Good people of Cary,

I’m currently writing this newsletter inside a cozy café in Haarlem, Netherlands (just outside of Amsterdam) while on my honeymoon!

We went to the Keukenhof Gardens for the world famous tulip festival. It was truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The garden covers 79 acres and has over 7 million flowers. Truly breathtaking.

While exploring this pocket of the world, I am always making comparisons to home. I think almost every American that travels to Europe does the same thing. This trip is no different, but I also found myself noting a lot of similarities to Cary from what I’ve seen of the Netherlands.

Amsterdam and Haarlem are obviously much more urban and walkable than Cary, but they share one big thing in common: parks.

It seems like no matter what neighborhood you’re in, you can easily get to a park, both big and small, and enjoy your time outside. There are also many walking paths all throughout the area, making it easy for folks to go on a walk or a run.

Cary has 100 miles of greenway trails and over 30 public parks. There are a lot of reasons to love living in Cary, but I think this is the biggest one. It is so easy to go outside without a destination or goal and just enjoy the world around you.

This is kind of a big deal. There are so many parts of the US that do not have infrastructure even close to what Cary has. It creates an ideal lifestyle for residents, as research shows that spending time outside boosts both your physical and mental health significantly.

Almost all of our greenways are accessible, and I frequently encounter seniors on motor scooters or slowly passing through with a cane and still enjoying the outdoors as they age just as much as I do. This is, objectively, an amazing perk of living in this town.

This weekend, I challenge you to go visit a park or greenway in Cary that you haven’t visited before. Bring a book, a coffee, the kids, your lunch, or just an open mind. You may just find your new favorite hang out spot.

Anyway, onto our regularly scheduled programming.

Thank you for continuing to support local,

James

Professional pickleball is coming to Cary.

The Carvana PPA Tour announced last week that the first-ever Veolia Pickleball National Championships will be held at Cary Tennis Park from August 31 through September 6. This is a Slam-level event, which means the largest prize money and ranking points in pro pickleball. It is the biggest designation the PPA gives.

The field includes some of the best players in the world. World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters, Ben Johns, Kate Fahey, Brooke Buckner, and others are expected to compete. Waters and Fahey are both North Carolina residents!

The tournament is expected to draw more than 2,000 players and thousands of daily spectators. It will have major network television and streaming coverage, putting Cary in front of a national audience all week.

This is a big deal for Cary, as the economic impact of such a large event will likely be significant.

Amateur registration is open now. If you play, you can compete on the same courts as the pros.

Additional reading: PPA Tour | Town of Cary

The inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup is coming to Cary.

On July 18th, the USA Eagles will face Spain at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park at 7:30 p.m. It is part of a brand new international tournament featuring the 12 nations that qualified for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup.

This is the first time international rugby has come to WakeMed Soccer Park since 2015. The Cary match is part of a North Carolina double-header: the USA faces Zimbabwe in Charlotte on July 11, then moves to Cary the following weekend for the Spain match.

Tickets went on general sale Thursday, April 9. The match will be available to stream on Paramount+.

Additional reading: USA Rugby | WRAL

By Dan Evarrs

The 28th Annual Full Frame documentary film festival returns April 16-19, 2026 in downtown Durham, with selected screenings at The Cary Theater expected later in the year as part of the Full Frame Road Show!

The Cary Report readers interested in independent film do not have to travel far for one of the region's strongest spring arts events.

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival returns to downtown Durham April 16-19, and it already has a local connection through The Cary Theater.

Presented by Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies, Full Frame is one of the Triangle's best-known film events. The festival combines documentary screenings with filmmaker conversations and public programs, and this year's NEW DOCS and Invited Programs include 49 films from 31 countries.

This year's lineup includes several strong entry points for first-time attendees. Opening Night will feature Sam Green's The Oldest Person in the World, and Closing Night will feature I Was Born This Way, directed by Daniel Junge and Sam Pollard. The festival will also honor Dawn Porter with the 2026 Full Frame Tribute, while filmmaker Robert Greene curates the thematic program Extremely Rich Theater: Staging, Performance, and Elasticity in American Nonfiction Film.

When: April 16-19, 2026

Where: Downtown Durham

Passes + Tickets: Visit Here

Additional Information: Visit Here

The connection to Cary is not just geographic. The Cary Theater has built a local audience for independent film, specialty screenings, and documentaries. That connection has become more concrete through Full Frame's Road Show annual partnership with The Cary Theater. Earlier this year, the festival's 2026 Winter Road Show brought three Oscar-shortlisted documentaries from the 2025 festival to Cary for free public screenings. It was a useful reminder that Full Frame is not only a Durham weekend event. It is also part of a broader Triangle film & arts culture that includes Cary.

The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is an easy recommendation. It is close enough for a single evening screening, but substantial enough to justify a full day in Durham. It also gives local filmgoers a chance to see work that is difficult to catch in a normal commercial run and to hear directly from filmmakers after the screenings.

Passes and tickets are already on sale. Sales are handled through the Duke University Box Office online.

For area residents looking to add one worthwhile event to the April calendar, Full Frame is an easy pick. It is nearby, well programmed, and renowned as one of the best documentary film festivals in the country. If you are unable make it to Durham April 16-19, 2026, keep an eye out for Full Frame Road Show screenings at The Cary Theater later this year, typically offered sometime between July through November.

Interested in partnering with us? Reach out at [email protected] and let's find something that works for you.

Surprise! Still no events this week. I am working on revamping this section to be more useful.

If you’re looking for stuff to do in the area, I recommend checking the following:

Triangle on the Cheap

Downtown Cary Park’s Calendar

Town of Cary’s Calendar

Each week, I highlight a spot in Cary that I think you should check out. This week, we're heading to Cary’s most popular greenway.

If you have never done White Oak Creek Greenway, this is a good week to change that.

As mentioned in the above news section, Davis Drive Park just reopened its brand new inclusive playground, and the trailhead for White Oak Creek Greenway is right across the street in the same parking lot. The two make a natural pairing, especially for families. Let the kids play, then take a walk. Or the other way around.

The greenway itself runs about 7.5 miles east to west, connecting Fred G. Bond Metro Park all the way to the American Tobacco Trail. It is entirely paved and 10 feet wide, so it works for walkers, runners, cyclists, strollers, and leashed dogs. It’s flat for the most part, which makes it approachable at any fitness level.

When I have family from out-of-state visit, I love taking them to this greenway with rented e-bikes. It is such a beautiful and peaceful ride, and one of the best ways to explore Cary.

What makes it stand out is the variety. You go through wooded stretches, along a creek, over wooden bridges, through a tunnel under Highway 55, and past wetlands with wildlife. It feels like an actual journey.

Like all Cary greenways, the trail is open dawn to dusk.

Trailhead: There are several, but starting at Bond Park (197 Bond Park Drive) will allow you to explore the entire path.

Length: 7.5 miles full trail | sections can be done individually

Cost: Free

Additional reading: Town of Cary | AllTrails

Thanks for reading! If you liked or disliked this issue, feel free to reply and let me know! I love hearing from you.

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