Raleigh is upping its fun factor—and not just for kiddos. The largest adventure playground in the Southeast is expected to open in Dix Park next month, following almost three years of construction. Enter the highly anticipated Gipson Play Plaza.
Photo courtesy of Dix Park
Photo courtesy of Dix Park
Photo courtesy of Dix Park
Photo courtesy of Dix Park
The 18.5-acre elevated playspace was designed and built to uplift Dix Park. Expected to bring in a whopping million annual visitors from Raleigh and across the region, it will be a hub for community and a hot spot for fun via a variety of playgrounds, climbing towers, a sensory maze, watermill mountain, fountain plaza and more. “It’s the only place in Raleigh easily accessible from lots of different neighborhoods that has the type and scale of play equipment we built,” Dix Park Executive Director Kate Pearce told RM in an exclusive interview. “It’s unlike anything else Raleigh has in its system.”
But the magic of the Plaza isn’t just in its play structures. There’s a seat for all walks and ages at the Plaza—and not just on the 91-foot megaswing. Offering “play” to please all from Alphas to Xers, the play space uplifts adults… because grown-ups need a little recess too. Think sipping beer and wine at the House of Many Porches Market, or basking in the quiet Woodland Garden underneath the Sunflower Power Poles.
As the first major project to come out of the Dix Park Master Plan, the Plaza is only a sneak peek of the park’s ultimate transformation, and sets the tone for future development. “It’s the beginning of showing the community what building something of this aspiration means,” emphasizes Pearce. And while Dix Park is ready to grow, Raleigh is ready to play. Grand opening & celebration June 6–8, dixpark.org
The latest local news nuggets you need to know now.
WHAT’S HOT
It’s a dream come true…? Per N&O, the City of Raleigh and Live Nation are in talks to continue hosting a music festival at Dix Park following the fifth and final installment of Dreamville Fest—potentially under the same name.
RDU is taking flight! Five airlines are introducing 14 new routes beginning April 11, including nonstop flights to Bermuda, Kansas City, Dallas, Detroit, Nassau and more.
Call it a glow-up—Raleigh Fire Department’s Station 7 closed March 31 for renovations, including improvements like new windows, bathrooms, showers, flooring and LED lighting.
With its 7.8 million square feet of industrial space currently in development, Raleigh was named No. 12 among markets with the most industrial real estate under construction at the beginning of 2025, with current inventory expected to expand by 6.5%.
“Bigger Play, Brighter Futures.” Marbles Kids Museum launched the public phase of its first-ever Capital Campaign, which will fund the completion of a two-story addition feat. a new one-of-a-kind exhibit, a classroom for educational programming and a rooftop playscape—plus the beautification of the Blount Street exterior façade.
Always standing on business. … Raleigh ranked in the top 10 best cities for young entrepreneurs, determined by such factors as coworking affordability, wage and tax data, internet infrastructure, cost of living, and personal income.
Pay up! A recently released study evaluating tolls as part of the Capital Boulevard Improvement Project recommends easing traffic congestion by removing stoplights and creating highway interchanges, with upgrades beginning in 2027.
RDU Airport’s consolidated rental car facility is in a (traffic) jam, as the plan is being ditched due to rising costs. Other options are being explored.
RIP. Former Harlem Globetrotter, actor and tallest man in America George Bell—standing at 7’6’’—passed away in Durham at the age of 67.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is canceling $500 million in food deliveries for food banks and pantries across the country, resulting in a decrease of such nutritious items like chicken, eggs, milk and cheese.
WHAT’S NOT
The Bathroom Bill is back. NC Republican senators have introduced a bill similar to 2016’s HB2 dubbed the Women’s Safety and Protection Act that bans transgender people from using a bathroom affiliated with their gender identity at facilities like schools, prisons and more.
As the fifth and final Dreamville Festival has been put to bed, we recap the good, bad and dreamy moments of this year’s fest. And stay tuned for the new four-year music fest under the Dreamville label coming to Dix Park next year.
BEST
Weather This year’s fest was definitely the warmest and sunniest, complete with a chill breeze and partly cloudy skies to provide some relief from the heat. Even nighttime temps didn’t fall below 70—a plus compared to previous years’ nippy evening weather (not having to carry around a jacket all day? Big win)—but rain did start to fall Sunday at the end of the night. It was hot during peak daytime though, but luckily with Dreamville’s many shaded areas, there were plenty of spots to escape the heat.
