A quad of concepts are delivering new-to-the-market adult urban playgrounds throughout Raleigh.
Raleighites are ready for the next big thing. Something beyond a shiny new restaurant or bar—a do-worthy destination that would lure people to town or entice residents to make a day/weekend out of. In essence, a hot spot that takes our “best place to live” next-level.
Answering the call is a roster of recreation concepts rolling out as soon as this summer. First up, Hibernian Hospitality guru Niall Hanley is expanding his reach and upping the fun factor on Glenwood South with Hop Shots, a Putt-Putt-esque experience bowing behind Raleigh Beer Garden in early July.
The never-before-seen addition to DTR will deliver an 18-hole contoured Putt-Putt course, plus table tennis, foosball, cornhole and two shipping container bars, catering to those who long for some movement while they’re drinking—or those who just aren’t into nightlife at all. “You can see people want more activities,” maintains Hanley. “We have the space in Downtown to make something like that, which is unusual.”
18 holes of Putt-Putt
Table tennis, foosball, cornhole
2 bars
Rendering Courtesy of Pin Point
Then, leaning into the ever-growing pickleball hype, there’s Pin Point, the largest and first combined indoor pickleball and golf concept in the Southeast. Think of it like a baby country club, says CFO Dylan Bryan, with both a membership and drop-in model for those who want to work on their putting and/or chipping (via the only indoor chipping area in the Southeast), play a round or two of pickleball with friends, educate themselves or their kiddos on the game of golf/pickle, or savor a snack and a drink as a spectator.
“Getting a bite to eat with friends, then going to a bar gets old pretty quick,” says Bryan. “Raleigh doesn’t really have [a recreation concept], so we want to be the cornerstone of that—maybe be something that grows within the area that others will see the success we hopefully have and be like ‘OK, there’s a need for this.’ … This is a desire for the community, and we’re answering it.”
16 pickleball courts + 2 championship courts
8 golf simulators
3 chipping bays with separate green & hitting areas
Full bar + prepackaged food in partnership with local Ella’s Popcorn (salads, sandwiches, wraps, chips, etc.)
Corporate event space equipped with projectors
Club fitting rooms, changing rooms, lessons, youth leagues, events (live music, sports watch parties, etc.) & more
Rendering by FAM Design, courtesy of Jaguar Bolera
And on the heels of its premiere “eatertainment” playground, Jaguar Bolera is adding pickleball on the Salvage Yard side in early 2025 to its already-popular duckpin bowling, karaoke, darts and other activities.
The laid-back design and vibe of the Raleigh Iron Works outpost will be mirrored in the new addition, allowing Raleighites to “lean into experiential food and beverage, design, games and activities that let them interact beyond typical ‘going out’ offerings,” says founder Robert Thompson. “We know people want to do more than just sit across the table from each other with apps and drinks”—though of course, you can do that too.
4 indoor pickleball courts, 1 outdoor court
16,000 square feet of “garden” space
Food counter with selects from Jaguar Bolera menu
Total 110 self-pour taps across both buildings
Rendering Courtesy of Swing Racquet + Paddle
And not to be forgotten, there’s dual eat/drink + play Swing Racquet + Paddle. A destination in itself, the racquet and paddle sport club that leans more park rather than sea of courts—and serves up a restaurant/rooftop sports bar to boot—takes “a real swing at reducing barriers to entry by having a blended public/private model,” says Director of Brand Development Cole Wilson. (Stay tuned for an updated timeline in Q3.)
As with the other players dropping on the scene, “Swing is a best-of-both-worlds concept,” maintains Wilson—“combin[ing] a campus of fun, fast-growing sports with first-class food, beverage and entertainment options.” What more could you really want? Looks like Raleigh finally came to play.
Fan demand is real.In an era when fans are logging days in the virtual ticket queue and taking the battle up before Congress (hey, Scam Nation), burning vacay time to jump the pond for “more affordable” concert tickets, or straight “Taylor-gating” days before shows and scalping tickets, the concert-obsessed are reinforcing everything you ever learned about supply and demand. Case in point: Many hot tickets are selling out mere moments after going live—from live music to fests and beyond—and acts from P!nk to Raleigh-bred sardonic genius David Sedaris are adding dates to their local tours to meet the demand. The takeaway? Life’s short—buy the tickets. … And since, clearly, you are, here are the 2024 hottest events and fests worth spending your time and money on that promise to light up your calendar, life and feed with good vibes and great mems.
