Visit Hillsborough, NC

Past Meets Present Preservation Tour
2024-05-18 10:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Hillsborough Visitors Center, 150 E King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Join the Past Meets Present Preservation Tour for an exclusive glimpse into the hidden facets of Hillsborough’s notable landmarks. This tour offers access to five stops, unveiling rarely seen spaces and providing unique insights into the preservation efforts of these iconic sites. Tickets can be purchased here.
What to Expect
The Preservation Tour is self-paced, with docents stationed at each location. Participants must check in and receive the appropriate wristbands for entry. The tour consists of five locations: Hogg House, Dickson House, Masonic Lodge, Dickerson Chapel, and the Coachman’s Quarters. Ticket holders will also have the opportunity to purchase a limited-access pass to the Eno Cotton Mill.
Timing
The Preservation Tour locations will open at 10:30 am and be available until 3 pm. As a self-paced tour, attendees are encouraged to map their schedules accordingly.
Check-In
All attendees must check in at the Dickson House (Hillsborough Visitor Center) before visiting the tour locations. A designated welcome table will be positioned near the front porch or inside the Dickson House, where attendees can pick up their programs and wristbands. Check-in at the Dickson House will begin at 10 am on Saturday, May 18th; however, early pick-up will be available from 10 am to 4 pm beginning Thursday, May 16th. For questions or concerns regarding check-in, please email Ben@historichillsborough.org.
Parking
There is ample free parking throughout downtown Hillsborough. All locations, except the Eno Cotton Mill, are accessible by sidewalk. For those wishing to park closer to each site, please see the details below.

The Eno Cotton Mill parking is located directly in front of the Eno Cotton Mill offices.
The Coachman’s Quarters is best accessed by walking from the free public lot off Cameron Street. If needed, a drop-off circle is available closer to the Coachman’s Quarters. A map with details will be included in the check-in packet.
Dickerson Chapel provides limited parking in the grassy areas near the chapel doors and on the street.
Masonic Lodge is best accessed by the free public lot off King Street (behind Cup-A-Joe); however, they also offer limited street parking.
Hogg House offers onsite parking, but we encourage those who can walk from the free public lot off Cameron to do so.
Dickson House has free street parking available on all three sides of the building and accessible walkways throughout.

Additional Sites to See
While in town, we invite you to explore additional sites and planned activities for the day.
-Excursion Day: Experience Hillsborough, the small town with big history, through a day of FREE activities at our local sites! You can view more details on the event page.
-The Burwell School Historic Site: Free tours from 11 am until 4 pm
-The Occaneechi Replica Village: Explore the sacred grounds and learn more about the indigenous peoples who first called Hillsborough home.
-The Occoneechee Speedway: Calling all NASCAR fans! The historic Occaneechee Speedway is a must-do for all history buffs or outdoor enthusiasts. Hike your way into the history dirt trail that sported the likes of Louise Smith, Richard Petty, and Fireball Roberts.
-Hike Occoneechee Mountain: The highest point in Orange County is located in Hillsborough. Stroll the 3 miles of trails or brave the service entry to the overlook; whichever path you take, the views are worth it.
-Dine and Shop in Historic Hillsborough: From Churton & King to the west end, Hillsborough’s shopping and dining will keep you busy. From locally owned art galleries to carefully curated dishes, we encourage you to explore all it offers.
Plan more about why you are here with Visit Hillsborough’s itineraries and guides.

Ayr Mount Tours
2024-05-18 11:00 - 12:30, 2024-05-23 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-05-24 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-05-25 11:00 - 12:30, 2024-05-30 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-05-31 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-06-01 11:00 - 12:30 | Ayr Mount Historic Site, 376 St. Mary's Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Located in Hillsborough, North Carolina, Ayr Mount strikes a startling figure in the historical town. The 1815 federal, masonry edifice was the first of its kind in this once bustling trade town, and thanks to the preservation efforts of our founder Richard Jenrette, remains well preserved with several original family objects on display.
CAHPT invites you to explore the site to learn about the design, construction, and maintenance of the estate as well as the lives of those, enslaved and free, who crafted and occupied the extravagant home and landscape from 1820 to 2018.
Visitors are welcome to explore the site select Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays April through November. Guided tours will be offered Thursday & Friday at 1:00pm and 2:30pm. Tour times for Saturday take place at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 2:30pm. All guests must purchase tickets in advance.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://secure.classicalamericanhomes.org/nx/portal/neonevents/events#/events/
This is a potentially strenuous tour which includes climbing stairs, traversing uneven terrain, and enduring uncomfortable weather conditions and the presence of bugs or other wildlife. We regret that we cannot be responsible for those needing assistance and encourage all guests to dress accordingly. No food or beverages are allowed in the houses with the exception of a closed bottle of water.

