by Raleigh Magazine | Oct 29, 2026 | Eat, November 2026
Dear Snack Stealers,
If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I’m a snacker. I love a snack. My typical snack of choice usually involves something crispy or crunchy, like chips, crackers, popcorn—you get it. And I don’t discriminate. I’m just as likely to reach for a classic bag of Doritos as a bag of “better-for-you” protein chips.
But these days, cracking open a fresh bag of whatever I may be munching on that day has become deeply disappointing. Why? Because there are barely any chips—we’re talking, like, a third of a bag. Maybe.
Now, I know brands have to leave a certain amount of space for nitrogen gas to prevent those salty snacks from going stale, but how much freaking gas do you need?! And I know for a fact there’s more air in bags than there used to be. The ratio is now more like 3:1 (air to chips), compared to what felt like 2:1 before.
And apparently I’m not the only one who’s noticed this—the chip-bag betrayal has made it all the way to The Wall Street Journal. Get this: A standard-size bag of Flamin’ Hot Doritos used to clock in at 9.75 ounces. By February 2021? Same bag, same ~$2.50 price tag—but half an ounce of chips had mysteriously vanished. Today, we’re still stuck with the skimpier 9.25-ounce bag, except you now have to fork over around 5 bucks.
So: fewer chips, twice the price and what feels like enough nitrogen to inflate a pool float. And I’m over here getting approximately 10 chips total. A total rip-off. … And don’t even get me started on how hard the damn bags are to open.
—Still Hungry
This rant has been lightly edited for style and space and is not endorsed by Raleigh Magazine.
Got a rant OR RAVE?
Email it to [email protected] for print consideration.
by Raleigh Magazine | Oct 27, 2026 | Do, November 2026, October 2026
10/29
Battle of the Broker Bands
Rock on—Rocktober is here. Bands of brokers, developers and other professionals go head to head at Lincoln Theatre to benefit Dress for Success and Haven House. etix.com
10/29
Craft Night
Dig out that half-finished DIY from TikTok and craft it up after-hours while meeting fellow creatives—with refreshments to boot. ncartmuseum.org
10/29
Dog Halloween Costume Contest
Whether you’re going spooky or silly, dress Fido in his/her best Halloween costume to compete at Boatman, where judges will select their fave furry friend while owners enjoy $10 classic cocktails. And stick around for adoptable dogs from Freedom Ride Rescue! boatmanspirits.com
10/29
Dose x OCRC Afterdark
Will run for candy. Prep for your Halloween haul with a 5K in North Hills (costumes encouraged, natch), followed by an all-levels stretch class and Boo-nana Blaze smoothies. doseyogastudios.com
10/29
Outdoor Movie Series
I put a spell on you. The Sanderson sisters are casting their magic over Village District for an outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus. Grab some popcorn and settle in for a night benefiting Comfort Zone Camp. shopvillagedistrict.com
10/29
Thriller Thursdays
‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night at Bitter Social as Ghostface takes over with a Scream marathon and killer bites from Centro. Answer the phone—if you dare. bittersocialraleigh.com
10/29–11/8
Cirque de Paris
Ooh la la—the circus is coming to town with a Parisian Twist. Step under the Big Top at Triangle Town Center for high-flying aerialists, stunts and a serious cirque spectacle. cirquedeparis.com
10/29–5/29
Grounded
It’s time to get grounded. Artist-in-residence Maya Freelon layers color, tissue paper, memory and heritage to showcase decades of work exploring fragility and strength. gregg.arts.ncsu.edu
10/30
Did Somebody Say DRAG-ula?