2023 Cocktail Classic (photo by Albright Studio)
Food + Bev Events
Beach Music & Brews Bash BRB, we’re on beach time. Transport to the tropics via the sunny shores of Raleigh’s go-to beer garden-slash-neighborhood hangout’s boozy shindig. Soak in the summer rays while sipping on themed-drinks and enjoying jivey sounds from Miss Mini & The Sandman Band. Ahh, paradise. June 1, tapyardraleigh.com
Raleigh International Food Festival Savor a ream of global flavors and jet about City Plaza to sample a smattering of 50+ food trucks and dessert carts repping countries across the world—plus, dance the day away with nonstop outdoor performances. Bon appétit! June 1, visitraleigh.com
Food Truck Rodeo It’s sure to be the Wild West on Fayetteville Street as a herd of food truck vendors ride into DTR to flaunt mouthwatering fare and bevs galore. Let’s roll. June 29, shoplocalraleigh.org
The Cocktail Classic All good stories start with cocktails—and that is def the case for The Cocktail Classic. The event of the year, Raleigh Magazine’s second annual sipping soiree is back and leveling up—giving you the exclusive op to sip ’tails concocted by our 10 Bartender of the Year noms in tandem with top-tier liquor labels. Consider this your sign to join us for this year’s spectacular event. Pro tip: Sign up for our newsletter for early bird ticket opps. Nov. 16, cocktailclassicraleigh.com
Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto leading the North Carolina Symphony (photo courtesy of NC Symphony)
Live Music & Concerts
Beat It!
Live After 5 A monthly post-work block party Downtown? Say less. DRA’s free concert series is back—and this year, it’s for the girls. So on (fourth) Wednesdays, we gather our best gals (and guys!) and rendezvous at City Plaza for a hip and happenin’ celebration feting women in music via a curated four-concert series in partnership with Deep South Entertainment. Expect live tunes from a mix of cover bands and original artists, local vendors, and food trucks—and, yes, it’s Sip n’ Stroll friendly (cheers to that!). Hey, everybody loves a comeback story! April 24, May 29, June 26, July 31, downtownraleigh.org
Rialto Live Music The theater isn’t only for movies. Grab your popcorn and ~relish~ in more live music at The Rialto via a duo of throwback artists ready to take you back to your postgrunge era a la The Verve Pipe (May 3) or embrace the feeling of being “a stranger on the bus” with Joan Osborne (Sept. 14). therialto.com
UNC Health Summerfest Looks like the mirror in the sky has its answer—and love is this alfresco symphonic series. Gather under the stars for masterful rock, pop and classical NC Symphony arrangements, including a program feting Fleetwood Mac, Joni Mitchell, The Rolling Stones and more—NTM high-flying collabs with Cirque de la Symphonie. Out of sight, indeed. May 25–July 13, ncsymphony.org
RM REVEAL Opera in the Park Turns out pitches can sway the vibe. Hitting all the high notes this summer, take in operatic faves under the stars beneath the baton of a special guest conductor at NCMA’s Museum Park—or, if you close your eyes, an Italian coliseum. Sept. 12, Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Theater, ncopera.org
RM REVEALFlorencia En El Amazonas Say hola to NC Opera’s inaugural Spanish-sung opera! Inspired by author Gabriel Garcia Márquez, the melodic journey takes you by steamboat through the Amazon River with renowned opera singer Florencia Grimaldi as she seeks her long-lost beau—while navigating not just the worlds of love and yearning, but storms, a cholera outbreak and more. Will she persevere? Jan. 31, Feb. 2; ncopera.org
Playthrough Console yourselves: NC’s largest gaming convention is respawning for yet another bustling event pressing play on tournaments, cosplaying, free-to-play games and more. Sounds out of control! March 15–16, playthroughgc.com
Dreamville Festival J. Cole’s *dreamy* two-day fest returns to Dix Park to send attendees heads in the clouds—in the best way possible. Join peeps from across the globe to bop back and forth between the Rise and Shine stages for performances from both big names (hey, Nicki Minaj!) and up-and-comers—plus enjoy local food trucks, muralists, artisans and more. Don’t sleep on it (!). April 6–7, dreamvillefest.com
Out! Raleigh Pride Paint the town rainbow and get loud and proud for Raleigh’s fave pride fest benefiting the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Let us be perfectly queer—there’s no better way to show your pride than this dozen-year-running inclusive + fam-friendly fest feat. live entertainment, artists and vendors, beer garden, food, KidsZone, and more. And stay tuned for parties and drag shows throughout Pride Month. After all, there’s no such thing as being extra in June! June 22, outraleighpride.org