Voices Chapel Hill's Spring 2024 Concert: "Music and Paradise"
2024-05-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Cedar Ridge Highschool, 1125 New Grady Brown School Road, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Join Voices Chapel Hill for its Spring 2024 concert, “Music and Paradise,” at Cedar Ridge High School on May 18, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. The concert will include pieces that explore heavenly themes, including Fauré’s Requiem, Gjielo’s Song of the Universal and Vaughn Williams’ Serenade to Music. The concert’s paradisial expression will continue through Cantari’s performance of Duruflé’s Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens.
For this performance, in recognition of the various socioeconomic situations in our local community and in an effort to make our concert as accessible as possible to all, we’re offering a pay what you can ticket option for anyone who might find the price of a ticket prohibitive to their enjoyment of our concert. Thank you so much for helping us make music accessible to our community members! Tickets can be purchased at https://www.voiceschapelhill.org/our-season/tickets/.

Stretch & Sip
2024-05-19 10:30 - 11:30 | eno river brewing, 329 Eno Mountain Rd, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Yoga with Maria Finnegan in the Taproom with a drink at the end!

Job Fair
2024-05-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Whitted Building, 300 W Tryon St, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Area employers can recruit employees, and job seekers can find new careers, on Tuesday, May 21 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. The Job Fair is being hosted by Central Carolina Women in Business, a program of the Hillsborough-Orange County Chamber of Commerce. The event is open to both men and women! There is no fee to attend for those seeking to learn more about area employment opportunities.

Drop-in Life Studio
2024-05-21 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

Intermediate Gel Prints, a 3-Day Art Intensive with Debi Drew
2024-05-23 08:00 - 17:00, 2024-05-23 17:30 - 20:30 | Margaret Lane Gallery Annex/ F-Stop 2, 302 W Corbin, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
If you’ve learned the basics of gel printing and want to take your prints to the next level, this is the class for you. We will create a variety of multilayered and mixed media prints, some with planned outcomes and some without, which are often the most fun!
Learn:

how to create layered graphics and painterly prints.
how to create three part stencils for planned artwork.
how to incorporate mixed media to enhance your work.

Create:

Several print examples using a variety of specific layered/mixed media techniques so you may use them for future reference.
6 to 12 multilayered prints that you are sure to be proud of!

Thursdays May 23, 30 and June 6
5:30-8:30
$ 120
Adults and mature teens
Location: Margaret Lane Gallery Annex/F-Stop 2, 302 W Corbin Street, Hillsborough, NC.
Registration closes at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, May 22
Registration link: www.margaretlanegallery.com/workshop-registration

My Friend Paul Live at The Nash Street Tavern
2024-05-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Nash Street Tavern, 250 South Nash Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Special Thursday Performance by My Friend Paul live at Nash Street Tavern! Visit our website at https://www.facebook.com/NashStreetTavern

Thursday Jazz at Yonder
2024-05-23 20:00 - 22:00, 2024-05-30 20:00 - 22:00 | 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

Bad Art Club
2024-05-25 08:00 - 17:00 | Eno Arts Mill, 437 Dimmocks Mill Road, Suite 17, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
$40
Drop-ins welcome if space allows
All Ages
Are you intimidated by art? Don’t consider yourself an artist? Never taken an art class? This is the class for you. We are not making good art, we are making BAD art. Art that is not about how it looks in the end, but rather about exploring the process of making art itself.
The goal is to make something and explore the process of making art, even if your only skill is a willingness to try. To register, click this link: https://events.humanitix.com/bad-art-club

Eno River Farmers Market
2024-05-25 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-01 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

Movies With Goats
2024-05-25 20:00 - 23:00 | Spring Haven Farm, 5306 Homer Ruffin Road, Chapel HIll, NC, 27516, United States
Goat Snuggles + Outdoor Movies Under the Stars = The Perfect Summer Night. Plenty of memories to be made with goats adding to the fun and antics – roaming around looking for goodies, snuggles, and head scratches throughout the entire movie. Details: Please note that in order to comply with licensing requirements, we are unable to announce what movie will be playing., BYOC – We suggest you bring folding chairs over blankets to sit on. This is a goat pasture, goats poop: enough said. We ask that you not bring outside food for the animals; however, for humans it is just fine. We have treats for the animals available at the concession stand.

