Cute Things to Do in Carrboro, NC

Quaint, charming, yet bustling and progressive. Some locals even call it Chapel Hill “lite.” Carrboro, NC is an delightful town just outside the triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill), and so many people tend to overlook it – or pair it with a trip to Chapel Hill. Some even call the two Chapelboro. Others even go so far as to include the nearby Hillsborough! But despite it’s small size (6.51 mi² and population just over 20,000), there are plenty of things to do in Carrboro itself for a day or even a weekend.

1. Where is Carrboro, NC? How Do I Get to Carrboro, NC?
2. Carrboro, NC History
3. Things to Do in Carrboro, NC
4. Where to Stay in Carrboro, NC
4a. Lodging
4b. Camping
5. When Should I Visit Carrboro?
5a. Winter
5b. Spring
5c. Summer
5d. Autumn
6. Where to Eat Vegan in Carrboro, NC
7. Accessibility in Carrboro, NC
8. How Long Do I Need to Spend in Carrboro?
9. Miscellaneous Fun Facts About Carrboro, NC
10. Overview and FAQ about Things to Do in Carrboro, NC

Where is Carrboro, NC and How Do I Get There?

Carrboro is a small town in Orange County, NC (you have no idea how badly I wanted to type California. Still weird to me that there are other Orange Counties! Californians, am I right?). It is 30-miles from North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh, and attached to Chapel Hill to the west. To get to Carrboro from Raleigh, take I-40 about 35 minutes.

From Durham, another bustling hub, Carrboro is just 15-miles, but still 30 minutes via US-15/US-501 S.

From the coast, Wilmington (check out things to do in Wilmington), Carrboro is a near-straight shot down I-40 for 160 miles, or about two and a half hours.

On the other side of the state, the travel times can vary, but it’s about three and a half hours from popular Asheville (220 miles). There’s tons of hikes, waterfalls, and things to see near Asheville too, along Forest Heritage Scenic Byway!

Parking is free throughout most of Carrboro and its establishments – I say most because while I have yet to see paid parking, it’s always possible!

Carrboro, NC History

Carrboro, NC is a such a small town, it’s hard to believe it has such wicked and twisted history – and the city itself is fairly innocuous. However, it’s namesake is the basis of much turmoil, hence the history.

According to Native Land, my go-to website for indigenous territories and locations, Carrboro was once the land of several tribes including the Lumbee, Shakori, and Eno (with the latter two likely being absorbed into the Catawba/Saponi tribes). Skaruhreh/Tuscarora tribes may have resided here at one point, but their history suggests they migrated to the coast before Europeans arrived in the Americas. One resource (University of NC Chapel Hill) even suggests the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation (OBSN) resided here. However, none of these tribes currently have any land in Carrboro/Chapel Hill. For more information on any of the tribes, please visit their websites and contact them.

Once the Europeans came and displaced and destroyed the native people, Carrboro came to be known as the West End in 1882 (due to it’s location relative to Chapel Hill). In 1989 Thomas F. Lloyd, an industrialist in the area, built a steam-powered grist mill named Alberta Cotton Mill – today, the site of this mill is the popular Carr Mill Mall – and settlement increased. After a few name changes (including Lloydsville and Venable), the town finally settled on Carrboro in 1913 after Julian Shakespeare Carr bought and expanded the mill. (They didn’t just name it for him out of gratitude. It was agreed he would provide electricity to the town in exchange for the name change!)

Carrboro became a rather large hub for textiles and lumber (there was also a train depot) until 1930 when the mill closed. After years of changing hands and near-demolition, the mill was converted into the Carr Mill Mall, home to bustling and cool shops and boutiques.

As awesome as Julian Carr seems for helping the town (I mean, not really), he wasn’t a good guy. If you read many history texts, they talk about his philanthropic tendencies – giving away thousands to UNC, a church, and Confederate soldiers; but, he was a white supremacist, opposed black suffrage, explicitly supported slavery and the Ku Klux Klan, and was the number one financial supporter for the shunned Silent Sam statue (seriously, read up on it, it’s awful – especially the local stories and “jokes”).

