GATHERING
October 25 | 3 – 6 p.m. | Herbert C. Young Community Center
Step back in time and enjoy a legendary medieval evening where you’ll feast like royalty, and try your hand at archery, sword fighting, and more. There will be food, fun, and chivalry you won’t forget. Armor is optional, but fun is guaranteed! carync.gov/familyfun
CARY CERT BASIC CLASS
September 18 – 20
Are you interested in getting involved with community engagement while participating in education and outreach initiatives? Do you desire knowledge about basic medical operations, fire safety, and basic emergency and disaster response skills? Join Cary CERT for their upcoming CERT Basic Class, where you will learn the skills needed to build resilience during home emergencies and natural disasters. Participants must attend all three days to be certified. carync.gov/cert
Dig in and grow green this fall with a season of environmental programs and events! Explore our many resources for going green at carync.gov/green.
SUPPORT POLLINATORS THIS SEPTEMBER
Cary is participating in the National Recreation and Park Association’s eighth annual Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz in September with a variety of classes and events. Join us for this citizen science initiative and help Cary create a snapshot of the wildlife in our parks. Find out how you can get involved at carync.gov/gardenforwildlife.
GARDEN AND GROW WITH US
Learn about growing your own food, lend a hand in a community garden, or explore Cary’s farming heritage with one of our many urban agriculture programs this fall! carync.gov/gardens
FALL LITTER SWEEP | OCTOBER 3
Help restore natural areas at Good Hope Farm or Hemlock Bluffs while supporting a cleaner, more resilient community.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS
Tour our solar farm, explore residential solar resources, and learn practical energy-saving tips to support clean, resilient energy solutions.
MY TREE, OUR TREE
Reserve a free native sapling through My Tree, Our Tree, or join Urban Forestry and Natural Resources programs that support pollinators, wildlife, and healthy ecosystems.
WASTE REDUCTION INITIATIVES
Learn backyard composting, utilize Food Waste Drop-off services, and discover simple ways to keep valuable materials out of the landfill and support Cary’s waste diversion efforts.
WOMEN’S ITA ALL-AMERICAN COLLEGE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
September 19 – 27 | Cary Tennis Park
Cary Tennis Park is excited to host the ITA Women’s All-American Championship for the fifth consecutive year. Since 1983, the ITA Women’s All-American Championships have featured the nation’s top NCAA Division I players and have been a pioneer in women’s college tennis. carync.gov/ita
2026 GREAT AMERICAN XC FESTIVAL
October 2 – 3 | WakeMed Soccer Park
The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF), with support from Nike, are excited to host the 2026 Great American XC Festival presented by COROS. Now in its 27th year, this premier interstate cross-country competition returns to the lightning-fast course at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary — site of the Nike Cross Regionals (NXR) Southeast and NCISAA Cross Country Championships. carync.gov/wmsp
WINTER YOUTH BASKETBALL REGISTRATION
September 9 – 27
Registration for winter youth basketball (age 5 – 18) opens mid-September. The season is November through mid-February. carync.gov/winterbasketball
