Ready to see Winston-Salem in bloom? From flower displays and outdoor live music to plant sales and community gardens, spring is when our city starts to thrive and summer is when it comes alive.
Get ready to experience the natural beauty the Twin City has to offer with this guide featuring 20+ spring/summer events.
Outdoor live music
- Incendiary Brewing Co. Taproom Live Music | The Coalpit, 486 N. Patterson Ave., Ste. 105 | Thursdays | 6 p.m.-9 p.m. | Free | Lineups include the Camel City Blues, Men in Black, Blind Joy Band, and more.
- Spring Jam | Wise Man Brewing, 826 Angelo Bros Ave. | Saturday, April 13 | 12 p.m.-12 a.m. | Free | Listen to the funk/alternative jam band Jacoozy, and sing along to your favorite country and pop songs. Order your meal from local food trucks and shop from a vintage vendor thrift bus.
- House Hangs | SECCA (North Carolina Museum of Art, Winston-Salem), 750 Marguerite Dr. | Last Friday of the month | 5-8 p.m. | Free | Satisfy your taste buds with dinner cooked by local chefs and seasonal cocktails while a local DJ plays beats.
- Music Under the Stars | Shallowford Square, 6555 Shallowford Rd., Lewisville | Saturday, June 8-Saturday, Oct. 5 | Times vary | Free | Whether you’re into bluegrass, jazz, classic rock, or Top 40 hits, the concert series will feature local musicians the whole family can enjoy.
Concerts
- Salem Band 2024 Summer Concert Series | Salem Square, 69 S. Main St. | Tuesday, May 7-Tuesday, Aug. 6 | Free | The oldest continuous mixed wind ensemble in the US will once again perform outdoor concerts, this year with themes like Puppet Magic and Disco and Dance.
- Summerlark | Bailey Park, 445 Patterson Ave. | Saturday, May 11 | $50 | Barenaked Ladies will headline the third annual fundraiser for the Cancer Patient Support Program at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Local band Crenshaw Pentacostal will open the show — food trucks and a free photo booth will also be set up.
- Indoor Concert Series | Fairgrounds Arena, 414 Deacon Blvd. | Friday, May 24-Saturday, Aug. 17 | Times vary | $28-90 | R+B soul singers Jeffrey Osborne and Keith Washington kick off the series this year. Country acts Josh Turner and Jo Dee Messina follow. Pro tip: Have $10 cash handy to pay for parking at the coliseum lot off Deacon Boulevard.
Watch the beautiful sunset while walking through the blooming flower farm during spring.
Photo courtesy of @dogwoodfarmsupick
Flower displays + plant sales
- Poppy Festival | Dogwood Farms, 8096 Belews Creek Rd., Belews Creek | Saturday, May 4 | $8- $10 | Ride in a hot air balloon, shop from local and regional vendors, and don’t miss out on photo ops at the farm with blooming flowers. Pro tip: See the blooming flowers earlier on the farm’s opening day — Saturday, April 27.
- Spring Festival | Armstrong Artisan Farm, 1499 Brook Cove Rd., Walnut Cove | Fridays + Saturdays until May 25 | $12.50-$40 | Stroll through the tulip fields, pick your own strawberries, and pet farm animals. Other activities include exploring the farm with a hayride or a horse-drawn wagon ride.
- Spring Plant Sale | Reynolda House Museum of American Art (front lawn), 2250 Reynolda Rd. | Saturday, April 20 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Free entry | Shop specialty and rare annuals, perennials, tropicals, and other plants that grow well in Winston-Salem. Pro tip: Get a preview of plants ahead of the big sale.
- Spring Vintage Market | Körner’s Folly, 413 S. Main St., Kernersville | Saturday, April 20 | 9 a.m.–2 p.m. | Free entry | Shop from 35+ vendors at this outdoor market, featuring locally handmade and vintage items including jewelry, paintings, pottery, and more.
- Spring Plant Sale at Tanglewood Park | Arboretum and Gardens, 4201 Manor House Circle, Clemmons | Friday, May 3-Saturday, May 4 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Free | Enjoy the beauty of the gardens and shop from a selection of herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs and trees, native plants, milkweed, annuals, herbs, and more. Pro tip: Bring cash or checks for your purchases.
