MAY

May 16-17
Pittsboro Relay for Life
The Pittsboro Relay for Life, a local event of the American Cancer Society, will be held May 16-17 at Northwood High School. Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m., with a survivor ceremony at 7 p.m. and luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. This year's event also will include the first annual Relay for Life Kids Walk beginning at 9 a.m. May 17.
Web site: www.pittsbororelayforlife.org

May 17
Carmina Burana
The Chapel Hill Community Chorus presents Carl Orff's “Carmina Burana” beginning at 7:30 p.m. May 17 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Memorial Hall. The chorus will be joined by guest soloists, as well as the North Carolina Boys Choir. Tickets cost $15 per person for adults and $6 per person for students of all ages.
Phone: (919) 843-3333
Web site: www.chapelhillcommunitychorus.org

May 24
Taste of Durham
The Taste of Durham Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 24 at the Imperial Center at 4309 Emperor Blvd. in Durham. The event, which is produced by The Community Chest Inc., will feature entertainment, area restaurant and food sampling, arts and cultural experiences, venues for artists and musicians — including Jose Conde y Ola Fresca, featuring New York City-based musicians — and activities for the entire family. Tickets cost $4 per person in advance, and $6 per person at the door.
Phone: (919) 572-6551
Web site: www.tasteofdurham.org

May 24-Aug. 31
In and Around the Garden: Perspectives East and West
Ackland Art Museum in Durham presents “In and Around the Garden: Perspectives East and West” from May 24 through Aug. 31. The exhibit gives visitors the opportunity to experience the profound relationship between the cultivated earth and human culture through perspectives that span time, genres, and geographies. It features a sequence of garden-centered themes as well, from the scientific to the spiritual.
Phone: (919) 966-5736
Web site: www.ackland.org

May 30-31
Art in the Garden
The North Carolina Arts Incubator presents “Art in the Garden,” a fundraiser and presentation of art in a pastoral garden setting. The event will be held May 30-31 outside Siler City. A meet-the-artists reception, which costs $30 per person, will be held May 30, while free exhibits begin at 10 a.m. May 31. A special program, Fine Dining Protocol and Elegant Silverware, costs $35 per person and will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. May 31.
Phone: (919) 663-2072
E-mail: ncartsincubator@embarqmail.com

May 16-31
Fearrington Village McIntyre's Author Events
Fearrington Village will host a series of author events throughout the month at McIntyre's Fine Books, featuring authors from a wide range of genres. The store will host science-fiction authors Gregory Frost and John Kessel at 2 p.m. May 16; Tony Earley, author of “The Blue Star,” at 11 a.m. May 17; Sarah Dessen, author of “Lock and Key,” at 2 p.m. May 18; retired Army Col. Ann Wright, who resigned her State Department post just prior to the war in Iraq, at 7 p.m. May 22; Janet Lembke, author of “Because The Cat Purrs: How We Related To Other Species and Why it Matters,” beginning at 11 a.m. May 24; Melissa Delbridge, author of “The Family Bible,” at 2 p.m. May 30; and Leif Enger, author of “So Brave, Young and Handsome,” at 11 a.m. May 31.
Phone: (919) 542-3030
Web site: www.fearrington.com

May 31-June 1
Duke Children's Classic
The Duke Children's Classic celebrates 35 years of helping to make miracles happen for Duke Children's Hospital & Health Center with the Duke Children's Classic May 31 through June 1. Over the years, the event has raised $14 million for pediatric programs.
Phone: (888) 275-3853
Web site: www.dukechildrens.org

JUNE

June 5-July 19
American Dance Festival
The American Dance Festival will descend on Durham from June 5 through July 19. The 75th anniversary celebration showcases the talents of dancers and choreographers from throughout the world, and also will host a series of dance schools for young adults and dance professionals. Performances will be held at Duke University's Reynolds Industries Theater and Page Auditorium.
Phone: (919) 684-6402
Web site: www.americandancefestival.org

June 7
Astronomy Viewing at Jordan Lake
Take the family out to Jordan Lake June 7 for a look at the stars. Ebenezer Beach will be open for viewing sessions, and astronomers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Morehead Planetarium will be on hand to answer questions and share telescopes.
Phone: (919) 362-0586
Web site: www.moreheadplanetarium.org

June 7-8
Fuquay-Varina Garden Tour
The ninth annual Fuquay-Varina Garden Tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7, and from noon to 4 p.m. June 8. The tour, which costs $10 per person, will feature 10 gardens. Tickets can be purchased at The Garden Hut, Ashley's Gifts, Fuquay-Varina Chamber of Commerce and The Mineral Springs Inn. The event also will feature guest speaker Helen Yoest, local gardening expert and owner of GardensGardens.
Web site: www.fuquay-varinawomansclub.org/index.html

