50th Annual Lazy Days Arts & Crafts Festival in Cary: What to Expect + Insider Tips

The episode spotlights Cary’s 50th annual Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, a two-day downtown event that draws about 50,000 visitors and features 250+ juried artist booths, live music, food, family activities, and more. Host interviews Jenna Kostka, the Town of Cary’s festival and events supervisor, about the festival’s origins (named for the “lazy days of summer” by founder Jerry Miller), the juried artist selection process (500 applicants for just over 250 spots), and what makes the festival unique, including four stages, a beer garden with local breweries, Kid Daze programming, and the Kid Collectors Market for ages 6–12. Jenna shares planning details, Sunday’s sensory-friendly first two hours, and how to prepare using carync.gov/lazydaze and @caryartdaze.

00:00 Welcome to Lazy Daze

02:40 Meet Jenna Kostka

04:00 Festival Scale and Name

05:21 What to Expect

06:06 How Artists Are Chosen

07:22 Beyond Art Kids and Music

09:07 Kid Collectors Market

10:34 Planning and Logistics

18:01 Volunteers and Chaos

19:45 Festival Mishaps and Weather

21:07 Why Lazy Daze Stands Out

22:34 Best Food Picks

23:53 Pro Tips and Sunday Calm

26:03 Beer Garden and Lounge

27:03 Anniversary and New Artists

29:49 Dates, Links, and Farewell