Good people of Cary,

Welcome back to The Cary Report!

You may have noticed the branding change very slightly. “Issue” has turned into “report” and will continue being this way moving forward.

I’ve gotten a good amount of informal messages and emails referring to the weekly newsletter as a “report,” and it totally makes sense. The content will, of course, remain the same.

Thanks for bearing with me through these slight changes!

Anyway, onto the rest of the report.

Thank you for continuing to support local,

James

It is officially TST week in Cary, and this year's tournament is shaping up to be the biggest one yet.

The Soccer Tournament (or TST for short) kicks off Wednesday, May 27 at WakeMed Soccer Park and runs through Sunday, June 1. If you have not heard of it before, TST is a winner-take-all 7v7 soccer tournament that has been called "the Coachella of soccer" by just about everyone who has covered it (and really, that is not an exaggeration). The format is fast, the games are short, and the prize pool this year is $3 million split across men's, women's, and mixed divisions.

TST is also a big deal for Cary economically. Last year's tournament generated more than $14.7 million in direct economic impact for the region, including over $547,000 in local tax revenue and nearly 20,000 hotel room nights from out-of-county visitors. Around 31,657 fans traveled to Cary from outside Wake County (visitors came from all 50 states, Canada, and the UK), and total attendance hit a record 51,730. The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau says TST has now generated $23.9 million in total economic impact for Cary and Wake County since 2024. The state liked those numbers enough that they just awarded a $6.8 million grant last fall to keep TST in Cary through 2029.

The lineup this year is stacked with names you would recognize even if you are not really a soccer person. J. Cole's Dreamville FC is in the tournament again, Hope Solo is back with two teams, and Brazilian legend Douglas Costa has signed on. Pepe Reina (the legendary Spanish goalkeeper) will be representing one of the teams, and the Kings League All-Stars (led by Gerard Piqué himself) are bringing players from around the world. Mexico's Club América is also returning with both their men's squad and a brand new women's team debuting in Cary.

Beyond the soccer itself, TST has a full festival atmosphere going on outside the matches. Live entertainment, pro youth clinics, a kids' zone, international food vendors, and lots more.

Tickets are still available at tst7v7.com, and if you have never been to one of these (we cover it more in the featured article below) it is worth checking out.

Additional reading: TST, ABC11

U.S. News & World Report just released their 2026-2027 Best Places to Live rankings, and Cary holds the top spot in North Carolina for the second year in a row. Nationally, Cary came in at #11 (which is a slight drop from #5 last year, but still puts it in the top fifteen out of more than 850 cities evaluated).

The rankings look at quality of life, value, the job market, and overall desirability. Cary's job market continues to be one of its strongest scoring categories, supported by proximity to Research Triangle Park. Apex also made the top 20 nationally, coming in at #20.

Additional reading: U.S. News

If you have never been to TST, here is what you need to know before you go.

The basics first: TST is a 7v7 soccer tournament held over five days at WakeMed Soccer Park, with games happening from morning through evening. The matches are shorter and faster than regular soccer (which makes them way more watchable for casual fans), and the whole event runs more like a festival than a traditional sporting event.

Parking and getting there. WakeMed Soccer Park is at 201 Soccer Park Drive in Cary, and parking is on-site. It can get tight on weekend days, especially the championship rounds, so plan to arrive a little early (or carpool if you can). If you have not been, the venue is beautiful and very walkable once you are inside the gates.

Tickets. Single-day tickets are available, but if you are planning to go more than once, the multi-day passes are the better value. The championship Sunday (June 1) is typically the most stacked day, so if you can only go to one, that is the one to pick.

What to bring. Sunscreen, a hat, and a refillable water bottle (there are water stations on site). If you are bringing kids, the kids' zone keeps them entertained between matches.

Food and drinks. TST does food and drinks really well. International food vendors set up throughout the festival area, and there is a full beer garden.

The atmosphere. This is what sets TST apart. There is live entertainment throughout the day, pro youth clinics where kids can learn from actual pros, and a general energy that you do not get at most local events. Players walk through the festival area between matches, and a lot of them are happy to take pictures or sign autographs.

Who to watch. Beyond the headliners already mentioned (Dreamville FC, Pepe Reina, Douglas Costa, Kings League All-Stars), keep an eye on the smaller storyline teams. TST has a way of producing genuinely unexpected moments, and some of the best games each year come from teams nobody had on their radar.

Even if you are not a soccer fan, TST is one of the most fun events Cary hosts all year. Go check it out if you’re on the fence!

📍 WakeMed Soccer Park | 201 Soccer Park Drive, Cary, NC 27513 May 27 - June 1 | Tickets at tst7v7.com

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

Old Crow Medicine Show & Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Thursday, May 28 | 7:00 PM | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | 8003 Regency Pkwy

Two legendary acts on one bill. Old Crow Medicine Show has been touring for over two decades (and yes, they play "Wagon Wheel"), and Marty Stuart is a country music hall of famer in his own right.

Get tickets

The Soccer Tournament (TST) Wednesday, May 27 - Sunday, June 1 | WakeMed Soccer Park

The Coachella of soccer is back in Cary. Three $1 million prizes, big names, festival vibes, and five days of nonstop action. Full preview in the featured article above.

Get tickets

Just off Kildaire Farm Road near Lochmere is one of the best walks in Cary, with plenty of shade for hot summer days.

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve covers about 140 acres of woodland trails, creek views, and the bluffs themselves. The whole thing has a quiet, almost mountainous feel to it, which is kind of crazy considering you are still in the middle of Cary.

The bluffs hold a small population of Eastern hemlock trees that have been growing here since the last ice age. They normally live in the cooler Appalachian Mountains, but a microclimate created by the steep north-facing bluffs lets them survive here. It is the only place in the Piedmont where you can see them growing naturally.

There are about 2.5 miles of natural surface trails in total, but you do not need to do all of them to make it worth the trip. The Swift Creek Loop is the highlight (it brings you down to the creek and gives you the best of the bluff views), but heads up: the stairs leading down to Swift Creek are roughly 100 steps. They are very doable, but you will feel them on the way back up. If you have bad knees or are bringing little ones, plan accordingly.

The Stevens Nature Center sits at the entrance and has exhibits, family programming, and friendly staff who can point you toward the best route for what you are looking for.

A few quick things to know:

Go enjoy some nature!

📍 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary, NC 27518 Free | Trails open daily, dawn to dusk | Stevens Nature Center hours vary | Trail Info

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

P.S.

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