The hottest nights in the Carolinas.
Get ready for the premiere event of the Carolinas: Carolina Summer Nights, July 16th-19th, 2026 at the Sheraton Imperial in Raleigh/Durham, NC.
Get your tickets today. Sunday brunch is pre-sale only.
We can’t wait to see you all again on the dance floor!
Host Hotel
Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park
Durham, North Carolina 27703
Overflow - SpringHill Suites Raleigh-Durham Airport/Research Triangle Park
Vendors
Vendor List
- AUMIITU – Handmade Leather Accessories
- Bold and Beautiful Cosmetics – Vegan Makeup
- Bling It (A Project Step LLC) – Apparel
- EOP Designs – Hand made bracelets / necklaces
- Essie’s Delights – Gourmet Cookies; Cake Jars & Mini Pies
EveVéy Opulent Butters – Body Butters & Mists, Sugar Scrubs - House of Salvage – Refashioned clothing & accessories
- OhSoNaturals by Nina – Paline balls, Cinnamon chips, Mini cakes, Hand Knit items, Portable fans and Hand Fans, Key Chains and Bracelets
- Natural Skin Bliss – Custom Skincare; Body oils; and accessories
- Reeves Swedish Massage Therapy – Chair message
- Uncle Dave’s Kettle Korn
- Your Best Life Curator LLC ( Bedroom Kandi) – Body / Skin care, Adult Items
- Zynda Hair and Body – handcrafted jewelry and all-natural homemade body projects
On-Site Cigar Lounge
Friday and Saturday
Ms. Novelty & The Novelettes Luxury Cigar Experience
Outdoor Vendors
Click links below to view menu
Thursday • 7pm – 2am
- Waffle Upp – Chicken and Waffle Cone and Bowl Chicken Platter Cauliflower Platter
Friday / Saturday • 9pm – 2am
- Grass Son’s Soul Food – Grasssons Soulfood
- Waffle Upp
- Ms. Novelty & The Novelettes Luxury Cigar Experience
Yes, music matters.
Rock our event t-shirt on Sunday.
Weekend Itinerary
All parties in the ballroom area. Weekend passes include Friday-Sunday parties and brunch ticket. Passes do not include seat unless you purchased RSVP seating or are sitting at someone’s table.
THU - FRI
Thursday: Carolina Kickoff
8pm – 12am | $10 ATD (not included w/ weekend pass)
Attire: Casual
Musical Host: DJ Sizzle
Friday: Line Dance Workshop
Time 11am-12pm | $TBD
Instructor: Erika Little
Friday: Day Party
Time 1pm – 4pm | Free
Attire: Casual
Friday: Carolina Sweet
8pm – 2am | $45 ADV / $50 ATD
Light hors d’oeuvres
Attire: Casual
Musical Host: DJ Calvin
No color themes for the weekend. Stepper’s sharp for Saturday only.
SAT DAY
Saturday: Stepping Workshop
“Music & Motion: Bridging the Dance Gaps with Musicality”
Time 10am – 12:30pm |
$25 ATD
Saturday: Carolina Heat
1pm – 5pm | FREE
Attire: Casual
Musical Host: DJ Sizzle
Saturday: Carolina Cool
8pm – 2am | $55 ADV / $60 ATD
Light hors d’oeuvres
CCS Acknowledgments @ 11pm
Attire: Steppers Sharp
Musical Host: DJ Black Cool
Food trucks will be on site.
SAT NIGHT - SUN
Saturday: Afterparty
2am – until | Free
Sunday: Carolina Brunch
11am-1pm Brunch
(pre-sale only, no ATD)
1pm – 5pm | $40 ATD (Dance Only)
Scholarship Presentations @ 2pm
Attire: Steppers’ Casual
Musical Hosts: Weekend DJs
Weekend FAQs
Where is Thursday Night set?
Thursday will be at the host hotel: Sheraton Imperial.
4700 Emperor Blvd., Durham, NC – 8pm-12am, $10 ATD.
What is the color scheme/dress code for the weekend?
Wear whatever colors you want all weekend! Thursday: Casual; Friday: Casual; Saturday Night: Stepper’s Sharp; Sunday: Casual
Where can I pick up tickets?
Friday: During hospitality hours (3pm-5pm) or at the
registration desk by the ballroom during workshops
and nightly events.
What do I need to present at the door if I’ve pre-paid?
PayPal/ Eventbrite receipt or Photo ID.
What do I need to enter each event?
Thursday night’s set is $10. Wristbands are required for Friday and Saturday night events. Sunday brunch will require both wristband for entry and brunch ticket for plate.
How much is the Saturday workshop?
All workshops are $25 each at the door.
What are hospitality hours?
Hospitality hours will be posted on the door.
What is going on during the day on Saturday?
Workshops: (see itinerary). Day Party: 1pm- 5pm. (See “Things to Do in Raleigh/Durham area” section for more options).
What is the at the door ticket price?
Thursday: $10, Friday: $50, Saturday: $60. Sunday open dance (1:00pm to 5pm): $40. Sunday brunch is pre-pay only, no brunch tickets ATD.
What are some things to do in the Raleigh/Durham area?
African American heritage attractions, The Hayti Heritage Center in Durham is listed on the register of national historic landmarks, and the African American Cultural Complex in Raleigh are worth a visit.
