Raleigh’s barbecue-focused foodie fest returns next month.
It’s almost time to pig out, Raleigh. Award-winning pitmasters and chefs from across the country are once again descending at Maywood Hall & Garden for the third annual Gettin’ Piggy With It on May 18—and you’re not gonna wanna miss it.
Last year there was everything from smoked turkey sausage and Korean sticky ribs to pulled pork mac bowls and crispy pork belly served on cheesy hominy, so rest assured there will be plenty to choose from (leaving hungry is not an option!). Not to mention there will also be dessert vendors—think Andia’s Ice Cream and Little Blue Macaron—plus local beer and spirits from Young Hearts Distilling and Tito’s, games, live music, and much more.
And the cherry—er, barbecue sauce—on top? All proceeds benefit the Frankie Lemmon School and Developmental Center, which provides accessible education and therapies to children with and without disabilities.
“Gettin’ Piggy With It is a shining example of what we can do when we come together,” says Frankie Lemmon School and Foundation Executive Director Marsha Hargette. “[Lawrence Barbecue and Trophy Brewing] are true community leaders who bring people together and do the hard work, and it’s Frankie Lemmon’s students and their families who are the winners.” And naturally, after a day of sipping and snacking, you’ll walk away a winner too. Buy ticket 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
Got Pride? Here, your handy guide to showing it off this Raleigh Pride Month.
This June, Raleigh is feting five years of being out and proud—and it promises to be the loudest month yet. From humble beginnings in 2019 to now, Raleigh Pride has ballooned into a must-attend monthlong series of events—and one with incredible community impact, both culturally and financially.
Dubbed the “year of partnerships and collaborations” by the Raleigh Pride team, you can expect this year’s lengthy and diverse lineup to include something for everyone. “I’m just amazed by what we’ve accomplished,” says co-founder Roxanne Lundy. “Folks are counting on Raleigh Pride—and banking on it. I think what’s cool to me watching the evolution is just how integrated these events have become into what Raleigh expects now.”
Having already emerged as a DTR summer fixture, Pride is expanding its reach citywide this year—with broadened offerings to boot. Think more panels, fitness classes, a fashion showcase and much more—plus big names (hey, RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants!).
“Every year we try really hard to come up with a new variety of programs to offer, ones that speak to all different kinds of community members—not only for queer communities, but also our allies who want to come out and support us,” says Raleigh Pride co-organizer David Moore. “So collaboration has really taken Raleigh Pride to the next level.”
Beyond partnerships, it’s also a year of identity for the Raleigh Pride team, notes co-founder Josh Lamm. “As I get older, I see how important it is to keep [Raleigh Pride] current, keep it fresh,” he says. “And I think we’ve done a really good job this year of making sure that happens.”
While Lundy maintains we’re not at the New York City Pride level (“yet!”), this year’s rave roster is a surefire indication we’re well on our way. Not to mention the Raleigh Pride team already has dreams for the years to come, from additional public art-related activations to a closer collab with the LGBT Center of Raleigh, amplified sponsorships and an overarching goal of “unifying the sectors of queerness that exist around the city,” says Lamm.
Right now, though, “it’s a lot to be proud of,” affirms Lundy, who emphasizes her team’s role in making her initial Raleigh Pride dreams a reality. And not just her dreams, but Raleigh’s—as each year Raleigh Pride Month helps to create a loving, welcoming and accepting atmosphere for all.
“I still struggle in my everyday life to feel like I belong in any room at any given time,” says Lamm. “And so what this work means to me—I don’t want anybody to feel that way. Being in a position to provide that level of safeness and security is a very big responsibility—and it’s a very important thing to do.”
Echoes Moore: “When we’re all together in masses, it just creates a better atmosphere and everybody can let their hair down.” And that’s exactly what this team has spent the last year dreaming and building for us all to manifest this June. Happy Pride!
