Free concerts, cultural celebrations, family activities and a church anniversary offer weekend options in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County and nearby Greensboro.
WS Chronicle | Staff Report
Hispanic Heritage celebrations will fill downtown Winston-Salem with music and art, while Greensboro’s North Carolina Folk Festival brings three days of free performances headlined by St. Paul & the Broken Bones, The Roots and Molly Tuttle.
Closer to home, the Sept. 18–20 calendar includes college football, an outdoor movie, hands-on art workshops and First Waughtown Baptist Church’s anniversary observance. Families can also shop the farmers market or try free introductory recreation classes.
Here is a day-by-day guide to the weekend, including costs, locations and registration information.
All weekend, Sept. 18–20
North Carolina Folk Festival: Three days of music in Greensboro. Downtown Greensboro hosts the North Carolina Folk Festival with free admission, food vendors, a makers marketplace and performances across multiple stages. The lineup brings together soul, jazz, bluegrass, global music and dance. Festival information
Headlining performances at GO by Raymond James CityStage are St. Paul & the Broken Bones at 8:30 p.m. Friday, The Roots at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Molly Tuttle at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Saturday’s family programming includes a children’s jam session, music bingo and a guided dance party. Consult the festival schedule to choose performances and locate stages before arriving. Performance schedule
General admission requires no ticket. Food, drinks and merchandise cost extra, and some after-parties require separate tickets. Organizers list downtown parking decks at $10 per car per day, with the Church Street deck unavailable for festival parking. Bring an empty refillable water bottle for the free hydration stations. The festival operates rain or shine, though severe weather may interrupt performances. Visitor information
Friday, Sept. 18
Church in the Streets: An afternoon community gathering. Life of Victory in Christ Ministries’ Community Development Corporation will hold its Fifth Street event from 4–7:30 p.m. at 99 W. Fifth St. Admission is free and open to the public. The city identifies the event area along Fifth Street between Trade and Liberty streets. For programming details, contact organizer the Rev. Kenneth Holly at 336-925-4045. City event listing
Starlight Movie Night: “Moana 2” in Lewisville. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to Shallowford Square, 6555 Shallowford Road, for a free outdoor screening beginning at dusk. Girl Scout Troop 10231 will host bingo with prizes at 6 p.m., and the Vienna Civic Club will sell concessions. The film is rated PG. The announced rain date is Friday, Sept. 25. Movie-night details
ART CRUSH: Hispanic Heritage Rumba. The Arts District’s September celebration runs 7–10 p.m. around Trade and Sixth streets, bringing local art, music and cultural programming downtown. The organizer lists 560 N. Trade St.as a destination and directs visitors to park outside the event area, including the Sixth and Cherry streets parking deck or along Liberty Street. Check the event page for participating artists and activities. Arts District programming, hours and parking
Piano Fridays: A free evening at UNCSA. Pianist Priscilla Navarro opens the season at 7:30 p.m. in Watson Hall, 1533 S. Main St. Her program includes music by Bach, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Albéniz and Gershwin. Admission is free; UNCSA provides a ticket link on its performance page. Program and tickets
Wake Forest vs. No. 5 Miami: Football under the lights. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Allegacy Financial Stadium, 475 Deacon Blvd. Both teams enter the game 2-0, according to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Fans staying home can watch on ESPN. Tickets are sold through Wake Forest’s linked ticket service; check current availability and prices before heading to the stadium. ACC game preview, venue and tickets
Saturday, Sept. 19
Fairgrounds Farmers Market: Start with local food. The market opens 6 a.m.–noon at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, with entry through the parking area off 27th Street. Vendors offer produce, meat, baked goods, flowers and crafts. The market accepts SNAP EBT for eligible food purchases. Bring shopping bags and check individual vendors for prices and payment options. Market information
Art in the Park: Make botanical prints and paintings. NCMA Winston-Salem and the city’s Recreation and Parks department will present a free, all-ages workshop from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Miller Park Community Center, 400 Leisure Lane. Emily Clare will lead printmaking using leaves, flowers and Gelli plates, while Laura Lashley will guide floral acrylic painting. Materials are provided, and no experience is necessary. The museum invites visitors to drop in and offers an RSVP link. Workshop details
FIESTA: Music, food and cultural celebration downtown. The Hispanic League’s 34th annual festival runs 11 a.m.–7 p.m., according to the organizer, in the downtown area around Spruce Street and the Arts Council. Admission is free, with food and merchandise available for purchase.
The announced lineup includes headliner Banda Zeta, folkloric dance, salsa, Brazilian samba and rock in Spanish. Families can explore children’s activities, crafts and community-resource booths. Organizers say the event will proceed rain or shine, with indoor cooling space and public restrooms available in the Arts Council building. Street closures affect the surrounding area, so allow extra time to reach parking. Hispanic League festival details, city location and closure information
Winston-Salem State at Livingstone: A road trip for Rams fans. WSSU plays Livingstone at 6 p.m. at Alumni Memorial Stadium in Salisbury. This is an away game. The Rams’ official preview includes links for tickets, video coverage and radio listening, giving supporters options for following the team without traveling. Check ticket prices and availability through the linked seller. Game and viewing information
Sunday, Sept. 20
First Waughtown homecoming: Marking 160 years. First Waughtown Baptist Church will hold its homecoming worship service Sunday at 838 Moravia St., following a Saturday-night anniversary gala in Clemmons, according to WFDD.
The church’s website lists regular Sunday worship at 9:45 a.m., but an anniversary-specific start time was not confirmed. Call 336-784-7386 before attending and to ask about the gala’s location, admission and availability. WFDD anniversary report, church information
Salem Sampler: Try a new activity. Salem Gymnastics & Swim, 4870 Country Club Road, will offer free introductory swim, gymnastics and ninja classes. Families must register before the event and select an appropriate class and session time. The event also includes facility tours and opportunities to speak with staff. For class availability, visit the registration page or call 336-765-4668. Registration and details
“Cuentista!”: An afternoon of musical storytelling. UNCSA’s wind program performs at 3 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall at Wake Forest University, 1775 Wake Forest Road. The program includes works by Arturo Márquez, Gabriela Ortiz, Ferrer Ferran and Dennis Llinás, with faculty oboist Rachel Messing featured. Listed tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students. Note the location: this UNCSA performance takes place on Wake Forest’s campus. Program and tickets
Event schedules and ticket availability can change. Check the linked organizer information before leaving, particularly for outdoor activities and programs requiring registration.