General Admission lawn is FREE and does not require a ticket. 

A limited number of Reserved Tables plus preferred parking are available for purchase.  

NOTE: Purchasing a table will offer a view of the performances but does not guarantee a clear view of the fireworks. Fireworks may be obstructed by the tree canopy, the stage, or other structures. You must purchase the whole table.

Jaki Shelton Green, ninth Poet Laureate of North Carolina appointed in 2018, is the first African American and third woman to be appointed as the North Carolina Poet Laureate. Some of her recognitions include North Carolina State University 2026 Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, 2022 Forbes Magazine 50 Over 50 Lifestyle List, 2021 UNC Chapel Hill Frank B. Hanes Writer in Residence, 2021 recipient of the George School Outstanding Alumni Award, 2020 Kathryn H. Wallace Award for Community Service, 2020 St. Andrews University Ethel Fortner Award, 2020 Northern Orange County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Achievement Award, 2020 Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award, 2019 Academy of American Poet Laureates Fellow, 2019 North Carolina Humanities Council Caldwell Award, 2019 Woman of Distinction Excellence in Humanities Award, 2014 Induction into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, 2009 North Carolina Piedmont Laureate appointment, 2003 recipient of the North Carolina Award for Literature.

Jaki Shelton Green recently retired as professor of documentary poetry at Duke University Center for Documentary Studies. Her publications include Dead on Arrival, Masks, Dead on Arrival and New Poems, Conjure Blues, singing a tree into dance, breath of the song, published by Blair Publishers. Feeding the Light, i want to undie you, The Communion of White Dresses published by Jacar Press, and i want to undie you, English /Italian bilingual edition published by Lebeg Publishers of Rome Italy. Juneteenth 2020, she released her first LP poetry album, The River Speaks of Thirst, produced by Soul City Sounds and Clearly Records and released a CD,     i want to undie you in 2021.

Jaki Shelton Green is the owner of SistaWRITE providing writing retreats for women writers in across the United States, Northern Morocco, The Loire Valley France, and Ireland. She has been involved with numerous public art collaborations and projects including the NC Freedom Park, Dix Park Conservancy, City of Asheville Riverwalk Project, Mint Museum of Charlotte, North Carolina African American Heritage Commission Africa to Carolina public art installation.

Her poetry has been commissioned, performed, choreographed, and translated into symphonies, film, and paintings by visual artists, dance companies, and musicians including Flutronix, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, The Art Project of Chicago, The New York City Girls Choir, Wichita Falls Texas Symphony, Lexington Kentucky Philharmonic Orchestra, Duke University Black Music Lab Project, the Miami City Ballet, the Justice Project Theater, Murmurations Dance Company, Choreodance Company, Elon University Dance Department, Chuck Davis African American Dance Company at the Kennedy Center, DancaNova at Naropa Institute, Two Near the Edge Dance Company, North Carolina State University Dance Department, North Carolina Central University Dance Department, North Carolina State University Craft Center, Gregg Museum of Art and Design, and Theatre Charlotte. Other collaborations include 2026 Artist in Residence at the Durham NC Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, the Moroccan Ministry of Education, the History Museum of Charlotte, the Blowing Rock Arts and History Museum, Poet Laureate in Residence at the North Carolina Museum of Art (2021-2024), poetry editor for WALTER Magazine.

For this event, picnics are welcomed. Guests may bring their own food and beverages, including beer and wine (but no hard liquor).

Concessions will be open selling a varierty of NEW delicious food items and beverages.

SEE MENU

For this event, KBA will allow all types of coolers and bags; however, to expedite entry, we prefer all guests bring 12" x 12" x 9" clear bags and/or coolers or bags no larger than 6" x 8".

• Beer and wine (no liquor)
• Coolers
• Outside food and beverages
• Camping chairs. No footrests, canopies, lounge chairs, tri-fold chairs, or swinging chairs. See examples. Please remove chairs from bags at security checkpoints.
• Blankets and towels
• Bags/purses
• Ponchos
• Strollers
• Handheld umbrellas
• Reusable bottles/cups

Water fill stations are located near restrooms.

All bags & coolers will be searched.

Prohibited items will need to be returned to guests’ vehicle before entering.     

Please leave the following items at home: 

• Balloons, Banners & Signs
• Beach umbrellas
• Brochures/Stickers/Handouts
• Confetti/Glitter
• Drones
• Fireworks
• Go Pros, Audio or video recorders
• Grills & Open Flames
• Illegal Drugs
• Laser Pointers
• Liquor
• Mats of any kind including yoga mats
• Noise Makers
• (Select) Lawn Chairs: No Footrest, Canopy, Lounge, Tri-Fold or Swinging Chairs.
• Pets of any kind (Excluding service Animal)
• Professional cameras with detachable lenses
• Sporting equipment
• Tarps, Plastic sheeting
• Tents/Stakes
• Weapons of Any Kind (Include but not limited to knives, guns, tasers, chains, studded/spiked jewelry)

PARKING LOTS OPEN AT 2:30 PM

GENERAL PARKING: Koka Booth Amphitheatre has approximately 1500 free spaces available.  Parking is free of charge in Amphitheatre-owned lots. Some local businesses may charge a fee for parking in their lots. 

When parking in neighboring lots, please note these lots are self-parking facilities, and you do so at your own risk. By entering, paying, or parking, you agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by North Carolina law, the lot owner and the parking lot operator are not responsible for theft, loss, damage, or injury involving you, your vehicle, its contents, or any person in the lot. No bailment or duty of safekeeping is created.

PREFERRED PARKING: A limited number of preferred parking passes will be available to those purchasing reserved table seats. Please check back closer to the event for single parking pass availability. If purchasing a Preferred Parking Pass, we encourage you to arrive by 6:00 PM, before the Road closes.

PURCHASE PARKING

ACCESSIBLE PARKING: A limited number of accessible parking spaces are available on a first come first served basis with the proper hang tag or license plate.

DROP OFF & PICK UP BEFORE 6PM: If using a ride share company please use the address 11000 Regency Parkway Cary, NC 27518. Follow the parking directional signs upon arrival and look for our Parking Staff. 

DROP OFF & PICK UP AFTER 6PM: If using a ride share company please use the address 3700 Regency Parkway Cary, NC 27518.

Re-Entry will be allowed for this event, However, Entry/re-entry may be denied if the venue is at max capacity - Please arrive early!

Access to parts of Symphony Lake Greenway located at Koka Booth Amphitheatre will be limited after 8 a.m. on Friday, July 3, until the morning of July 5.

Road Closures: Saturday, July 4th

• 8 a.m. – Road closure of eastbound Regency Parkway and southbound on Ederlee starting at Modena Cary Senior Living.
• 8 a.m. – Road closures on Ederlee at Avenue of the Estates (No northbound traffic). Closure of both lanes of Peregrine Pl.  All Traffic from US 64/U.S. 1 southbound routed around the venue on Regency Parkway.

If attempting to reach U.S. 1 from the southern end of Regency Parkway please drive around to Penny Road and then to Kildaire Farm Road.

• 6 p.m. (approximate) – Closure of southbound Regency Parkway from Tryon Road/U.S. 64 and U.S. 1 to the intersection of Regency Parkway and Regency Forest.

• Midnight - All lanes open, normal traffic resumes

EXITING THE VENUE: ALL TRAFFIC in the venue parking lots will exit westbound on Regency Parkway to southbound on Ederlee.

For additional information, please visit the Amphitheatre’s website at www.boothamphitheatre.com or call 919-462-2025 with questions. 

DROP OFF & PICK UP BEFORE 6PM: If using a ride share company please use the address 11000 Regency Parkway Cary, NC 27518. Follow the parking directional signs upon arrival and look for our Parking Staff. 

DROP OFF & PICK UP AFTER 6PM: If using a ride share company please use the address 3700 Regency Parkway Cary, NC 27518.

DJ & Emcee: DJ Bri, Ryder Entertainment

3:30 PM: Gates Open
4:05 PM: The Scouts Present the Red, White & Blue
4:15 PM: Cary Town Band
5:30 PM: Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton
6:45 PM: "Well, I Declare" A live reading of the Declaration of Independence + songs with Mike Wiley and Dawn Landes
7:55 PM: Message from mayor Harold Weinbrecht
8:00 PM: Your North Carolina Symphony
9:25 PM: Fireworks
9:50 PM: DJ Bri Dance Party + LED Robots
10:10 PM: Raffle Drawing - YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN! Check back closer to the event for details on raffle prizes. 

🎆 Check back closer to the event for our lineup of vendors and food trucks.

Don't miss Mike Wiley & Dawn Landes on the main stage at 6:45 PM!

Well, I Declare America at 250 celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States, blending music, storytelling, and historical reflection. The show asks: Two hundred and fifty years after its birth, does America live up to its founding ideals?  The program features a live reading of the Declaration of Independence by actor Mike Wiley, paired with thoughtful, provocative, and playful musical responses performed by singer/songwriter Dawn Landis. Using songs — both new and old — Well, I Declare explores the nation’s history, often as a call for change.