Arts Around the Square

Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025 (no rain date)
Times: 10:00am – 4:00pm
For All Ages
Cost: Free
Location: Downtown Graham Around Court Square 

Artisan & Crafts Vendors

View Artisan & Crafts Vendors (as of 05/13/2025)

Stage Schedule

Graham Amphitheater Stage (East Elm Street)
10:00am: NC Honky Tonk Association
12:00pm: BigTime Shine
2:00pm: Sweet T and the Biscuits

North Main Street Stage
10:00am: Elder Wolf
12:00pm: Envision
2:00pm: The Magnificents

West Elm Street Stage
10:00am: Late Night Special
12:00pm: Lisa Kyle & the Lost Souls
2:00pm: 8-Track Minds

Community Stage (South Main Street)
10:00am: Miss Kim Dance
12:00pm: Skillz 4 Kidz
1:30pm: Alamance Jazz Band
3:00pm: Huepa Culture & Arts Institute

Art Demonstrations

• David Nance Chalk Art
• Stained Glass of Graham
• Upside Aerial

Food & Beverage Vendors

Photo Opportunities at the Event

• Sonny Bleu Co. Photo Opp – Traveling 1977 Westfalia VW Bus Traveling (located by the Sunflower Mural next Passion Fusion Grille)
• Downtown Graham Storefront Windows – While you’re downtown, don’t miss the vibrant storefront paintings by local artist Renee’ Russell from 64 Harvard, featuring the theme of this year’s Arts Around the Square poster! Rickey Herring of Bullzeye Sign & Graphics Co. created the artistic design featured on this year’s poster.
• Tag us and use #ArtsAroundTheSquare @GrahamRecNC

Downtown Businesses Set Up Within the Event

Business Name
64 Harvard
Alamance Arts
Alcovets
Colonial Hardware
EP Gates
Farm Services
Frank’s Jewelry
Gelah Couture
OV Yonder Outfitters
Piedmont Cremation & Funeral Service
Sandy & Co.
Small Town Books
Stained Glass of Graham
Steve’s Garden Market
The Broom Closet Metaphysical Shoppe
The Main Line

Non-Profit Organizations & Community Partners

Alamance Arts
Alamance Citizens for a Drug Free Community
Alamance County Emergency Management
Alamance Democratic Party
Alcovets
Children of Fallen Heroes
City of Graham Fire Department
City of Graham Police Department
Farm Fresh in Graham Farmer’s Market Pop-Up
Graham Recreation & Parks – EVENT INFORMATION TENT
Graham Regional Park Master Plan Community Engagement 
Huepa Culture & Arts Institute
Skillz 4 Kidz

Vendor, Band, & Sponsor Opportunities 

See the information below with links. 

Stay Up To Date

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on additions to the event and any inclement weather updates. If there is a cancellation due to inclement weather, a decision will be made at (time: 6:00am).

Street Closure Information

On the day of the event (05/17/2025), the 100 blocks of East and West Elm Streets, North and South Main Streets, the public parking lot at the intersection of East Elm Street and Marshal Street, and the public parking lot on the 100 block of West Elm Street will close from 5:00am to 6:00pm. Please make sure you are not parked in this area after closure times. Set-up of vendors, attractions, and stages will begin at these times and it may not be possible to move vehicles due to congestion and pedestrians. Streets will reopen at 6:00pm. (updated 05/14/2025)

Questions? Please email Emma Griffin, Program Manager, or call (336) 513-5510

Sharing event pictures on social media? #ArtsAroundTheSquare @GrahamRecNC

Event Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have any helpful reminders before we attend?
• Don’t forget your lawn chairs! Grab a spot near the stage and enjoy live music throughout the event.
• Stay hydrated…bring water in a non-breakable container. 
• Come hungry! Support local businesses and enjoy delicious eats from food trucks and vendors around the square.
• You might want to bring a reusable shopping bag (or a few) for all your purchases throughout the day.
• Get ready for fun, but please leave these at home: smoking/vaping, pets, and drones are not permitted at the event.
• Street Closures: On the day of the event, the 100 blocks of East and West Elm Streets, North and South Main Streets, the public parking lot at the intersection of East Elm Street and Marshal Street, and the public parking lot on the 100 block of West Elm Street will close from 5:00am to 6:00pm.

Where can I park?
Where to Park Downtown

Is there a social district at the event?
No, there is not a social district at the event. The City Council has suspended the ordinance to allow the consumption of alcohol within the designated areas of the event space.  No alcohol will be allowed on South Main Street / Kid Zone. Only City-approved and permitted vendors are allowed to sell from their assigned vendor spaces on the street.

City ordinance Sec. 12-11. – Wine or beer container—Public display.
It shall be unlawful for any person to consume any wine or beer, or display any opened wine or beer bottle, can or any other type of container of such beverages on or in any public street, alley, sidewalk or other public property within the corporate limits of the city unless specifically permitted or sanctioned by the city council.
(Code 1978, ch. L, art. VII, § 1; Code 1983, § 8-17)

Can I bring my dog to the event?
City ordinance Sec. 4-48. – Parades, concerts, and special events; animals prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person owning or having possession, charge, custody, or control of any animal, to take that animal, whether or not under restraint, into, or allow the animal to enter, the boundaries of any parade, concert or special event sponsored by the city. The boundaries of any special event to which these provisions apply, shall consist of any property that is part of the parade, concert or other special event and shall include any public street, sidewalk, or other publicly owned area that is within or constitutes the boundary of the event.

This section shall not apply to:
(1) Those animals that are part of an authorized exhibit;
(2) Service animals such as guide dogs or hearing-aid dogs in the company of the dependent person;
(3) Law enforcement animals.
(Ord. of 10-7-2014, § 2)

Is smoking, vaping, e-cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco allowed?
City ordinance Sec. 12-16. – Regulation of smoking in public places.
     (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke or carry a lighted cigarette, lighted cigar or lighted pipe, or any other lighted tobacco product, including the use of e-cigarettes, in a public place as defined by G.S. 130A-492(14), or portion thereof, wherein the owner or operator thereof has designated the premises or portion thereof a nonsmoking area and posted notice.
     (b) Clear and conspicuous signs shall be posted in every building and facility and/or grounds wherein smoking is regulated by this article as follows:
          (1) The signs may contain the international “No Smoking” symbol, (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a circle with a bar across it).
          (2) Signs shall be conspicuously posted in a position clearly visible on entry into every building, facility and/or grounds wherein smoking is regulated or prohibited.
     (c) It shall be unlawful for any person to remove or to deface any placard or sign erected by or under the authority of this section.
(Ord. of 10-3-2017(2), § 1)

Can I fly my drone at the event?
City of Graham & FAA – “Policy for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Usage in Public Parks” prohibits the flying on drones in any area occupied by people and/or at special events. City of Graham Drone Policy

City of Graham Code of Ordinances