The tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash in your garden aren’t the only thing emerging at this time of year. The end of July is also bringing a bumper crop of fresh talent to stages across the Carolinas. Keep reading to learn about some festivals and theater productions featuring up and coming writers and performers.

Eastern Festival of Music

The next week’s highlights at the Eastern Festival of Music include the Young Artist Orchestra performing Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 at Guilford College’s Dana Auditorium (710 Levi Coffin Drive, Greensboro) on Friday, July 24^th. Gerard Schwarz leads the Eastern Festival Orchestra in a “Celebrate America 250” program with Goossens’ Jubilee Variations, Hanson’s Symphony No. 2, and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring soloist William Wolfram, on Saturday, July 25^th. Eastern Chamber Music presents “Beethoven’s Influence” with works by Beethoven, Haydn, and Brahms on Monday, July 27^th. The Eastern Chamber Players’ concert includes Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor and Richard Strauss’ Sextet from Capriccio on Tuesday, July 28^th. And the U.S. Army String Quartet will be performing Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte, Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Glazunov’s Reverie Orientale, and Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581 on Wednesday, July 29^th. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. July 24-29.

Brevard Music Center

The incredible 90^th summer season at Brevard Music Center* (365 Andante Lane, Brevard) is getting close to the end. Violinist Gil Shaham joins the Brevard Music Center Orchestra for a program including Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium on Friday, July 24^th at 7:30 p.m. You’ll be transported to a galaxy far, far away when the Brevard Sinfonia performs John Williams’ score to Stars Wars: Return of the Jedi as the film plays on the big screen, Saturday, July 25^th at 8:30 p.m. The Horszowski Piano Trio will present works by Bernstein, Shostakovich, and Mendelssohn in Parker Concert Hall on Monday, July 27^th at 7:30 p.m. That will be followed the Piano Competition Finals on Tuesday, July 28^th at 7 p.m. And don’t miss an Evening of Lerner and Loewe with the Janiec Opera Company performing selections from iconic musicals such as My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Brigadoon at the Porter Center on Thursday, July 30^th at 7:30 p.m. Find the complete summer schedule here. July 24-30.

Quasimodo Sings

Little Theater of Gastonia (238 S. Clay Street, Gastonia) is bringing Victor Hugo’s classic novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, to the stage, July 24^th through August 2^nd. Recommended for ages 10 and up, this lively production features music and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Performances run Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. The show on Saturday, July 25^th is Community Pay What You Can Night (minimum $1 per ticket). July 24-August 2.

New Plays

Three Bone Theatre and UNC Charlotte Department of Theatre present the inaugural Carolina New Works Play Festival at Rowe Recital Hall (9119 University Road, Charlotte), July 24^th through 26^th, and at The Arts Factory (1545 W. Trade Street, Charlotte), July 31^st through August 2^nd. These will be professionally staged readings of this year’s winning plays: TRE by T.J. Lewis, How I Got Forgotten by Glenn Rawls, and You Can’t Smoke in Burbank by Skylar Schock. Admission is free, but you should reserve tickets because seating is limited. July 24-26, July 31-August 2.

Meanwhile, the 2026 South Carolina New Play Festival gets underway Wednesday, July 29^th at venues throughout the Greenville, SC area. The 12-day event will feature a wide range of musicals, plays, and town halls, as well as an outdoor variety stage. July 29-August 9.

Organ & Piano

The Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists* presents organist Ed West and jazz pianist Noel Friedline as the free 2026 Summer Recital Series continues at Providence Baptist Church (4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte) on Sunday, July 26^th at 4 p.m. A freewill offering will be accepted for the Robert and Ann Stigall Scholarship Fund, which helps cover private organ lesson costs for students in grades 6–12. July 26.

Celebrating Ray Ebert

The Piedmont NC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists invites you to the fourth of its five Sounds of the Summer organ recitals featuring the Neo-Baroque Gabriel Kney organ at Friedland Moravian Church (2750 Friedland Church Road, Winston-Salem) on Sunday, July 26^th at 7 p.m. This concert, presented by Matthew Bacon, Susan Bates, and Dreama Lovitt, will be a celebration of the late Friedland Moravian Church organist and Sounds of the Summer founder Ray Ebert. Admission is free. July 26.

International Black Theatre Festival

The North Carolina Black Repertory Company is hosting the International Black Theatre Festival at various locations in Winston-Salem, July 27^th through August 1^st. The event will feature more than 120 performances and experiences, including the Opening Night Gala, New Work Readers’ Theatre, Film Festival, Storytelling Festival, Midnight Poetry Jam, staged readings, youth showcase, community concert, cultural heritage tours, and international vendor market. July 27-August 1.

