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
A Vibrant Middle & High School in Raleigh-Durham Independent School Education
Carolina Preparatory Academy is redefining independent school education in the Research Triangle. While Carolina Prep is in its second year as an International Baccalaureate middle and high school (grades 6–12), it enjoys the rare advantage of immediate strength, drawing on established resources, a deeply rooted community, and a clear, forward-looking vision. Sharing one board and leadership team with its sister school, The Montessori School of Raleigh (MSR), Carolina Prep enters the educational landscape with stability, momentum, and a distinct mission.
Growth and Student-Centered Rigor
Carolina Prep is actively in growth mode; it is expanding its student population alongside its academic and athletic offerings, faculty and staff, and campus facilities. At its core is a rigorous college preparatory curriculum where students are challenged daily to reach their highest intellectual potential.
Yet, academic rigor at Carolina Prep never comes at the cost of personal engagement. The school delivers a student-centered program designed to cultivate and build learning opportunities directly around each student’s individual passions. Whether diving into advanced research, pursuing creative interests, or exploring complex problem-solving, students are empowered to own their educational journey.
A Kind, Diverse, and Curious Community
The community at Carolina Prep is defined as much by its character as by its scholarly ambition. Students and educators alike are intellectually curious, perpetually eager to ask questions and explore new ideas. Equally important is the culture of empathy and kindness that permeates daily life on campus.
Carolina Prep proudly values diversity, fostering a rich, multicultural community where varied perspectives are celebrated and integrated into the learning experience. As an IB World School, the academy cultivates global citizenship, encouraging students to think critically, act ethically, and engage compassionately with the world around them.
What Makes Carolina Prep Unique in the Triangle
Nestled on a scenic 40-acre campus centrally located in Brier Creek, Carolina Prep holds a unique position within the Triangle region. It offers a mid-size, secular independent school environment where every student is known, supported, and valued.
Carolina Prep is the only independent school in North Carolina that offers grades 6–12 International Baccalaureate curriculum, providing students opportunity and time to academically and socially thrive as they matriculate.
Experiential learning is woven into every facet of the student experience. From hands-on curriculum and independent studies, to meaningful community service and IB projects, learning extends far beyond traditional classroom walls. And, Project Week, a hallmark of the Carolina Prep experience, engages all students in immersive local, domestic, and global learning adventures designed to broaden horizons and build real-world skills.
Looking Ahead
Carolina Prep offers the perfect balance: the energy, freshness, and growth of a new institution combined with the proven foundational strength of its sister school, MSR. Through rigorous IB academics, experiential discovery, and a warm, inclusive culture, Carolina Prep is preparing the next generation of curious, empathetic leaders to thrive in an interconnected world.
Schedule a Tour Today Come see why we’re growing by scheduling a time to visit our campus at carolinaprepnc.org
A North Carolina surgeon shares why he chose to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve while continuing to care for patients at home.
For Cmdr. Hadley Wilson, MD, MS, becoming a physician and serving in the military were never separate ambitions. He knew from childhood that he wanted both.
“I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be in the military,” Wilson says. “I also knew I wanted to be a doctor.”
While completing his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wilson participated in the Navy Reserve’s Training in Medical Specialty program, allowing his military career to develop alongside some of the most rigorous years of his surgical training.
Today, Wilson balances a demanding career as an attending cardiothoracic surgeon at Novant Health with service in the U.S. Navy Reserve—an experience he says continues to challenge, fulfill and sharpen him as both a physician and a leader.
“I chose the Navy Reserve so that I could maintain my clinical skills in a busy civilian practice and still be called upon to serve in a critical wartime specialty. For me, it was the best of both worlds,” he says. That choice has given him experiences extending far beyond his civilian surgical practice.
He has served in multiple leadership roles, participated in field exercises in austere environments, provided healthcare to underserved populations and trained Navy corpsmen and fellow physicians. He also became an Advanced Trauma Life Support instructor, training military physicians from across the services in trauma care.
“I look forward to my time with the Navy more than just about anything else I do for work. I knew that I always wanted to join, but I didn’t know how fulfilling and exciting it would be for me.” —Cmdr. Hadley Wilson, MD, MS
The experience has shaped his civilian work as well.
“I work in a busy civilian practice and have to stay sharp,” Wilson says. “I think the Navy has helped me manage my time better. It has also broadened my skill set and kept some of my general surgery training fresh by working with other Navy physicians.”
What he did not anticipate was how personally rewarding service would become.
“I knew that I always wanted to join, but I didn’t know how fulfilling and exciting it would be for me,” he says. “It’s an excellent challenge and keeps me sharp both physically and mentally.” Balancing that commitment with a demanding surgical career takes planning and support. Wilson credits both his institution and his partners with making it possible to succeed in both roles.
“My partners have been very supportive, as has my institution, and I wouldn’t be able to succeed in both civilian and military careers without their support,” Wilson says. “I find that with sufficient notice I can pretty much make anything work.”
The same is true at home. Wilson and his wife are raising four daughters, and he acknowledges that military service can ask a great deal of the families behind those who serve.
“As much as I hate to be away from them, I know what I’m doing is important, and so do they,” he says. “They’d obviously rather have me home all the time, but they’re proud to have a Navy dad and husband.”
For Wilson, the “best of both worlds” has become something even more: the ability to pursue two callings without having to choose between them.
The U.S. Navy Reserve became the intersection where both callings met.
