Visit Hillsborough, NC

Thursday Jazz at Yonder
2025-03-13 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-03-06 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-02-27 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | 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

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY, Vol. Xl: Jeffery Beam
2025-03-13 10:00 - 18:00, 2025-03-11 10:00 - 18:00, 2025-03-06 10:00 - 18:00, 2025-03-04 10:00 - 18:00, 2025-02-27 10:00 - 18:00, 2025-02-25 10:00 - 18:00 | Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, 121 N. Churton St., Hillsborough, 27278
In 2013, the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts began an annual show highlighting the work of a local writer by responding visually to his or her work. In the past, this show has been inspired by the work of writers with local ties: Michael Malone, Lee Smith, Allan Gurganus, Jill McCorkle, Nancy Peacock, John Bemis, Elizabeth Keckly, composer Billy Strayhorn, poet Jaki Shelton Green, and singer/songwriter Mary Rocap. The work of North Carolina poet, Jeffery Beam, will be the focus of this year’s show. The gallery’s 20 artists have each chosen a poem from Mr. Beam’s body of work as inspiration for a piece of art in their chosen medium.
Sculptor Lynn Wartski has based her piece, “Dryad Slumber,” on Beam’s poem, “The Green Man’s Man,” published in 2010 in the collection “From Gospel Earth.” Most of her recent sculptural work has dealt with animal forms, so this was a welcome opportunity to create a figurative piece; in “Dryad Slumber,” Wartski represents a figure who blurs the lines between plant and animal, giving the viewer a peek at the inner life of a forest nymph. Wartski writes, “For me, it is usually a turn of phrase that catches my attention.” She found inspiration in the poem “The Green Man’s Man.”
Scratchboard artist, Sally Terrell, was inspired by Jeffery Beam’s poem, “Credo.” Terrell was especially drawn to Beam’s idea of communicating through unspoken words rather than the ones that are said. The truth of this message, as well as the addition of a chickadee in the last stanza, confirmed Terrell’s choice of this poem for her beautiful piece, “The Periwinkle and the Chickadee.”
Glass artist, Pringle Teeter, chose the poem, “Paracelsus: Concerning the Iris in the Vase,” which includes a line about “The glass-blower’s tincture.” Teeter focused on the lines of the poem that include inspiring colors to create her two glass pieces. The sparkling green of her vessel, “Luna Moth,” and the undulating purple sides of her piece, “Purple Petals,” are both nods to the poem.
Nancy Smith created a portrait inspired by Jeffery Beam’s poem, “Ars Poetica: the Queen.” Her portrait, “Following the Goddess, Jewel of the Hive,” was created using a variety of media, including bees wax. In describing her inspiration from the poem, Smith writes, “I was reminded that, like the queen bee, we exist in a world of our own creation. And like her, our creation is built not by us alone, but always in collaboration with others. I think her message is that there is a great responsibility in discerning guidance from other beings in our lives.”
The images in Jeffery Beam’s poetry provided fertile inspiration for the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts’ 20 visual artists. Their work will be on display from February 11th through March 23rd with a reception in the gallery on February 28th from 6-9pm during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk. In addition, HGA will host a reading by Mr. Beam in the gallery on Sunday, February 23rd from 4-6pm. Both events are free and open to the public.

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 painting, sculpture, scratchboard, ceramics, jewelry, glass, metals, encaustic, enamel, fiber art, weaving, gourd sculptures, and wood. 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

Drop-in Life Studio
2025-03-11 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-02-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Eno Arts Mill, 437 Dimmocks Mill Road, Suite 17, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Join us for Life Drawing sessions facilitated by Tom Stevens. Each session offers multiple rounds of gesture and pose drawings with a live nude model. Artists provide their own materials. We must have 5 pre-registrations to run the studio, so please pre-register if possible. Absolutely no photography or video allowed in the sessions. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/drop-in-life-drawing-with-tom-stevens

Mini Monarchs Family Movement Class
2025-03-10 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-03-03 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-02-24 11:00 - 12:30 | Monarch Movement Company, 360 Executive Ct. #105, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Move at Monarch!
Movement, Music, Tumbling and Sensory play for crawlers through confident walkers with their caregiver. Infant siblings are welcome to attend with their family.
Mondays 11:00-11:30am
Feb 3-March 24 $120

