Hickory North Carolina Entertainment & Events

Special Events

• Downtown Arts Crawl
  828-322-1121
  Over 15 galleries, stores, and studios participate quarterly in an art and crafts display and sale. A number of restaurants also participate, so come browse, eat and listen to great music. The event begins at 5:30 pm and ends at 9:00 pm on March 31st, June 16th, September 29th, and December 15th.

• Farmer's Market
  Downtown Hickory • Hickory, NC 28603
  Corner of 2nd Street SW and Government Avenue
  828-308-6508
  Local growers and craftpersons gather each Wednesday from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm and each Saturady from 7:00 am - 2:00 pm, from April through October, to display their products. Vendors sell items such as free range chicken, fresh shrimp, homemade ice cream, herbs to be grown or used, landscaping plants, all kinds of fresh produce, seasonal berries, homemade baked goods, preserves, wood crafts and soaps.
  Sponsored By: Downtown Hickory Farmers' Market

Cinema

• Carmike Cinema 14
  2000 Southeast Catawba Valley Boulevard • Hickory, NC 28602
  828-304-0004
  Twelve theatres showing the best of first run movies is featured at this cinema. Four of the theatres have stadium seating and six of the theatres have Dolby Digital Surround Sound. more...

Concerts & Performances

• Acoustic Stage
  Arts & Science Center Auditorium
  828-324-5951
  Recognized nationally, this all volunteer, nonprofit organization presents 25 concerts and performances by nationally known artists annually that are either held at the Arts & Science Center Auditorium or at the Hickory Community Theatre Firemen’s Kitchen for smaller crowds.

• Hickory Choral Society
  243 Third Avenue Northeast • Hickory, NC 28602
  828-322-2210
  Serving the Hickory and surrounding Piedmont area for over 25 years, this volunteer organization of over 125 voices presents three concerts annually including a traditional Christmas concert, a classical winter concert, and a spring concert that includes a guest artist. more...

• Western Piedmont Symphony
  243 Third Avenue Northeast • Hickory, NC 28602
  828-324-8603
  A professional symphony orchestra that offers a season of top quality symphonic music and features rising classical music guest artists. A Masterworks Series that includes five performances and the UBS/PaineWebber Chamber Classics Series of four performances of small ensembles is offered during their season. more...

• Hickory Alive
  Across from the Hickory Station Restaurant
  828-322-3125
  Enjoy free, live outdoor music on Union Square every Friday night for two months along with many other activities including children's activities, outdoor fun, and food from local vendors and downtown restaurants. The series of eight concerts will be held on May 6th, 13th, 20th, June 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and July 1st.

Plays & Productions

• Hickory Community Theatre
  30 Third Street Northwst • Hickory, NC 28602
  Historic Old Hickory City Hall
  828-327-3855
  One of the largest community theatres in North Carolina, this theatre presents an array of entertaining comedies, dramas, children's shows, and musical during their season from September to June. more...

• Lenoir-Rhyne Playmakers
  Seventh Avenue & Eigth Street • Hickory, NC 28602
  Belk Centrum, Lenoir-Rhyne Campus
  828-328-7163
  Enjoy mainstage productions in November and April by this theatre group that also features a February presentation of either a student showcase event or a children's theatre.

• Green Room Community Theatre, The
  60 West Sixth Street • Newton, NC 28658
  828-464-6128
  Performing in the Newton-Conover Civic & Performance Place, this award-winning community theater presents five mainstage productions each season that consists of dramas, musicals, comedies, and children's plays. more...

• Creative Arts Shoestring Theatre
  332 1st Avenue, Southwest • Hickory, NC 28602
  828-328-CAST
  Hickory's newest theatre offering family friendly, youth centered year-round productions. more...

Festivals & Fairs

• International Festival
  Located Downtown on Union Square
  828-304-0500
  This event highlights cuisine and cultures from around the world. All vendors will demonstrate the crafts and food from their native country.
  Sponsored By: City of Hickory and the International Council

• Greater Hickory Smoke BBQ Festival
  1366 Highway 321 Northwest • Hickory, NC 28601
  LP Frans Stadium at Winklers Park
  828-345-1445
  The Greater Hickory Smoke Barbeque Festival is an annual outdoor professional and amateur cooking competition. Cash prizes are awarded. The festival features live musical entertainment, fine arts exhibit, children's activities, a Poker Run, and more. Proceeds from the event benefit local charities. It will be held during Memorial Weekend, May 27 and 28, at the L.P. Frans Stadium and Winkler Park (Crawdad Stadium) in Hickory, NC.  more...
  Sponsored By: The Southwest Business Association

• Murray's Mill Harvest Folk Festival
  1489 Murry's Mill Road • Hickory, NC 28609
  Catawba
  828-465-0383
  Events and entertainment for the whole family are available during this two day, annual September festival that includes molasses making, a petting zoo, Civil War reenactors, butter and apple butter making, bee keeping, gold panning, and steam engines.

• Oktoberfest
  Downtown Hickory on the Square
  828-322-3125
  One of the largest events in the area, this three day German theme festival features delicious German food, a beer garden, live music, children's activities, rides, and crafts.

• Hickory Hops
  Located Downtown on Union Square
  828-322-1121
  This annual brew festival features the handcrafted beers of over 20 microbreweries. Enjoy the samples along with live music.  more...

Sporting Events

• Hickory Crawdads Baseball
  2500 Clement Boulevard Northwest • Hickory, NC 28602
  828-322-3000
  A "Class A" professional baseball team that are an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and offers fun and exciting baseball action for the whole family from April to September. more...

• Hickory Motor Speedway
  3130 Highway 70 Southeast • Hickory, NC 28658
  Newton
  828-464-3655
  The oldest professional sporting venue in Catawba County and the oldest continually operating motor speedway in the country, this speedway features Late Model Stock Car racing and includes three fully equipped concession stands, a souvenir stand, a game room, and a children's fenced-in play area. The season runs from March through October. more...