Downtown Cary Park continues to see success and excitement in its first year of operation. The Park hosted nearly 150 unique, thoughtfully curated free events and programs from July through September. Some highlights from this summer include the July 3 Celebration (1,800 attendees), CaryLIVE!: Doc Robinson (1,000 attendees), the Cary Night Market (2,500 attendees), and the Carolina Circus Festival (7,500 attendees). Apart from the large-scale events, the Park’s calendar included nature-related talks and walks, fitness classes, workshops, and more. 

Park guests have been vocal about their appreciation of the free, unique events that allow visitors and residents to gather and enjoy these cultural experiences. Beyond events and programs, the Park continued its commitment to accessibility this summer by adding a communication board in The Nest, sensory kits available for events, and assisted-listening technology for large events at the Great Lawn Pavilion. The splash pad and the sprayground at the Park officially opened and provided two fun areas for cooling down on hot summer days. The Park is now approaching the one-year anniversary of opening as it moves into its first full fall season.

Lazy Daze 2024 was an outstanding success. With perfect weather in the 80s, downtown Cary welcomed an estimated 50,000 attendees, making it one of the best yet. The festival’s green initiatives were particularly impressive: Compost bins were incorporated at all 60 waste and recycling stations, collecting over 4,000 pounds of compostable material and 1,400 pounds of recyclables. This effort diverted more than half of the festival’s waste from landfills, exceeding expectations and reinforcing Cary’s commitment to sustainability.

Family-friendly activities were also a hit, featuring live music, interactive art, and the new Kid Collectors Market, where children ages 6 to 12 could buy art from Lazy Daze artists for just $5. Logistically, the festival’s partnerships with Cary Police, emergency services, and Public Works ensured smooth operations, with flawless traffic management and public safety plans contributing to a positive experience for all.

Koka Booth Amphitheatre again served as the hub for Cary’s July 4th celebration. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht kicked off the festivities and the fireworks display. One of the day’s highlights was a United States Veterans Corps rescue demonstration. This thrilling display captivated attendees as they watched demonstrators jump from a helicopter and parachute from a plane into Symphony Lake, followed by an impressive rescue operation using motorized rubber rafts.

Additional celebrations for the holiday took place on July 3 and July 4. The Cary Town Band’s performance at the Cary Arts Center delighted attendees with classic tunes. Meanwhile, across the street, Downtown Cary Park’s patriotic celebration featured a showing of “National Treasure” and various other red, white, and blue activities. On the morning of July 4, the fishing tournament at Bond Park drew many families in search of the smallest and largest catch of the day. Overall, Cary’s Independence Day events showcased the community’s unity and provided joy, excitement, and memorable experiences for all.

The Cary Theater welcomed over 1,000 attendees for the seventh annual BEYOND: The Cary Film Festival. This year’s festival showcased films from six countries, including Norway, Ireland, and Mexico. The lineup featured 25 short films in competition and five feature films, 20 of which were directed or co-directed by women. Over the four days, The Cary hosted 25 filmmakers from the United States and Mexico and was thrilled to partner with the Southern Documentary Fund on the opening night film, “How to Sue the Klan,” directed by John Beder. BEYOND’s festival landscape expanded in 2024 to include the Academy Pavilion at Downtown Cary Park, where four filmmaker workshops took place featuring instructors and facilitators from UNC School of the Arts, the New York Film Academy — Los Angeles, and Seed&Spark. 

On Sept. 28, Asian Focus N.C. produced its ninth annual Asia Fest at Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Welcoming thousands of visitors, the festival featured a variety of pan-Asian foods, cultural performances, and a health fair. The main event was the dragon boat races on Symphony Lake, with more than 30 teams competing. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht gave welcoming remarks at the event and was joined in attendance by Councilmembers Jack Smith, Michelle Craig, Carissa Kohn-Johnson, and Sarika Bansal, as well as several dignitaries, including N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, state representatives and senators, and county officials.