Appalachian Strings

An Appalachian Summer Festival* welcomes the acclaimed Calidore String Quartet to the Rosen Concert Hall, Broyhill Music Center (813 Rivers Street, Boone) on Wednesday, July 29^th at 7:30 p.m. The program includes works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Josef Haydn, and Wynton Marsalis. July 29.

Big Sound, Bigger Hair

If you were a teenager in the 1980s, this will be trip down memory lane. The Davidson Community Players’ Connie Company* is staging the hit juke box musical Rock of Ages at the Cain Center for the Arts (21348 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius), July 28^th through August 1^st. Set at the height of ‘80s L.A. glam metal scene, the Tony Award-nominated Broadway show features songs from Bon Jovi, Journey, Styx, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Europe, Survivor, Joan Jett, Whitesnake, and more. Recommended for ages 13 and up. July 29-August 1.

American Landscapes

BRAHM*, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (159 Ginny Stevens Lane, Blowing Rock), presents “Silver & Smoke: George Masa & Ansel Adams” through October 4^th. The exhibition showcases many classic photographs of the Great Smoky Mountains (Masa) and Yosemite (Adams).A Japanese immigrant, Masa was also anadvocate for the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian Trail. Through October 4.

Diabolical Dinner Theater

Tickets go on sale Friday, July 24^th fora delicious new spin on a classic board game. Blumenthal Arts’ Blume Studios (904 Post Street, Charlotte) will bethe venue for an immersive dinner theater edition of Clue: Murder on the Menu, October 9^th through November 22^nd. You’ll become part of the mystery while you enjoy a curated meal prepared by Chef Craig Barbour’s Roots Catering. General tickets start at $115.65 per person. You can also choose a VIP option, which includes preferred seating, a complimentary drink with dinner, and a personal meeting with some of the “suspects.” On sale July 24.

Eat, Drink & Shop

• Summer Date Night – Vino in the Garden: Enjoy a curated tasting of eight wines from California, France, South Africa, and Spain with charcuterie and live music at the Daniel Stowe Conservancy in Belmont. July 24.
  
• Queen’s Feast Charlotte Restaurant Week: More than 120 restaurants across the Charlotte metro serve up their best with three-course, prix fixe menu deals. July 24-August 2.
  
• Sweetgrass Festival: A cultural celebration of the Gullah Geechee heritage through live performances, educational experiences, and one of the nation’s largest gatherings of traditional sweetgrass basket weavers in Mount Pleasant, SC. July 25.
  
• Art in the Park: Monthly event through October featuring 70 juried artists selling jewelry, furniture, lawn ornaments, pottery, textiles, paintings, and more in downtown Blowing Rock. July 25, August 25, September 12, October 3.

The WDAV Events Calendar gets new additions all the time, so be sure to check it often for even more arts and culture options!

FanFare is made possible in part by:

*Disclosure: Brevard Music Center, Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, An Appalachian Summer Festival, Davidson Community Players, BRAHM, and Blumenthal Arts are WDAV underwriters.

I’ve always found that spending time in the North Carolina mountains, even if it’s for just one day, can have a profoundly restorative effect. One of my fondest memories of being in the high country was when I went to the annual Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest in the Watauga County community of Sugar Grove about ten years ago. Hearing those terrific performances and hanging out with friends in that peaceful setting also strengthened my connection to the state I’ve now called home for more than a quarter century. Plus, the weather is usually a little cooler up there. The festival is back this week, but with a temporary change of venue. Read on for all the details.

High Country Sounds

The festival grounds in Sugar Grove are still unusable due to Hurricane Helene damage so this year’s Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest is being held at the Appalachian Theatre (559 W. King Street, Boone) on Friday, July 17^th at 7 p.m. The long-running summer music event celebrating the legacy of Doc & Rosa Lee Watson will feature performances by the Kody Norris Show, the Kruger Brothers, and Blue Highway. July 17.

Disney’s Descendants

The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem (4015 Brownsboro Road, Winston-Salem) presents Disney’s Descendants: The Musical, July 17^th through 19^th. A one-act stage adaptation of the hit Disney Channel movie trilogy, the show follows the teenage children of Disney’s classic villains, including Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, and Jafar, as they leave the Isle of the Lost to attend Auradon Prep, balancing their parents’ wicked plots with finding their own paths. July 17-19.

