Free outdoor concert series | From symphony-serenaded picnics to garden gigs and skyline views, these recurring live music events will be part of your soundtrack this summer.
Must-visit wineries this summer | From breathtaking views to award-winning wines, savor each sip at these highly-rated wineries around Winston-Salem.
Winston-Salem pets: Give them a round of a-paws | Meet some of the furry residents of Winston-Salem and get inspired to help an animal find its fur-ever home with our shelter adoption guide.
Events
Events
Friday, May 30
Red Umber | 7-10 p.m. | Sage and Salt Bistro | Free admission | The local band brings the heat with bold sounds and feel-good vibes during a relaxing evening of food and crafted drinks.
Souljam | 8 p.m. | Wise Man Brewing | Free admission | Groove to your favorite 1990s and 2000s hits with this well-known local band — get there early for a good spot.
Saturday, May 31
Drop off Days for The Secondhand Story | Times vary | Bookmarks | Free | Drop off your donations (used books of various genres) for the biggest book sale of the year.
Pickleball Tournament | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Foothills Brewing Tasting Room | $20 | Join the competitive bracket and show off your skills for a chance to earn bragging rights. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Southern Harmony featuring Martha Bassett | 7:30-9 p.m. | Wait Chapel, Wake Forest University | $35+ | Hear the Piedmont Wind Symphony bring a rich tapestry of Southern musical traditions to life, blending folk, bluegrass, and gospel influences.
Sunday, June 1
Local Ladies Market | 1-4 p.m. | Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing | Cost of purchase | Women artists and makers will display items like vintage clothing, jewelry, dog treats, and flowers for sale. Family First Workshop: Seascape Scenes | 2-4 p.m. | Reynolda House | $15 | Follow along with printmaking techniques and simple origami to create sea, sky, and sailboats — children should be accompanied by at least one adult.
Watermelon Fan Chinese Painting Workshop | 3-4:30 p.m. | Vecino Center for Language and Culture | $35 | The workshop introduces a step-by-step Chinese painting brush technique that’ll help you paint your vibrant creation on a decorative fan.
🎵 Rock out this summer at “the Red Rocks of the Blue Ridge”
Presented by Blue Ridge Music Center
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Blue Ridge Music Center hosts performances amidst the picturesque Appalachain Mountains. | Photos courtesy Mike Duncan (1, 2, 4, 5), Two Rivers (3)
If live music, Blue Ridge views, and cool mountain air sound like your ideal summer night, let us introduce you to this hidden-gem music venue: The Blue Ridge Music Center.
Nestled at the foot of Fisher Peak just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, this outdoor music venue is rich with Appalachian heritage + beauty, and home to the sounds of the region every May-October.
The Music Center’s Summer Saturday Concert Series brings some of your favorite artists to the mountains, with past acts including Grammy winners like Sierra Ferrell, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Doc Watson. Check out this year’s lineup + grab tickets.
Pro tip— stay the weekend to discover everything that makes the Music Center worth the road trip:
Bar Piña is closing after nearly eight years downtown. The rooftop bar will celebrate its last hurrah this weekend with live DJs and funk vibes Friday and Saturday.
Eat
As May — aka National Burger Month — comes to a close, DoorDash has released data on the most popular burger in each state. Turns out, North Carolinians are flipping out over turkey burgers. If this sparked a craving, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar comes highly recommended by local diners. (Food & Wine)
Kids
$139. That’s the starting cost for a single-day ticket to Universal’s new Epic Universe, which the public can begin using on Sunday, June 1. Food for thought: The same amount of money could get you a year-long family membership to the Sawtooth School for Visual Art. (USA Today)
Watch
The armchair experts have spoken, and North Carolina’s most popular TV genre is cooking shows, according to data by SmartMove. If you ask us, our favorite genre is local — and we’ve got some recommendations to add to your streaming list. (Mental Floss)
History
The US Treasury Department has placed its last order for penny blanks and announced plans to stop making the one-cent coin. The coin was minted in 1793, making the penny nearly as old as Old Salem. According to this, Salem is older, while Winston and Winston-Salem are newer. (Newsweek)
Work stress could be silently hurting your heart. Those clocking 55+ hours weekly face a significantly higher risk of heart disease. Find out how stress affects your heart, take a quick five-minute risk quiz, and get simple steps to improve your heart health from the experts at Novant Health.*
City Guide
City Guide
We’re on a mission to explore
The perfect way to cool off on a hot day. | Photo by City of Winston-Salem Recreation and Parks via @ws_recreationparks
We’re not kiddin’ around when it comes to having fun in town. From major attractions like Kaleideum to hidden gems like the Washington Park playground, there’s something in Winston-Salem for children of all ages.
You’ll have no trouble entertaining the youngsters with this list of 25+ kid-friendly activities around the Twin City.
🌳 Great outdoors
Tanglewood Park, 4061 Clemmons Rd., Clemmons
There’s plenty to explore at this quiet park, including swimming, tennis, and soft golf. Kids will remember exploring the outdoors on horseback after visiting Tanglewood Stables.
👟 Get moving
Splash Pads, multiple locations | Kids can cool off at nine splash pads around the city that are open May 1 through September 25. Kids will remember dodging buckets of water and slipping down the slides.
🎢 Thrill-seeking fun
Miracle Heights Adventures, 1001 Reynolda Rd. | Located on the campus of Crossnore Communities for Children, the ropes course hosts pay-to-play days that are open to the public. Kids will remember the sense of accomplishment once they complete the course.
A great find in Nordstrom’s Half-Yearly Sale. Get up to 60% off dresses, shoes, tees, and beauty before the sale ends this weekend. Here’s what we’re eyeing:
It’s National Water a Flower Day! If you’re looking for tips on gardening this season, see what Forsyth County Extension Horticulture Agent Leslie Rose has to say. Plus, I’ve been getting some great gardening tips from the “Grow Your Garden with Andy” series on Instagram — highly recommend following along for the gems she drops weekly.
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