Fangs and fabulousness, darling. Theatre Raleigh and Pocket Nightmare Productions summon a wickedly entertaining Halloween drag and burlesque show. theatreraleigh.com
10/30–31
James Murray
Impractical Joker “Murr” brings never-before-heard jokes and interactive stand-up to the Goodnights stage. goodnightscomedy.com
10/30–11/8
Durham Fringe Festival
The stage is where you make it. The inaugural Fringe Festival spotlights 50+ local artists across 20+ venues, bringing shadow puppetry, experimental dance, drag opera and more into the limelight. durhamfringefestival.org
10/31
Art and Blooms
A moonlit garden, minus the midnight hour. Artist Debra Singer-Harter leads a watercolor workshop on scenes of moonlight in the garden at JC Raulston Arboretum, showing beginners how to paint like a pro. jcra.ncsu.edu
10/31
Day of the Dead 5K & Street Festival
Run like the dead are after you. The 14th annual Day of the Dead 5K dashes through historic Oakwood Cemetery before coming back to life with a Wilmington Street fest packed with food, music, traditional dancers and more. event.racereach.com
10/31
Halloween at Hogwarts
Yer a wizard, Raleigh. Step into a world of wizardry for a spellbinding concert we solemnly swear you’ll enjoy. ncsymphony.org
10/31
Halloween Party
Boogie with the boos! Boatman Spirits throws a free Halloween bash with live jazz from Garret Hitmar and Root Down before DJ Chico Scott takes over for a late-night Halloween costume contest. boatmanspirits.com
10/31
HalloWolfe Bash
Who’s afraid of the big bad Wolfe? Howl into Halloween with a late night bash at Wolfe & Porter, fueling your monster appetite—and dance moves. wolfeandporter.com
10/31
Haunted House
House of horrors? More like house music. Somatic House Collective takes over Bitter Social for a Halloween bash where costumes, underground beats and resident DJs keep the dance floor hauntingly alive. bittersocialraleigh.com
10/31
NCSU vs. Cal
It’s bear-hunting season. gopack.com
10/31
Pumpkin Palooza
All aboard the pumpkin express. Pullen Park delivers a full dose of fall fun with train rides, autumn crafts, festive games and a pumpkin for your porch—Halloween costumes and a smile encouraged. raleighnc.gov
11/1
Canes vs. Winnipeg
Canes ground those Jets. lenovocenter.com
11/1
City of Oaks Marathon
Run, Raleigh, run! Lace up—or cheer from the sidelines—as runners take on 26.2 miles of Raleigh roads. cityofoaksmarathon.com
11/1
Stand Together: Beyond the Horizon
Chart a course for a cause and set sail for a night of cocktails, bites, auctions, DJs, dancing and doing good at Boatman Spirits Co.—all in support of NextStep Raleigh. my.onecause.com
11/2
NCSU Men vs. Campbell 🏀
Hope the Camels packed for a rough ride. gopack.com
11/2
NCSU Women vs. Wofford 🏀
Bad day to be a Terrier in Wolfpack territory. gopack.com
11/2, weekly
Yoga in the Park
Get to the core of the matter every Monday evening through an hour of outdoor yoga on Harvey Hill. dixpark.org
11/3
A Parting Class
Master your host-with-the-most title during Boatman Spirits Co.’s boozy crash course in party punches. Pour decisions encouraged. resy.com
11/3
Motionless in White
Prepare to melt some faces. The metalcore heavyweights are bringing their glorious chaos to the Lenny. lenovocenter.com
11/3
Plant-Lover’s Tour
Call it survival of the prettiest. See which plants conquered the summer heat as horticulturist Greg Paige leads “Summer’s Survivors” through JC Raulston Arboretum. jcra.ncsu.edu
11/4
The Inflammation Connection
Bloating, breakouts, PMS… registered dietician Becky Posada talks why these symptoms often show up together—and what to do about them—at Wave Movement. @posalife
11/4
NCSU Women vs. Campbell 🏀
Who run the world? The Wolfpack Women. gopack.com
11/4
Perception vs. Palate
Are your taste buds deceiving you? Put your senses to the test during a bias-busting wine tasting at The Loading Dock. vitishouse.com
11/4
Shannon Ford Middleton
What’s the fun in keeping your opinion to yourself? While you may know her as a podcaster and reality personality, Middleton takes the stand-up stage with unfiltered takes, unhinged storytelling and a lot of oversharing. goodnightscomedy.com
11/4
Toast to Table
Come hungry, leave feeling ubergenerous. Wine, dine and raise a glass for a good cause during A Place at the Table’s evening of community, impact and connection at Union Station. my.onecause.com
by Raleigh Magazine | Oct 21, 2026 | Do, October 2026
Through 1/10
Ancient Nubia
Before the pharaohs stole the show, Nubia was making history. Travel back thousands of years to discover the art, artifacts and extraordinary legacy of one of Africa’s most powerful ancient civilizations. ncartmuseum.org