Brevard Bonanza

This next week’s highlights from the 90^th summer season at Brevard Music Center* (365 Andante Lane, Brevard) include the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, led by Rune Bergmann, performing Johannes Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Sir Stephen Hough, followed by Richard Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony on Friday, July 17^th at 7:30 p.m. Then, Earl Lee conducts the Brevard Sinfonia in a program featuring violinist Amaryn Olmeda for Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, as well as Hector Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture and Felix Mendelssohn’s beloved “Italian” Symphony on Saturday, July 18^th at 7:30 p.m. The BMC Chamber Voices will present a concert including Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate; Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5; along with works by Joaquin Turina, Arvo Pärt, and more on Monday, July 20^th at 7:30 p.m. And the Janiec Opera Company brings Gilbert & Sullivan’s witty H.M.S. Pinafore to the stage Thursday, July 23^rd at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 25^th at 2 p.m. Find the complete summer schedule here. July 17-25.

Greensboro Greatness

The Eastern Festival of Music is bringing big works to Guilford College’s Dana Auditorium (710 Levi Coffin Drive, Greensboro) through August 1st. The Young Artist Orchestra performs Tchaikovsky’s Suite from Swan Lake, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Song of Hiawatha: Overture, and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor on Friday, July 17^th. Music Director Gerard Schwarz leads the Eastern Festival Orchestra in performances of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major with soloist Leonidas Kavakos, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D minor on Saturday, July 18^th. The Eastern Festival Orchestra returns with the EFM Conducting Fellows leading “The Great Overtures” by Mozart, Beethoven, Weber, Rossini, Berlioz, Wagner, Verdi, and Brahms on Monday, July 20^th. Eastern Chamber Music presents a concert including Prokofiev’s String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Martinů’s Revue de Cuisine, and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence.And the Young Artist Orchestra performs LeonardBernstein’s Suite from On the Waterfront and Antonin Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor on Thursday, July 23^rd. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. July 17-23.

Sondheim’s Story

Queen City Concerts and Blumenthal Arts* present Sondheim on Sondheim at the Stage Door Theatre (130 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on Saturday, July 18^th at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The show is an intimate exploration into the life and legacy of “The Father of the Modern Musical” told with his own words and music. Through exclusive interview footage, you’ll get an inside look at Stephen Sondheim’s personal life and artistic process. The Queen City Concerts Orchestra provides a soundtrack of Sondheim’s work, including selections from Into the Woods, Follies, Sweeney Todd, Company, and others. July 18.

Voice & Organ

The Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists* continues its 2026 Summer Recital Series with an Afternoon of Voice & Organ featuring works by Sweelinck, Bach, Handel, Rorem, and Dupré at Messiah Lutheran Church (8300 Providence Road, Charlotte) on Sunday July 19^th at 4 p.m. Organist Matthew Noonan will be joined by Dr. Melinda Lein, soprano for this free recital. A freewill offering will be accepted for the Robert and Ann Stigall Scholarship Fund, which helps cover private organ lesson costs for students in grades 6–12. July 19.

Big Trouble in Bikini Bottom

The Appalachian Theatre(559 W. King Street, Boone) presents The SpongeBob Musical, July 23^rd through 25^th. Based on the beloved animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants, the citizens of Bikini Bottom discover a volcano is about to erupt, threatening the existence of their underwater world. July 23-25.

Mixed Media

Why stop at one artistic medium when so many are available? The Cedar Creek Gallery National Teapot Show XIII runs through September 14^th at the Cedar Creek Gallery (1150 Fleming Road, Creedmoor). It’s a chance to view 240 handcrafted teapots made from glass, clay, metal, wood, fiber, and mixed media by more than 140 artists from across North America. Through September 14.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center (123 E. Liberty Street, Salisbury) has also launched its summer exhibition, Formed, Fired and Woven: Women in Material. On view until October 10^th, this exhibition showcases the textile, glass, and mixed media work of artists Judith Laise, Robin Cass, and Holly Guertin, who have shaped their pieces into powerful expressions of experience, identity and creative vision. Through October 10.

Road Trip Ready

• Banjo Extravaganza: Two-day celebration of Appalachian banjo music and mountain traditions, featuring a screening of the documentary Banjo Earth: North Carolina, live performances, crafts, food, and camping at Hagood Mill in Pickens, SC. July 17-18.
  
  
• 70^th Beaufort Water Festival: Ten-day event with concerts, food, crafts, air show, sporting events, plus the traditional Blessing of the Fleet and boat parade in Beaufort, SC. July 17-26.
  
  
• Greenville Fashion Week: Four days of runway shows, model and emerging designer competitions, and shopping in Greenville, SC. July 22-25.
  
  
• Day Out with Thomas: Take a ride and enjoy all sorts of interactive fun with Thomas the Tank Engine at the Jackson Fairgrounds in Whittier, NC. July 23-26 & July 30-August 2.

What else is happening? Check the WDAV Events Calendar to find out!

FanFare is made possible in part by:

*Disclosure: Brevard Music Center, Blumenthal Arts, and Charlotte Chapter of the American Guild of Organists are WDAV underwriters.

