Winston-Salem is home to diverse cultures. | Photo by Hispanic League, Winston-Salem
Lucky you. You just found WStoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Winston-Salem each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month.
Seasonal events
Salem Band Stars & Stripes Concert | Friday, July 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Salem Square, Old Salem | Free | The performance honors veterans in our community with marches, big bands, and sing-alongs featuring Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, American Salute + 76 Trombones.
Festivals
The Big Chill | Saturday, July 19 | 3-6 p.m. | Bailey Park | Cost of purchase | Indulge in homemade ice cream, games, and shop from food vendors at this family-friendly event. Proceeds will go to The Shalom Project of WS.
Hands-on-History Day | Saturday, July 19 | 1:30-4:30 p.m. | Historic Bethabara Park | Free | Get your hands-on-history by interacting with an 18th-century candle maker and blacksmith + watching a soap making demonstration, and other fun activities.
Flower Pop-Up | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | The Snob Shop | Cost of purchase | Choose from a variety of specialty blooms of dried flowers from Idella’s Garden, a botanical art + floral design boutique.
Cocktails at Capone’s | 5-9 p.m. | Robert Hall | Cost of purchase | Bartenders from Thirsty Buffalo will serve up a curated list of specialty cocktails, from timeless classics to non-alcoholic offerings.
Friday, June 27
Binding Blank Books Workshop | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Single Brother’s Workshop, Old Salem | $35, RSVP | Old Salem craftspeople will help you create small journals, ledgers, and pocket sketchbooks just like in the 18th-century Moravian times.
Lunch & Learn: Risotto Cakes | 12-1 p.m. | Southern Home & Kitchen | $40, RSVP | Instructor Dianne McConnell will guide you through the steps of making the savory dish perfect for lunch or a side dish.
Saturday, June 28
Bailey Beats: Drew Foust & The Wheelhouse | 5-7 p.m. | Bailey Park | Free | Spend an evening on the lawn and listen to the combined sounds of Southern musical roots with classic rock n’ roll. Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Salem City vs. Charlotte Independence | 7 p.m. | Truist Sports Park, Bermuda Run | $7+ | Bring your team spirit and cheer on The Beasts as they go head-to-head with their competitor in a thrilling match.
Summer Reading is in full swing. There are plenty of book recs to check out at the library, from fantasy to romance and thrillers. Record up to three books you’ve read as part of the Forsyth County Library summer reading program for a chance to win a prize.
Community
Whether you’re looking for a place to hang or beat the heat, Culture WS has extended its studio hours. Bring your own project to work on or use the art supplies provided at the makerspace located on the 9th floor of Liberty Plaza. Check out seven more coworking spaces in the Twin City.
Announced
Meet Wake Forest University’s 2025 Maya Angelou Artist-in-Residence. The three-time Grammy winner, Brandford Marsalis has been selected for his contributions to jazz, classical music, film, and Broadway industries, plus the creative spirit he brings to the campus.
Try This
Celebrate Black Music Month at Crate Dig and Chill today from 8 to 11 p.m. Shop vinyl records, watch special performances from members of the Artistic Elements Residency + enjoy vegan and non-vegan bites at the CMPND. RSVP and bring a $10 donation to the event.
Asked
Reader Jennifer A. is in search of Bingo places around Winston-Salem that are open in the early afternoon for seniors from 1 to 4 p.m. Know of any spots?Drop us a line and let us know.
Today Is
National Work From Home Day, a chance to acknowledge how far we’ve come technologically in allowing people to work from anywhere. When we work from “home” here at WStoday, we consider local coffee shops and parks the perfect newsletter-writing spots. Where do you like to bring your laptop?
Eat
Think of it as a campfire classic — reimagined for your microwave. This s’mores mug cake blends honey graham cracker crumbs, melted chocolate chips, and gooey marshmallow creme in a single-serve dessert ready in just 10 minutes. Sweet tooth, satisfied.*
This doctor-recommended vibrator has been shown in published studies to help heighten arousal and support comfort when dryness occurs, thanks to its ultra-flexible shape designed to stimulate all the right spots. Even better? Save 30% today.*
Finance
It turns out all that glitters is gold — at least, in a gold IRA, which lets you hold real gold minus the storage hassle. (Gold is projected to hit $4,000 an ounce by 2026.) Grab your glitter.†*
The basics you need while they’re on sale. Amazon Basics just marked down tons of products in a sale exclusive for Prime members — time to restock the bathroom/office/supply closet shelves:
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Greater Winston-Salem began its search for the city’s most outstanding young leaders for the 2025 Leadership Awards. Nominees must live or work in Forsyth County and be between 21-40 years old. Know a rising star or an exceptional editor (aka yours truly)? Send your nomination for the award by Friday, July 25.
