Ever want to just talk sh*t? You aren’t alone. Laugh along with this comedic star on the rise as she navigates sensitive subjects with incisive absurdity. goodnightscomedy.com
10/3 Conan Gray
Prepare to spill your guts. Grab your polyester sweaters and revel in crush culture as this YouTuber-turned-pop star ventures out of central Texas to serenade the City of Oaks. redhatamphitheater.com
10/3 Jazz in the Square
Bop your way over to Moore Square for an evening of swingin’ jazz with the Dwayne Jordan Quartet plus on-site food trucks and wine/beer for sale. downtownraleigh.org
10/4 Canes vs. Lightning
Check the forecast: A little lightning is nothing compared to a Category 5. pncarena.com
10/4 First Friday
Smoky Hollow, meet Sleepy Hollow. DTR’s First Fright-day (!) is back from the grave with a Halloween-themed vintage pop-up, Tarot readings and fall photo opts—aka the perfect opp to break out that costume you’ve been dying to wear. downtownraleigh.org
10/4 Marbles Imagination Ball
Don’t leave this annual grown-up gala to the imagination. Join the Marbles Kids Museum for an “evening of enchantment” and giving. marbleskidsmuseum.org
10/4–5 Triangle Oktoberfest
Fun fact: The first Oktoberfest was a royal wedding, and the entire city was invited to the celebration. Now, dust off your polka shoes and toast to culture in the City of Oaks with live music, authentic German food and over 50 traditional beers. Prost! boothamphitheatre.com
10/4–5 Twist of Jazz
Ya like jazz? Pace with vocalist Carrie Marshall as she walks to the beat of her own drum and belts out upbeat twists on The Beatles, Amy Winehouse, Dolly Parton, The Cure and beyond. theatreraleigh.com
10/4–6 DeRay Davis
After years of acting alongside the likes of John Krasinski, Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell, this Chicago funnyman is touring with some side-splitting anecdotes to get you giggling. improv.com
10/5 Coffee & Costumes Fun Run
Pull out that Halloween costume a little early and head on over to Rebus Works for a fun run (and coffee!) to support our WNC neighbors affected by Hurricane Helene. eventbrite.com
10/5 Falling for Local
Humpty Dumpty isn’t the only one having a great fall. Say ~hay~ to autumn with loads of fall-themed activities at Dix Park—from a pumpkin patch and lawn games to hay rides and live music, NTM beer, local food trucks, and makers and vendors. Life is gourd, indeed. shoplocalraleigh.org
10/5 NCSU vs. Wake Forest
The Pack is slated to send the Demon Deacons back to church. Amen! gopack.com
10/5 Oktoberfest Party
Don your dirndl/lederhosen and raise a stein to a taste of Munich at Boxcar Bar + Arcade. Polka through the festivities with drinking, stein holding and pretzel-eating competitions. Keep calm and prost on! facebook.com
10/5 Post Malone
He dreamed it all ever since he was young. Post up (!) to see the biggest plot twist in music live: The notorious rapper and guitarist is going country at the Creek. livenation.com
10/5 To Space & Beyond!