Liquor Pop-Ups No one pulled out the stops more than this year’s liquor partners. Patrón set up a literal house in the middle of the festival pouring drinks in the brand’s signature tequila bottles, while Hennessy featured an energetic DJ set by Mannie Fresh and guest bartender appearance from Normani. And, as always, Casa Bacardi offered a tropical oasis to enjoy refreshing ’tails and make a wish in the branded fountain.
Art There were oodles of photo ops at this year’s fest, including a plethora of backdrops by local artists—showing that Dreamville Fest is more than just a music fest. Interactive structures also abounded, including a rainbow-hued string display that moved with the wind, neon rainbow setups, an inflatable flower installation, sunflower benches and much more.
NC Apparel North Carolina represent! Artists repped local sports with fashionable ’fits—from Lil Wayne’s branded Canes jersey to Ludacris’ UNC Tar Heels getup.
Throwback Artists While we love the top artists in today’s rap/hip-hop game (GloRilla ATE), it was a delight to see early aughts faves like Ludacris and Wale take the stage. Luda got the crowd hype with fan-favorites, even playing “Move Bitch” twice for an abundant crowd that belted along the lyrics both times.
Stage Visuals Dreamville really upped the ante with the stage visuals this year. Think raging flames setting the scene for 21 Savage; a smokeshow during Lil Wayne’s headlining performance, plus supercool graphics for his gaggle of coperformers (Hot Boys & Big Tymers, Birdman, Juvenile, etc.); an endearing animation behind Earthgang; lightning effects and strobe lights showcasing Erykah Badu; and *lit* light shows during the evening acts. And we’d be remiss not to mention J. Cole’s two-story home setup, where he kicked off the show upstairs sitting at a desk, working his way down to the first-floor couch.
Safety Precautions Walk anywhere on the grounds and there’s likely a medical tent in sight, a great comfort in the case of an injury, dehydration or other medical emergency—even a Narcan tent as a fail-safe. Water stations were also scattered throughout, in addition to Electrolit samples near the entrance. And staff were quick to rescue patrons in need during sets (s/o crowd members who waved their phone flashlights to gain attention).
WORST
Sound Issues Despite two entire days of live music, J. Cole’s mic failed during the opening of his final headlining performance, a major flop. Erykah Badu’s mic also went out while she was on stage with him—and Earthgang’s sound system was having issues at the start of their set. Luckily, Cole noticed his vocals weren’t projecting and restarted his first song for the enormous crowd to hear, and Earthgang’s DJ stopped the set to figure out the issue before the duo came on.
Huge Crowds With 52,000+ people in attendance each day, Dreamville sold out once again—and it showed. Sunday was especially packed, with clusters of festivalgoers descending on Dix, making it hard to maneuver throughout the grounds. Toes were stepped on and several folks had to be escorted out of the throngs during individual sets (though alcohol and other substances could definitely be in play). During his Sunday set, even J. Cole paused to take it all in—marveling at how far the crowd stretched.
Long Lines Perhaps inevitable when it comes to a festival of this size and scale, lines for merch and some bars and some food vendors stretched endlessly. Hands down, the GA merch tent was the roughest scene, with throngs of festivalgoers snaking through the grounds to snag a hoodie or T-shirt—barricades had to be brought in on day 2 to help. Even in the VIP area, we waited ~20 minutes for an order of fries—but, worth it (!).
Poor Service After five years, we thought Dreamville had finally figured out the shotty service situation. Saturday we were able to text/call/post to social media with minimal delay, but Sunday harkened back to the dead bars of years’ past, getting worse as the day went on. By the evening, we were unable to text or make calls, and Instagram wouldn’t update.
No, you’re not dreaming—after five epic years, J. Cole is putting his era-defining Dreamville Festival to rest. On April 5–6, the rapper will link up with a host of hip-hop and R&B music greats—not to mention local small businesses, artisans, vendors, muralists and community organizations—for one final fest.
“Watching people from all over the world and all walks of life gather here each year has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of our journey,” J. Cole said in an Instagram post via Dreamville. “Whether it’s the day-one fans or the newcomers, each reunion has been unforgettable.”
This year’s ~dreamy~ lineup includes top-tier artists like Lil Wayne, GloRilla, 21 Savage, Wale and Ludacris—and who knows what other surprises might be in store. Hey, the sky’s the limit! dreamvillefest.com
*Editor’s note: On Thursday, April 3, the City of Raleigh announced a new four-year musical festival under the Dreamville label, name currently TBD. Find more info here.