10/22
Freeman Vines Film and Talk
If those guitars could talk… they would tell you to string together film, conversation and history via the Gregg Museum’s screening and discussion exploring the NC artist and guitar maker’s handmade instruments. gregg.arts.ncsu.edu
10/22
Outdoor Movie Night
Working 9 to 5? Clock out and kick back as Gateway Plaza screens the Dolly Parton classic under the stars—with pizza, popcorn and drinks from Fiction Kitchen. @gatewayplazaraleigh
10/22
Outdoor Movie Series
Twelve kids and one dad make for a whole lot of chaos. Village District brings Cheaper by the Dozen to the big screen for a nostalgic movie night. shopvillagedistrict.com
10/22
Thriller Thursdays
Double, double, toil and trouble mwahahaha! Binge Practical Magic and The Craft on the big screen they deserve, plus bewitching cocktails and bites from Centro that will leave you feeling magical. bittersocialraleigh.com
10/23
Boos & Booze
Find your new ~boo~ at Sir Walter Coffee’s Halloween-themed singles night—complete with wickedly good cocktails and thrilling conversations. @sirwaltercoffee
10/23
Breaking Benjamin
The early aughts called… crank up the hard-rock hits that defined an eyeliner-heavy, angst-filled era. Rock on! livenation.com
10/23
Kooky Spooky Halloween Party
Calling all little monsters—and their grown-up ghouls. Marbles gets kooky-spooky with mad-scientist experiments, creepy crafts and a fa-boo-lous costume parade. marbleskidsmuseum.org
10/23
Tales of Woe
No sunshine and rainbows here. The museum uncovers the science behind your darkest fears with interactive science stations, music, games, local entertainment and special activities. naturalsciences.org
10/23
Steve Lacy
Oh, yeah? Woozy guitar riffs and effortlessly cool sounds will have you seeing “dark red.” redhatamphitheater.com
10/23–24
The Music of John Williams
May the orchestra be with you. Launch yourself into another galaxy with Williams’ legendary scores from Star Wars, E.T. and more—no Millennium Falcon required. ncsymphony.org
10/23–25
Ron Fuches
A warm hug and a masterful roast sesh roll into one joyful yet disarming stand-up. goodnightscomedy.com
10/24
Delta Rae
There’s no place like home. Durham-born Delta Rae returns to its NC roots for a night at The Ritz, bringing home the band’s signature harmonies and Southern folk-rock sound. livenation.com
10/24
Making Strides of the Triangle
Think pink and walk with purpose. Join the American Cancer Society at Durham Bulls Athletic Park for a 5k uniting survivors, supporters and families in the fight against breast cancer. secure.acsevents.org
10/24
Person Street Block Party
Ain’t no party like a Person Street party. Celebrate and remember the queen (Dolly Parton) with a stacked lineup of music, art, food, dancing, a pop-up market and more. @edgeofurge
10/24–25
Chapel Hill Biscuit Festival
You ~butter~ believe it. The inaugural Chapel Hill Biscuit Festival serves up a weekend of Southern comfort—all benefiting SECU Family House. secufh.org
10/24–25
Raleigh Greek Festival
Opa! Greece is closer than ever as the signature Greek fest returns home to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with traditional music, dancing and a weekend-long celebration of Greek culture. raleighgreekfestival.com
10/25
Day of the Dead Festival
Knock ’em dead. City Plaza bursts with color for Día de los Muertos, honoring Mexican and Latin American heritage through altars, music, Aztec dancers and the Catrina parade. revistalatinanc.com
10/25
NC Vintage Market
Old is new and new is so old. Give your wardrobe a little secondhand love while browsing vintage clothing, jewelry, decor and one-of-a-kind treasures at Haven Farm in Knightdale. @ncvintagemarket
10/25
Ooky Spooky Cocktail Class
Witch, please. Sip your way through three spell-binding cocktails—an extra Bloody Mary to a Ghosted S’mores Martini—paired with seasonal bites and skyline news. thewillardraleigh.com
10/25
Vince Staples
When sparks fly, take to The Ritz for signature West Coast cool vibes made for anything but sitting still. livenation.com
10/27
Canes vs. Bruins
It’s Bear-hunting season. lenovocenter.com
10/27
MRA Real Estate Forum
What’s next for Midtown? Get the inside scoop on Raleigh’s changing skyline as local real estate leaders unpack neighborhood developments, housing trends and projects shaping the city’s future. midtownraleighalliance.org
10/28
History at High Noon
Losing your head is one thing. Spending eternity looking for it? That’s just bad luck. Uncover the chilling legend of the Maco Light and its headless railroad conductor during this virtual dive into one of North Carolina’s spookist ghost stories. ncmuseumofhistory.org
