What's On in Raleigh
Events, markets, games, library and parks programs in and around Raleigh, with times, prices 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.
Coming up
The full month- Now through Nov. 14 Live Art Bid Preview
- Nov. 13 to 14 Carolina Youth Ballet: The Nutcracker
- Nov. 13 to 14 How to Train Your Dragon in Concert (NC Symphony)
- Sat. Nov. 14 Fall Family Fun Day
- Sat. Nov. 14 NC State football vs. Syracuse (Senior Day)
- Sat. Nov. 14 Carolina Hurricanes vs. Seattle Kraken
- Sat. Nov. 14 Pianist Elia Cecino
- Tue. Nov. 17 Midtown Makers Market
- Nov. 18 to Dec. 4 Knock Knock
- Thu. Nov. 19 Carolina Hurricanes vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Nov. 19 to 22 Jewels (Carolina Ballet)
- Fri. Nov. 20 Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting and Holiday Market
Plan your weekend
Fourth of July
Raleigh Fourth of July fireworks 2026
Raleigh's 2026 July 4 fireworks lit up Dix Park's Big Field at 9:30 p.m., with shuttles from downtown. Updated each year when the city posts 2027 plans.
Halloween
Trick-or-treat hours in Raleigh 2026
Halloween 2026 in Raleigh is over. The city set no official trick-or-treat hours, and its free trunk-or-treats ran Oct. 29-31. This page returns for 2027.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Raleigh 2027: events, dinners and date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 is a Sunday. What Raleigh Parks held last February, from a vintage valentines party to free card-making, and when to look for 2027.
Spring break
Spring break in Raleigh 2027: school dates, camps, things to do
Wake County traditional-calendar students are off March 26 to April 5, 2027. Raleigh camps, free museums and what is open on Good Friday.
Easter
Easter in Raleigh 2027: egg hunts, brunch and services
Easter 2027 is Sunday, March 28. Raleigh Parks' free egg hunts at Mordecai, Jaycee Park and Lions Park last spring, with ages, and when 2027 dates come out.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Raleigh 2027: brunch, events and gift markets
Mother's Day 2027 is Sunday, May 9. Last year's NCMA Mother's Day brunch, a Raleigh Parks gift-making class, and where to shop local for mom.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day in Raleigh 2027: ceremonies, closings, trash
Memorial Day 2027 is Monday, May 31. Historic Oakwood Cemetery's remembrance service, city offices, trash pickup, the Yard Waste Center and GoRaleigh.
Summer camps
Summer in Raleigh 2027: camps, pools and splash pads
Raleigh summer 2027: city camp sign-ups in February, four summer pools that open Memorial Day weekend, free splash pads, and pool fees.
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.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Raleigh 2027: what's open, trash and events
Labor Day 2027 is Monday, Sept. 6. What is open and closed in Raleigh, how trash pickup and the Yard Waste Center change, GoRaleigh and splash pads.
Christmas
Raleigh Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026
The 82nd Raleigh Christmas Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Downtown's tree lighting is Friday, Nov. 20, at Moore Square. Updated each year.
High school football
Friday night football 2026: Raleigh high school schedule
Remaining 2026 games for Millbrook, Southeast Raleigh, Broughton, Enloe and five more Raleigh schools. Unbeaten Millbrook visits Enloe at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16.
Fall festivals
Fall festivals and pumpkin patches in Raleigh 2026
Raleigh fall 2026: the free Fall Arts Fair is Saturday, Nov. 7, at Fred Fletcher Park, then Fall Family Fun Day Nov. 14. Pumpkin Palooza has closed for 2026.
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.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Raleigh 2026: turkey trots, meals, closings
Thanksgiving 2026 in Raleigh: the Raleigh Turkey Trot 8K and Leesville 5K on Nov. 26, city offices closed Nov. 26-27, no GoRaleigh buses Thanksgiving Day.
Black Friday
Black Friday and holiday shopping in Raleigh 2026
Raleigh holiday shopping 2026: Triangle Town Center's Thanksgiving and Black Friday hours, Small Business Saturday Nov. 28, holiday markets and free parking.
Christmas lights
Holiday lights and Christmas events in Raleigh 2026
Raleigh holiday lights 2026: Fieldstream Farm's drive-thru show opens Nov. 27 at $20 a car, Holiday Express Dec. 1-17 is sold out, plus Santa and Nutcracker.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Raleigh 2026: First Night and the Acorn Drop
New Year's Eve 2026 in Raleigh: First Night Raleigh and the Acorn Drop downtown, Noon Year's Eve at Marbles and what changes on New Year's Day.