Reel Rock 19 @ Eno River Brewing
2025-03-08 19:00 - 22:00 | eno river brewing, 329 Eno Mountain Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
This will be a ticketed event (tickets available HERE) to watch three short films, with viewings starting at 8pm: Reel Rock 19 showcases three world-premiere climbing films spanning disciplines, characters, and continents: a heartfelt story of second chances in love and climbing on Squamish’s legendary Cobra Crack; an outrageous 18-day big wall epic on Patagonia’s towering Torre Central; and the pursuit of a lifelong dream—a 5.15 first ascent—made possible by an unlikely partnership. Reel Rock 19 is on tour worldwide starting March 2025.
DEATH OF VILLAINS: A former child climbing-prodigy confronts his struggle with disordered eating to attempt his life-long dream of climbing a groundbreaking 5.15 first ascent, with the help of an unlikely, and controversial partner.
Featuring: Kai Lightner & Joe Kinder
RIDERS ON THE STORM: Three Belgian big-wallers endure eighteen days of howling snowstorms, frozen feet, and gnarly runouts in their attempt to make a long-coveted alpine first ascent.
Featuring: Siebe Vanhee, Sean Villanueva O’Driscoll & Nico Favresse
THE COBRA & THE HEART: A turbulent 20-year saga of love, loss, and redemption: a whirlwind romance, a crushing defeat on a legendary climb, a religious epiphany, and family betrayal, all building to a desperate bid for a rare second chance—at love, fatherhood, and climbing.
Featuring: Didier Berthod, Thomasina Pidgeon & Cedar Pidgeon

Tame the Flame: Secrets to Reduce Inflammation Naturally
2025-03-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Snow Approach Foundation, 133 East King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Inflammation affects every aspect of our health, from digestion to energy levels. It even impacts our emotional well-being as emotions can become trapped in the body, leading to inflammation and stuck energy. Join expert Melanie Yukov, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Community Herbalist, and Orofacial Myologist, for a free 1.5-hour workshop that dives into what inflammation is, how it manifests, and how to manage it naturally. You’ll learn about anti-inflammatory foods, herbs, emotional triggers, and label-reading tips to avoid hidden inflammatory ingredients. Walk away with actionable talking points and powerful practice tools to reduce inflammation and reclaim your vitality. Must RSVP: https://root2risewellness.org/reflux-masterclass-form

Historic Hillsborough Guided Tours
2025-03-08 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-03-01 10:30 - 12:30 | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Experience American history through the unique perspective of one of North Carolina’s oldest and most historically significant towns, with a guided walking tour of downtown Hillsborough. Established in 1754 as the seat of government for Orange County, Hillsborough’s colonial legacy and signs of its importance in North Carolina and American history can be seen everywhere.
The tour begins at the Hillsborough Visitors Center, located in the eighteenth century Alexander Dickson Farm House, and guides visitors to a variety of historic places from the site of a 1790s African American-owned distillery to the 1840s Orange County Courthouse and the grave of one of North Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence.
This is an in-person walking tour that sometimes crosses uneven terrain. Please plan to be walking or standing for the duration of the event, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a water bottle (plus your curiosity)!
For groups that are concerned about the length, duration, or terrain of the tour. Please, contact The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough for other options, including bus tours.
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/3277bebb-5a4c-48ec-9a1e-0c4e287138b5

Eno River Farmers Market
2025-03-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-03-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Eno River Farmers Market Pavillion, 144 E. Margaret Ln, Hillsborough, NC, United States
Eno River Farmers Market in downtown Hillsborough offers farm fresh vegetables and fruit, cheese, pasture raised meat and eggs, wood fire baked goods, prepared foods and crafts from local growers and producers. Our vendors are selected with great care based on the quality and diversity of their offerings; vendors must be local (within 60 miles of Hillsborough for traditional foods; within NC for specialty items such as peaches and apples) and the original producers of their products. We have live music, master gardeners, arts and crafts activities, chef demonstrations, and more!
The market is open on Saturdays year round! April-November: 8am-12pm, December-March: 10am-12pm
For More information visit our website: https://www.enoriverfarmersmarket.com/?fbclid=IwAR3Mfp4vM2d3wnvffaELfzGfLbEtFPLwJBEmDU5BDVmsUa-71Opb2qvpITw#home