Pride by the Numbers
FirstPride March in Raleigh on June 25, 1988
$40,000: Money raised by 2023’s Run for Love 5K
1970: First-ever Pride marches in NYC, LA & Chicago
1982: Inaugural public demonstration for equal gay rights in Durham
1999: Pride Month became official via a proclamation from President Bill Clinton
2010: LGBT Center of Raleigh opens
2011: LGBT Center intros inaugural Out! Raleigh festival
2019: Premiere Raleigh Pride Month
2020: Out! Raleigh Festival moves to June and renamed Out! Raleigh Pride
Out & Proud
May 31; June 5, 12, 19 & 27 The Rialto x Raleigh Pride Movie Series Oh, the (rocky) horror! But really, it’s anything but. Kick off Raleigh Pride (like, literally at midnight)—and continue the celebration throughout the month—via The Rialto’s series of LGBTQ+ flicks, starting with a shadowcast performance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show feat. the Low Down Cheap Little Punks. Also catch Moonlight; Bottoms; Pink Flamingos; and a drag/rowdy screening of Josie and the Pussycats hosted by Chloe Cassidy, Chante Elise Cassidy and Stormie Daie. Because, baby, “You’re a star!” Ticketed,therialto.com
Photo by Alexandra Williams, apwmedia, courtesy of Raleigh Pride
June 4 DEI Panel With The Diversity Movement Calling all working girlies! This lunch and learn at Junction West covers active allyship and leveling up inclusive workplaces via convos with corporate leaders. Free, raleighpridenc.com
June 6 & 20 Pop Fitness Dance Class Be up in the club—er, outside Poyner YMCA—working on your fitness in a welcoming and inclusive environment. You better werk! Free, raleighpridenc.com
Photo by Brett Villena
June 8 Run for Love 5K + Dance for Love Who doesn’t love an excuse to get down with your bad self?! Chase the rainbow through Dix Park for this annual 5K to benefit Raleigh Pride and the LGBT Center of Raleigh—then stay and get extra loud and proud for a scaled-up afterparty at Trophy Maywood feat. beer (obv), food trucks, a drag show, lip-synching competition, bubbles and boas. Or skip the run altogether and opt for dancing as your cardio. 5K ticketed, dance party free, trophybrewing.com
June 13 Queer Fashion Showcase + Cocktail Event “Hair toss, check my nails.” Show up looking good as hell for this gallery-style fashion showcase at Junction West spotlighting queer designers and creatives. Free, raleighpridenc.com
June 15 Parlor Pride Girls, gays, theys and everyone in between are gonna wanna gather ’round the parlor for this second annual shindig with twice the drag performances (s/o performers Marsha Mellows, Paris Brooks, Alexandra Vittz and Ruby Liqueur!) hosted by Oak City Kitty, music by DJ Jermainia, local food trucks and vendors, and kids activities. Sip, sip, hooray! Ticketed, heightshousenc.com
June 21 Raleigh Pride x Birdsong Open Mic Slam poetry? More like ~slay~ poetry. Come out to Blackbird Books and Coffee to share your love out loud. Free, raleighpridenc.com
June 21 Girl’s Room Let’s have a kiki! The Charlotte-based women-, femme-, and thems-centered party presented by DJ DOMii is coming to Junction West for a fun-filled GNO. Ticketed, raleighpridenc.com
Photo by Alexandra Williams, apwmedia, courtesy of Raleigh Pride
June 22 Out! Raleigh Pride
Paint the town rainbow and get loud and proud for Raleigh’s annual Pride fest benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh and its 20+ community programs. There’s no better way to show your pride than the dozen-year-running inclusive + fam-friendly fest on Fayetteville Street feat. live entertainment (including performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 fan-favorite Dawn and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 9 cast member Jorgeous), artists and vendors, food, a beer garden, KidsZone and more. Hey, there’s no such thing as being extra in June! Free, outraleighpride.org
June 22 GAG! Queen Prepare to slay the house boots down for the drag dance party extravaganza of the year. Fit for a queen (and king!), the two-year anniversary show—in partnership with Raleigh Pride—feats a top-notch cast of local and nationally known entertainers, including Alexandra Vittz, Jaida Essence Hall (RuPaul’s Drag Race S12 winner) and Dawn; DJs; and dancing. Real ones will follow it up with a ~legendary~ afterparty at Legends with Jaida Essence Hall and Jorgeous. Be there or be square. Ticketed, livenation.com
June 26 Hump Day Speed Dating You should def come out to potentially find “the one” at Johnson Street Yacht Club. Aw, we love love! Ticketed, raleighpridenc.com
June 27 LGBTQIA + Pro Sports Panel Sports ball is life. Have a ball with the Panthers’ Justine Lindsay, the first openly transgender cheerleader in the NFL; NC Courage’s Kaleigh Kurtz; and NCFC’s Collin Martin at Maywood Hall & Garden. Free, raleighpridenc.com
June 28 Creative Mornings x Raleigh Pride Now how’s this for a creativity-filled morning. Local Chinese-American visual artist and health equity researcher Isabel Lu is speaking on her journey as a creative who wears two hats at the NCMA. Free with registration, raleighpridenc.com
June 29 Awful Movie Club – Pride Edition The gays are reclaiming I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (“sorry, Sandler, it’s Pride Month!”). Join Newt Work for this special-edition showing at Hartwell in a live RiffTrax-style show where participation is highly encouraged. Say I do! Free, facebook.com
Protecting Raleigh’s Pride
We chatted with at-large Raleigh City Council member Jonathan Melton about how Raleigh’s inclusivity stacks up.
As a whole, where do you think Raleigh stands in terms of our current LGBTQ+ community?
I think we’re making strides in supporting our LGBTQ+ community. Wake County and Raleigh have enacted a comprehensive nondiscrimination ordinance. We have strong advocates working in the space like the LGBT Center of Raleigh, Stonewall Sports Raleigh, Crape Myrtle Festival and Raleigh Pride, among others.
How is Raleigh currently promoting inclusivity?