Last Sundays Open House
2024-05-26 08:00 - 17:00 | Moorefields Historic Site, 2201 Moorefields Rd., Hillsborough, NC, United States
You’re invited to Moorefields on the Last Sunday of each month beginning May 26 through August 28 from 1:00 to 4:00 to stroll the grounds and gardens and take a free tour of the historic house. Visit the Moore family cemetery, as well as the graves of the cats of former owner Edward Draper-Savage, and if you are so inclined, take a walk through the adjoining Seven Mile Creek Nature Preserve.
Friends of Moorefields Board Members will be on hand to talk about the history of Moorefields and update you on special projects.
This event is free, but donations are encouraged. Click here to make a donation. Thank you!

Out on a Limb, Group Show Featuring Local Artists
2024-05-29 - 2024-05-30 | Margaret Lane Gallery, 121 West Margaret Lane, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Trees and what may be found on their limbs! A tree-lover’s paradise!

Participating artists include Ruth Ananda, Anne C. Gardner, Carol Geisler, Deborah Hoch, Katherine Jennings, David Knox, Ray LaMantia, Micah Matthews, Patrick McDaniel, Samuel McDaniel, Jacqueline Rimmler, Stacy-Ann Searle, Anthony Smith, Ann Spragens, and Donna Vitucci.
Show runs Wednesday, May 29 through Sunday, June 23. Opening reception during the Last Friday Art Walk, May 31, 6-9 pm

2024 Last Fridays & the Art Walk!
2024-05-31 17:30 - 21:00 | 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.

Handmade Parade & the Weekend of Art 2024
2024-05-31 17:30 - 21:00, 2024-06-01 12:00 - 18:00 | Downtown Historic Hillsborough, 101 S Churton Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278
Combining efforts between Last Fridays & the Art Walk; Handmade Market; and Hillsborough’s legendary spectacle of creativity and imagination, the 2024 Handmade Parade, the Hillsborough Arts Councils brings you a destination Weekend of Art in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on Friday, May 31 – Saturday, June 1, 2024!

*Both WALKERS & WATCHERS are required to register to participate in the 2024 Handmade Parade. To register and learn more, please visit www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/handmade-parade.

Friday, May 31, 2024, 5:30-9 PM – Last Friday & the Art Walk –

The Art Walk – 22+ venues offering artist exhibitions, demonstrations, live music, wine tastings, activities/crafts, and more.
Roaming Poets – A lineup of local poets, storytellers, and spoken word artists stopping by multiple Art Walk venues throughout the evening.
Living Arts in River Park – Drumming, dance, and interactive opportunities to connect with yourself, your environment, and your community with the Living Arts Collective at River Park!
Last Fridays Makers Markets – Local artists, community groups, live music, special performances, family activities/crafts, and more 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.

Saturday, June 1, 2024, 12-6 PM – Handmade Market –

The Hillsborough Arts Council is excited to announce our 13th annual art show in downtown Hillsborough. Handmade Market (previously Art in the Heart of Hillsborough) features original, handmade work by up to 50 local artists. You’ll find artists, food & beverage, exciting experiences, and music in Hillsborough’s River Park (228 S Churton St.) from 12-6 PM on June 1, 2024.

This curated, community art show and sale takes place alongside Hillsborough’s legendary Handmade Parade! The parade will end back in River Park around 5 PM to join with the Handmade Market for end-of-parade celebrations, meet-the-artist opportunities, and puppet petting zoo.

Local artists, experience, and food/beverage vendors are invited to apply. Accepting applications now through April 15, 2024.

Learn more at www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/handmade-market.

Saturday, June 1, 2024, 4 PM – Handmade Parade –

HAC is thrilled to announce the return of the Handmade Parade on Saturday, June 1, 2024. This event, held every other year, promises to be a vibrant celebration of community, creativity, and fun!

The parade will kick off with staging at 3 PM at Burwell School Historic Site, followed by the procession starting at 4 PM along Churton Street.

Participants and spectators alike can expect to be swept away by the sights and sounds of this grassroots, Mardi Gras-style walking parade, featuring music, colorful costumes, painted faces, giant puppets, stilt walkers, dancers, and more!