We’re in the “Dog Days of Summer” now. The phrase originates from the ancient Romans and Greeks who believed the rising of Sirius, the “Dog Star”, added extra heat to the sun and created oppressive summer weather. In my house, it just means the dogs don’t want to go outside. Luckily, there’s plenty for you to see and do indoors over the next stifling week.

Classical Folk

The Cain Center for the Arts* presents the Kruger Brothers in concert at Lost Worlds Brewing (19700-D One Norman Boulevard, Cornelius) on Friday, July 10^th at 7:30 p.m. Established in Switzerland, the quartet creatively infuses classical sounds with traditional American folk music and Appalachian bluegrass. July 10.

Artisans Amok

This weekend is filled with opportunities to browse and shop for art and craft items created by local makers. You’ll find things for your home or as gifts for others. Here are some options:

• Charlotte Bead Show at Oasis Shriners, Charlotte. July 10-11.
• Artisans of the Carolinas in Freedom Park, Charlotte. July 10-12.
• The Guild Pop Up Artists Market in Romare Bearden Park, Charlotte. July 10-12.
• Second Saturdays in SouthPark Market at 5622 Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte. July 11.
• The Artisan Showcase in Romare Bearden Park, Charlotte. July 12.
• Atherton Yard Makers Market at Atherton Mill, Charlotte. July 12.
• SouthPark Artisan Showcase at Symphony Park, Charlotte. July 12.

Summer in Brevard

There’s more to enjoy during this 90^th summer season at Brevard Music Center*. JoAnn Falletta leads the Brevard Music Center Orchestra and cellist Camille Thomas in a program including Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4, and two works by Joan Tower at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium (349 Andante Lane, Brevard) on Friday, July 10^th at 7:30 p.m. The Buena Vista Orchestra will be there for an evening of traditional Cuban son, bolero, and Afro-Cuban rhythms on Saturday, July 11^th at 7:30 p.m. Conductor JoAnn Falletta returns with the Brevard Sinfonia and violist Paul Neubauer to perform Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe, Suite No. 2 and more on Sunday, July 12^th at 3 p.m. Over at the Parker Concert Hall (141 Milner Circle, Brevard), you can catch the Shanghai Quartet on Monday, July 13^th at 7:30 p.m., and pianist Sir Stephen Hough on Tuesday, July 14^th at 7:30 p.m. Find the complete summer schedule here. July 10-14.

Eastern Festival of Music

The Eastern Festival of Music continues at Guilford College’s Dana Auditorium (710 Levi Coffin Drive, Greensboro) through August 1st. The Young Artist Orchestra performs Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 on Friday, July 10^th at 7:30 p.m. The Eastern Festival Orchestra takes on Benjamin Britten’s Variations on a Theme by Purcell, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Variations, and the Symphony No. 4 by Johannes Brahms on Saturday, July 11^th at 7:30 p.m. And there’ll be an evening of Solo Piano featuring William Wolfram (Bach, Liszt), Marika Bournaki (Mozart), Paola Budani (Beethoven), and Eric Clark (Barber) on Wednesday, July 15^th at 7:30 p.m. July 10-15.

Appalachian Summer Fun

Appalachian State University’s An Appalachian Summer Festival* is bringing some fun shows to Boone over the next week. They include a capella group Straight No Chaser’s Beach Bash at the Shaeffer Center for the Performing Arts (733 Rivers Street, Boone) on Friday, July 10^th at 7:30 p.m. Houston-based quintet WindSync will be performing Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf at the Rosen Concert Hall, Broyhill Music Center (813 Rivers Street, Boone) on Sunday, July 12^th at 2 p.m., followed by a concert of classical chamber works, including Mozart’s Serenade in C Minor, at 7:30 p.m. And Complexions Contemporary Ballet, featuring the music of Lenny Kravitz, takes the stage at the Shaeffer Center on Thursday, July 16^th at 7:30 p.m. July 10-16.

Meet the Turnblads

Matthews Playhouse is staging Hairspray, July 10^th through 26^th. Based on the 1988 John Waters film, the beloved musical tells the story of teenage Tracy Turnblad’s efforts to appear on and bring social change to a popular teen dance show in 1962 Baltimore. July 10-26.

Beetlejuice, Jr.

Little Theater of Gastonia (238 S. Clay Street, Gastonia) is presenting Beetlejuice, Jr., July 11^th and 12^th. Based on the 1988 movie and 2018 Broadway musical, this entertaining edition is appropriate for ages 10 and up. Tickets are only $10. July 11-12.

High Country Jazz

The High Country Jazz Society presents the Michelle Amato Quartet at the Appalachian Theatre on Sunday, July 12^th at 5 p.m. Vocalist and University of North Florida faculty member Michelle Amato performs a repertoire including selections from the Great American Songbook, as well as jazz and pop favorites from around the world. July 12.

