Open Mic at Yonder
2025-07-22 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-07-29 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-08-05 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-08-12 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-08-19 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-08-26 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-09-02 19:30 - 23:00, 2025-09-09 19:30 - 23:00 (America/New_York) and 2 more dates | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew, 114 W King St, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Orange County’s BEST ACOUSTIC Open Mic!

🎤 Yonder Open Mic NightEvery Tuesday, Hillsborough’s coziest living room turns into a showcase of local talent—and you’re invited! Whether you’re a seasoned performer or just ready to belt out a tune after a beer, Yonder’s Open Mic is the place to be.
🕢 Starts at 7:30 PM with poetry & spoken word, followed by live music from 8–11ish, and maybe a late-night jam if the vibe is right.
🎶 Got something to share?

Sign-ups open at 7 PM (in person)
Musicians: 3 songs or 15 mins
Poets: 3 poems or 5 mins
No drums, no amps, no mimes (seriously)
First come, first-ish served

Grab a cocktail, cheer on your neighbors, and maybe even surprise yourself. This isn’t just open mic—it’s open heart, open ears, and open tabs.
📍 Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew
Check them out on Facebook.
Let’s make your Tuesday night anything but typical.

Thursday Jazz at Yonder
2025-07-24 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-07-31 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-08-07 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-08-14 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-08-21 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-08-28 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-04 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-09-11 20:00 - 22:00 and 2 more dates | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew, 114 W King St, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Each Thursday from 8-10 Yonder presents live jazz with some amazing local, and traveling jazz musicians.
Les Trois Chats
Katharine Whalen’s JazzSquad
Crystal Bright and Griffanzo
Taz Halloween with Griffanzo
New Morning Jazz

KÜF KNOTZ & CHRISTINE ELISE

Last Fridays and the Art Walk!
2025-07-25 17:30 - 21:00, 2025-08-29 17:30 - 21:00 | Downtown Historic Hillsborough, 101 S Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278
FREE monthly events celebrating ART, CULTURE, and COMMUNITY in Hillsborough, NC, featuring:
⭐ The Art Walk (Year-Round) – 28+ participating venues offer monthly artist receptions, demonstrations, mini markets, live music, and more.
⭐ Living Arts in River Park (April – October) – Community drumming, dance, and interactive opportunities with the Living Arts Collective in Hillsborough’s River Park. No matter your experience or comfort level with drumming or dance, these gatherings are an opportunity to expand. All are welcome.
⭐ Last Fridays Makers Markets & *NEW* Live on the Lawn Performance Series (May – October) – Local artists, community groups, community arts & crafts, and live performances at the Old Orange County Courthouse Lawn.
Applications to become an Approved Vendor for 2025 Last Fridays Makers Markets are NOW OPEN. Local artists and organizations/community groups are encouraged to apply.
Learn about each monthly lineup, download the itinerary, and CHOOSE YOUR LAST FRIDAYS ADVENTURE at www.lastfridays.org*!
*Details on this page are generally finalized the week before each Last Friday event.
This program was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Additional support is provided by the Tourism Board of the Town of Hillsborough.

