events
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ANNUAL EVENTS
JAN
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FEB
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
MAR
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Watch the acorn drop. Fireworks, food trucks, and more. Bring all your lawn chairs and eat at Food Trucks
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
EVENT DETAILS
SPOTLIGHT
APR
DREAMVILLE FESTIVAL
Dreamville Festival is an outdoor weekend music celebration curated by internationally-acclaimed hip-hop superstar J. Cole alongside his Dreamville team.
DOROTHEA DIX PARK
RALEIGH EARTH DAY
A free community event to explore earth-conscious vendors and organizations while enjoying live music, games, and activities for all ages. Includes showing of a family friendly movie to conclude the event.
DOROTHEA DIX PARK
EASTER EGG HUNTS
Raleigh Parks & Recreation hosts several free Easter Egg Hunts located at various parks Inside the Beltline.
INSIDE THE BELTLINE
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
DOROTHEA DIX PARK
MAY
ARTSPLOSURE
Artsplosure is Raleigh's original and longest running arts festival. This two-day event features an Art Market of juried artists across the US showcasing ceramics, glass, fiber art, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood and more. Other festivities include live music, Kidsplosure, and one-of-a-kind art installations.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
ANIMAZEMENT
Animazement is Raleigh's premier Japanese animation and culture convention! Enjoy concerts, educational panels, limited merchandise, unique artwork, and more.
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST / CITY PLAZA
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST / CITY PLAZA
JUN
RALEIGH INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL
EAT Everything, Everywhere, All at Once! Celebrate Raleigh's diversity, art, culture, traditions and history with food, dessert, beer, and wine from around the world.
FAYETTEVILLE ST / CITY PLAZA
OUT! RALEIGH PRIDE
Out! Raleigh Pride celebrates Raleigh’s culture, promoting diversity, awareness, and inclusiveness for the LGBTQIA+ community. Festivities include entertainment, local vendors, food, a KidsZone, beer garden, and more.
FAYETTEVILLE ST / CITY PLAZA
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
NC STATE CAPITOL
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
NC STATE CAPITOL
JUL
FOURTH OF JULY AT STATE CAPITOL
A Raleigh tradition that includes celebrations, musical performances, activities, and self-guided tours of The Capitol.
NC STATE CAPITOL
EVENT DETAILS
GALAXYCON RALEIGH [TIX]
GalaxyCon Raleigh is more than a comic-con. It’s a 4-Day festival of fandom with celebrities, artists, writers, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, creators, wrestlers, fan groups, panelists, and much more.
RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER
SPOTLIGHT #1 / #2 / #3
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
AUG
CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL
A celebration of Caribbean culture and cuisine with vibrant carnival masqueraders marching through Fayetteville St. The CaribMask Festival Village houses Caribbean food vendors, arts and crafts markets, live performers, and Kid's Corner.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
SPOTLIGHT #1 / #2 / #3
PACKAPALOOZA
Packapalooza is an all-day block party and street festival capping off Wolfpack Welcome Week at the start of the academic year including great music, activities and fun entertainment for the whole family.
HILLSBOROUGH ST
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
SEP
IBMA WORLD OF BLUEGRASS
This festival is widely recognized as the one of the premiere showcases for what’s happening in and around bluegrass music with hundreds of performers from around the world. There are multiple stages for music, an arts market, food trucks, beverages, family activities and a whole lot of banjos.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + RALEIGH CONVENTION CENTER + REDHAT AMPHITHEATER
LA FIESTA DEL PUEBLO
The Triangle’s largest and most diverse festival of Latin American culture, featuring live music and dance performances, visual and folk art exhibits, educational booths, activities for the whole family, and of course food.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE & FESTIVAL
The Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade & Festival celebrates Wearin' 'O the Green.
FAYETTEVILLE ST + CITY PLAZA
OCT
INTER-TRIBAL POW WOW
Family Friendly event that celebrates the legacy and culture of North Carolina Indigenous communities. Festivities include dance competitions, crafts, music, vendors, and more.
DOROTHEA DIX PARK
RALEIGH ZOMBIE WALK
A family friendly mile-ish trek in Downtown Raleigh as Zombies drag, limp or shamble through the city in character as the undead while terrifying the living!
MOORE SQUARE TO FAYETTEVILLE ST
FALLING FOR LOCAL
Enjoy live music from local talent and demos from local businesses all day long as well as loads of Fall Fun including hay rides, inflatables, lawn games, kids activities, photo ops, and a pumpkin patch all free of charge.
DOROTHEA DIX PARK
DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION
Day of the Dead remembers deceased friends and family with the creation of an Offering with the participation of Cultural Groups, Folkloric Dances, Music, Art, Food, Workshops for children and Mexican Crafts.
CITY PLAZA
NOV
AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION
A free festival with multiple demonstrations, presentations, performances, kids activities and more highlighting traditional and contemporary artistic, scientific, historic, and cultural contributions of American Indians in North Carolina. Held inside and outside the Museum.
NC MUSEUM OF HISTORY
SPOTLIGHT #1 / #2 / #3
RALEIGH CHRISTMAS PARADE
The largest Christmas parade between Atlanta and D.C. and it takes place *before* Thanksgiving!
HILLSBOROUGH ST + FAYETTEVILLE ST + OTHERS
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH TREE LIGHTING
The Holidays officially kicks off with the Downtown Tree Lighting.
MARTIN MARIETTA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
SPOTLIGHT #1 / #2 / #3
DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION
Day of the Dead remembers deceased friends and family with the creation of an Offering with the participation of Cultural Groups, Folkloric Dances, Music, Art, Food, Workshops for children and Mexican Crafts.
CITY PLAZA
DEC
NC CAPITOL TREE LIGHTING
Every year the Governor, accompanied by children, lights the State Christmas Tree on Union Square. This event is also carried live on television across the state.
NC STATE CAPITOL
SPOTLIGHT #1 / #2 / #3
FIRST NIGHT RALEIGH
Ring in the New Year. Festivities begin with the early afternoon City Plaza outdoor musical performances and the Children’s Celebration. Performances and activities across multiple venues through the day and evening. The night is capped off with music on the outdoor Main Stage, the famous Raleigh Acorn Drop, and a spectacular fireworks show.
FAYETTEVILLE ST / CITY PLAZA
PULLEN PARK HOLIDAY EXPRESS
During Holiday Express, Pullen Park is transformed into a winter wonderland, allowing guests the opportunity to experience sledding, a light filled train ride, unlimited carousel rides, a visit with Santa and more.
PULLEN PARK
SPOTLIGHT #1 / #2 / #3 / #4
DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION
Day of the Dead remembers deceased friends and family with the creation of an Offering with the participation of Cultural Groups, Folkloric Dances, Music, Art, Food, Workshops for children and Mexican Crafts.
CITY PLAZA
ONGOING EVENTS
FIRST FRIDAY RALEIGH
A monthly celebration of Raleigh's arts and culture scene across Downtown Raleigh.
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH
SPOTLIGHT #1 / #2 / #3
POP UP MARKETS
Support Local Artisans and shop at various Pop Up Markets held weekly at various Downtown locations.
DOWNTOWN RALEIGH
DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION
Day of the Dead remembers deceased friends and family with the creation of an Offering with the participation of Cultural Groups, Folkloric Dances, Music, Art, Food, Workshops for children and Mexican Crafts.
CITY PLAZA
DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION
Day of the Dead remembers deceased friends and family with the creation of an Offering with the participation of Cultural Groups, Folkloric Dances, Music, Art, Food, Workshops for children and Mexican Crafts.
CITY PLAZA