Powerful Pipes

The Piedmont NC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents another installment of Sounds of the Summer 2026, their five-part exploration of pipe organs in Winston-Salem. Fully Completed! features John Cummins, Susan Keck Foster, and Mora Wolff performing on the Reuter Organ at Ardmore Baptist Church (501 Miller Street, Winston-Salem) on Monday, July 13^th at 7 p.m. Admission is free. July 13.

Free Tuesdays at The Schiele

The Schiele Museum of Natural History (1500 E. Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia) invites visitors to enjoy the exhibits free of charge between 4 and 8 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, thanks to the support of Duke Energy. No reservation needed. Just show up! Planetarium shows are available for $5 per person and you can see show times on the events calendar. Second Tuesdays.

Let the Music Play

Another installment of the Steinway Residence Series is at the Mint Museum Uptown* (500 S. Tryon Street, Charlotte) on Wednesday, July 15^th. The series features free concerts by accomplished pianists from our region on the third Wednesday of the month. This time, it will be the Bechtler Ensemble, featuring cellist Tanja Bechtler and pianist Jonah Bechtler-Teixeira. The mother-son duo will perform tangos by Astor Piazzolla, jazz standards, and more contemporary works beginning at 6 p.m. The cash bar opens at 5 p.m. so come early to tour some of the galleries and see the incredible Caravaggioexhibition. July 15.

Organ + Silent Film

The Piedmont NC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is screening two classic silent films with live organ music at First Baptist Church (1000 Friendly Avenue, Greensboro) on Thursday, July 16^th at 8:30 p.m. Visiting from Boston, award-winning organist Peter Krasinski will perform improvised accompaniment to The Red Balloon (1956) and The Cameraman (1928). Admission is free. July 16.

Weekend Gone Wrong

Davidson Community Players* are presenting Matt Merrill Productions’ Don’t Dress for Dinner at Davidson College’s Duke Family Performance Hall (207 Faculty Drive, Davidson), July 16^th through 26^th. The comedy is about a husband, a wife, a mistress, a best friend and a very confused cook trying to navigate a menu of misunderstandings during a chaotic dinner party at a country house. Recommended for audiences 16+. July 16-26.

NC Festivals

• Summer Festival: Afternoon of live music, food trucks, and North Carolina beer, wine, and cider in the Beer Garden at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market. July 12.
• Cashiers Plein Air Festival: Week-long event with artists hosting demonstrations and painting original works around the Cashiers area that will be displayed and sold at The Village Green Commons. July 13-18.

The WDAV Events Calendar is always being updated with new events, so be sure check it often. Stay cool out there!

FanFare is made possible in part by:

*Disclosure: Cain Center for the Arts, Brevard Music Center, Appalachian State University, Mint Museum, and Davidson Community Players are WDAV underwriters.

It’s finally here: America’s 250^th birthday! You won’t need any help finding fireworks this weekend, but here are a few other events in the arts & culture realm that you might want to add to your activities list.

Brevard at 90

The 90^th summer season at Brevard Music Center* continues with more intriguing concerts over the next week. The lineup includes the Brevard Music Center Orchestra and violinist Nancy Zhou performing works by Carlos Simon, Shostakovich, and Brahms at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium (349 Andante Lane, Brevard) on Friday, July 3^rd at 7:30 p.m. On the Fourth of July, the Brevard Concert Orchestra and Brevard Symphonic Winds will present an afternoon of Patriotic Pops with pieces by Ives, Sousa, Tchaikovsky, and some movie music by John Williams at 2 p.m. Naomi Woo leads the Brevard Sinfonia for Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers: Overture, Andy Akiho’s Timpani Concerto, and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4, “Romantic” on Sunday, July 5^th at 3 p.m. The action shifts to the Parker Concert Hall (141 Milner Circle, Brevard) with the acclaimed Imani Winds performing breathtaking works by Andy Akiho, Elliott Carter, and Jean Francaix on Monday, July 6^th at 7:30 p.m. Find the complete summer schedule here. July 3-6.

Good Music in Greensboro

The new Eastern Festival of Music is underway at Guilford College through August 1st. This weekend’s offerings include the festival’s music director, Gerard Schwarz, leading the Gala Opening All Orchestrals Night with George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (Bournaki) and Antonin Dvorak’s 9th Symphony on Friday, July 3^rd at 7:30 p.m. USA at 250 will feature works by Copland, Foote, and Gershwin on Saturday, July 4^th at 7:30 p.m. Then it’s two nights of Eastern Chamber Music on July 6^th and 7^th, followed by VIVA PIANO (Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Barber, Poulenc) on July 8^th, and the Young Artists Orchestra performing works by Richard Strauss and Claude Debussy on July 9^th. All concerts will be at Dana Auditorium (710 Levi Coffin Drive, Greensboro). July 3-July 9.