Art Colors Life
2025-07-25 18:00 - 21:00 | Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, 121 N. Churton St., Hillsborough, 27278
Botanical and travel paintings by Chris Graebner, vibrant acrylic landscape paintings by Marcy Lansman, needle felted figurative sculpture by Lynn Wartski. In the gallery July 22nd through August 24th. Opening reception during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk, July 25th, 6-9pm.
The title of this show, ”Art Colors Life,” is taken from Chris Graebner’s favorite quote about art. Sir John Lubbock writes in his book, The Pleasures of Life, that “Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.”
Graebner often paints from photos taken while traveling. Because she’s not traveling very much these days, she spent several weeks this winter going through thousands of photos taken over the last twenty years, pulling out the ones that called to her. Graebner says her photos are not great, as they are often taken from a moving vehicle, through streaky windows. However they return her to a time and place where something struck her that she wanted to remember – perhaps the way a plant really looks up close, maybe the way ripples from a cat’s tongue make their way across a pool of water, or maybe the angles and colors of rooftops – something in particular that she wanted to remember. Though an oil painter, Graebner likes to add other mediums such as cold wax, graphite or oil-based inks; often using acrylics to provide the base color of her paintings.
Lynn Wartski has also drawn inspiration from John Lubbock’s quote. Lubbock draws a reciprocal relationship between the mind and the eye and this year she’s noticed something similar with the last phrase, that life can color art as well. Her felt sculptures usually evoke a sense of whimsy or humor, but lighthearted joy-sparking art has been a challenge lately, and Wartski has found herself bouncing between the widely different aims of wanting to say more, or just letting herself play. She decided to just let the work go where it wants to go. One piece may be a little more serious, the next a pure flight of fancy. “Winged Liberty Rises” is a piece that comments on current events and endeavors to express hope. The figure is a felted representation of a marble statue that has been knocked down and a little bit bloodied but possesses the determination and strength to pull itself up. “Love Is Nurtured” is a joyful piece depicting a mother and baby giraffe. The two figures stand with foreheads touching and eyes closed. The mother’s long neck is bent down touching the young one. The giraffe’s distinctive pattern morphs from back to front into a stylized floral pattern that appears to pass from mother to baby. Wartski’s sculptures are created by needle felting wool fiber over a wire and batting armature.
Painter Marcy Lansman is excited by color in her landscapes. Using areas of bright color on the canvas to create a base, and using a palette knife to create an overpainting on top, she lets bits of the underpainting peak through. For this show she’s used a wider color palette. For example, her painting “Behind the Dunes” depicts the dramatically curving trees that grow just inland of the dunes on our North Carolina islands. In the painting the leaves vary from deep blue to a very pale white/yellow, and Lansman finds that the wider the variety of colors, the more vibrant the painting. Asked if she paints plein air, Lansman says she visits the site and takes many, many photos, then uses the photos as inspiration for the painting.
Come join us on July 25th from 6-9pm, during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk for the opening reception and see the art inspired by the quote “Art Colors Life.” Enjoy old time country renditions by the Lars Barbary Trio on our patio
If you’d like a chance to meet these artists and hear about their inspiration and process, their Artist Talk will be held in the gallery on Saturday, August 9th at 4pm.

About the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts:
The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is owned and operated by 20 local artists and represents these established artists exhibiting contemporary fine art and fine craft. The Gallery’s offerings include oil, acrylic and watercolor painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, glass, scratchboard, fiber art, and handcrafted furniture. 121 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Phone: (919) 732-5001. The gallery is open 10am-6pm Monday – Saturday, and 12pm-4pm on Sunday. More information can be found on the HGA website: http://www.HillsboroughGallery.com

Saturday Slowdown at RambleRill Farm: Market and Open Farm Day
2025-08-02 10:00 - 14:00 | Ramble Rill Farm, 913 Arthur Minnis Road, Hillsborough, NC, 27516, United States
Local makers, bakers, and growers market, live music by Rob Gelblum, goat visits, kids’ crafts, flower bar, FREE ice cream scoops and icy pops, and brisket samples. 10am-2 pm, Saturday 8.2.25, 10am-2 pm, Saturday 8.2.25, 913 Arthur Minnis Rd., Hillsborough, NC, Free admission

Emily Musolino Solo @ The Bar(n) - Sonark Farms - 8PM
2025-08-08 20:00 - 22:00 | sonark Farms, 2592 Sonark Lane, Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278
Hailing from Durham, North Carolina, Emily Musolino has been crafting a unique combination of soulful, powerhouse vocals for over 20 years. Influenced as a child by iconic female vocalists like Etta James and guitarists like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Emily’s music is an electric mix of blues and shredding rock guitar with hints of jazz and classic outlaw country that only those with a mastery in music composition can create. Traversing addiction, discrimination, and growing up LGBTQ in the southeast, Musolino finds strength for her recovery in songwriting that culminates in authentic, pure music infused with strong feminist and queer positive messaging.

Color and Light Choir Street Performance
2025-08-16 09:30 - 10:00 | Radius Pizza, 112 North Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278
The Color and Light Community Choir will be doing a little street performance on the morning of Saturday August 16 around 9:30am. Artist Eryn Donnalley sings with us and has a work in the Uproar art exhibition that is taking place all around Orange County. Her piece is in a shipping container parked behind the old Radius Pizza on Churton St downtown (112 N Churton St, Hillsborough, NC 27278). We’ll be singing in the outdoor seating area between that building and Churton St Realty next door. There will be a little bit of seating there, but you might want to bring a stool to be safe if you need to sit. We’ll be singing about 7 songs, so it won’t last that long. Probably a half hour. Hopefully no rain this time!

So come hear us, then go see Eryn’s work! It’s a Tibetan mandala done with colored sand, and it’s beautiful. In the Buddhist spirit, it will be sent back into the ether at the close of the exhibition, so come see it while it exists!

