11 Can't Miss Spring Events in Winston-Salem

Spring marks the unofficial start of festival season in Winston-Salem, with events celebrating everything from art to baseball to beer. Here’s a look at the biggest events happening from now through the end of April.

Salem Saturdays in the Spring (March 23; weekly)

History comes alive daily at Old Salem Museum & Gardens (seen above), especially during its weekly “Salem Saturdays in the Spring” offerings. Held each Saturday through June 15, the events celebrate all things spring in Old Salem, from historic gardens to seasonal tradecrafts and more.

Old Salem Easter Sunrise  (March 31)

Held annually in Old Salem's graveyard (God's Acre), this springtime spectacle is the nation’s largest and longest-running Easter sunrise service, dating back to 1772.

The Music of Fleetwood Mac (April 6)

The Winston-Salem Symphony, guest vocalists, and the fan-favorite Jeans ‘n Classics band come together to celebrate the supergroup’s decades of hits, including “Rhiannon,” “Landslide,” "The Chain," and more. The concert will be held at Reynolds Auditorium at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $10.

WS Dash Season-Opening Homestand (April 9-14)

Baseball returns in a big way this spring as the Winston-Salem Dash take hold their first homestand of the 2024 season at award-winning Truist Stadium. The team has 66 total home games this season, which runs through August. For game times, weekly promos, and ticket info go to wsdash.com 

RiverRun International Film Festival (April 18-27)

Celebrating 26 years in 2024, this Academy Award-qualifying festival showcases a narrative, documentary, and short films from all genres. In 2019, USA Today named RiverRun as one of the nation's "Top 10 Film Festivals Worth Traveling For."

Art Crush (April 19; monthly)

Held every third Friday from April to December, this monthly block party lets you experience the Downtown Arts District at its best. Enjoy a mix of street vendors, live entertainment, kids activities, and extended gallery hours shopping for unique, handmade gifts from local artists.

CraftHalf Half Marathon & 5K (April 20)

Celebrate North Carolina’s booming craft beer scene during this premier distance race and block party unfolding along downtown’s Fourth Street, adjacent to Foothills Brewpub.  

Piedmont Earth Day Fair (April 20)

The biggest Earth Day event in NC, this admission-free event is held annually at the WS Fairgrounds. Enjoy food, music, kids activities, and eco-friendly exhibitors.

Bowman Gray Racing (April 20; weekly)

The 76th season of racing at NASCAR’s legendary “Madhouse” gets underway April 20 with a 200-lap Modified race. Races will continue each Saturday night through late August. (For an insider’s look at attending a race, check out our Bowman Gray Racing Guide)

The Big Slurp 2024 (April 28)

Held at Wise Man Brewing from 1-5 p.m., this second-annual fundraiser benefits three local animal charities (Stepping Stones, PAW Alliance, and New Leash on Life). Enjoy live music, food trucks, animal-related vendors, a silent auction, raffles, giveaways, contests, and, of course, great local beer, all for a good cause.

Trevor Noah at LJVM Coliseum (April 30)

Trevor Noah, the Emmy Award-winning comedian, best-selling author, and former host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, will speak at Winston-Salem's LJVM Coliseum as part of WFU's Face to Face Speaker Forum.

NOTE: The events mentioned above are just a sampling of all the things on tap for spring. For a full listing of everything happening this season, visit our Events section and scroll down to the Calendar of Events.