Art, music, beer, and fun: Here’s your guide to Cary’s Lazy Daze Festival

Kristen Johnson
N&O file photo

The Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival returns to downtown Cary this weekend with an array of activities, live music and food.

For two days, 300 artists will set up shop in Cary’s Town Hall campus at 316 N. Academy St. to continue a 46-year tradition of celebrating the “lazy daze” of summer, according to a press release.

The festival takes place Aug. 27-28 and kicks off with an opening ceremony featuring the Cary High School Marching Band at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. All events end both evenings at 5 p.m.

The event, hosted by the Town of Cary and Cary Art Daze, has welcomed guests to the town every last weekend in August since its inception in 1977, with the exception of 2020. This year will feature a beer garden, interactive art activities, a kid’s world area, and demonstrations from professional craftsmen.

Each year, proceeds from Lazy Daze are given back to the Cary community in the form of grants benefiting projects that have a cultural arts focus. Over the past 46 years, more than $800,000 has been given to more than 80 nonprofit organizations and projects in the town.

If you’re coming to the festival, here’s what you need to know about Lazy Daze.

Entertainment

A full list of the times of each musical performance can be found in the Lazy Daze booklet on their website.

Saturday

On Aug. 27, there are about 17 local musicians performing on three stages set up downtown throughout the festival.

On the main stage, after the opening ceremony, the Cary Town Band performs at 9:45 a.m., followed by performances by Learn Bhangra Academy, Oak City Sound, Public Opinion and Crush.

Over at the Kid’s World Stage, the first performance is at 10 a.m. with Applause! Cary Youth Theatre, Professor Whizzpop, Storytime with Justine, Tain Juggling Magic Show, and Motley Tones.

At the Food Truck Stage, the Triangle area-based Adam Lee Decker Band performs at 9 a.m., followed by local groups Doug Prescott Band, Wake Moody and Durham-based jazz singer Al Strong.

Sunday

The following day, performances kick off at 10 a.m. on the main stage with dancer Nikita Rao, Pavithra, Mysti Mayhem, Peter Lamb & the Wolves, and a closing performance by the Middle Creek High School Marching Band at 4 p.m.

At the Kid’s World Stage, Professor Whizzpop performs at 10 a.m., followed by Interactive Theater of Jef, Storytime with Justine, and Motley Tones throughout the day.

Carson Mac and Unlike Businessman takes over the Food Truck Stage at 10 a.m. with following performances by Diamond Creek, and Jason Adamo Band.

Both days, there will be roving entertainment throughout the festival from musicians such as Bubble Artist, Mirror Man, Silver Drummer Girl, Stilt Walker, Street Organist and the Town Crier.

Special Activities

There are more than 10 activities that offer information about Cary and for attendees to participate in.

You can leave your mark at Lazy Daze by painting in a community art project with the Paint By Numbers Mural. Painters can grab a cup of paint and a brush and fill in your designated numbers on the mural.

There is also a chance to paint with Wine & Design of Cary. Participants can register for a spot at the group’s booth on the Town Hall Lawn.

Local artisans will also be hosting live demonstrations, including leatherworking and gourd painting from the Raleigh Leatherworks Guild and the North Carolina Gourd Society.

George-ann Greth will demonstrate glass-blowing and the Woodturners Guild of N.C. will show you how to turn wood.

Additionally, Cary’s official town crier, or person who makes announcements, John Webster and his wife, Mary, will also be in the Lazy Daze crowd greeting people.

Other activities include:

  • Kid’s World! with stage performances, art projects from the Goddard School and face painting

  • Play Zone

  • Live painting with Britt Flood, a North Carolina-based painter

  • A history timeline

  • Tour of the galleries in the Page-Walker Arts & History Center

  • Find Little Jerry

  • Exhibits and galleries

  • Cultural groups involvement information

  • Our Town services table

Food and drinks

Restaurants and food trucks will be set up in four sections throughout the festival Saturday and Sunday.

The Cary Sister Cities Beer Garden is located in section “B” in the central courtyard at Town Hall at 316 North Academy St. The garden will have extensive seating, tents and shade trees with a live band.

At the beer garden, you can find authentic German beers, wines and bratwurst lunches, pretzels and traditional German baked goods.

Section D

  • Boozie Bakes

  • Chick-fil-A (Saturday only)

  • Jay’s Italian Ice.

Section E

  • Andia’s Ice Cream

  • Buffolina

  • Carriage House Coffee

  • Corner Boys BBQ

  • Cousins Main Lobster

  • Gussy’s Greek Street Food

  • Jolly’s Catering and Events

  • Las Gringas

  • Mr. A’s Beignets.

Section F

  • Big Mike’s BBQ

  • Buoy Bowls

  • Curry in a Hurry

  • Epic Vegan

  • Flattz

  • Happy Belly

  • LaFarm Bakery

  • L’Arepa

  • St. Popperville Kettlecorn & Lemonade

Parking and transportation

Due to limited parking for the festival downtown Cary, one of the most convenient ways to get to Lazy Daze is to take a free shuttle bus.

There are two locations for the shuttle: Chiesi USA at Regency at 175 Regency Woods and Green Hope High School at 2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road.

Buses depart around the clock starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and leave the festival both days at 5:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, parking for the festival can be found at these locations:

  • Street parking downtown

  • Downtown Library Parking Deck

  • Parking lot behind the Cary Arts Center. This lot is accessible by Faculty Street.

Additionally, accessible parking is limited but is available in the Fire Department Administration Parking Lot. Because this parking lot is behind festival barricades, to access this lot approach the festival from the south via South Academy Street or east/west via Chatham Street and indicate you would like access this lot, according to the Town of Cary website.

Featured artists & guidelines

Jamaican artist Charlton Cole is the featured artist for Lazy Daze this year. Cole’s work titled “A Local Treasure” will be on display at the festival.

Several local artists will also be announced as this year’s 2022 Jerry Miller Award winners. Created in 2001, the awards are meant to commemorate the 25th annual Lazy Daze festival and honor the founder, Jerry Miller.

Though this event is outdoors, dogs are not allowed in the festival. Service dogs are permitted, according to the festival’s website.

Additionally, no smoking, weapons, skateboards, skates, or bikes, or drones or fireworks are allowed in the festival.

For all updates during the event, you can text LAZY to 51597.

Other information about the event can be found at the Town of Cary’s Lazy Daze website.

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