Life is too short for FOMO—so grab the tickets and file the memories. From hot concerts and epic fests to arts, theater, comedy and beyond, Raleigh’s lineup is stacked. Here, our bucket list worth clearing your cal for.
Linkin Park courtesy of Lenovo Center
Halsey courtesy of Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
The Black Keys courtesy of Red Hat Amphitheater
Tyler the Creator courtesy of Lenovo Center
Goo Goo Dolls courtesy of Red Hat Amphiteater
Jason Aldean courtesy of Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Mt. Joy courtesy of Koka Booth Amphitheater
The Lumineers courtesy of Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Mr. Worldwide, Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone and more head to Queen City to throw some love in your life. Charlotte, lovinlifemusicfest.com
Iron Blossom Music Festival
Sept. 20–21
High spirits blossom at this indie music fest featuring the likes of Vampire Weekend, Khruangbin and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Richmond, ironblossomfestival.com
NC Holiday Flotilla
Nov. 28–30
Float on alright at the annual boat-decorating competition and parade kicking off the holiday season. Wrightsville Beach, ncholidayflotilla.org
Feast Wilmington
March 2026
Feed your need and consider this fest your passport to all the food and bevs that give Wilmy its foodie credentials. Wilmington, feastwilmington.com
Nikki Glaser Courtesy of Martin Marietta
Craig Robinson courtesy of Raleigh Improv
Shane Gillis courtesy of Live Nation
Godfrey courtesy of Raleigh Improv
Randy Feltface by Dylan Woodley courtesy of Goodnights Comedy Club
Comedy
Nikki Glaser, April 12–13 @ Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
*Quietly* cheer on your fave pro golfers as they vie for the top title at one of the finest country clubs in the U.S. Cue the golf clap! Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, pgachampionship.com
The Soccer Tournament
June 4–9
Kick it for a shot at $1 mill with locals, legends and professionals at the “most exciting and highest stakes” 7 vs. 7 soccer tourney in the world. WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, tst7v7.com
City of Oaks Marathon
Nov. 2
Put your body’s endurance to the test on this 26.2-mile run from North Raleigh to DTR—or opt to hold a snarky poster and line the course to cheer on the overachievers. Both are winners in our book! Raleigh, cityofoaksmarathon.com
Panthers vs. Bills
Fall, date TBD
Are you ready for it? This year’s T. Swift and company losers—er, the AFC runners-up Buffalo Bills—look to get stampeded in Charlotte by a Panthers team on the glowup finding new life under coach Dave Canales and now-hot QB “the Carolina Reaper” Bryce Young. Keep Pounding! Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, panthers.com
Swan Lake courtesy of Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Tee up for a better tomorrow while catching future PGA pros in action, indulging in top-tier hospitality and making a real impact—all from the best seat on the green at Raleigh Country Club. unchealthchampionship.com
Summer Salute
May 31
No beach? No problem. Get your shag on at North Ridge Country Club by swaying to live beach music, running it back at the Pink Flamingo Casino and partying for Transitions LifeCare—good vibes guaranteed. northstatebank.com
Rock Your World
Sept. 7
Party hard—give back harder. Crank up the volume at this adrenaline-fueled fest serving live music, sky-high thrills and nonstop energy that promise to, ahem, rock your world as you hop and bop to Band of Brothers and the Rae Radick Band, throw your hats for a military tribute, and sample sips and snacks in support of the Hope for Haiti Foundation and more. hopeforhaitifoundation.com
Evening of Hope &Igniting Hope
Sept. 10 & 11
Double the impact as hope takes center stage across two powerhouse nights of purpose hosted by Foundation of Hope at the Pavilion at the Angus Barn to fuel critical mental health research and support for those battling mental illness. Glam up for a gala and inspiring keynote, then shift gears for a more laid-back evening of dinner, drinks and dancing. walkforhope.com
MightyGivebackConcert
Expected September
Nothing’s mightier than music with a mission. Dip your feet into this philosophy by uplifting local nonprofits—and dancing hard—with a high-energy lineup of live music at Red Hat Amp.bandtogethernc.org
Hops for Hope
Sept. 13