Blast off on a journey through the wonder and beauty of the universe via this Young People’s Concert fueled by the music of Star Wars, E.T.,The Planetsand more. martinmariettacenter.com
10/5 UOAA 10th Annual Run for Resilience 5K
This race is the sh*t. Trek down the American Tobacco Trail to support and advocate for patients living with an ostomy or continent diversion through. runsignup.com
10/5 Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Lace up at Halifax Mall for the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research to stride (and strive) to end the disease and preserve memories. act.alz.org
10/5–13 Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week
Pull out your stretchy pants and wind your way through participating DTR restos offering specials and prix-fixe menus. Stay hungry, Raleigh! downtownraleigh.org
10/5–26 Rubberside Down
Put pedal to the metal and roll your way over to Oaks and Spokes’ annual Bike Art Show and see the creative side of Raleigh’s cycling community. @oaksandspokes
10/7 Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards
It’s music to our ears! Join these Johnny-on-the-spots as they make “one big beautiful sound.” pourhouseraleigh.com
10/8 David Nihill
ICYMI: Self-help is out, shelf help is in. Take note as this Dublin-borned and well-traveled comedian and author dishes tales of cultural observations and international drinking sessions while occasionally being a mildly confused immigrant. goodnightscomedy.com
10/8 Nicki Minaj
You’ve arrived in Gag City. Make the most of your visit by getting on the floor (floor) and dancing away with the Queen of Rap herself. pncarena.com
10/8 Public Library Pop-up
Reading is so back. Fuel your brain at this family-focused pop-up featuring books, music, rhythm and rhyme designed to nurture young reading skills. dixpark.org
10/9 Community & Cocktails
Raise a glass to a good cause via The Willard’s evening of music and philanthropy complete with bubbly, charcuterie and dessert—NTM those impeccable DTR views, natch. thewillardraleigh.com
10/9 Vampire Weekend
This well-read rock foursome was an indie-sleaze staple in the days of Tumblr—and even now, “only God is above them.” redhatamphitheater.com
Our hot takes and tips from Dreamville Festival 2024
Clearly, J. Cole has proven Raleigh is not, in fact, a *sleepy* city. Each year, his Dreamville Festival just gets dreamier and dreamier.
And it is certainly a dream come true for our city to host such an incredible and far-reaching event—read: one that garnered a $145.9 million economic impact last year alone—and saw upward of 52K people per day this year as music lovers from all over the globe flocked to Dix Park for the fest, now in its fourth year.
“It feels like homecoming,” said performer Teezo Touchdown in a sit-down chat with Raleigh Magazine at the backstage Artists’ Lounge. “I see why people come to festivals—it is a different type of energy. So if you’ve never been to a festival before, please go to one. It’s a really fun experience.”
But despite all the hoopla—and easily being one of the world’s most alluring fests—Dreamville is still in its relative infancy. And with that comes kinks. While this year delivered some standout artists (see SZA, Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, Rae Sremmurd, ScHoolboy Q and many more), there were some, ahem, not-so-dreamy moments. Having attended every Dreamville since its inception, here are our hot takes.
BEST
Music Mix
This year’s fest delivered the perfect balance of both big names and up-and-comers, shining a light on lesser-known musicians like Teezo Touchdown, Chase Shakur and TiaCorine, who are surely going to pop off in the ~dreamy~ aftermath.
Teezo really made an impression with his microphone-laden bouquet, an ode to Morrissey and The Smiths (who he was intro’d to by Lil Yachty—also a Saturday performer). “It’s really cool that everytime I grab flowers when I’m performing, in the back of my mind I’m thinking about Lil Yachty and The Smiths,” he said. (Cue the aws.)
To wit, a handful of throwback artists provided a jolt of welcoming nostalgia, adding to its crossgenerational all-are-welcome vibe. (Hey, Monica and 50 Cent!) “You can find me in the club, bottle full of bub…”
Of course, it wouldn’t be a successful Dreamville Fest without J. Cole’s surprise guests. This year, he brought out Central Cee, 6lack, Lil Durk, Benny the Butcher and others to dazzle the Dreamers. And they did not disappoint!
No Line, No Problem
While in years past we spent the bulk of our time in the VIP area, this year we decided to lean into the main experience on Day One, and mostly gallivanted around the general admission grounds—save for a foray backstage.
And color us impressed at the ease of getting a drink from the many bars, which typically had almost zero line for spirits averaging around $15/drink. … The same, though, cannot be said for food (see below)—though the amount of local food trucks/vendors was pretty noteworthy. We saw the likes of Cousins Maine Lobster, Buoy Bowls, Oak City Fish and Chips, Chirba Chirba Dumpling, and more. Talk about variety!