Outdoor picnics + movies
- Picnic in the Park | Bailey Park, 445 Patterson Ave. | Second Wednesday of the month | 6-8 p.m. | Free | Enjoy fresh air and sunshine and choose from an array of food trucks while listening to local artists perform rock ‘n’ roll, country music, Afrobeats, and more.
- Movies Under the Stars | Bailey Park, 445 Patterson Ave. | Third Friday of every month (except July) | At dusk | Free | Watch romance, action, magic, and comedy on the big screen.
Bring your furry friend for a movie night out under the stars.
Photo by @blue_photography_nc
- Movies in the Park | Location varies (TBD) | Saturday, June 15-Saturday, Aug. 17 | Begins at sunset | Free | Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, grab food from local vendors, and watch a movie on the big screen.
- Starlight Movie Nights | Shallowford Square Pavilion, 6555 Shallowford Rd., Lewisville | Friday, May 17-Friday, Oct. 11 | Begins at sunset | Free | Screenings include: “Jurassic Park”, “Paw Patrol”, and “Jumanji” — come early to “Jurassic Park” and “Jumanji” for a chance to win prizes when Girl Scout Troop 40047 hosts bingo.
Holidays
- Military Appreciation Concert | Shallowford Square, 6555 Shallowford Rd., Lewsiville | Monday, May 27 | 6-8 p.m. | Free | The American Legion Post 522 will present the colors and Pledge of Allegiance + “The Embers featuring Craig Woolard” will perform live.
- Memorial Day | Carolina Field of Honor at Triad Park, 9652 W. Market St., Kernersville | Monday, May 27 | 11 a.m. | Free| Former NC governor Pat McCrory will give remarks during the ceremony and more than 4,000 veterans will be honored at the monument. Pro tip: Bring a lawn chair — the ceremony will take place rain or shine.
- Juneteenth | Bailey Park, 445 Patterson Ave. | Saturday, June 15 | 1–8 p.m. | Free | Celebrate the 159th anniversary of freedom of the African American community with food, dances, cultural exhibits, and more.
Parades + festivals
- ART Crush | Arts District, 6th & Trade St. | April-December (third Friday of every month) | 7 p.m. | Cost of purchase | Shop from local vendors and participate in arts-centric exhibits, while listening to music.
- Gears and Guitars | Bailey Park, 445 N. Patterson Ave. | Friday, May 24-Saturday, May 25 | Times vary | $0-$60 | Watch or participate in one of the country’s most prestigious cycling events combined with free live music from various bands.
- Special Olympics Forsyth County | Bailey Park, 445 Patterson Ave. | Friday, May 17 | 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. | Free | Watch more than 1,800 athletes compete in 15 different sports including basketball, cheerleading, swimming, and golf.
- Winston-Salem Greek Festival | Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 435 Keating Dr. | Friday, May 17-Sunday, May 19 | $3 | Celebrate Greek food, music, and artisans with folk dancing, live music, shopping, church tours, and activities for kids.
Not just for bicycle enthusiasts, Gears and Guitars creates a unique atmosphere downtown you don’t want to miss.
Photo by @innovationquarter
- Pride Festival Parade and Food Truck Rodeo | Saturday, June 22 | 10 a.m.-11:59 p.m. | Downtown Arts District, Trade Street | Free | Pride Winston-Salem hosts a downtown parade and festival featuring live music, entertainment, street vendors, and hands-on activities.
- International Black Theatre Festival | Various locations | Monday, July 29-Saturday, Aug. 3 | Times vary | Costs vary | The biennial festival returns to the Twin City with performances on multiple stages, including films, seminars, poetry slams, dance performances, and some celebrity appearances.
Some of these events might be canceled or postponed due to weather changes. Check the organization social media for the latest updates.
Seasonal essentials
- Tired of losing your sunglasses in the water? These floating sunglasses provide optimal clarity and comfort for all your summer adventures.
- Shield yourself from the sun while adding a touch of flair to your outfit with one of our hats.
- This iceless cooler keeps your drinks cold for 7 hours.