HAC will also be hosting workshops and make-and-take activities leading up to the parade, providing opportunities for visitors and neighbors to get involved by creating their own additions to the show. Whether you craft a puppet or help carry one of ours, we need your participation to make this parade a success!

*Registration is required for both watchers and walkers. By registering, participants help us to collect important information for safety, crowd management, and grant reporting purposes. This data helps ensure future access to arts programming in Hillsborough. While the event is free, a suggested donation of $5.00 per person is encouraged to help cover our costs.

To register and learn more, please visit www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/handmade-parade

Events with Anne & Arthur
2024-05-31 18:00 - 19:30 | Anne and Arthur Fine Arts Supply, 220 S Churton st, Hillsborough, NC, 27278-2685, United States
We are thrilled to be hosting Artist Demonstrations during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk this 2024 season. On the last friday of the month between March and November, we will offer a look into the making process of art, as so much of the Art Walk showcases the final results. Artists will be demonstrating their craft, live, in the store. Bring your curiosity and questions!

We will be hosting one artist each month
There will be a wide range of art forms to observe
Such as Painting, Printmaking, Charcoal Drawing, Stippling, Watercolor, Collage/Mixed Media, Pastels, Illustration and more!

Alexandra Gaal

of The Gaallery, Stippling Artist
March 29, 2024
5-6:30pm

Alexandra Gaal is an artist who sees creation as a way to process emotions, finding solace in the act itself. While she draws a range of subjects, from people to wildlife, her true passion lies in depicting outer space. Using stippling, she delves into the dimensions of space, exploring perspective and scale through a dialogue of dots that can represent stars, planets, or entire galaxies.

Wendy Aldwyn
Charcoal Artist
April 26, 2024
5-6:30pm

Wendy Aldwyn is a versatile multi-media artist known for her expertise in charcoal drawing techniques and products. You can find her regularly at the Eno River Farmers’ Market, where she showcases her captivating artworks. Additionally, Wendy will be sharing her skills and passion with young artists through art classes tailored for 8-10 year olds this summer.

Jillian Lea

of Jillian Lea Makery, Printmaker
May 31, 2024
5-6:30pm

Jillian is a compulsively creative artist and arts educator newly living again in Graham after years in Durham, NC. She works in multiple media, primarily printmaking and fiber arts. She pulls inspiration from folk art, heirlooms, ancestry, magic, nature and whimsy. Jillian is the lower school art instructor at Camelot Academy and a regular instructor at the Durham Arts Council. She believes that creativity is a sacred birthright and helping folks discover and nurture their own creativity brings her great joy.

Quintessence - opening reception
2024-05-31 18:00 - 21:00 | Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, 121 N. Churton St., Hillsborough, 27278
Botanical oil paintings by Chris Graebner, abstract metal sculpture by Jason Smith, scratchboard paintings by Sally Terrell. In the gallery May 28th through June 23rd. Opening reception during Hillsborough’s Last Friday Art Walk, May 31st, 6-9pm. The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts is owned by 21 local artists featuring painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, photomontage, glass arts, jewelry, handcrafted furniture, pottery, and mixed media. 121 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough NC. Hours: Monday through Saturday 10-6, Sunday 12-4. For more information about the show visit www.HillsboroughGallery.com

Saturday Skills Training (The Snow Approach Foundation)
2024-06-01 09:00 - 12:00 | Snow Approach Foundation, 133 East King Street, Hillsborough, NC, 27278, United States
Come train in Positive Approach® to Care, educator Teepa Snow’s renowned course on dementia care, in English and Spanish!
Register Below
https://snowapproach.org/news-events/event-calendar.html/event-form/registration-form/99582/tickets

Saturday Slowdown at RambleRill Farm: Kids and Families Day
2024-06-01 10:00 - 14:00 | Ramble Rill Farm, 913 Arthur Minnis Road, Hillsborough, NC, 27516, United States
It’s Kids and Families Day at Saturday Slowdown! Don’t miss Alex’s Petting Zoo of Musical Instruments, Kids’ Crafts, Flower Bar, Chair Massage, and Greet the Goats. With special guests Longleaf Forest School, Callie and Calvin’s Lemonade Stand, and Cedar Ridge High School Woodworking. Shop local makers and growers, enjoy a picnic lunch, wander the woods. Slow Down with us! Free admission.