In the 1970s a group of Carrboro residents joined together to change the town’s power structure (because the town was also known as a sundown town – which means Black people knew not to go outside after sundown) and advocate for a community that fully included all residents. A petition even went around in 2016 to rename the town, but the Board of Aldermen said it wasn’t a realistic option due to government intricacies. Instead, they erected a truth plaque in 2019 acknowledging Julian Carr’s actions and beliefs in an effort to distance themselves from him.

Interestingly, Carrboro has become known as one of the most progressive communities in the Southeastern USA – it was the first municipality in NC to elect an openly gay mayor (Mike Nelson in 1995) and the first municipality in the state to grant domestic-partner benefits to same-sex couples.

Bet you weren’t looking for such a long history lesson/ramble in a post about things to do in Carrboro, NC, huh?

Things to Do in Carrboro, NC

Self-Guided Walking Tour

While there are no guided walking tours of Carrboro, a wonderful self-guided tour and map has been created for visitors to enjoy. Large print maps are available upon request or at the Century Center (100 N. Greensboro Street).

Walking tours are typically my favorite way to start a trip, so it’s a perfect thing to do in Carrboor for first time visitors. Some highlights of the tour include Town Hall, the Town Commons, the Old Cemetery, Main Street Gallery, and Lloyd Gristmill (these stops are just a few out of 21!). The tour includes a little of everything in culture from history, art, and music to food and economy.

If walking isn’t you r thing, Carrboro has made an effort to be super bike-friendly! Plus, there are several bike trails around town.

Address: The tour begins at 301 West Main Street
Hours: Whenever you want! But to enjoy some of the shops you will walk past, aim for between 10/11am and 4/5pm.

Self-Guided Mural Tour

There are several murals throughout Carrboro, and it’s hard to miss most of them. Honestly, you’ll see most of them just following the self-guided historic tour, so even if you aren’t keen on the history, you’ll be sure to enjoy the art along the route! As you drive in to town, the most prominent and impossible to miss is the new Black Lives Matter banner-style mural on the Century Center, but make sure to look past and around to see all the others as well. (I am working on laying them all out for you in a post!)

Address: throughout downtown Carrboro
Hours: anytime, but daylight would be the best

Carr Mill Mall

Carr Mill Mall (and in my opinion the area around it), is a staple of Carrboro and a must-visit thing to do in Carrboro even if you just look around. It houses over 25 locally-owned and family-owned businesses, from the cutest darn toy store Ali Cat Toys to jewelry, fabric, clothing, fragrance, and general gift shops. My Muses Card Shop was a cute favorite, but it’s separated from the main shopping area across the parking lot (free parking!). Each store really had something unique and fun about it, and there was something for nearly everyone – even food with Weaver Street Market and several restaurants (most with allergen-friendly menus).

Address: 200 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510
Hours: The general building is open Monday-Saturday 10am to 6pm, but each store has specific hours with a limited number opening Sundays. Most do follow the same hours, but the food establishments are variable.

Carrboro Farmer’s Market

A vibrant market in the heart of Town Commons, Carrboro Farmer’s Market houses dozens of local farmers, artisans, and crafters that come together to sell and promote local sustainability. Vendors range from typical fruits and veggies to baked goods, pottery, and steel work – it’s a wonderful market to meander through on Saturdays and Wednesdays year round! And yes, there are vegan, gluten-free, and other allergen-friendly offerings from many vendors!

If you can pick any day to visit Carrboro, definitely choose a Saturday because this incredible thing to do in Carrboro is worth moving our schedule around.

Address: 301 W Main Street, Carrboro, NC, 27510
Hours: Saturdays 7am-12pm, Wednesdays 3-6pm

Visit the ArtsCenter

The ArtsCenter is a premier thing to do in Carrboro for artsy people and/or people who enjoy art. It’s a non-profit focusing on art education with classes, performances, and exhibits year round. Facilities include a 350-seat theater, classrooms, a dance studio, a 100-seat performance space, and an art gallery, so yeah. It’s got a lot. Whether you want to see a performance, gallery exhibit, or participant, visit the ArtsCenter website for current offerings.

Address: 300-G East Main St. Carrboro NC 27510 (but they are looking to move/expand)
Hours: Variable depending on the season and what part you are interested in!

Enjoy Live Music at Cat’s Cradle

If art in the craft-y/theatre way isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy art via music at Cat’s Cradle (next to the ArtsCenter). There is a pretty heavy emphasis on local music and musicians at this 750-person venue, so while you can expect eclectic fun, don’t expect Taylor Swift to play a pop-up here (although Nirvana did play here)! Events are not nightly, but they do keep a very well-updated list on their site.