WORST
Gone Hungry
Whether on GA grounds or in VIP—you might find yourself hangry. On the main grounds Saturday, vendor lines were so long, in fact, we ultimately decided to wait until we left the fest to eat (!). And those fest food prices… ouch (we’re talking $13 for three chicken tenders—um, no).
Sunday we returned to the Fam section and VIP area near the Rise stage. You’d think VIP = easily fed, but, alas, there were no vendors or trucks in the Rise VIP, which was definitely a miss in our books. All in all, the Rise stage VIP area was a little lackluster compared to the one near the Shine stage, which was way bigger, with more bars, vendors and attractions.
Mic Drop
Sound issues abounded at this year’s fest, leaving both festivalgoers and performers frustrated—so much so Rema even closed out his set early and walked off stage enraged.
Beyond the literal mic drop moment, many of the surprise guests’ mics during J. Cole’s performance Sunday night weren’t working—a real bummer especially for those artists who didn’t get their own individual set during the weekend. Some fans were also disappointed about the overall sound quality. Perhaps a better sound check next time?
Still Can’t Hear Me Now—or Find Me
We’ve reported each year how unreliable the cell and Wi-Fi service is—and unfortunately this year is no different. Beyond making it impossible to communicate (or post!), if you separate from your crew, this year we also tested the “Find My Friends” op for non-festgoers to locate us as a safety test. Upon three separate tests at different times Saturday/Sunday, one read “last known location three hours ago” while two others were about an hour—but froze indefinitely.
Beyond the potential safety issue, there’s the whole getting in and out bit (see below)—but kinda hard to order a Lyft without a signal.
Better Late Than Never?
Notice Dreamville Fest’s Insta account didn’t post any photos or videos from Nicki Minaj’s performance? 👀 Perhaps the biggest upset of the weekend was Minaj arriving an hour late to her set time, which ultimately cut into J. Cole’s headlining act Sunday night. Womp womp. Fans crowded the Rise stage only to be left waiting… and waiting… and waiting. Personally we gave up after half an hour, but some fans stuck around to see the Pink Friday princess.
Trapped & Screwed
We’re not sure if it’s ever going to be easy to get out of the festival grounds, despite mass efforts and such seemingly smart ops as shuttle offerings and designated parking lots.
On exiting Saturday, we were escorted out the West Entrance and, since we had no service to get an Uber/Lyft, we made the trek to D.P. Dough on Avent Ferry, where we waited almost an hour to get a ride at a reasonable price. (At this point it was after midnight and Ubers were still at least $50.)
Sunday, we chose to drive Downtown and park in the deck attached to The Casso. In essence, we had a “getaway car”—and it was a total game changer. While we still had to hike from the festival grounds, at this point we’re pros and the walk is second nature (comfy shoes are key!).
Still, for a fest that encourages shuttles and ride shares, transpo out of the grounds remains a major issue. And having been to every installation of Dreamville since its inception, we can say with confidence that, so far, driving was the easiest, fastest, cheapest and least stressful way to get in and out.
Hot tips for a legendary Dreamville 2024 experience
Cue the daydreams. The countdown is on for the 2024 installment of J. Cole’s uberpopular Dreamville Festival at Dorothea Dix Park April 6 and 7 feat. such big names as “Barbie” herself Nicki Minaj. Whether or not you’re actually attending, the NC-founded fest is a huge win for Raleigh.
2023 marked its most successful year to date, with 100,000+ total attendees traveling from all 50 states and 23 countries spanning four continents. Clearly Dreamville’s draw can’t be denied—nor its relevance given it staged Usher as a 2023 headliner in front of his huge Super Bowl show.
But no matter how ~dreamy~ Dreamville is, the fest has had its fair share of issues. To that end, the festival team assesses hiccups annually and makes improvements accordingly. So, we collabed with the Dreamville masterminds on the latest updates for 2024’s fest—with some additional hot tips to help keep your head in the clouds.
