News Digest for Town of Carrboro, NC 

(May 8, 2025) 

Who's ready? This Friday is the 2nd Friday Artwalk, and next Friday is the opening concert of the Freight Train Blues Concert Series. Mayor Barbara Foushee announces Move with the Mayor! Planning staff are picking up biscuits for the Bike Breakfast on Tuesday. Catch all the Bike Month events underway this May. Friendly reminder -- Sunday is Mother's Day! 

Mayor Foushee announces

"Move with the Mayor"

Mayor Barbara Foushee announces the Move with the Mayor® Spring Challenge, promoting physical activity and forging meaningful social connections to strengthen our collective health and resilience.

Mayor Foushee will be directly supporting various upcoming events and invites community participation in the following: 

• Participating in Bike Month events.
• Challenging Town employees to have walking meetings and increase daily activities. 
•  Encouraging children to walk or ride their bikes to school through Safe Routes to School.
•  Providing motivation for all residents to take care of their mental health, including an opportunity to learn about sound therapy which helps with self care at an event on Saturday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Carrboro Century Center. 
• Participating in Mental Health Mondays offered by the Carrboro Police Department at the Drakeford Library Complex this May.

Learn more about Move with the Mayor

Join the 2nd Friday Art Walk on May 9

Join the 2nd Friday Art Walk around downtown Carrboro and Chapel Hill on Friday, May 9.

Explore art galleries, artist studios, shops and restaurants. There will also be live music, performances, spoken word poetry and more. Venues are generally open late afternoon and evening hours. Exhibits at Carrboro Town Hall and the Drakeford Library Complex are open from 6 to 8 p.m. 

Lear more about participating venues and their exhibitions 

Thanks for joining us at Carrboro Day

Blue skies and cool breezes made for a wonderful CARRBORO DAY Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Town Commons! It was a perfect Sunday afternoon to enjoy meeting neighbors while taking in music, poetry, dance performances from Takiri Folclor Latino, and browsing an awesome variety of food vendors, artisans offerings, and information tables! 

Thanks to everyone for coming out! We appreciate the representation from Town of Carrboro departments offering their showcase of services, attendance by Mayor Barbara Foushee and Town Manager Patrice Toney, and the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department for organizing a beautiful town festival!

Happy Mother's Day

Have a wonderful weekend celebrating Mother's Day with all the beautiful Moms out there, and the women who are mentors and mother figures to someone special.

Carrboro promotes No Mow May

The Town of Carrboro is participating in No Mow May! For the month of May, Town landscape crews will allow the flowering plants in certain areas to bloom, providing bees and other pollinators with food and habitat they need to survive. Look out for the Bee City USA No Mow May signs in Wilson Park, Hank Anderson Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park and near Town Hall. 

The goal of No Mow May is to allow grass to grow unmown for the month of May, creating habitat and forage for early season pollinators. 

Read more about No Mo May.

Save the Dates: Bike Month Events

Make way for Bike Month rolling into Carrboro this May. 

Check out all the Bike Month events in and Carrboro. They are the perfect opportunity to experience the joys and health benefits of biking, to get outside during the spring season, and to see and experience the community at a different scale and pace.

• Bike & Roll to School Day - Wednesday, May 7, before and after school
• Carrboro Bike Breakfast - Tuesday, May 13 from 7 to 10 a.m. at Libba Cotten Bikeway 
• Wednesday Night Bike Ride - Social Ride - Wednesday, May 14 at 7 p.m. starting at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St. 
• Bike to Work - Friday, May 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Community-wide
• Bike on Bus Workshop at the Carrboro Farmers' Market – Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St.
• Wednesday Night Bike Ride - Social Ride - Wednesday, May 28 at 7 p.m. starting at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St. 
• Ride into Pride - Queer Ride Carrboro - Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m.  starting at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St.

Learn more about Bike Month and all the exciting events rolling your way!

Mayor Proclaims Period Poverty

Awareness Week in Carrboro

Mayor Barbara Foushee proclaims the week of May 12-18, 2025 as . 

Carrboro is proud to be a home to trusted community-based organizations, including Period Power, a program of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, that recognizes the importance of period products and distributes period products through various channels.

The Town of Carrboro is grateful for period supply banks, their staff, volunteers and donors. Carrboro residents are encouraged to donate generously to supply banks, product drives and those organizations that collect and distribute period products to those that are struggling with period poverty so that all of Carrboro’s people can thrive and reach their full potential.

Read more Period Poverty Awareness Week in Carrboro.

11th Annual Freight Train Blues Concert Series Returns to Carrboro 

The Town of Carrboro proudly presents the Music Maker Foundation’s Freight Train Blues series of live concerts every Friday evening between May 16 and June 13, 2025, at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main Street. Concerts start at 6:30 p.m. 

The series is a collaboration among Music Maker Foundation; the Town of Carrboro, WUNC 91.5 FM, and The Forests at Duke.

Bring your picnic, lawn chairs and blankets for a free evening of free live music on the lawn. Beer and food will be available for purchase at the events. 

• May 16 - Jimbo Mathus and the Creatures of the Southern Wild (Roots)
• May 23 - Diana Tuffin (Blues/Jazz) and Thomas Rhyant Jr. (Acoustic Blues)
• May 30 - Dedicated Men of Zion & Faith & Harmony 
• June 6 -  Conjunto Breve (Salsa)
• June 13 -  Gail Caesar, Lakota John Locklear

Learn more about the  2025 Freight Train Blues Concert Series.