June 11
Long Leaf Opera Festival
Long Leaf Opera, the country's only opera company dedicated to fully staged operas originally written in English and highlighting American composers, will roll out its 10th season from June 11-29 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Memorial Hall, Paul Green Theater, and Gerard Hall.
Web site: www.longleafopera.org

June 14
Project Graduation Night
The 15th annual Project Graduation celebration will be held from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. June 14 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Student Union. This substance-free party will provide a safe environment for seniors of Chapel Hill-Carrboro's city schools to celebrate. Food, music, games, a DJ and prizes will be on hand during the event.
Phone: (919) 619-4780
Web site: www.projectgraduationchccs.org

June 15, July 27
Fearrington House Wine Series
The Fearrington House Restaurant hosts the 2008 Wine Series, featuring gourmet wine-pairing dinners with noted wineries from around the country. The summer portion of the series includes a wine dinner with David Fisher of Ramey Cellars at 6 p.m. June 15, and a wine dinner with Michaela Rodeno of St. Supery at 6 p.m. July 27.
Phone: (919) 542-2121
Web site: www.fearrington.com

June 20-21
Hillsborough Hog Day
The 26th annual Hillsborough Hog Day, presented by the Hillsborough-Orange County Chamber of Commerce, will be held June 20-21 at the Cameron Park area in downtown Hillsborough. With a goal of waste minimization, this year's festival is the first trash-free public outdoor event to be held in Orange County. Hog Day is a family event featuring a barbecue cooking contest, musical entertainment, children's rides and games, an antique-car exhibit, arts and crafts, and food vendors. Hours are 6-10 p.m. June 20, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 21. Tickets cost between $3 and $5 per person.
Phone: (919) 732-8156
Web site: www.hogdays.com

June 21
Summer Solstice Celebration
On the evening of June 21 — the longest day of the year — Triangle residents will gather for the Summer Solstice Celebration, featuring several parties across the state to honor the J.C. Raulston Arboretum at N.C. State University in Raleigh. The celebration, which also will raise funds for the arboretum, will vary depending on location and will be hosted by residents in various cottage and patio gardens.
Phone: (919) 513-7004
E-mail: www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/

June 21
Summer Concert Series at Walnut Creek
Don't miss this year's summer's concerts at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek in Raleigh. The lineup includes Toby Keith June 21, Dave Matthews Band with Michael Franti & Spearhead July 2, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with special guest Steve Winwood July 12, Brad Paisley July 19, Rascal Flatts with Taylor Swift Aug. 2, and Jack Johnson with special guests Rogue Wave and Neil Halstead Aug. 12.
Web site: www.livenation.com

JULY

July 4
Stoneage Romeos
As part of the Brightleaf Square Concert Series, Stoneage Romeos will perform from 7-9 p.m. July 4 at Gregson and Main streets. Also catch Carnavalito July 11, The Adrian Duke Projek July 18, Little Windows July 25, Sugar the Band Aug. 1, The Tims Bluegrass band Aug. 8, Johnny White and The Elite Band Aug. 15, Suicide Blonde Aug. 22, and Durham Jazz Aug. 29.
Phone: (919) 682-9229
Web site: www.historicbrightleaf.com

July 4-6
Festival for the Eno
Don't miss Festival for the Eno, one of the region's biggest Independence Day celebrations, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 4-6 at West Point on the Eno City Park. The event features exhibits, displays, arts and crafts, and live entertainment on the banks of the Eno River, and proceeds benefit river preservation efforts. Tickets cost $13 per person per day, and $10 per person per day in advance.
Phone: (919) 477-4549
Web site: http://enoriver.org/festival/info.html

JuLY 14-Aug. 8
Camp Invention
Children across the Triangle will learn the power of brainstorming, teamwork, and trial-and-error experimentation when Camp Invention arrives this summer. Open to children entering first through sixth grades, the weeklong program fosters science and math literacy as children create dozens of innovative projects throughout the camp week. The event will be held July 14-18 at New Hope Elementary in Chapel Hill, and Aug. 4-8 at Carolina Friends School in Durham.
Phone: (800) 968-4332
Web site: www.campinvention.org

July 25
Last Fridays with Hillsborough Arts Council
The Hillsborough Arts Council hosts an evening of events from 6-9 p.m. July 25 in Hillsborough's downtown historic district, featuring live music and artist demonstrations at the old courthouse, an art walk featuring walking tours of several art galleries, and a screening of a film from the Filmmaker's Film Series.
Phone: (919) 643-2500
Web site: www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org