Today's the day: Sweet Honey in the Rock, 4 p.m.

The big day is here, and the weather's looking better by the minute. Please come to the Gardens and enjoy the free concert by Sweet Honey in the Rock at 4 p.m. Parking is free, too, and we'll have shuttle buses. The concert is a co-production by Duke Gardens and Duke Performances, in celebration of the Gardens' 75th anniversary. The Bailey Elites, a local shout band, will open the show at 3:30 p.m. Sweet Honey's performance includes sign language interpretation.

The show will go on rain or shine. The only thing that would stop it is hazardous weather, with high winds or lightning. But that's not looking likely at all. We'll keep you apprised here and at our Twitter site.

Read more about the concert, Sweet Honey and logistics here.
Read an interview with Sweet Honey's ASL interpreter in the post below this.
Read the Independent Weekly's feature on the Bailey Elites here.

Here are some photos of the concert setup this morning.







Below, Duke Gardens horticulturist Jason Holmes brings potted plants to the South Lawn to decorate the stage.

Portable toilets are in place (but there are also bathrooms in the Doris Duke Center and in the Terrace Gardens adjacent to the South Lawn).

It was a tight squeeze bringing all the equipment in from Flowers Drive.