These Shoes Were Made for Walking Pro tip: Don’t plan to Uber/Lyft directly from the festival back home. In years past there have been countless issues with cell service—especially with Verizon (no, you cannot hear us now), overcrowding and astronomical surging (last year the Uber app even reportedly crashed on night one).
Instead, trek to DTR before hailing a ride from a marked location. Or, take advantage of Dreamville’s official shuttle program, providing festgoers with affordable transport to and from Downtown. To boot, this year, the fleet has been increased by over 25% per day, according to Dreamville spokesperson Trey Hicks.
The Suite Life If you can swing the $, we can’t recommend a MVP ticket enough. In addition to all the GA amenities, MVP ticket holders gain access to a dedicated VIP entrance with its own viewing area, restrooms, bar and food ops. Now, unveiling the MVP of MVPs: Dreamville’s new Hall of Fame suites, which are primely positioned above the MVP viewing deck overlooking the Shine stage and tout access to a complimentary dinner buffet, open bar and parking spots—aka a dream come true (!).
Lay of the Land Get ready to rise to new heights via a larger secondary Rise stage with more sound and lights that’ll no doubt make for a more *lit* fan experience for all. And be sure to familiarize yourself with the layout of the fest (generally the same as last year’s with the exception of sponsors, assures Hicks) to best game plan your POA.
Stay Charged If there’s one thing you absolutely should bring to the festival, it’s a portable phone charger. (If you could bring Wi-Fi we’d rec that too, but alas…) After romping around Dix all day taking pics/vids, your cell is likely going to lose its battery by the time the headliners take the stage and/or you’re trying to leave the fest. Do it for the ’Gram—and to make sure you can get home!
From accessible art to ’Grammable backdrops for a ’fit check, Raleigh is brimming with postworthy murals to explore.
Raleigh is a city for creatives. And not just those who know how to use a paintbrush, but folks who appreciate art in its myriad forms. The City of Oaks is splashed with murals of all shapes, sizes and colors by local artists who see blank spaces as canvases for expressive opportunities. Read: Transforming Raleigh into a more diverse (and colorful!) place to live. Here, we delve into recent murals (plus a longtime fave) sure to draw a crowd.
Irregardless Cafe
And that’s a rap! Artist Dare Coulter depicts Busta Rhymes and his son in a celebration of the beauty of Black fatherhood around the corner of the cafe. The acclaimed artist emphasizes the importance of Black families and a father’s role in their children’s life journey with the quote, “The world is yours, young king. In the end, I hope you only turn out better than me.” (*Pause for the ”aws.’”*) … Go on, ~Busta~ move and check it out!
Raleigh’s Smallest Park
Small park, big energy (!). ICYMI, Dix Park—aka Raleigh’s largest urban park—debuted Raleigh’s smallest park in June, with a mural by local artist Gabriel Eng-Goetz painted in September 2022 serving as the park’s main focal point. For an opportune photo op, take a seat on one of the mushroom seats by installation artist, photographer and Art Director Katie Stewart amid the kitschy-colored plants + patterns. It’s giving Alice in Wonderland vibes—in the best way.
Do Good
Inspo to do a little bit of good found. Painted in partnership with 100+ volunteers, this Downtown mural reads “Do Good”—and practices what it preaches. The colorful East Martin Street canvas was brought to life by visual storyteller Okirah Harris with support from Activate Good, Raleigh Murals Project and PNC.
Raleigh Iron Works’ public arts program—in collaboration with The Collision Project—is off to a great st(art). Two initial works from Triangle-based artists feature murals amplifying the industrial history of the property—from interdisciplinary artist Gabriel Eng-Goetz’s commemoration of the property with a seven-story mural of a female iron welder to Morgan Cook’s mural merging shape, color and movement by showcasing the association of graffiti with railway systems. Next to join the lineup this fall is a piece by Raleigh native Taylor White set to highlight the male and female workers of the Peden Steel Company. That is so metal!
