Things to do in Raleigh
Things to do in Raleigh, newest first: events, festivals, parks and family days out, with dates, times and the organizer's own link.
Top story
NCNW chief to headline Delta Sigma Theta gala Dec. 12
Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley speaks Dec. 12 at the Knightdale-Wake Forest Delta chapter's 30th anniversary gala in Raleigh. Tickets $150, sales close Nov. 20.
Plan your weekend
Things to do
Things to do in Raleigh this month: November 2026
Raleigh, November 2026: the Fall Arts Fair Nov. 7, the tree lighting Nov. 20, the Christmas Parade Nov. 21, Fieldstream lights Nov. 27 and Messiah Dec. 4-5.
Greenways
Parks and trails in Raleigh
Raleigh has more than 200 parks and over 100 miles of greenway trails, open dawn to dusk. The Neuse River Trail runs 27.5 miles. Parks office: 919-996-3285.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Raleigh 2027: events, car shows, brunch
Father's Day 2027 is Sunday, June 20. Free things to do with Dad in Raleigh, from the science museum to the greenways, and where to look for 2027 events.
Halloween
Halloween events in Raleigh 2026
Raleigh Halloween 2026 is over: the trunk-or-treats, Haunted at the Pines and Pumpkin Palooza have run. The tree lighting is Nov. 20; this page returns in 2027.
Free
Free things to do in Raleigh: museums, parks, trolls and more
Free things to do in Raleigh: the N.C. Museum of Art and its park, the science museum, the Capitol, Dix Park's trolls and playground, and the greenways.
N.C. State Fair
N.C. State Fair 2027 dates: Oct. 14-24 in Raleigh
The 2027 N.C. State Fair runs Oct. 14-24 at the Raleigh fairgrounds. See the 2026 prices, free days and parking, and the 910,584 final turnout.
City of Oaks Marathon
City of Oaks Marathon 2026: race day, start times, packet pickup
The 2026 City of Oaks Marathon ran Sunday, Nov. 1, and results and photos are posted. The organizer has not announced the 2027 date; this page will carry it.
Artsplosure
Artsplosure, the Raleigh Arts Festival: dates, map, what to know
Artsplosure, the Raleigh Arts Festival, fills Fayetteville Street on the third weekend of May with about 175 artists and two stages. 2027 dates not yet out.
St. Patrick's Day
Raleigh St. Patrick's Day Parade 2027: date, route, parking
Raleigh's St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 13, 2027, on Hillsborough Street. Streets on the route close at 8 a.m.
Latest stories
Arts
Arts and exhibitions in Raleigh: November 2026
Raleigh arts, November 2026: Ancient Nubia at the NCMA to Jan. 10, Carolina Ballet's Jewels Nov. 19-22, Messiah Dec. 4-5 and the Nutcracker from Dec. 10.
Things to do
Delta Marketplace, blood drive at East Wake High Dec. 5
Local vendors fill East Wake Magnet High School on Saturday, Dec. 5, for the Delta Sigma Theta chapter's holiday marketplace, with a Red Cross blood drive.
Holiday Express
Pullen Park Holiday Express 2026: dates, tickets, resale
Holiday Express at Pullen Park runs Dec. 1-17, 5 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets sold out after the Oct. 15 sale; resale is at face value on Ticketmaster only.
Nutcracker
The Nutcracker in Raleigh 2026: Carolina Ballet dates, times
Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker plays Raleigh Memorial Auditorium Dec. 10-24, 2026, with live music. Every show time, plus youth Nutcrackers Nov. 13-14 and Dec. 5.
Things to do
Things to do in Raleigh this weekend, Oct. 23 to 25
The N.C. State Fair's final weekend, Kooky Spooky at Marbles Friday, the last Haunted Trolley tours, Carolina Ballet's Dracula and free Halloween fun Saturday.