Arts & culture in Hillsborough, NC

The Hillsborough community is alive with the arts and you don't need to be a local to know where to find it!

Hillsborough is a small, but growing town, home to about 6,500 residents. But what it lacks in size it makes up for in a focus on the arts, offering events throughout the year sure to delight locals and visitors.

Art Exhibits

>Painting in Hillsborough, NCThe local arts museum, the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, is owned by artists living in the area. It has a wide variety of art exhibits of mostly contemporary and modern art.

The exhibits in the museum are constantly being changed, with new pieces being added every month. Repeat visitors will always have new things to look at, including ceramics, sculptures, paintings, jewelry, mosaics, photography, and much more.

Last Fridays

The last Friday of each month, from April through September, the city organizes a variety of activities and events for people to enjoy. People can watch musicians and other performers, take in a film, and enjoy other visual arts.

Music

For such a small town, Hillsborough boasts a vibrant music scene, hosting various musicians of different genres. For a period of five years they held the Hillsborough Jazz Festival, which was replaced by the Music Masters Series. The events brought in local and national talent from the world of jazz and blues.

In addition to the festival, music performances are always popping up throughout the year. Occasionally, parlor concerts are held in Hillsborough’s historic buildings, providing a unique setting in which to enjoy some music.

Greek-Revival Architecture

Besides all the various art happenings and exhibits taking place all year long, the town itself is often referred to as a "museum without walls."

There are many structures that were built in the late 18th and the early part of the 19th century. The old Courthouse of Orange County was built in 1844, and the Library of Congress has called it one of the best examples of Greek-Revival architecture in the United States.

Because art and historic value can be seen everywhere in the downtown area, many well-known artists and writers have made Hillsborough their home. They enjoy the many opportunities within easy walking distance to see the town’s museums, art galleries, exhibitions, and walks through historic sites.

The Hillsborough Handmade Parade

One thing that you must see is the bi-annual Hillsborough Handmade Parade. This is certainly one of the town's highlights. It features a Mardi Gras style parade sponsored by the Arts Council. You can look forward to seeing some wild costumes, large puppets, marching bands, lots of food, stilt-walkers, and much more.

Gifts by Local Artists

Pottery for sale in Hillsborough marketThe Hillsborough Arts Council Gallery and Gift Shop provides a wide selection of gifts made by local artists. Many kinds of gifts are available, including metalwork, woods, glass, jewelry, quilts, garden benches, art prints, and much more. If you would like to learn more about various art and how to do it, various artists come in on weekends to demonstrate how they make their special art.

Thinking about making the move to Hillsborough? The My NC Homes team is your trusted source for Hillsborough real estate. Get in touch today to find out more about homes for sale in Hillsborough and the great sense of community you'll find in this growing town!

Posted by Larry Tollen on
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