Visit Hillsborough, NC

2024 Last Fridays & the Art Walk!
2024-11-29 17:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Downtown Historic Hillsborough, 101 S Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278
March – November, Last Fridays & the Art Walk are FREE monthly events celebrating art, culture, & community in Hillsborough, NC, featuring:

The Art Walk (Year-round) – 20+ venues offering exciting exhibitions, live music, family-friendly activities, and more.
Roaming Poets (March-November) – A lineup of local poets, storytellers, and spoken word artists stopping at multiple Art Walk venues throughout the evening.
Living Arts (March-November) – Drumming, dance, and other interactive opportunities to connect with nature and community with the Living Arts Collective in River Park.
Makers Markets (May-October) – Local artists, community groups, live music, special programming, family activities, and crafts on the Old Courthouse Lawn.

Learn more about each monthly event lineup at www.lastfridays.org! *Details on this page are generally finalized the week before each Last Friday event.

A Small Town Family Holiday Event and Tree Lighting!
2024-11-30 15:00 - 18:00 | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
A Small Town Family Holiday – Come make cherished memories with your family and start your holiday shopping with our local merchants!

Join the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce and Hillsborough Visitors Center for a magical holiday experience! Bring the whole family for an afternoon filled with festive fun:
Photos with Santa – Capture the magic of the season! Reindeer Games – Fun for kids of all ages! Storytime with Mrs. Claus – Enjoy a heartwarming holiday tale. Tree Lighting Ceremony – End the evening with a charming stroll to the historic courthouse for our official tree lighting!

Activities to be hosted at the Hillsborough Visitors Center (150 E King). This event is FREE and open to the public! For questions please reach out to The Hillsborough Visitors Center at 919-732-7741. For more information, visit the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1766651927430695/?ref=newsfeed

This event is part of Hillsborough’s Hometown Holidays – Don’t miss our other festive fun with the annual Gingerbread Stroll, Holiday Parade on December 8th, Winter Solstice Lantern Walk on December 21st. Keep an eye on the Visit Hillsborough community calendar for all the fun!

Hillsborough Gallery of Arts Pop-Up Market
2024-12-07 12:00 - 16:00 | Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, 121 N. Churton St., Hillsborough, 27278
Holiday Pop-up Market You’re sure to find the perfect gift at our second annual Holiday Pop-up! Shop handmade jewelry, ornaments, pottery, blown glass, original paintings, prints and more!
Enter to Win a $50 HGA Gift Card!
December 7th, Noon-4 Participanting Artists: Helen Bower, Ryann Carey, Nell Chandler, Mark Kinsella, Jude Lobe, Pat Merriman, Nancy Smith, Ellie Snow, Pringle Teetor, Evelyn Ward, Lynn Wartski

Fine Art & Jewelry Night
2024-12-10 18:00 - 20:00 | Leland Little Auctions, 620 Cornerstone Ct. , Hillsborough, NC, United States
Spend an evening with Leland Little and explore the unique lots offered in our Fine Art, Fine Jewelry, and Decorative Art Auctions. Speak with our department specialists about these upcoming sales. Try on fine jewelry, browse furniture, fine art, sculpture, and more. There will be plenty of wine and hors d’oeuvres to go around, all while enjoying live music performed by students from NCCU’s Jazz Studies Program. Don’t miss this lively evening full of good food, great music, and engaging conversation. For tickets click this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fine-art-jewelry-night-tickets-1050718506337?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Christmas Chicken, A New Musical, Free Staged Reading with Songs
2024-12-14 11:00 - 12:30, 2024-12-14 14:00 - 15:30
It’s Christmas Eve in Victorian England, and Jack, a young blind boy, wishes for a dog from Santa. Down the chimney comes a dog! (Or a chicken?) And adventures ensue. Hear new songs written by local artists as well as holiday carols. Free but tickets are recommended at: shorturl.at/rZTZx.
Supported by the NC Arts Council, a division of the Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and Durham Arts Council, local grants administrator.