Local universities: HBCUs – NC Central University in Durham and Shaw University in Raleigh (the oldest HBCU in the South). If you’re a college basketball fan, Duke
University, NC State or UNC Chapel Hill are close by.
Shopping: Southpoint Mall in Durham, Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, North Hills area of Raleigh is a nice area to walk around with shops, restaurants, movie theatre, gym, spas, etc.
Cigar bars: We will have a mobile cigar lounge on site!
For other quick and nearby places see ‘Where can I go in the area to grab a bite to eat?’ section.
Can I enter the ballroom early to hold seats?
No. The doors of the ballroom open at 8pm on Friday and Saturday, and 11:00am on Sunday. Items placed on seats in the ballroom before the doors officially open, will be removed and placed at the registration desk.
What happens if I misplace my brunch ticket or my wristband?
You should treat them both like cash! They are required for entry into the event (brunch ticket is required for the brunch). If you misplace your wristband or brunch ticket, you will need to pay to replace it.
Do I really need to wear my wristband for entry?
It doesn’t match my outfit!
Yes! You MUST wear your wristband to gain entry to the ballroom. We have rotating folks covering the registration desk, and we will have a lot of guests, so “you saw me yesterday!” is not a workaround to the wristband rule. 🙂
Where can I go in the area to grab a bite to eat?
There are several great places nearby: Dames Chicken and Waffles the Cary location is at 823 Bass Pro Lane (6.5 miles away from the hotel); Mexican: Mez Restaurant, 5410 Page Road, Durham, NC (.5 mile); Cuban: Carmen’s Cuban Cafe, 108-D
Factory Shop Road, Morrisville, NC (1.5 miles); Barbeque:
Backyard BBQ Pit 5122 NC-55, Durham, NC 27713 (5.4 miles).
We also have a food truck on-site Thursday: 7pm – 12am; Friday: 7pm – 12am; They accept cash or debit/credit cards.
See the Raleigh/Durham visitors guide in the hospitality suite and at the registration desk for additional recommendations.
How can I get around town, to /from airport?
The Sheraton offers transportation shuttle free of charge. The shuttle provides service to the airport every hour at the top of the hour and to area shopping centers and restaurants within a 4 mile radius on the :20 and :40. Shuttle phone: 919-941-5050.
How do I schedule a private?
Contact instructors directly.
Will there be food served?
Yes! Thursday: Food truck items available for purchases (see below for times); Friday & Saturday: light hors duerves while it lasts; Sunday: our famous CSN brunch replenished for 1 1/2 hours!
On-site Food Truck times: Thursday: 8pm – 12am; Friday: 10pm – 1am; Saturday 10pm – 3am. They accept cash or debit/credit cards.
Will there be vendors at the event?
Yes! Men’s and Women’s clothing and accessories, jewelry vendors, fragrance and body oil vendor, a cigar lounge, food truck and more.
Will debit/credit cards be accepted at the door?
Yes! Please have your ID as well.
Code of Conduct Policy
1. Introduction
Carolina Summer Nights is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all attendees. This Code of Conduct outlines the expected behavior and standards of conduct to ensure a positive experience for everyone. By attending Carolina Summer Nights, you agree to abide by this Code of Conduct.
2. Unacceptable Behavior
Carolina Summer Nights has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:
a. Harassment: Any unwanted or unwelcome behavior, including verbal, physical, or visual conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. This includes, but is not limited to, offensive comments, slurs, jokes, gestures, or unwanted advances.
b. Disruptive Behavior: Any action that interferes with the enjoyment of the event by others. This includes, but is not limited to, excessive noise, vandalism, theft, intoxication, or failure to comply with the instructions of event staff or security personnel.
3. Respect for Others
We expect all attendees to treat each other with respect, courtesy, and consideration. This includes:
Personal Boundaries: Respecting personal space and consent. Always obtain explicit consent before engaging in any physical contact or taking photographs or direct video recordings.
4. Photography and Video Recording Consent
Carolina Summer Nights will involve photography and video recording by authorized individuals or other guests. By attending the event, you acknowledge and consent to the capturing of your likeness, image, or voice and the use of these recordings for promotional or documentation purposes.
Please note the following distinctions:
a. Direct Recording: refers to someone standing and recording a dance or couple for most or the entirety of the song. This type of recording may result in your image being prominently featured in the recorded content.
b. Indirect Recording and Live Streaming: refers to guests using platforms such as Facebook to broadcast live in the room and capture the overall experience of the event. While your image and participation may be captured in this context, the focus is on capturing the general atmosphere of the event rather than individual participants.
If you do not wish to be DIRECTLY recorded, please respectfully inform the person(s) filming you. An immediate effort is expected by the person(s) recording to respect your decision moving forward. Any disruptive behavior or harassment caused by refusal to acknowledge the guest’s desire to not be filmed will not be tolerated. Please note that it may not be possible to prevent all incidental capture in the case of indirect recordings and live streaming.
5. Reporting and Enforcement
If you witness or experience any behavior that violates this Code of Conduct, please immediately report it to Capital City members.
All reports will be taken seriously, and appropriate action will be taken to address any confirmed violations. This may include verbal warnings, expulsion from the event without refund, and, if necessary, involvement of local law enforcement.
6. Conclusion
Carolina Summer Nights is committed to fostering a fun and welcoming environment for all attendees. We rely on the cooperation and understanding of each individual to adhere to this Code of Conduct. By attending the event, you play a vital role in creating a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone