Photo by Bartek – stock.adobe.com
FIFA WATCH PARTIES. The FIFA Women’s World Cup soccer match between the United States and Vietnam will be shown on a large LED screen at Moore Square Lawn in Raleigh on Friday, July 21, 6–11 p.m. The free watch party features food trucks and a local market, plus games and activities. Game time is 9 p.m. Meanwhile, Tap Yard in Raleigh is also hosting a watch party for the soccer match on the big screen with food trucks supplying the snacks. And if you’re in Cary, you can take in the game at Sports & Social on the 42-foot LED screen.
BARBIE PARTY. Celebrate the July 21 release of “Barbie” at Paragon Theaters in Cary’s Fenton Square on Saturday, July 22, 2–6 p.m. Dress as your favorite Ken or Barbie and win prizes. The event includes a pink carpet and DJ, along with games, activities and photos. Photo by jorge Eduardo/stock.adobe.com.
NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS. Drivers will encounter a new traffic pattern at the Jones Sausage Road interchange with Interstate 40 beginning in October, according to the News & Observer. The interchange will be the Triangle’s second, and one that has drivers briefly driving on what would normally be the wrong side of the road. Two others are under construction, at I-40 and N.C. 42 in Johnston County and on I-40 at Airport Boulevard near Raleigh-Durham International Airport. A fifth is planned at the I-440 Beltline interchange with Wake Forest Road, and two more are included in NCDOT’s plans to turn Capital Boulevard into a freeway between Raleigh and Wake Forest.
WICKED FUN. The untold story of the Witches of Oz returns to the Durham Performing Arts Center August 23–26. Broadway’s acclaimed “Wicked” transfixes audiences with the story of what happened before Dorothy dropped into Oz. Purchase tickets here.
ART GRANTS. The United Arts Council has invested $130,000 for 16 Community Spotlight Project Grants across Wake County. The grants for nonprofit arts and cultural organizations support projects that feature or are led by historically underrepresented communities. United Arts will highlight projects from the following groups: American Dance Festival, Arts Access, Artspace, Burning Coal Theatre, Carolina Dance Collaborative, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, Diamante Arts & Cultural Center, El Pueblo, Gigi’s Playhouse, Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association, Inkspired, International Focus, InWave, North Carolina Indian & South Asian Film Festival, North Carolina Opera and VAE Raleigh.
NEW NETWORK. The ACC released news last week that the CW Network has secured the rights to carry 50 ACC football and basketball games per season through 2026–27, beginning this September. The switch comes after the conference was freed from its contract with bankrupt Bally Sports, according to the News & Observer. The new deal includes weekly Saturday football telecasts in addition to Saturday men’s basketball doubleheaders in December, January and February, along with weekly women’s basketball games on Sundays.
FOR A GOOD CAUSE. Online registration has begun for the Triangle area Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Halifax Mall (300 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh) on Saturday, October 7. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. The walk is 2 miles round-trip. More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
WINE IN SPAIN. Vitis House Wine School is offering international trips run by owner Doreen Colondres, beginning with a trip to Spain from Monday, October 30–Saturday, November 4. The culinary trip is suited for wine lovers and collectors. The group will visit the wine regions of Ribera del Duero, Sardon del Duero and Rueda, along with stops in Madrid and Segovia. Learn more here.
FLIGHTS TO PARIS. Delta Airlines is ending its nonstop flights between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Paris, but Air France is picking up the service, according to the Triangle Business Journal. Air France, a Delta partner, is launching a new route between Paris and RDU in the Fall with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The flights begin October 30 and will run three times a week.
FIRST RESPONDER FUNDING. WGU North Carolina is offering first responders and their families an opportunity to apply for first responder scholarships. The fully online and accredited nonprofit university is making the offer to EMTs, paramedics, police, firefighters, corrections officers, dispatchers and their spouses. The scholarship is worth up to $4,000 and can be applied to any of WGU’s bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in health care, business, information technology and K–12 education.
READY FOR KINDERGARTEN. Registration is underway for Kick-off to Kindergarten at Marbles Kids Museum on Saturday, August 19, 9 a.m–5 p.m. The event will include typical school-day events such as circle time, music and PE. Kids can take a ride on a school bus, practice lunch line and more.
DANCE COMMUNITY. Pullen Dance invites the public to the Pullen Park Community Center (408 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh) each Wednesday night, 7–9 p.m. The small dance community enjoys the rhythms of salsa, cha-cha-cha, rumba, foxtrot, waltz and more. No partners are required. Admission is $8, but the second Wednesdays of the month are just $2 .Sessions feature a DJ and dance lesson.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY. Midtown Raleigh Alliance hosts its Midtown Mingle event at Pour Works (90 East Six Forks Road, Raleigh) on Wednesday, July 26, 5:30–7 p.m. The event is free for members and $10 for guests. The group holds networking, educational and charity events throughout the year.
Raleigh Dentist Dr. Olu Oyegunway, DDS, will provide free emergency dental care for the underserved in the community at 5321 Tin Roof Way, Suite 102 on Saturday, August 12, 7 a.m.–3 p.m. The founder of O2 Dental Group will provide dental cleanings, extractions, toothache treatments, X-rays, and more. Treatments will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
PLANT FESTIVAL. Juniper Level Botanic Garden presents the Carolina Agave Festival during Summer Open Garden Days this weekend, July 21–23. Hundreds of agave plants, representing more than 80 types, will be showcased throughout the garden and nurseries during the event. The garden is a not-for-profit educational, research and display garden open just two weekends each season for self-guided tours, plant purchases and free gardening walks and talks with experts 8 a.m.–5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sunday.
FARM FUN. Marie Farms in Clayton (3119 Golden Nugget Drive) will host an event designed for parents and children on Tuesday, July 18, 10 a.m.–noon. Enjoy bunny yoga, the Shaggy Donkey StoryTime Bus, a tractor ride and open play. Kids can meet the real-life shaggy donkey, Jack. The event includes feeding farm animals, a gnome scavenger hunt on the trail and more. Get tickets here.
PUZZLE FUN. Soroptimist International of Raleigh will host Jigsaw PuzzleMania at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 5, 1–3:30 p.m. Teams compete to assemble an identical 500-piece jigsaw puzzle in the fastest time, with prizes for the top five teams. There will also be door prizes and a 50/50 cash raffle. The event benefits girls and women through the organization’s Raleigh Dream program.
SENIOR SURPRISE. Kaitlyn Wesdock, a member of an all-girl Scouts BSA troop, has created a butterfly garden for residents of Magnolia Glen in Raleigh. Wesdock began visiting during her childhood when her mother worked at the retirement community as an occupational therapist assistant. Kaitlyn and her troop of aspiring Eagle Scouts brought the butterfly-shaped garden to life in four months.
GOING BIRDING. Prairie Ridge Ecostation, located at 1671 Gold Star Drive, Raleigh, will host a Storywalk featuring Noisy Bird Sing-A-Long on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Enjoy the self-guided birding adventure at your own pace at the Prairie Ridge trail during open hours. Closed-toed shoes and water bottles are recommended. Picnics are welcome.
DRAWN TO THE LIGHT. Looking for something different? Play Moth Bingo with Trail Partner, Science Across N.C. during North Carolina Moth Week, July 22–30. Identify the types of moths you see fluttering around the porch light in the evenings. For an in-person experience, head over to Prairie Ridge Ecostation for Moth-ing for Science programs on July 22, 8:30 p.m.–midnight.
