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Free Summer Music
Free summer concert series across the Triangle are underway or starting up now.
Here's where some of the big ones are. Please add your favorites in the comments section below if it's missing.
Raleigh
The Sunday in the Park Concert Series at Fletcher Park off Glenwood Avenue near downtown runs from June 7 to Aug. 30 (except for July 5). Concerts start at 6 p.m. Don't miss Sandbox, the children's band, which performs July 12. These concerts can draw hundreds for the music and a picnic. Lots of places for kids to run around. Click here for a full schedule.
Raleigh Downtown Live, free concerts at Moore Square Park in downtown Raleigh, draw a more adult crowd. The series started May 30 and runs through Aug. 22. Here's the full schedule.
Join all the kids running around the green at North Hills Mall every Thursday night during its summer concert series, which ends Aug. 27. Click here for the full schedule.
Music on the Porch, Seaboard Station's Friday night concert series, is a big draw for families. Seaboard Station is near downtown Raleigh. Series runs from June 5 to July 17. Click here for the schedule.
The outdoor summer concerts at the N.C. Museum of Art are not free, but they include some great family music artists - Dan Zanes and They Might Be Giants.
Durham
The Streets at Southpoint holds a free concert series through Oct. 31. Click here for the schedule through June 27.
Brightleaf Square's summer concert series runs Friday nights through Sept. 1. Click here for the schedule.
The American Tobacco Campus' series runs through Sept. 4. Click here for the schedule.
Sarah Duke Gardens hosts Music in the Gardens with concerts through July 29. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for kids ages 12 and under. Here's the full schedule.
Chapel Hill
Southern Village will host several free concerts this summer. Click here for a full schedule of special events.
The Carolina Inn holds Fridays on the Front Porch through mid-October.
Carrboro
Weaver Street Market hosts free concerts on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 25 and Thursday evenings through June 25. Here's more information.
Cary (formerly the series at Lake Benson Park in Garner)
PineCone has moved its free summer concert series from Lake Benson Park in Garner to to the Sertoma Amphitheater in Cary's Bond Park. Garner decided not to renew its contract to move forward with the events, according to PineCone's Web site, so Cary jumped on board. Here's a full schedule.
Garner
But Garner still is hosting concerts at Lake Benson Park. Here's the full schedule for the series which runs through Aug. 15.
Clayton
Downtown Clayton hosts a free concerts series on the third Thursday of each month through September.
Hillsborough
On the last Friday of the month through September, the Hillsborough Arts Council will host Last Fridays with live music. Here's the full schedule.
Holly Springs
Holly Springs' free concert series started May 22 and runs through Sept. 25 on the second and fourth Friday of each month. Click here for a full schedule and details.
Bass Lake Park & Retreat Center's concert series featuring singer/songwriter Trish Miller, a favorite of the toddler and preschool set, is the first Friday of May through August at Bass Lake Park. The concert runs from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wake Forest
The Factory presents its Families After 5 summer series June 25 with The Embers.
Wake Forest's parks departments holds concerts during the summer. The Grass Cats, a bluegrass band, is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 7 at Holding Park.
Looking for something to do with your kids? Go to www.trianglemom2mom.com/play and check back here every Thursday.