In August, Cary and the Wake County Public School System teamed up to host the highly anticipated second annual WCPSS Football Kickoff at WakeMed Soccer Park. The event featured teams from four local high schools — Garner Magnet, Holly Springs, Broughton, and Cary — and provided these young athletes with the exceptional experience of playing in a premier stadium, complete with amenities beyond those of their usual home fields. The evening featured two high-energy games that drew enthusiastic crowds. The event’s success not only showcased the strong partnership between Cary and WCPSS but also demonstrated the venue’s capability to host major American football events. 

The 2024 U.S. Masters Disc Golf Championship concluded on Sept. 22 at Cary’s Diavolo at New Hope Disc Golf Course. The four-round tournament, one of seven Professional Disc Golf Association Majors held annually, brought in over 500 professional and amateur athletes from 43 states and five countries. Video coverage and scores can be found at carync.gov/usmasters.

This quarter, the Cary Tennis Park hosted the Cary Tennis Classic Professional Tennis Tournament, formerly the Atlantic Tire Championships. There were two big changes to this year’s tournament. First, the tournament went from a Challenger 75 to a Challenger 100 level tournament, and the dates were moved to before the U.S. Open. This meant a stronger field of professional players as they ramped up to the U.S. Open. Second and even more exciting, this year’s event featured both men’s and women’s tournaments.

Cary’s Dig In and Grow Green environmental outreach campaign launched on Sept. 1 with dozens of environmental classes, resources, and celebrations. The campaign directs curious community members to carync.gov/green for a “one-stop shop” list of seasonal opportunities to help build a more sustainable future. Through this landing page, participants can find classes on tree care, home weatherization tips for energy savings, compost resources, environmental volunteer workdays, and more. Thousands of people will be connected to the campaign via social media, posters, flyers, radio and print advertisements, in-person info booths, and other communication tactics. 

Cary continues to be a regional leader in regenerative agriculture, composting, and food security development. This quarter, colleagues from Holly Springs and Morrisville enjoyed tours and staff Q&A sessions to discover how Cary’s food waste drop-off sites, community gardens, composting education programs, and urban agriculture initiatives are synergistic models of sustainable practices. In addition, Good Hope Farm hosted a bounty of programs and events. More than 150 guests, including Councilmember Michelle Craig, celebrated eight years of urban agriculture at the Farm to Fork Dinner and Celebration. Composting classes at Good Hope Farm and Stevens Nature Center distributed about 1,000 pounds of compost to community members with instructions on making backyard compost systems at home. The annual summer Community Supported Agriculture program resulted in eight weeks of produce distribution to participating families and an additional 235 pounds donated to Dorcas Ministries Food Pantry. In partnership with Cary Garden Club members, community gardens at McCrimmon, Carpenter, and Bond parks engaged hundreds of participants in Garden Open House events, garden plot rental programs, and volunteer workdays. 

The Cary Senior Center continues to provide innovative new ways to connect with Cary’s older adult community. On Aug. 14, seniors at the center had the chance to forge new social connections through a “speed friending” event. This engaging activity allowed participants to meet and interact with others interested in making new friends. The event was designed to foster quick and meaningful conversations to help build a sense of community among older adults. The event was so successful that another was scheduled for Sept. 23. Cary Senior Center also hosted a special Coffee with Cops on Aug. 23. This allowed older adult residents to voice their concerns and discuss community issues with the  engagement team from the Cary Police Department. 

Cary remains dedicated to addressing the needs of adults with dementia. Recently, GoCary staff participated in specialized training sessions conducted by the local chapter of Dementia Capable Cares. These sessions equipped staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively support and engage with residents living with dementia to ensure they are treated with compassion.

The Herb Young Community Center hosted the Veterans Benefits Live Event — VA in My Town in September. Over the three days, the event served 1,180 veterans, an increase from 1,006 in 2023. A special thanks goes to all the organizations that came together to assist veterans in accessing the benefits they have earned. The dedication and hard work of Cary staff, the American Legion Post 67, Veterans Affairs administrators, Veteran Services officers, and all the volunteers who put in long hours and were ready to help wherever needed contributed to the success of this event.