Carrboro Music Festival

ORANGE SLICES

Carrboro Music Festival offers music of every generation and style.

By Laurie Paolicelli
Guest Columnist

In one of those wonderful accidents that spark wonder in a life, visitors to our municipalities often report that they discovered the Carrboro Music Festival by accident, while on trip for University business. “I turned a corner and walked right into the Carrboro Music Festival,” said one visitor, pleased and surprised. “Everywhere I looked there were bands, colorful crowds, beautiful music, and people who looked like the women and men I grew up with in the 70s. I was already sold on Chapel Hill, but that day in Carrboro changed my view of how I saw this area.”

It was magic. It is magic.

The Carrboro Music Festival kicks off on Saturday, September 27th with an open mic at the Town Commons and an evening show at the Cat’s Cradle Back Room.

Photo of Boom Unit Brass Band courtesy of the Daily Tar Heel.

And when Sunday comes the entire town turns into one big music venue, with stages around every corner, in every empty parking lot, down alleyways, and in performance halls. The list of performers is lengthy, and far too many to mention by name here. Just know that this music festival is the peak of variety. There is, without exaggeration, something for everybody, ranging from the Boom Unit Brass Band to Triangle Jazz Orchestra. Visitors can stroll between dozens of venues, sampling sounds, grabbing bites to eat, and marinating in Carrboro’s vibe, which occupies that sweet spot between cool and country, bookish and brash, fierce, friendly, and fun. For one weekend each fall it goes somewhat electric. And it’s free, which seems impossible with all that’s on offer. But go see yourself: no charge at all.

http://carrboromusicfestival.com/311/Carrboro-Music-Festival

The Carrboro Music Festival

“The biggest surprise about the Carrboro Music Festival for me is that it has survived and thrived for more than two decades,” Jackie Helvey says. Helvey is one of the creators and promoters of the Carrboro Music Festival, and is on the Carrboro Music Festival committee. “Even during the pandemic in 2020 it went on — virtually. I think it’s Carrboro’s greatest day.”

Helvey says the original mission of the Carrboro Music Festival, first known as Fête de la Musique, was to allow all sorts of musicians to showcase their talent, providing a free day of music for the people in the community. “In the beginning, the Festival was held on the summer solstice, which coincided with Father’s Day, so it was an ideal way for families to come out and have a great day with Dad. There were only three cities in the US that were official venues for Fête de la Musique, a worldwide music festival that originated in France. Carrboro was one of the three that first year. New York and San Francisco we’re the other two.”

David Joseph,Owner of School of Rock, says audiences will be wowed by this year’s performances.

For many years, the Carrboro Music Festival was a one-day event, but in recent years it has expanded to two. Many folks come for both days, but Sunday is the big day — big as in 20 stages all over town. Bars and restaurants don’t complain — it’s a huge day for them. There’s a bump in hospitality revenues as well.

“People still want to get out and hear live music,” Helvey says, “which is why our event is still so important.”

Mike Smith, a music fan from Charlotte, says: “Every one of us has things we desperately missed during the pandemic. Very high on my list is experiencing live music. As my excitement builds to see live shows, it also reinforces how much I took live music and its benefits for granted.” Smith plans on attending this year’s event.

Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee is a big fan of festivals in the town.

Carrboro is also celebrating its 2025 All-America City Award win at the Carrboro Music Festival. A short ceremony will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 28th to honor this recognition. The Town of Carrboro received the award in July for its commitment to community partnerships, local action, and civic engagement

The Carrboro Music Festival is another example, if you needed one, of how this area embraces music: it’s not merely the icing on the cake, it’s the cake. Without the Festival and other events like it, we’d lose what we love about the spirit and soul of this place, the sort of magic that happens when you come to town looking for a house and find a home instead.

Carrboro Music Festival. Photo courtesy of Scott Scala.

Share your thoughts with me here,

Laurie Paolicelli

Disclaimer: Published by Orange County’s Tourism Department through its Public Relations team, this story includes interviews and repurposed content from websites and partner press releases. For more, visit www.visitchapelhill.org or contact Laurie Paolicelli.

Laurie Paolicelli is executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, a position she has held since 2005. Laurie has worked in tourism and marketing for twenty-five years, having served in leadership roles in Houston and California convention and visitor bureaus. She is a native of the Twin Ports of Duluth, MN/Superior Wisconsin. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Communications from the University Wisconsin-Superior and graduate certification in Technology In Marketing from the UNC-Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media. This reporter can be reached at Information@TheLocalReporter.press