Brunch
Brunch in Raleigh: 8 places with weekend brunch hours
Where to get brunch in Raleigh, with days and hours from each restaurant's own site: Irregardless, Mecca, NOFO @ The Pig, Hummingbird, Wye Hill and more.
Dogs
Dog-friendly Raleigh: dog parks, patios, trails and leash rules
Raleigh's 10 off-leash dog parks, patios that say dogs are welcome, trails where leashed dogs can walk, and the city leash law. Animal Control: 919-831-6311.
Kids
Kids' activities in Raleigh: playgrounds, museums, story times
Things to do with kids in Raleigh: Gipson Play Plaza at Dix Park, Pullen Park, free splash pads, Marbles, the free science museum and library story times.
Greenways
Raleigh walking and biking trails: greenways, loops, parking
Raleigh's main walking and biking trails with distances and trailhead parking: the 27.5-mile Neuse River Trail, Walnut Creek, Crabtree Creek and lake loops.
Downtown Raleigh
A guide to downtown Raleigh: what to see, eat and park
Downtown Raleigh: the State Capitol, free museums, First Friday, the Sip n' Stroll social district and the city decks with two hours of free weekday parking.
Live music
Live music and nightlife in Raleigh: venues and late spots
Raleigh's live music venues, from the Lincoln Theatre, Pour House and Kings to Red Hat Amphitheater and Walnut Creek, plus late bars and the social district.
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.
Date night
Date night in Raleigh: dinner, wine bars, theater and late spots
Date night in Raleigh: Poole's Diner, Bida Manda, St. Roch and Brewery Bhavana, Barcelona Wine Bar, the symphony and ballet, and Raleigh Little Theatre.
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.
Restaurants
Where to eat in Raleigh: lists by category
Every Raleigh where-to-eat list in one place: wings, pizza, Mexican, barbecue, breakfast and coffee, burgers, sushi, desserts, bakeries, patios and brunch.
Wings
Where to get wings in Raleigh: Hillsborough Street and North Raleigh
7 places to get wings inside Raleigh city limits, from Hillsborough Street near NC State to Creedmoor Road, Falls of Neuse Road and Brier Creek.
Pizza
Where to get pizza in Raleigh: downtown, Hillsborough Street and more
14 pizza places at 16 locations inside Raleigh city limits, from downtown and Glenwood Avenue to Hillsborough Street, Wake Forest Road and North Raleigh.
Mexican food
Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants in Raleigh
8 Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants at 10 locations inside Raleigh city limits: downtown, Hillsborough Street, Avent Ferry Road, North Hills and Midtown.
Barbecue
Where to get barbecue in Raleigh: downtown and beyond
6 barbecue restaurants inside Raleigh city limits: three downtown, plus East Millbrook Road, West Raleigh on Hillsborough Street and Creedmoor Road.
Breakfast
Breakfast and coffee in Raleigh: downtown, Five Points, North Hills
13 breakfast spots and coffee shops at 18 locations inside Raleigh city limits, downtown, near NC State, in Five Points and North Hills and up to Creedmoor Road.
Burgers
Where to get burgers in Raleigh: Char-Grill, Glenwood and more
7 burger places at 13 locations inside Raleigh city limits, from Hillsborough Street and Glenwood Avenue to Wade Park, Creedmoor Road and Falls of Neuse Road.
Bakeries
Bakeries in Raleigh: Person Street, Five Points and more
7 bakeries at 8 locations inside Raleigh city limits: bread, doughnuts, French pastry and cakes, from Person Street and Five Points to Brier Creek.
Ice cream
Ice cream and desserts in Raleigh: Person Street to North Raleigh
6 ice cream, frozen custard and dessert shops at 11 locations inside Raleigh city limits, around Person Street, Iron Works and North Raleigh.
Patios
Patios and outdoor dining in Raleigh: downtown to North Raleigh
16 Raleigh restaurants and cafes whose own sites list a patio, deck, rooftop or courtyard seating, downtown, at Five Points, North Hills and North Raleigh.
Sushi
Sushi and Asian restaurants in Raleigh: downtown and North Raleigh
14 sushi, Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants inside Raleigh city limits, from Fayetteville Street and City Market to North Raleigh.
Event news
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.