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ADF
The American Dance Festival continues in July with major performances by some of the world’s premier ensembles, including Pilobolus (July 9-11), Doug Elkins and Friends (July 13-15), Paul Taylor Dance Company (July 16-18) and the Mark Morris Dance Group (July 23-25). You can check out all of the performers and the extensive schedule of special performances at americandancefestival.org

Mergeboro
July 22-26
We delve into the details of Merge Records’ 20th anniversary celebration in the following pages. The four nights of action at Cat’s Cradle have been sold out since pretty much the day they were announced, but here’s a reminder that there are still tickets available for the big Memorial Hall show on Sunday, July 26, with She and Him, Wye Oak and American Music Club.

Eno Festival
West Point on the Eno
July 3, 4 and 5
A lot of things are happening over the July 4th weekend, but in this area the biggest event by far is the 30th annual Festival for the Eno. The annual celebration of the river, by the river and for the river takes place a dozen or so miles from downtown Carrboro at Durham City Park at West Point on the Eno.

This year’s music lineup features more than 50 acts, including American Aquarium, Chuck Brodsky, Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey and the Gospel Jubilators. Plenty of games, gear, eats and, uh, rivery things, like a working grist mill and workshops on how to identify turtles and macroinvertebrates. Visit enoriver.org for details.

Midsummer Night’s Dream
A couple of years back, The ArtsCenter and PlayMakers Repertory Theater got together in an effort to enhance the experiences of young people interested in theater. The result has been a smashing success, with dozens of future performers and, perhaps, lifelong fans of the theater participating. This season’s performance — timed perfectly in the lulling lazy days and enchanted nights of late July — is Shakespeare’s classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
July 28
Not exactly a stadium rock show, but it is in a stadium and you’ll always be able to say you saw Dylan, Willie and John Mellencamp play at a minor league ball park. This “rain-or-shine” event even has a down-home title: “The Bob Dylan Show featuring Willie Nelson and Family and John Mellencamp.” Expect a lot of sing-alongs and some good laughs. More info and tickets (which, as you might expect, ain’t cheap at $67) at dbulls.com