Town guide · Piedmont
Fuquay-Varina
A southern Wake County town formed in 1963 from Fuquay Springs and Varina, with a historic mineral spring park and two historic districts.
35.6° N · -78.78° W · Wake County
CRay Arts IndexGrade · see the report card ↓The town
About Fuquay-Varina
Fuquay-Varina in southern Wake County grew from two towns. Around 1858 Stephen Fuquay found a spring on his family’s tobacco farm, and its mineral water gained a reputation for healing. Near the turn of the twentieth century, night train trips from Raleigh brought crowds, and small hotels, barbecue stands and a dance pavilion followed. Varina, just to the south, took its name from a post office opened in 1880 and became a tobacco and rail hub. Better roads and cars later pulled visitors toward the coast, and the two towns merged in 1963. Recent growth is tied to nearby Research Triangle Park. The spring now sits in a small historic park. The Fuquay Springs and Varina Commercial historic districts include the Ben-Wiley Hotel and the Ballentine-Spence House. Artist Beverly Buchanan and the online entertainers Rhett and Link, who moved their studio here in 2010 have ties to the town. Source: Wikipedia
Events in Fuquay-Varina
On in town this week
Every art form on one list, each in its own color. Sample events — illustrative dates
All Fuquay-Varina eventsNothing posted for the next few weeks yet.
Places by art form
Where to go in Fuquay-Varina
Venues, companies, guilds and more, by art form.
Search everything in Fuquay-VarinaMusic
All →- Fuquay-Varina Arts CenterLive music venue
- Wshs Band Boosters AssociationPerforming Group
- Pure In Heart Southern GospelPerforming Group
- Gerald Parker Jazz Orchestra IncPerforming Group
- Questell Foundation IncPerforming Group
- Follow Me to Fuquay-Varina concert series
- Signature Music Studio
- MbS Music Studios homeschool orchestra
- WNNL 103.9 MHz (Fuquay-Varina)
Theater & Performance
All →Dance
All →Visual Arts
All →Craft & Traditional Arts
All →Literary Arts
All →Film & Media
All →Museums & Heritage
All →Make it a weekend
More towns in Piedmont
Ray Arts Foundation · North Carolina
Report Card
Ray Arts Index · 2026
- Town
- Fuquay-Varina
- County
- Wake County
- Standing
- #24 of 60 graded towns
| Subject | Weight | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Local government supportExtra weightArts budget, arts office, grants, parks & rec arts | 18% | A |
| Arts educationExtra weightSchool district arts programs, arts schools and camps | 12% | A |
| Arts placesVenues, museums and galleries | 18% | F |
| ActivityArts events each month | 13.5% | F |
| FestivalsActive arts festivals | 13.5% | C |
| Arts organizationsArts nonprofits and their budgets | 13.5% | F |
| Creative economyArts businesses and working artists | 7% | B |
| HeritageLong-running arts institutions and history groups | 4.5% | Inc. |
Overall
C
HonorsNone yet
Marking scaleA 80+ · B 65+ · C 50+ (national typical) · D 35+ · F below 35 · Inc. not yet measured
Teacher’s remarks
The Ray Arts Index gives extra weight to local government support and arts education, because public investment in the arts, and in teaching it, is how creative communities grow.
For community leadersWhere Fuquay-Varina has the most room to grow, and the next steps that would raise its grade. Show the breakdownHide the breakdown
Where Fuquay-Varina has the most room to grow
- Arts places (grade F)
- Arts organizations (grade F)
- Activity (grade F)
Next steps
- Ask venues, museums and galleries to claim their listings and add seating capacity.
- Make sure local arts nonprofits file with an arts (NTEE “A”) code and the town’s address.
- Ask venues and arts groups to post their dates or an events feed, so activity is measured, not missed.
- Add founding years to long-running venues, festivals and arts groups.
- Request the full Fuquay-Varina advisory report from the Ray Arts Foundation.
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