(Also, the Radius Pizza site is about to become Serratore’s, with Hillsborough chef Josh DeCarolis, who also has Mother’s and Son’s trattoria in Durham. He’s nice enough to let us squat on his space and use the patio furniture, so I want to give them a shout-out! I think they’ll be opening in a couple weeks, so it’ll be great to have another restaurant there!)

Songwriters in The Round
2025-08-20 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew, 114 W King St, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Kirk Ridge hosts a monthly Songwriters in The Round at Yonder. Each month three singer/songwriters share their stories and songs on Yonder stage.

Hillcasters At The Barn At Sonark Farms
2025-08-22 00:00 - 22:00 | sonark Farms, 2592 Sonark Lane, Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278
Join us at The Bar(n) at Sonark Farms for an evening of live music with The Hillacasters while sipping your favorite craft cocktails, Belgian beer or wine in an idyllic and relaxing rural setting.
The Hillacasters are a Hillsborough based cover band that puts a twist on rock n roll, and rhythm and blues. Highly influenced by the Stones and Petty, the covers of the Hillacasters take on a new life of their own.
https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Hillacasters-100085213119727/

THE BAR(N) at SONARK FARMhttps://www.sonarkfarms.com/about
The Bar(n) at Sonark Farms is a charming rural escape offering lively music, a welcoming family-friendly atmosphere, and peaceful respites—serving world-class Belgian classics like Westmalle and Chimay, artfully crafted cocktails, and hosting unforgettable private events.

Marimar Live at The Bar(n) at Sonark Farms with El Jefecito Food Truck
2025-09-05 20:00 - 22:00 | sonark Farms, 2592 Sonark Lane, Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278
Get your tickets nows for an evening with Miramar, reimagining the Latin bolero and carrying forward the timeless bolero beat. $15
PLUS: El Jefecito Food Truck serving exceptional Mexican favorites all night.
ABOUT MIRAMAR
Miramar reimagines the Latin bolero and carries the torch of bolero beat—a genre that rose to international fame in the 1960s by blending nostalgic ballads with psychedelic rock, bossa nova, funk, jazz, and more. An offshoot of the acclaimed indie-salsa band Bio Ritmo, Miramar was one of the first Latin bands to perform on NPR’s Tiny Desk and has since introduced its unique take on bolero to audiences worldwide, releasing music on two of Brooklyn’s most iconic independent labels: Barbès and Daptone Records. Their latest album, Entre Tus Flores, released on the historic tropical label Ansonia Records, was hailed by Staf Magazine (Spain) as “one of the greatest discoveries of recent years,” and praised by Lira Magazine (Sweden) as “crazy, updated, odd – and irresistible.”
Miramar’s undeniable magic lies in the chemistry between vocalist-songwriter Rei Álvarez and the “gran voz de la diva,” Laura Ann Singh. Their “heartbreaking vocals suck in every nerve” (Lira), and they “harmonize with such precision and grace that it’s hard to imagine a day when they didn’t sing together” (Style Weekly). The Álvarez–Singh duo is supported by a lush, dreamlike soundscape arranged by bandleader Marlysse Simmons-Argandoña, who alternates between piano and combo organs. As a full band, Miramar also includes Gary Kalar on electric guitar, Giustino Riccio on percussion, Dan Martinez on bass and occasional collaborates with string quartets and symphony orchestras. Its core members and collaborators are based between Richmond, San Juan, and Brooklyn.
https://miramar-music.com/
ABOUT EL JEFECITO FOOD TRUCK
For more than twenty years, Chef Laureano has been a driving force in some of Durham’s finest restaurants, earning a reputation for precision, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to flavor. His passion has always been rooted in doing things from scratch—whether it’s hand-rolled pasta, fresh-baked bread, or carefully crafted sauces.
Now, that dedication takes to the streets with the El Jefecito Food Truck. Bringing restaurant-quality flavors on wheels, Chef Laureano has created a mobile kitchen that celebrates his favorite food of all: tacos. Each taco is built on freshness, balance, and bold combinations, elevating simple street food into something truly extraordinary.
🌮 El Jefecito Food Truck Favorites
Carne Asada Tacos
Carnitas Tacos
Pollo Asado Tacos
Al Pastor Tacos
Vegetarian Tacos
Fresh-Made Salsas & Guacamole
El Jefecito is more than just a name—it’s a reflection of Chef Laureano’s leadership, his reputation in the kitchen, and his vision to share food that feels both familiar and unforgettable. Whether serving neighborhoods, festivals, or private events, the El Jefecito Food Truck delivers the flavors and authenticity that Durham has been waiting for.
https://eljefecitofoodtruck.com/