Address: 300 E Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510
Hours: Varies depending on the show, but typically night time 🙂

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Park

Reconnect with civil rights, inspiring messages, and a sense of calm as you (and/or your kids) enjoy a park 20 years in the making. The Martin Luther King Jr Park has a community garden, multipurpose field, walking trails, children’s play area, murals, and quotes galore to enjoy.

Address: 1120 Hillsborough Road (It may come up as Chapel Hill in a GPS, which is odd. I promise it’s in Carrboro.)
Hours: 7am – dark

2nd Friday Art Walk

The 2nd Friday Art Walk is the only thing that may also take you into Chapel Hill on this list, as it’s a joint event by the two towns. This map shows you the layout and the places that typically participate, but you can also check their website. It hasn’t been going, but they are working on starting it up again!

Address: Throughout downtown Carrboro and into Chapel Hill
Hours: The 2nd Friday of every month from 6-9pm

Explore Unique Stores

In addition to wandering the stores of Carr Mill Mall, downtown Carrboro has a couple of cute stores that are fun to visit (for people like me who enjoy artsy or unique things at least)!

This and That Gift Gallery was a random assortment of items that I loved perusing – I even got a locally made owl mask. (118 E Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510)

Womancraft Gifts is a co-op of local artisans, and seeing the scultpures, wall art, cards, clothing, and oter creations is a pleasure. (360 E Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510)

North Carolina Crafts Gallery exhibits NC artists ranging from contemporary and traditional pottery, blown glass, wood turnings, jewelry, and metalwork to toys, folk art, garden art, kaleidoscopes, baskets, and fiber art. (212 W Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510)

Plus the wonderful stores already mentioned at Carr Mill Mall! Firefly sells beads, jewelry supplies, and gifts, but you can also make your own in a class. The Fragrance Shop will introduce you too new ways to think about perfumes and scents. Thirteen West had tons of awesome gifts that would have been amazing to get. Many of these places were a bit out of my price range (because they are supporting local!!), but it’s still fun to experience, and maybe even splurge.

Where to Stay in Carrboro, NC

Lodging

The only hotel in Carrboro is the Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill/Carrboro, but hotels.com has lots of other options in the area! I live close to the area, so I have never had to stay overnight.

Camping

While there is no camping directly in Carrboro, there are some as close as 25 minutes in nearby towns such as Apex. If you have a car, you can look at some options from The Dyrt.

When Should I Visit Carrboro, NC?

Most of the things to do in Carrboro are indoors, so time of year depends on what else you want to do in North Carolina! However, there are dozens of special events that happen specifically in Carrboro! Below are a few highlights in each season. And if you are worried about weather as you walk between locations, the seasonal guide may help too.

Winter

It can get quite cold during Carrboro’s winters, but it rarely snows. The coldest month is usually January with lows of 28°F and highs of 50°F. Generally, from December to February temperatures hover in the low 50s when you’ll be walking about town.

Special events in winter include a typical Holiday Parade and the Carrboro Elf Market held at the ArtsCenter. The Holiday Parade starts in Chapel Hill and comes into Carrboro; it includes elves, reindeer, bands, floats, and more (including Santa). The Elf Market includes vendors from all around the Triangle to sell handmade items such as clothing, body products, food, art, children’s toys, and jewelry – plus there are crafty things to do for kids and families!

Spring

March to May in Carrboro warms up quickly going from lows of 37°F in March to 55°F in May (highs are 62°F to 79°F). So, it can either be quite hot or quite cold! But generally, you can get away with a light jacket and be comfortable.

There are several special events in Carrboro in the spring – including a few egg hunts, an MLK celebration, and poetry readings. A cool/unique one is Open Streets where people can dance, do yoga, climb rock walls, ride bikes, and make smoothies in a bike blender (how cool is that?!)!

Summer

Summer in Carrboro warms up quickly with highs in the high 80°Fs (lows in the mid 60°Fs). It also gets extremely humid in North Carolina, so keep that in mind.

Many of these events in Carrboro in the summer are recurring – movie nights, family fun Sundays, concerts, trivia, and more poetry (plus a typical July 4th event). There’s also a new Juneteenth celebration, which sounds like a wonderful celebration.