Navy Recruiting Reserve Command LCDR Kathleen Dale, MSM, BSN, CCRN-TNCC Navy Reserve Healthcare Officer Recruiter (Carolinas) Nurse Corps Officer – Critical Care [email protected] 919-971-8268
10/15 Jeremy Short He’s got both the fiery looks and Appalachian space funk on lock as the blues guitarist hailing from the hills of Eastern Kentucky takes to the stage at the Pour House. pourhouseraleigh.com
10/15 Talk Smutty To Me Don’t turn the page on a steamy Thursday night. Bitter Social and Blackbird Books hand over the mic to present brief selections of sexy published works. bittersocialraleigh.com
10/15 Thriller Thursdays Spooky szn is in full swing at Bitter Social, where Jennifer’s Body and Lisa Frankenstein hit the big screen, complete with specialty cocktails and bites from Centro. Hell is a teenage girl, indeed. bittersocialraleigh.com
10/15 Ty Myers From TikTok to the stage, Myers is joined by Brent Cobb and Benny G to serve up a night of bluesy old-soul country. boothamphitheatre.com
10/15–18 Singin’ in the Rain Sr. What a wonderful feeling! Tap your toes and sing along to the splashy adaptation of the Hollywood classic at Raleigh Little Theatre. dancingmanproductions.com
10/15–25 NC State Fair Come one, come all for exhilarating rides, fried food galore, shopping, competitions, and various activities and entertainment. Nothing could be finer! ncagr.gov
10/16 Avery Anna Pouring heartbreak, family drama and those all-too-well-growing pains into her music, Anna hits The Ritz with brutally honest tracks. livenation.com
10/16–17 I Have A Dream Pop Fest Shoegaze OGs The Veldt—lead by Raleigh native twin brothers Daniel and Danny Chavis—bring two nights of high distortion and psychedelic rock to Neptunes Parlor. visitraleigh.com
10/16–17 Rhapsody in Blue Jazz hands meet classical fingers. Pianist Clayton Stephenson tickles the ivories at Meymandi Concert Hall, playing through George Gershwin’s iconic composition. ncsymphony.org
10/16 & 18 Carmen Red flags have never looked—or sounded—this good. NC Opera turns up the heat at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium with Bizet’s famously fiery score. ncopera.org
10/17 Diwali Festival Spot captivating cultural performances, paint mandalas and diyas, get down to a live DJ, and sample assorted food truck cuisine as Morrisville’s annual Diwali Festival lights up. eventvesta.com
10/17 Harvest Fest A bountiful harvest is found at LC Brier Creek’s fall fest, ringing in PSL season with hot cocoa and apple cider, games and inflatables, local vendors and live bluegrass courtesy of The Sweet Peas. eventbrite.com
10/17 International Wine & Beer Festival Pinkies up! Sip, taste and celebrate the world via wines from over 15 global wineries + beer from 10 countries at City Plaza—best followed by chowing down on international fare and groovin’ to live music. internationalwineandbeerfestival.com
10/17 LOVE. DEATH. OR ROBOTS Usher in Halloween by dressing as love, death or robots at Bitter Social. You bring your best costume—they provide three DJs, drag queens and more. @thewhyparty
10/17 Pop-Up Raleigh Shop small at Trophy on Maywood, where vintage finds, handmade goods, local art and more turn a Saturday shopping spree into a local love letter. popupraleigh.com
10/17 Tepuy Roadshow Tepuy Donuts is hitting the road for a pop-up at Float Spa in an effort to raise funds for a new doughnut trailer. Come for the doughnuts (natch), coffee and cold brew, and savory danishes—stay for the chance to win free treats. @tepuydonuts
10/17 Time Warp It’s just a jump to the left… and a trip to the City of Raleigh Museum, which transports attendees back to the ’70s with DJs, dancing, food, drinks, raffles and groovy swag. zeffy.com
10/17 Triangle Roast Battle Gear up to withstand awkward moments, unbearable funny roasts and everything in between as the best comics in town throw down—and are judged by none other than Mayor Janet Cowell. @triangleroastbattle
10/17–18 NC Home Show Make your house a home at the Raleigh Convention Center with expert advice; exclusive deals; and resources in home improvement, landscaping and design services. homeshowsnc-rc.com
10/18 Beatniks Third Annual Day Party Beatniks is turning the big three—and throwing a much-needed day party outfitted with free bevs, live music, vintage pop-ups, and raffles on raffles. Don’t be a square! @beatniksshop
10/18 Oktrophyfest Trophy is raising the steins. Go full German with the Little German Band, accordion tunes, pretzels, German cuisine and plenty of Prostbier Kölsch. humanitix.com/oktrophyfest
10/18 Waylon Wyatt Old soul meets new country via twangy storytelling at The Ritz—proving you don’t need to live decades to sing like you have. livenation.com
10/19 Oyster Affair Dinner Oyster season is here—and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a four-course meal at St. Roch featuring the best of our local waters. @strochraleigh
10/20 Hamlet To be, or not to be… Mark your calendars for Wildflower Stage Co.’s first production—or 90 minutes of orchestrated chaos—at Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company. @wildflowerstageco
10/21 Johnny Blue Skies & the Dark Clouds Forecast: blue skies and dark clouds. Sturgill Simpson scoots into Oak City, bringing his genre-bending country laced with rock and blues for a psychedelic experience. lenovocenter.com
10/21 The Woman’s Club of Raleigh Annual Gala Follow the yellow brick road to celebrate the club’s legacy of service via its annual gala, which raises funds to continue its community impact for generations to come. womansclubofraleigh.org
10/21–11/8 Dracula Sink your teeth into Theatre Raleigh’s Comedy of Terrors, during which Bram Stoker’s bloodsucker gets a ridiculous makeover. … And the stakes have never been higher. theatreraleigh.com