Pete the Cat: Original Art by James Dean
2025-01-03 - 2025-01-04, 2025-01-10 - 2025-01-11, 2025-01-17 - 2025-01-18, 2025-01-24 - 2025-01-25, 2025-01-31 - 2025-02-01, 2025-02-07 - 2025-02-08, 2025-02-14 - 2025-02-15, 2025-02-21 - 2025-02-22 and 5 more dates | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
“Pete the Cat: Original Art by James Dean” on view in Hillsborough, NC, 1/3/25 through 4/3/25
Hillsborough, NC – The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and Mike’s Art Truck are excited to present “Pete the Cat: Original Art by James Dean.” This selection of Dean’s popular “CAT-themed” paintings will be on display from January 3 through April 3, 2025, at the Alexander Dickson House, the historic building which houses the Hillsborough Visitors Center.
Artist James Dean, self-taught creator of that iconic blue feline, Pete the Cat, graciously shares a unique collection of his original paintings in this exhibition. The show is expected to confirm once again that “Everybody Loves Pete.” Exhibition artwork is available for purchase directly through Mike’s Art Truck. For information email mikesarttruck@centurylink.net, or visit their website at www.mikesarttruck.com. All of the exhibition artwork can be viewed on the same website.
The Alexander Dickson House and Hillsborough Visitors Center is located at 150 E. King St., in downtown Hillsborough, NC. Admission to the exhibit is free and open to the public during regular visitor hours. Free parking is available. For more information about Historic Hillsborough, including the Visitors Center, please visit http://www.visithillsboroughnc.com.

Stories that Connect Us
2025-02-06 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-02-13 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-02-20 17:30 - 19:00, 2025-02-27 17:30 - 19:00 | Passmore Center, 103 Meadowlands Dr. , Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
A Community Conversation on Telling the Full Story
Discover the stories that shape our community in a special four-part conversation series! Hosted by the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and the Telling the Full Story committee, each session dives into the history of local sites from our interactive map, with engaging video presentations and oral histories that bring these places to life. Join us for lively discussions and reflections on the impact of these spaces in Hillsborough.
Mark your calendar for Thursday evenings in February 2025, 5:30–7:00 PM at the Passmore Center in Hillsborough, NC. Come to learn, connect, and be inspired—see you there!
Registration is not required, but it is encouraged. Click here to register: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/the-stories-that-connect-us-series
What is Telling the Full Story: The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough’s Telling the Full Story program seeks to uncover and share the diverse, often untold histories of Hillsborough. Through community conversations, interactive maps, and oral histories, this program invites everyone to explore the people, events, and places that have shaped our community, fostering a richer understanding of our shared heritage.
February 6th: Entrepreneurship in the 20th Century
Explore the rich history of local entrepreneurship in the 20th century during this engaging session of the Telling the Full Story Conversation Series. Committee members will spotlight three important sites: the Warner Complex, Shanklin Press, and Faribault BBQ. Through oral history videos and lively discussions, attendees will learn about the impact of these businesses on our community’s economy and culture.
February 13th: The Land Remembers
Uncover the deep historical connections between land and memory. The conversation will focus on three significant sites: Margaret Lane Cemetery, the Mayo Rock Quarry, and the Occaneechi Replica Village. Through video presentations and insightful discussions, attendees will learn how these places carry stories of resilience, culture, and history that continue to shape our community today.
February 20th: Community Institutions
Discover the vital role of community institutions in shaping local history. Focused on Dickerson Chapel AME Church and the former Central High School, which also hosted Agnes Kindergarten, attendees will learn about the central place these institutions held in the lives of African Americans in the area. Through oral histories and lively discussion, we will explore how these sites fostered education, faith, and community during a time of segregation and change.
February 27th: Navigating Freedom
Examine the theme of freedom through the lives of those who navigated and shaped it in our community. Featured stories will include the life of Jesse Ruffin, a key figure in local history, and the Midwives Retirement Community, which became a haven for trailblazing women like Peggy Faribault and Fanny Breeze. Through oral histories and thoughtful conversation, attendees will learn how these individuals and places played a crucial role in fostering freedom, independence, and resilience.