The events Raleigh Pride plans in June to celebrate Pride Month continue to grow and expand, which raises visibility and creates inclusive spaces. We also have many safe, inclusive gay and queer spaces supported by local small business owners who are committed to our city.
When you travel to other cities, what are some things you see that Raleigh could implement?
I love seeing rainbow crosswalks and better physical markers designating, celebrating and preserving LGBTQ+ spaces. I would love to see Raleigh implement more of this public art, particularly in the Warehouse District, which has been known as the ‘Gayborhood’ for a long time but is rapidly changing.
Where are some areas we fall short?
In many ways, we’re restricted by state law in what we can do to provide additional protections, and certainly some of the legislation we’ve seen proposed or enacted in recent years I think sets us back as a state and a city.
How can the general public support our LGBTQ+ community?
Please support locally owned LGBTQ+ businesses and donate to nonprofit and community groups that are in the space doing the work to promote inclusivity and acceptance!
Over the past 10 years, Trophy Brewing Co. has churned out nearly a thousand-some beers—but the brand is about more than just beer. The award-winning brewery has also spent the last decade contributing to the community in immeasurable ways. For starters: A big chunk of those labels were brewed in partnership with—and to benefit—local nonprofits, community organizations and beyond.
Since Trophy’s inception, the team’s top priority has been to give back. “We always wanted to become a bigger part of the community,” says Trophy co-owner Chris Powers. “We make it a priority. It’s something we think about on a regular basis—like what can we do?”
It started with putting nonprofit imagery and QR codes on cans that were distributed across the Triangle as a way to establish authentic connections. It worked—and Trophy’s contributions to the community have only escalated since.
Take the pandemic, for example. The Trophy team saw how much the community—and particularly those in the food and beverage industry—were hurting. And, so, they started a public pantry of sorts, serving up the likes of food, toilet paper, etc., open to all.
“We’re still focused on running a business and trying to make money 80–90% of the time,” says co-owner David Meeker, “but if we can give 10–20% of our time to help the cause, we want to be doing that. And hopefully other businesses see it working for us and do it too.”
It’s not unusual for a brewery such as Trophy to provide so much to the community, given the craft beer industry as a whole is pretty generous, according to Chief Brewing Officer Les Stewart. But it’s an MO the entire team stands behind—and one that’s constantly evolving as they think up new ways to be great neighbors.
“Through the partnership we have as a team, as well as now in our community—because it is our neighborhood, it’s where we live—it allows us to really continue growing our roots and leave this place better than it started,” says COO Rebecca Couch.
Adds Stewart: “One of those ways we look at our business model is it’s valuable. It’s a good business practice to reinvest in our community. We see people appreciate us for that and come back to our taprooms for that.” Clearly, the love goes both ways. trophybrewing.com
Trophy Treasures
Trophy Pizza
Trophy Maywood
Maywood Hall & Garden
Young Hearts Distilling
State of BeerBusy Bee + The Hive (now defunct/precedes official co.) Trophy Tap + Table (now defunct)
Trophy Stats
1st brewery 500 sq. ft. —> now production area 15K sq. ft. (then till now)
400 barrels of year —> 5K barrels per year (then till now)
Shop, sweat, spruce up your style and get your self-care on with our retail picks for November.
Dope news! Hemp Generation, Raleigh’s newest hemp-wellness destination, opened its second location offering CBD tinctures, gummies and more—and weed recommend checking it out. 2402 Hillsborough St.
The Trophy Brewing team is back at it again with new concept Maywood Hall & Garden, a chic indoor-outdoor special event space that recently opened just a few doors down from the brewery’s production facility and taproom. Time to get the soiree started! 622 Maywood Ave.
A trio of new businesses has been announced for Smoky Hollow: group fitness and personal training studioHeat Studios; Wilmington-based craft brewery and taproom New Anthem Beer Project; and HUSH Hair Lash Brow, a salon started by two Raleigh creatives. Now you just gotta count down the days until they open… 421 N. Harrington St.
Calling all shopaholics! Casual clothing retailerFaherty will be joining the lineup at Fenton, among a slew of other shops. Inspired by the sun, this apparel shop touts comfort, sustainability and good vibes… and this will be its first proprietary location in NC (!). 855 Cary Towne Blvd., Cary
Got snark? Humorous local custom apparel brand House of Swank has vacated its DTR storefront and moved to Loading Dock – Beryl to host pop-ups through a yet-to-be announced date. 3915 Beryl Road
There’s snow place like the Calvert Holly Springs IcePlex! The state-of-the-art facility set in a 396-acre mixed-use development will feature competition venues with three NHL-regulation ice rinks (!), a boarding school and more. calverticesports.com
Looking to spruce up your next date night? Look no further than Date Night by Design’s custom date boxes, prepared based on couples’ preferences, potential theme and price point. Oh, we love that! @datenightbydesign
Knead to treat yo’self? Get pampered with a facial, spa treatment or body therapy service at the recently opened Synergy Face + Body. Keep calm and spa on. 105 SW Cary Parkway, Ste. 100, Cary