The only thing better than cracking open a cold one? Cracking open a cold one for a cause. Compassion meets craft beer at the 10th annual brew-tiful fundraising fest landing in North Hills’ Midtown Park to fund life-changing medical flights for children and families in need. We’ll drink to that—with plenty of brews to pick from.childrensflightofhope.org
Over the Edge
Sept. 27
Got guts? Prove it by taking the plunge from 19 stories up and rappelling down DTR’s Pendo building to benefit Special Olympics NC. Besides serving serious bragging rights, the drop mirrors the everyday adversities individuals with disabilities encounter while raising funds to make them feel a little lighter. sonc.net
Holt BrothersFoundationFunkraiser
Nov. 2
Dance, drink and party for the children? Twist our arm. Uptown funk is gonna give it to you via sips, snacks, music and a memorabilia auction at this annual fundraiser at Angus Barn uplifting NFL football stars Terrence and Torry Holt’s mission to support children of cancer patients. holtbrothersfoundation.org
Turkey Ball
Expected November
Gobble till you wobble for good. A ticket to this ambient annual alfresco gala poolside at Mulino means a holiday turkey for a family in need. mulinoraleigh.com
Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
Dec. 6
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear, so lift your voices high and battle it out at Moore Square for the caroling crown while bolstering local education through the Wake Tech Community College Foundation.figgypuddingnc.org
Jingle Ball
Expected December
Mix, mingle and jingle all the way at Marbles Kids Museum to bring Christmas to life for local tots in need via thousands of toys and toy program funding in Wake County. And be sure to be nice—Kris Kringle may make an appearance… capitalcityclauses.org
Photo by Shepard Barnes, courtesy of Live After 5
Photo by Keenan Hairston, courtesy of Out! Raleigh
Courtesy of NC State Fair
Courtesy of Raleigh Christmas Parade
Art in Bloom courtesy of Visit Raleigh
Tried & True
Midtown Beach Music
Thursdays April–June
Tropical oasis: found. Don your Hawaiian shirts, leis and carefree attitudes for Midtown’s lineup of sunny tunes paired with food trucks, sips and all-around good vibes. visitnorthhills.com
Artsplosure
May 17–18
It’s always an explosion of creativity and color at this art mecca serving up a curated lineup of ~175 visual artists from across the country spotlighting ceramics, glass, jewelry, metal, painting and photography. artsplosure.org
Live After 5
May 21, June 18, July 23, Aug. 20
A post-work DTR block party? Say less. DRA’s free summer concert series is back with a spotlight on NC-grown artists. Expect drinks and dancing backdropped by cover bands, original artists, vendors and food trucks all rooted in the Tarheel State. downtownraleigh.org
Out! Raleigh
June 20–21
Local flavors, vibrant entertainment and all the rainbow energy ignite Fayetteville Street to celebrate and support the community and LGBT Center of Raleigh. On Friday, leave the kids behind for a night of adults-only fun. #Boots lgbtcenterofraleigh.com
NC State Fair
Oct. 16–26
Feast your eyes, ears and stomachs on food, artisan goods, games and more at the state’s fave fest. Pro tip: Wait at least 30 minutes after housing a turkey leg or order of fried Oreos to spike your adrenaline on a ride. ncagr.gov
DRA Tree Lighting
November
And Raleigh said, “Let there be light!” Get lit for the holiday event you’ve been pining (!) for by oohing and aahing at the sparkling tree while sipping and snacking on food truck fare and drink vendors. Rockefeller Center, who? downtownraleigh.org
Raleigh Christmas Parade
Nov. 22
Ring in the holidays with parading pageantry and excitement as floats, marching bands, dancers and giant balloons grace—and float over—the DTR streets. And you better watch out (till the end) because Santa Claus is coming to town.grma.org
A Christmas Carol
December
The ghost of Christmas future says laughter and good humor is coming to the Cap City via Theatre in the Park’s annual showcase of good tidings and cheer with a twist. theatreinthepark.com
Krispy Kreme Challenge
February 2026
Pound a dozen doughnuts (or 2,400 calories) in the middle of a 5-mile jaunt and run it back in under an hour, all in the name of charity for the UNC Children’s Hospital. Take it from us—if you want to avoid running through partially digested doughnuts, stay ahead of the crowd. krispykremechallenge.com
Art in Bloom
March 2026
NCMA’s annual petal power is back as florists from across the state and beyond interpret works from the People’s Collection into bold and blooming masterpieces. Okay, bloomers! ncartmuseum.org
