For five decades, the Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival has turned Cary into a hub of creativity and community. This year’s festival marks its 50th anniversary and features 250-plus local, regional, and national artists and artisans, along with four stages of live entertainment, and more than 25 food and beverage vendors.
This milestone year represents “50 years of creativity and community,” said Carolyn Roman, Cary’s Assistant Director of Citizen Information and Outreach.
“Lazy Daze has changed tremendously since 1977, just like Cary has, but the heart of it will always be bringing people together around art,” Roman said.
“Very few community festivals get to celebrate a 50th annual event, and you don’t reach that milestone without generations of artists, volunteers, community partners, residents, and visitors believing that the event matters,” Roman said. “We’re incredibly proud to be the current caregivers of something that has meant so much to Cary for so long.”
The countdown for this historic festival began at the beginning of July with 50 Daze, a community-wide countdown celebrated throughout Downtown Cary, including a Lazy Daze Haze IPA at Bond Brothers Beer Company and a Lazy Daze draft cold brew from Esteamed Coffee.
You may have noticed some art installations popping-up around Downtown Cary. These are part of the 50 Daze Art Scavenger Hunt.
What’s new this year at Lazy Daze?
One of the biggest additions to this year’s festival is the inaugural Lazy Daze Emerging Artist Showcase, featuring local artists who are new to the festival world. Participants will gain valuable experience exhibiting and selling all weekend while being paired with experienced Lazy Daze artists to learn about preparing for a large-scale event.
There are a few new interactive exhibits.
Attendees can participate in the Patchwork Poster Project, where guests can help create a larger collaborative piece of artwork featuring the 50th year commemorative poster.
This year’s festival sees the return of performance group Squonk and the premiere of their newest large-scale outdoor spectacle, “Joy Machine.” This interactive spectacle creates a unique performance every time. Audience members will animate puppets, play a massive drum wall, and power the action. A must-see, especially if you have little ones.
Looking for a blast from the past? Visit the Cary Town Hall for the 50 Daze Celebration: Lazy Daze Poster Show. This exhibition will feature a collection of posters from festivals through the decades. And then step into the Herbert C. Young Community Center to view a gallery show featuring the art of Jerry Miller, Lazy Daze’s founder.
Returning attractions include Kid Daze, the Kid Collectors Market, Art Festival bingo, roaming entertainers, and an air-conditioned Play Zone. Art from Chalk Walk artists will line the path to and from the festival.
What should you know before you go?
This year’s festivities will occur this Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is free. The festival is centered around the Cary Town Hall, with booths branching out along Academy Street, Wilkinson Avenue, Cary Street, and Ambassadors Loop.
View the festival map here.
Sensory-friendly hours will be 9-11 a.m. Sunday, with lower sound levels. Find the entertainment schedule here.
Parking, while helped by the new free parking decks, is still limited downtown. Free shuttles will be running from South Hills Mall & Plaza and Green Hope High School from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Additionally, festivalgoers can take advantage of fare-free GoCary routes that will bring you just steps from the festival entrance. Rideshare drop off will be available near the festival’s south entrance off Academy Street.
This festival is rain-or-shine. For updates in the event of severe weather, text LAZY to 888777 and check @caryartdaze and @caryncgov on social media.