First Fridays at the Mill: March 2025
2025-03-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Eno Arts Mill, 437 Dimmocks Mill Road, Suite 17, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
TO BE HERE NOW IS TO BE.
Makala Aayana
with
Tori Celeste
Lauren Crawford
Rakia Jackson
Jett Pavlica
Shayla Thornton

An exploration of the present moment through the lens of personal growth and introspection, captured by diverse artistic voices.
‘To Be Here Now Is To Be_’ invites both artists and viewers to reflect on their well-being —mental, emotional, or physical— as well as their personal experiences and connections. This group show embraces the notion that this present moment shapes who we are and how we choose to express ourselves. To be immersed in the present, in all of our complexity and depth, feet planted firmly to whatever ground graces the souls of our feet, is to fully embrace and honor our current experiences, allowing them to shape and define our collective narrative. Each curated piece serves as a snapshot of the artist’s journey through various moments of their life, whether those moments are categorized by growth, introspection, or transformation. These pieces collectively remind us of the beauty and the significance of being present.
Drawing inspiration from ‘A Concept: You’, this show explores how personal narratives and experiences translate into creative expressions. Join us in this immersive space, where each work of art invites you to reflect on your own responses to the question: ‘To Be Here Now Is To Be___’?

FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE MILL
FRIDAY, MARCH 7 | 7-9PM
Open artist studios with the Eno Arts Mill Studio Artists
Local food truck Blue Lotus Thai
Beer from Ponysaurus Brewing, wine, and NA beer selections
Free Art-making Activities for all ages with Mer Haggerty

Pete the Cat: Original Art by James Dean
2025-03-07 - 2025-03-08, 2025-02-28 - 2025-03-01 | 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.

Y'Oscar Party @ Yonder
2025-03-02 16:30 - 22:00 | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew, 114 W King St, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Join us Yonder for our first annual Y’Oscar Award Ceremony hosted by Eryk Pruitt and Red Carpet interviews with Bob and Tracey.
Dress to Impress – Live Stream Red Carpet Event (4:30-5:30) followed by a the award show recapping a full year of exceptional performances.
Stick around after our little show to watch that other Oscar Award Show on the big screen.

Mardi Gras Auction Gala
2025-03-01 17:30 - 21:00 | Whitted Building, 300 W Tryon St, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Laissez les bon temps rouler! The Historic Hillsborough Commission is bringing the vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras to Hillsborough, and YOU are invited! Join us on March 1, 2024, for our annual auction gala benefitting the Burwell School Historic Site. Expect a decadent evening filled with: delicious food and drink, exciting auction and raffle items, and meaningful impacts. To learn more and to purchase tickets, visit burwellschool.org/auction. #BurwellBidsAndBeads

Hillsborough Poet Laureate Open Call
2025-02-28, 2025-02-25 - 2025-02-26 | NC
The Hillsborough Arts Council is excited to announce the relaunch of the Hillsborough Poet Laureate Program! We welcome all citizen-poets from Orange County with a passion for public service to apply. HAC hopes to attract a diverse applicant pool in background, perspective, and poetic craft. We encourage applicants to have fun with their application and think creatively about how they wish to nurture the poetic spirit of Hillsborough.
Poet Laureate Applicants must reside in Orange County and be at least 18 years old. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2025. For more information and to learn how to apply, visit www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/poet-laureate.

Stories that Connect Us
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.

Mt. Bright Black History Month Series
2025-02-23 11:00 - 13:00 | Mt. Bright Baptist Church, 211 West Union Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Mt Bright Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting a series of talks for Black History Month that will be part of their Sunday services. Museum Exhibits and Programs Coordinator Courtney Smith is honored to be included in the celebrations. She will speak on the 23rd, providing an overview of black history in Orange County and how the Museum showcases it.

Patchwork Party
2025-02-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Burwell School Historic Site, 319 North Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Celebrate Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly’s birthday with us! Join us for a special craft event where kids can design their own quilt blocks, inspired by Madame Keckly’s own works of art. This hands-on activity will encourage children to explore colors, patterns, and symbols as they learn about Madame Keckly’s life and legacy.
Don’t miss out on a special reading of Connie Schofield-Morrison’s children’s book, Stitch by Stitch: Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly Sews Her Way to Freedom at 2pm.