Stars & Stripes Spectacular

Celebrate our nation’s 250^th birthday with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra* at Truist Field (324 S. Mint Street, Charlotte) on Saturday, July 4^th at 8 p.m. There’s no ballgame that night. The event will focus purely on music and fireworks with CSO Music Director Kwame Ryan leading a program of works by John Williams, George Gershwin, and John Philip Sousa. Alyson Cambridge, soprano, and Reginald Smith Jr., baritone, will lend their voices to the festivities. July 4.

Historic American Sounds

You have two opportunities to join the Salem Band for the Triad’s original Stars & Stripes concert. Established in 1771, the Salem Band is the oldest, continuous mixed wind ensemble in the nation. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to Salem Square (649 S. Main Street, Winston-Salem) on Saturday, July 4^th at 7:30 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, July 5^th). The Salem Band will also be at Clemmons First Baptist Church (3530 Clemmons Road, Clemmons) on Tuesday, July 7^th at 7:30 p.m., with the Salem Band Sax Quartet opening at 6:45 p.m. The performances are free and will include several marches, big band numbers, and sing-alongs. July 4 & 7.

Western Piedmont Symphony

The FORUM Music Series at Lees-McRae College welcomes the Western Piedmont Symphony to Hayes Auditorium (191 Main Street W., Banner Elk) for two performances on Monday, July 6^th at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Led by WPS Music Director Matthew Troy, it will be an evening of classic American music including film scores, patriotic pops, and more. July 6.

Quilt While You’re Ahead

    Who doesn’t love a nice quilt? If you’ve ever thought about creating one yourself, Cabarrus Arts Council* is offering an “Art on the Go” instructional seminar called The Art of Hand Quilting at multiple locations, July 6^th through 20^th. You’ll learn how to make a mini quilt using the traditional, manual technique of stitching together layers with a hand-sewn running stitch. Here’s the schedule:

• Monday, July 6^th at 6 p.m.
  Harrisburg Library
  (201 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg)
  
• Tuesday, July 7^th at 6 p.m.
  Kannapolis Library 
  (850 Mountain Street, Kannapolis)
  
• Thursday, July 9^th at 6 p.m.
  Concord Library 
  (27 Union Street N., Concord)
  
• Monday, July 13^th at 6 p.m.

Mount Pleasant Library (1111 Washington Street, Mount Pleasant)

• Wednesday, July 15^th at 6 p.m.
  Afton Ridge Library 
  (6095 Glen Afton Boulevard, Kannapolis)
  
• Monday, July 20^th at 5:30 p.m.
  Midland Library 
  (4297 NC-24 27 C, Midland)

These classes coincide with the opening of Flat-Footed Truths: Stories of Lived Experiences at the Galleries of the Cabarrus Arts Council (65 Union Street S., Concord) on Thursday, July 9th from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Inspired by Patricia Bell-Scott’s book Flat-Footed Truths: Telling Black Women’s Lives, this juried quilt exhibition featuring quilts and fiber art that depict the soul-stirring stories of African American women. July 9-October 17.

Fangs Out

Blumenthal Arts* is bringing a bit of Halloween to your summer with Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors at Booth Playhouse (130 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte), July 7^th to August 9^th. A new reimagining of Bram Stoker’s classic tale, this 90-minute gender-bending production is filled with hilarious wordplay and pop culture references. July 7-August 9.

All the Keys

West Market Street United Methodist Church (302 W. Market Street, Greensboro) is hosting All the Keys, a diverse concert featuring piano, harpsichord, and pipe organ, on Thursday, July 9^th at 7 p.m. West Market Street UMC organists Sarah Kennedy and Dreama Lovitt will be joined by Carter Bradley, piano, Marya Fancey, harpsichord, and Bert Davis, Jr., piano, to perform works by Chelsea Chen, Dietrich Buxtehude, Alexander Guilmant, and more. Admission is free but donations of dry and wet cat and dog food for pets in need are encouraged. July 9.

Delicious Davidson

The town ofDavidson is about to get a lot more flavor. Sadler Square (201 Griffith Street, Davidson) welcomes two new tenants this week. Seemingly Overzealous, which specializes in dairy-, egg-, and gluten-free ice cream, is now open. Next door, local favorite Harriet’s Hamburgers opens its newest location in the shopping center on Friday, July 3^rd. Burgers and ice cream? It’s sort of perfect for the Fourth of July weekend. Ilios Crafted Greek is also coming to Sadler Square this month. Since the shopping center is a stone’s throw from WDAV, I’m likely to become a regular at all three of those spots.