For Healthier Soil, Healthier Food...Compost!

Mayor Barbara Foushee proclaims May 4-10 International Compost Awareness Week in Carrboro. This year’s theme, "Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost!" highlights composting in all kinds of communities at any scale – from the backyard home composter to community composters, to large-scale facilities to all those who recognize the many benefits of using compost on our soils.  

Composting materials, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, converts them into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that communities can use to promote soil fertility and productivity, improve water quality, reduce stormwater runoff and soil erosion, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Learn more about  composting in Carrboro

Town Council Update

The Town Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.  

The Town Council meets at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 W. Main St. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or can view the livestream www.YouTube.com/CarrboroNC  OR at https://carrboro.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx   

• The agenda for this meeting will be available at https://ecs.page.link/TwJV4  
• Access the livestream direct link to view the meeting at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLfGmJl3IQU

Past Meeting Recap 

The Carrboro Town Council met on Tuesday, May 6 and took actions on the agenda posted at https://ecs.page.link/rR9mQ   including the following:

• Heard proclamations for Bike Month, Move with the Mayor, and Period Poverty Awareness and Compost Awareness Week
• Approved a pre-grant approval application for Restore Our Watershed, Support Our Communities
• Approved a resolution for the Adoption of a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan to expand the Town’s retirement benefits by offering a second voluntary savings option, enhancing employee financial wellness and retirement preparedness.
• Received a presentation from the North Carolina League of Municipalities (NCLM) & Metro Mayors Coalition (MMC)
• Received a presentation on the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and Independent Audit for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024
• Received a presentation and provided comments on the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26. Review the proposed budget online..
• Made appointments to Selected Boards/Commissions

Watch the livestream.

Notice of Public Hearing: 
Recommended Town Budget 

CARRBORO, NC -- The Town Council will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 20  in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 301 W. Main St., to receive comments on the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget for FY2025-26. 

The budget document may be viewed in the Town Clerk’s Office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays or on the Town website at https://www.carrboronc.gov/250/Financial-Documents . People are invited to make written or oral comments.  

Interpretation in English and Spanish will be provided for this meeting. Se proporcionará interpretación en inglés y español para esta reunión.

Comments may be emailed to Town Clerk Lamar Joyner at  joyner@carrboronc.gov or presented at the public hearing on May 20. .  

Mental Health Mondays

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Carrboro Police will be hosting Mental Health Mondays (May 5, 12 and 19) at the Drakeford Library Complex from 12 - 2 p.m.

Come join the Diversion Social Worker Monrita Hughes (pictured below) and the Carrboro Police Department for conversation, information, and more!

Relax and Renew: Celebrate Mental

Health Month

May is Mental Health Month.  The Race and Equity Office is partnering with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,  Inc. Mu Omicron Omega Chapter to offer an opportunity for community to learn about sound therapy which helps with self-care.  

Join us on Saturday, May 17 at the Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., for a rejuvenating experience of sound healing and gentle movement. This unique session combines the soothing power of sound with mindful flow exercises to help release tension, calm the mind and restore your energy.

What to expect:

• Sound Bath: Immerse yourself in the calming vibrations of crystal bowls, chimes and other healing instruments to restore balance to your body and mind.
• Flowing Movement: A gentle, guided flow that will help release tension, improve flexibility, and promote overall well-being.
• A Deep Sense of Relaxation: Let go of stress and leave feeling grounded, renewed and re-energized.

What to bring:

• water
• a yoga mat or blanket
• wear comfortable clothes that allow for movement

Save the Date: Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth

CARRBORO, NC -- Join us on Thursday, June 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Carrboro Town Commons, 301 W. Main St. Carrboro, NC 27510.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s Juneteenth celebration returns with food, fun, music, and more!

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro proclaimed the observance and commemoration of Juneteenth on June 19, 2020 and encourage residents and employers to recognize the holiday.

Apply Now: 2025 Carrboro Music Festival Performer Application Open

 Attention all musicians! The Town of Carrboro is now accepting online applications for the 2025 Carrboro Music Festival. The application deadline for submissions is Saturday, May 31, 2025. 

The Carrboro Music Festival will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28 and is a celebration of local musicians throughout Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County.  The festival also includes performers from surrounding counties located between the Triangle and Triad regions of the state. 

• For more information, visit: https://www.carrboronc.gov/311/Carrboro-Music-Festival
• Apply now: https://www.carrboronc.gov/321/Application---Performers

Check out our Monthly Events Newsletter to discover all the exciting programs and special events that are coming up!  

Please note that our Summer Brochure will be released in mid-April. Registration for our Summer programs begins on May 7 for Carrboro residents, and May 8 for all others. 

2025 Summer Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Program Guide 

The Carrboro Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department’s Summer program brochure is now available! This includes registration for 2025 Fall athletic leagues and 2025 summer camps.

Registration for Carrboro Residents begins on Wednesday, May 7 at 8:30 a.m. and registration for all other participants begins on Thursday, May 8.

Learn more about the Program Guide and How to Register.

Public parking available in downtown Carrboro

It’s easy to find free two-hour public parking in Carrboro, where you can access convenient parking at 11 public lots all over town.

Please remember that the Carr Mill Mall parking area is for mall customers and is not a public parking lot. Leaving the mall premises after parking risks towing. When in doubt, always park in public lots, and enjoy a hassle-free and relaxed shopping and dining experience.

Find more information including an interactive parking map on our Downtown Parking webpage.