Autumn

It cools down quickly in the autumn in Carrboro. Highs start in the low 80°Fs and drop to the 60°Fs by November (with lows following from the 60°Fs to the 30°Fs). Leaves start changing colors and it is magnificent.

Fall in Carrboro amps up in terms of events – a film festival, a music festival, cleanups, more family fun Sundays, spooky movie nights, a West End Poetry Festival, a Halloween Carnival, dog show, bike events, pumpkin carving… really the list goes on. There is something to do in Carrboro nearly every single weekend (outside of the staple Farmer’s Market), so it’s a great time to visit. That, and I personally just love autumn weather.

Where to Eat Vegan in Carrboro, NC

Vegan options are surprisingly plentiful in Carrboro, NC (although they have decreased since the issue of 2020). There are no full-vegan or vegetarian places, but people can get by here without too much difficulty. Be sure to specify vegan and/or whatever your particular need is.

B-Side Lounge

There is a smaller menu at this bar and lunge, but several things can be made vegan on their menu, and they have gluten-free options clearly labeled too! Curry, panella, and some salads are clearly marked.

Carrboro Pizza Oven

On the surface, they only have a gluten-free option, but when you go and ask, they actually have vegan cheese. I am not sure why it isn’t on the online menu – maybe they don’t have it all the time – but you would have to get a whole pizza if you did order it.

Carrburritos

Carrburritos is a hugely popular place for vegans and non-vegans alike. Vegans have actually good options in the form of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, tostadas, or nachos with either veggies, a tofu mix, or tomatoes and rice. You will have to remove the dairy in these options, but it’s a great place for mixed groups to go because they have all the “regular” options to please non-vegans as well. Gluten-free diets will have to be a bit more careful as they use a lot of flour tortillas, but they do have corn tortillas.

Thai Station

Thai Station has tons of options – but the cool thing about this restaurant isn’t the food (for me), it is the ambiance and location. It is located at the old train stop in an old train car. So if that’s on your bucket list and you like Thai food, this place is perfect.

The Spotted Dog

The Spotted Dog is another favorite among many people in the area – they are great in that they have a separate menu for vegan and gluten-sensitive diets. Options range from fires and nachos to chili or wings.

Venable

Venable isn’t overflowing with options, but they do have allergens and veg-designations clearly marked – their menu changes frequently, so check before you go.

Accessibility in Carrboro, NC

I am someone without a physical handicap, so I may have missed something, but I try and be mindful and aware of what is accessible for a variety of people when I visit. The sidewalks were all fairly smooth, and the crosswalks were easy to utilize. There were a few stores with steps leading up to them, but not all or even most of them. As for hearing/visual accessibility, I can’t speak for the town itself (the crosswalks didn’t make noise), but the tours mentioned do not have any audio options.

How Long Do I Need to Spend in Carrboro?

Curiosity, playfulness, and comfortability are all apropos words to describe the feelings that washes over visitors as they peruse the streets of Carrboro. So, if you are looking for a laid-back, relaxing holiday to explore your creative side, a weekend might be calling. However, if you just want to see the top sites, one day will be plenty of time.

Miscellaneous Fun Facts About Carrboro, NC

• The town is only 4.25 square miles
• It’s known as one of the most progressive communities, but it’s named after a white-supremacist – they make a big effort to include everyone now.
• The train depot (originally installed to link University students with the outside world) was one mile from campus to remove students from “temptation.” Of the outside world that you wanted them to have access to? Makes sense.
• The town has a great bike system.
• It’s nickname is “Paris of the Piedmont” because of the concentration of artists and galleries!
• The owner of Cat’s Cradle didn’t want to move to Carrboro (in 1993) because it was a “Chapel Hill thing.”

Overview and FAQ about Things to Do in Carrboro, NC

Where is Carrboro, NC?	Right next to UNC campus and 30 minutes from Raleigh
What things can you do in Carrboro?	Walking tour, murals, galleries, local shops
What events or tours are available in Carrboro?	There are dozens of events year round, like the Elf Market and Open Streets.
When should I visit Carrboro?	Aim for spring or fall
How long do I need to visit Carrboro, NC?	A day is plenty for most people
Where should I eat in Carrboro, NC?	Carrburritos!

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