Beyond the Fireworks

• Whitewater Center Fourth of July Celebration: Two days of land and water activities, live music, and the Tread, White & Blue 5K trail race (7/4 only). July 3-4.
  
• Christmas in July Festival: A celebration of Ashe County’s Christmas tree industry with handmade arts and crafts, traditional mountain music, food, and family fun in downtown West Jefferson. July 3-4.
  
• Red, White & Homegrown:  Come dressed in your patriotic finest and enjoy farm-fresh foods, prizes, kids’ activities, and a photo booth at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market. July 4.
  
• 4^th of July at Daniel Stowe Conservancy: Start the day with some American classics at “Cars & Coffee” from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and stick around for the family fun of “Red, White & Blooms” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Belmont. July 4.
  
• Ballantyne250: Afternoon of patriotic fun with live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, military appreciation, and more at Ballantyne’s Backyard in Charlotte. July 4.
  
• Stepping into the Craft – Summers in Seagrove: Various events including pottery demonstrations, kiln openings, and hands-on experiences with clay every Saturday in July along the Pottery Highway (NC-705) in Seagrove. July 4-25.
  
• 50^th Anniversary South Carolina Peach Festival: This annual event just screams summer. The fun includes a peach dessert contest, parade, fishing tournament, arts & crafts, car show, and lots of live music in Gaffney. July 9-19.

There’s always a chance a few more things have been added to the WDAV Events Calendar since I finished writing this, so check it out. I hope you have a safe, fun, and memorable Independence Day weekend!

FanFare is made possible in part by:

*Disclosure: Brevard Music Center, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Cabarrus Arts Council, and Blumenthal Arts are WDAV underwriters

The summer music season is hotter than the weather. Opera Carolina, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and Brevard Music Center all have multiple performances to offer over the next week. Plus, a beloved outdoor drama is back for another season in Boone.

Magical Mozart

The Queen of the Night comes to the Queen City as Opera Carolina* brings Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 1791 masterpiece, The Magic Flute, to CPCC’s Dale F. Halton Theater (1206 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte), June 26^th through 28^th. This presentation of Mozart’s enchanting final opera is an international co-production with the Teatro Sociale of Como, Italy. Sunday’s performance is a 2 p.m. matinee. June 26-28.

CSO Weekend Round-Up

The Charlotte Symphony Orchestra* has another action-packed weekend of outdoor performances! It starts with an America 250 celebration at the EnergyExplorium (13339 McGuire Nuclear Station Road, Huntersville) on Friday, June 26^th at 8:30 p.m. Then you can catch the CSO with fireworks at Village Park (740 W. C Street, Kannapolis) on Saturday, June 27^th at 8:30 p.m. And there will be more fireworks as the Summer Pops series comes to close with the annual Celebrate America concert, featuring all-American works by Duke Ellington, John Williams, John Philip Sousa, and more at Symphony Park (4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte) on Sunday, June 28^th. The prelude performance by Charlotte-based progressive bluegrass quartet North State Grass starts at 7 p.m., and the CSO begins at 8:15 p.m. June 26-28.

BMC’s 90^th Anniversary

The Brevard Music Center* Summer Festival officially opens its 90^th season with renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson performing Sergei Rachmaninoff’s brilliant Piano Concerto No. 2 at Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium (349 Andante Lane, Brevard) on Friday, June 26^th at 7:30 p.m. Keith Lockhart will also conduct the Brevard Music Center Orchestra for Anna Clyne’s Masquerade and Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, the Eroica. The next week also includes a Brevard Sinfonia America 250 concert on Sunday, June 28^th at 3 p.m. with works by Samuel Barber, James Stephenson, Aaron Copland, and Carlos Simon. Jim Stephenson’s Quartet for a New Tomorrow performs Bela Bartók’s Contrasts and Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D major, the “Ghost” Trio, at Parker Concert Hall (141 Milner Circle, Brevard) on Monday, June 29^th at 7:30 p.m. There’s much more on the BMC calendar this summer. June 26-29.

History Under the Stars

    Now in its 74^th season, the Revolutionary War outdoor drama, Horn in the West, returns to the Daniel Boone Amphitheater (591 Horn in the West Drive, Boone), Tuesdays through Saturdays from June 26^th to August 8^th. Take your family to experience the riveting story of Daniel Boone and his fellow frontier settlers during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution with music, dance, live battle scenes, and firelight. June 26-August 8.

Free Chamber Music

This summer and fall, the Winston-Salem Symphony* is presenting free chamber music concerts at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center (7632 Warren Park Drive, Lewisville). On Sunday, June 28^th at 3 p.m., the musicians will perform a program of Patriotic Brass & Drums to get you primed for America’s 250^th birthday. June 28.

