Spring is blossoming all over Sanford and Lee County! Celebrate a fresh, new season with plans to attend a number of awesome upcoming events. Let’s start with two of the most highly anticipated happenings this year.
Broadway Our Way
April 19
The town of Broadway absolutely comes alive in the springtime. Broadway Our Way celebrates that reawakening with loads of energy and excitement. Come out to enjoy food trucks, vendors, crafters, classic cars and activities for kids of all ages.
Groove to Toe-Tappin’ Music
Broadway Our Way will get you into a groove with an all-day lineup of some of the best local bands and acts around. The energetic rhythms of bluegrass will dance through the streets courtesy of performers like Sweet Potato Pie, Dalton Davis, and The Main Event Band.
Even More Fun for the Kiddos!
You’ll have no problem keeping your little ones entertained for the day. Broadway has plenty of activities made just for them. Enjoy carnival rides, inflatable rides, a petting zoo, and special appearances by their favorite princesses and superheroes.
Strawberry Jammin’
May 10
Dive into everything strawberry! From the berries themselves to all the delicious ways you can prepare them. This year’s Strawberry Jammin’ boasts a weekend full of fun and excitement in honor of the fruit that’s dear to many of our hearts and taste buds!
A Jammin’ Concert
Festivities kick off on Saturday, May 10 on Steele Street. Make your way over with a couple of lawn chairs to settle in and enjoy a day of live music.
A Jammin’ Farmers’ Market
Your Saturday morning destination is the Sanford Farmer’s Market. Here you’ll find a number of activities in full swing from canning and preserving demonstrations to cooking presentations. Meander around to a number of vendor booths to snag fresh produce, jellies, jams and much more. You’ll also meet local farmers who will invite you out to their fields to experience the fun of harvesting delicious berries yourself. Lastly, round out your afternoon by heading into downtown and enjoying a food stroll to 10 different restaurants serving up strawberry inspired deliciousness!
A Jammin’ Downtown
Explore Downtown Sanford and take advantage of featured drinks, food, and merchandise at all businesses throughout the weekend. Additionally, you can find farm-to-table strawberry vendors and other artisan vendors for tasty bites and unique souvenirs.
More Spring Events
Downtown Alive! Spring Concerts
April 17
May 10
It’s a party on Steele Street! Music fans will certainly want to have Sanford on their travel list for the Downtown Alive! Spring Concerts. Downtown Sanford practically sizzles with excitement, music, food trucks and fun for the whole family. The free concerts will take place on Steele Street at 6:30pm.
Southern Side By Side
April 24-27
Fancy yourself a pretty good marksmen? Sharpen up your skills and compete for bragging rights and a shiny silver trophy at Southern Side by Side. Held annually at Deep River Sporting Clays and Shooting School, this championship and exhibition boasts educational opportunities, camaraderie and a wide range of exhibitors and vendors. What’s more, competitors and spectators from around the globe flock to this event for the rare opportunity to meet, greet and compete together!
Sanford Farmers’ Market
Returns April 5
Spring and warmer weather signals the return of the Sanford Farmers’ Market. Shop locally grown produce from farmers living and growing their produce within 50 miles of Sanford. Get your taste buds a tingling with fresh bread, juicy berries, delicious jams, savory salsas and more! The market stays open until October and runs every Saturday from 9 am to noon.
Carolina Indie Fest
May 23-24
Mark your calendar for Carolina Indie Fest, a must-attend music festival bringing the best of indie music to downtown Sanford, NC! With a variety of incredible bands spanning multiple genres, this free, all-ages event promises nonstop entertainment. Enjoy live performances, explore local vendor booths, savor delicious eats from food trucks, and sip on refreshing beer and cider at Hugger Mugger Brewing. Whether you’re a live music fan or just love a great festival atmosphere, Indie Fest is the place to be for music, community, and good vibes!
Ole Gilliam Mill Crank Up
May 17-18
Step back in time at the annual Ole Gilliam Mill Crank Up. From 9 AM to 5 PM, watch antique equipment in action, including a working sawmill, “hit & miss” engines, a liquor still, and weaving demonstrations. Take a tractor ride, see a blacksmith at work, enjoy live music, and grab fresh cornmeal or grits from the grist mill. Plus, Stubbs BBQ will be serving up delicious eats all day!
And that’s not all!
Springtime is also the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors! Check out our hiking, biking and canoe trails as well as our many parks, nature preserves, waterways and golf courses.