ERB Spring Fling
2025-03-30 12:00 - 17:00 | eno river brewing, 329 Eno Mountain Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
We are so excited to invite you all to our very first Spring Fling Makers Market! Everyone had such an amazing time at Fall Fest 2024, that we couldn’t wait another whole year to get everyone back together! We have some returnees, and a lot of new faces joining us! There will be groovy tunes, a ton of local small businesses and some delicious eats from @mrdonsfamouschickenribs ! We will be slanging beer and merch in the backyard, to encourage even more outdoor time! Everything will get rocking and rolling by noon, so get here early, bring your camping chairs and picnic blankets, and get ready to shop all your new favorite local makers!

Open Farm Day at Firefly Farm
2025-04-05 08:00 - 18:00 | Firefly Farm, 4911 Hunt Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
You are invited to the Open Farm Day at Firefly Farm . Saturday, April 5, 2025, 8 am till 6 pm. This free event is the perfect opportunity to see what we are growing. We are a U-pick flower farm, growing many varieties of flowers. Come out and wander the farm and pet the animals.
Schedule of Events for Open Farm Day at Firefly Farm
No ticket needed – free event, open to the public
8 am – Gates open. Farmer Cindy and staff will be available to answer any questions you may have. Wander the farm – be our guest! While the wildflowers are not ready for the U-pick season yet, this is a great time to see what the farm has to offer. Select flowers will be available for purchase and we may have a special opportunity for U-pick tulips. Park at the barn or in the overflow lot (follow the yellow signs). Check in at the barn to begin your adventure (map available). Walk the labyrinth. Say hello to the farm animals and the unicorn. Swing on the farm swing. Touch a tractor. Find a hammock and take a nap while the kids make a craft. Enjoy the fresh air and run around outside. Make it your day.
Special activity: Farm tours will occur at 10 am, noon, 2 pm and 4 pm. Meet Farmer Cindy at the barn and she will lead you around some of the flower gardens and discuss what is happening on the farm. Feel free to ask questions. During the 10 am and 4 pm tours, we will feed the animals!
Vendors joining us include: Burger Bistro, Smokehouse Bandits BBQ, Ms. Tori and her crafts (A Child’s Creative Curiosity), State Farm, First National Bank, CirclesandSymmetry Etsy store and others! Plan on buying some delicious food and sweets, finding your favorite spot on the farm, and having a picnic on a beautiful Spring day!
6 pm – Gates close. Thank you for joining us! www.fireflyfarmnc.com

Drift Opening Reception
2025-04-25 18:00 - 21:00 | Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, 121 N. Churton St., Hillsborough, 27278
DRIFT: New work by watercolorist, Ryann Carey and furniture maker, Pete Rodrigues

Saturday Slowdown at RambleRill Farm: Market and Open Farm Day
2025-05-03 10:00 - 14:00 | Ramble Rill Farm, 913 Arthur Minnis Road, Hillsborough, NC, 27516, United States
Join us for the first Saturday Slowdown of 2025. Shop local makers and growers, wander the farm and trails, visit the goats and chickens, bring your lunch, relax and slowdown with us! Family friendly. Saturday, 5.3.25, 10am-2pm. 913 Arthur Minnis Road Hillsborough, NC. Free Admission.

Concert on the Courtyard Series
2025-05-14 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-05-21 18:00 - 19:30 | The Colonial Inn, 153 W King St., Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Welcome to May at The Colonial Inn!
The flowers aren’t the only things blooming this month—so is our live music lineup
>>> Check out the schedule below:

Wednesday May 14th: Tea Cup Gin 6pm
Wednesday May 21st: Bob Hartford 6pm
Monday May 26th: Houda Idrissi 6pm
Friday May 30th: Charlotte Morris 6pm – Part of Hillsborough Arts Council’s Last Fridays & Art Walk

Sponsored by Hillsborough Real Estate Group
Let May be full of music, memories, and community.

Trivia Nights at the Rookery
2025-05-14 19:00 - 21:00 | The Rookery, 115 West Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Join us at The Rookery for Trivia Night in partnership with Orange County Public Library! Every Wednesday from 7-8pm starting on May 14th!! Teams or individuals welcome! Winner(s) get a free round of drinks on the house! Free parking in the parking deck beyond the Public Library.