Choral Premieres

The Cain Center for the Arts* is hosting the International Choral Composers Institute (ICCI) on Sunday, June 28^th at 5 p.m. The ICCI will be welcoming top choral and vocal composers from six countries to present new works in their second World Premieres Concert. Performers include Hila Plitmann, Chessa Metz, the ICCI Choir, plus members of the Charlotte Chamber Choir and Charlotte Master Chorale led by Matt Wetmore. June 28.

Mysterious Pipes

The Piedmont NC Chapter of the American Guild of Organists invites you to enjoy Sounds of the Summer, a five-part exploration of some of Winston-Salem’s magnificent pipe organs. The second installment is called A Little Bit of Mystery and features Mary Lou Kapp Peeples, Christin Baker, and Charles Hogan performing at Fries Memorial Moravian Church (251 N. Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem) on Sunday, June 28^th at 7 p.m. Admission is free. June 28.

Eastern Festival of Music

You may recall that conductor Gerard Schwarz oversaw the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro for many years until it was dissolved in 2025. Now Mr. Schwarz is the music director for this summer’s new Eastern Festival of Music at Guilford College, June 30th through August 1st. The revamped endeavor combines concerts and recitals with an educational program for young artists. The public performances begin with Eastern Chamber Music and a program including works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Arthur Foote on Tuesday, June 30^th at 7:30 p.m. That’s followed by Only Mozart, featuring some of his concertos for piano, flute, and bassoon, on Wednesday, July 1^st at 7:30 p.m. Both of those concerts will be at Dana Auditorium (710 Levi Coffin Drive, Greensboro). June 30-July 1.

CSO in the Mountains

An Appalachian Summer Festival* welcomes the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra to the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts (733 Rivers Street, Boone) on Wednesday, July 1^st at 7:30 p.m. Under the direction of Resident Conductor Christopher James Lees, the CSO will perform a stirring program exploring the longing for beloved places with Antonin Dvořák’s “New World” Symphony and Aaron Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring. July 1.

Keeping Up with the Currys

NBA and Olympic champion Stephen Curry may live and work in the Bay Area, but he hasn’t forgotten his other hometown. The Davidson College alum is opening an East Coast location of his cocktail lounge, The Eighth Rule, at The Ritz-Carlton hotel (201 E. Trade Street, Charlotte) this winter. It’s described as an intimate, bourbon-forward cocktail lounge and social dining destination. Before that, Steph’s wife and two-time New York Times bestselling cookbook author, Ayesha Curry, will be opening her second Sweet July Café at The Ritz-Carlton in July. The menu includes coffee, baked goods, smoothies, and recipes reflecting her Jamaican heritage. Coming 2026.

New Food Hall

When my wife and I can’t agree on where to get dinner, a visit to one of the Charlotte area’s many food halls, such as Alley 51 and Optimist Hall, is always a good option simply for the variety. If you enjoy exploring their multiple culinary options as much as I do, you’ll be interested to know there’s a new food hall coming to the city’s west side. Savona Food Works will be opening in 2027 as part of the redeveloped 105-year-old Savona Mill (500 S. Turner Avenue, Charlotte) near the new Stewart Creek Greenway. The project already features 319 apartments (with more to come), as well as offices and retail space. The 30,000-square-foot Savona Food Works will boast 25 food stalls, a full-service restaurant and bar, coffee shop, rooftop bar, and a flower market. Coming 2027.

Wine, Watermelon, and Water Skis

• Taste of the Mountains: A winemakers dinner featuring six award-winning North Carolina wines paired with a curated multi-course meal at Gertie Mae’s at Overmountain Lodge in Tryon. June 26.
  
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Summer Festival: Find hot summer reads at very cool prices at the West Boulevard Library. June 27.
  
• Lizard Man Stomp: Explore the legend of South Carolina’s Lizard Man with music, food, and monster lore in Bishopville. June 27.
  
• Watermelon Day: A day of games, activities, watermelon treats at the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market. You might even win a watermelon! June 28.
  
• Bailey Mountain International Folk Festival: Multi-day cultural exchange through global music and dance performances, workshops, and collaborative experiences in Mars Hill. July 1-5.
  
• U.S. of Cay: Three-day celebration of America 250 with Lake Wylie boat parade and ski show, Uncle Sam Jam concert, American heroes’ parade, fish fry, and fireworks in Tega Cay, SC. July 2-4.

Don’t forget to bookmark the WDAV Events Calendar. There’s always good stuff popping up there, too!

FanFare is made possible in part by:

*Disclosure: Opera Carolina, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Music Center, Winston-Salem Symphony, Cain Center for the Arts, and An Appalachian Summer Festival are WDAV underwriters.