Happy Friday, Cary!

We made it to the weekend, and there is plenty to get into, from symphony nights at Koka Booth to the farmers market and 100-plus miles of greenways calling your name. Before you lock in your plans, here is what is happening around town.

I've got a good one for you today: a milestone worth celebrating, a vibrant Fenton spot you may have missed, a greenway project to know about, a downtown coffeehouse doing real good, and a full weekend of things to do.

Here's what you can expect in today's issue:

Jake from Cary Digest

Here is a number worth celebrating: Cary now has more than 100 miles of paved greenway trails, winding past parks, neighborhoods, schools, shopping centers, and creeks all across town. It is a milestone 46 years in the making (the Town started building greenways back in 1980), and it cements one of the largest and most-loved trail systems in North Carolina. Cary's network even anchors the Triangle's 300-plus-mile regional system and carries a stretch of the East Coast Greenway, the route that runs all the way from Maine to Florida.

The Town is celebrating all year, and there is an easy way to join in: snap a photo out on the trails and submit it to Cary's greenway photo contest through September 1. Winning shots will be displayed at the Bond Park Community Center and even on GoCary buses. So lace up, get outside, and show off your favorite stretch.

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If you have not made it to Brewery Bhavana at Fenton yet, consider this your sign. The Cary outpost of the beloved downtown Raleigh original brings craft beer and dim sum together in one of the prettiest rooms around: a glass-walled, greenhouse-style space anchored by a hand-painted Garden of Eden mural, with a canopy of hanging plants overhead and a sunny courtyard and beer garden out front.

The food is the star. Start with the Char Siu Bao, their most popular dim sum, pillowy buns stuffed with Cantonese barbecue pork, then add the pan-fried Jiaozi chicken dumplings and the crab rangoon (made with real blue crab and a little jalapeno kick). Bigger appetites can go for General Tso or Peking Duck. To drink, there are the award-winning Belgian-inspired beers, including a few brewed just for the Fenton location, plus wine, cocktails, and to-go cans for a stroll around the district. The original Bhavana has been named one of Forbes' coolest places to eat in the world and a James Beard semifinalist, and the Fenton spot carries that same magic.

Speaking of greenways, if Black Creek Greenway is part of your regular run or ride, here is where things stand. One of Cary's older and busiest trails is getting a multi-year makeover: the path is being widened to a roomier 12 feet, sharper curves are being smoothed out, drainage is being improved, and some sections are being shifted away from flood-prone spots. The work is happening in phases so the rest of the trail stays open, with more sections set to reopen through 2026.

There is a nice payoff coming, too. A new Cary Parkway pedestrian bridge over Black Creek will finally close a longstanding sidewalk gap, making it easier and safer to connect between neighborhoods, parks, and the greenway. If you are heading out, check the closure map first so a detour does not catch you off guard.

Friday, June 26 NC Symphony Summerfest: Classics Under the Stars 8:00 PM · Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy Orchestral favorites under the open sky at Symphony Lake. Bring a blanket, or reserve a table up front.

Discover Dance: AfroBeats Session 7:30 to 9:30 PM · Downtown Cary Park (free) A free, high-energy cultural dance class led by DJ Sunny Sistuki, exploring Afrobeats music and movement rooted in West, East, and Southern Africa. No experience needed.

Saturday, June 27 Cary Downtown Farmers Market 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM · East Park Street, next to Downtown Cary Park (free) A Cary Saturday staple since 1994: local produce, pasture-raised meats, baked goods, and crafts from vendors within 100 miles, with live music all morning. Dog-friendly.

NC Symphony Summerfest: The Music of Billy Joel with Tony DeSare 8:00 PM · Koka Booth Amphitheatre The Piano Man gets the full symphony treatment, with vocalist and pianist Tony DeSare leading a night of Billy Joel favorites.

Sunday, June 28 Cary Tennis Classic Opens (through July 5) Cary Tennis Park, 2727 Louis Stephens Dr. One of the area's long-running summer tournaments kicks off a week of play. Free to watch if you love the game.

Summer Family Series Matinee at The Cary Theater 12:00 PM · 122 E. Chatham St. A family-friendly afternoon screening downtown. Check the calendar for the title and tickets.

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