Outlaw Music Festival Calling all outlaws…“be groovy or leave, man” as legends Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson & Family, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and more headline Coastal Credit Union Music Park for “the biggest and best [fest] yet,” according to Nelson. “The life I love is making music with my friends…” Well played, Willie—and we’re here for it. June 23, blackbirdpresents.com
GalaxyCon The Bat Signal is calling. Step into a galaxy of fun and fandom upon entering into another dimension—er, The Raleigh Convention Center—for a four-day fest flaunting more than your average Comic-Con, from meet-and-greets to cosplay competitions. To infinity and beyond! July 25–28, galaxycon.com
African American Cultural Festival Back for its 15th iteration, this one-of-a-kind soiree showcases the beauty of African American culture via sounds spanning gospel to jazz, locally and nationally made creations, artisanal fare, and friendly faces. Aug. 31–Sept. 1, aacfestival.org
Hopscotch Music Festival Make plans to play hooky from work. From can’t-miss day parties to concerts at City Plaza and Moore Square stages to late-night sets and afterparties, DTR’s annual three-day jam sesh never disappoints. Rock on! Sept. 5–7, hopscotchmusicfest.com
BugFest Say hello to all the creepy crawlies at a totally buggin’ daylong insect extravaganza guaranteed to weave quite the web—and it appeals to more than just the arach-kids. How fly. Sept. 14, naturalsciences.org
IBMA Bluegrass Live! I guess that’s why they call it the blues, indeed. We wish we were pulling your strings, but it’s the end of an era as the world’s largest free urban bluegrass fest in the world takes stage for its finalRaleigh run (RIP) across a stretch of five blocks and six stages on Fayetteville Street—with bluegrass legends and rising artists taking to the Red Hat Amphitheater main stage each night to boot. We’ll miss you IBMA—and we would ~pick~ you all over again Sept. 29–30, worldofbluegrass.org
Giving Back
Feeling philanthropic? Tell Siri, Alexa, Cortana—or whatever virtual Geoffrey you fancy—to add these do-good do’s to your cal.
*Stuff* yourself with Italian eats + drinks for a good cause.
Each ticket provides a turkey to a family in need.
Snazz up your ’fit by donning your finest turkey hat.
Raleigh Carols
December
Fayetteville Street
Jingle all the way as caroling teams battle it out acapella-style (it’s giving a Pitch Perfect riff off)—plus ring in the season with festive food trucks, holiday kiosks and an appearance from Santa Claus.
Wake Tech Community College Foundation
Take it from Buddy: “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”
UNC Health Championship
Sports
Game On!
Stanley Cup Playoffs Bunch of Jerks 🤝 chaos coordinators. Icing their goal to “cause chaos” this season, the Canes are coming off five Eastern Conference Finals appearances and a preseason consensus pick to win the Stanley Cup among sportsbooks. Take warning: This is our year. Say it with us: #LetsGoCanes!
Panthers vs. Kansas City Are you ready for it? Super Bowl champs Kansas City Chiefs descend on Charlotte to take on the Panthers for what promises to be a highly anticipated matchup—whether you’re in it for the football (Keep Pounding!) or the eye candy (see Panthers new coach and potential Swiftie spotting).
PPA Tour North Carolina Cup Relish the pros and amateurs alike as they take the pickleball court for the first time—or sign up to take the court yourself with 1,000+ of your would-be besties at Cary Tennis Park. Hot tip: Stay out of the kitchen—or dill with the consequences. April 2–7, ppatour.com
Diamond Days Take me out to… the City of Raleigh Museum to celebrate local baseball history—from great teams to players to parks. And don’t forget to load up on Cracker Jacks for fun events like autograph days, a party to watch the MLB All-Star Game, and a re-creation of an old-timey baseball game. Let’s hear it for America’s pastime! Opening April 25, cityofraleighmuseum.org
UNC Health Championship Post up for the par-tee of the year at this annual fancentric tourney teeing up four days of feel-good fun as part of the Korn Ferry Tour at the Donald Ross-designed Raleigh Country Club to benefit NC Health and community partners. May 30–June 2, unchealthchampionship.com
Ball Out Football is life—especially with not one but two winner-take-all $1 mill prizes on the line for the Men’s second-year now-48-team tourney + the inaugural Women’s eight-teamer headlined by Heather O’ Reilly’s U.S. Women as part of the expanded World Cup-style tourney at WakeMed Soccer Park June 5–10. And you better ~believe~ they’ll be kicking some grass.
Duke’s Mayo Classic It promises to be a packed house in Charlotte Sept. 7 as State and Tennessee fight out “which conference is better” on the field in this dynamic regional matchup between two preseason conference titans with uberpassionate fan bases… and “volunteer” to send those Vols back to “home sweet home Rocky Top” with an L. #ACC
U.S. Masters Disc Golf Championships Risk it or disc it for the debut of the PDGA Tim Selinske championships in Cary showcasing 400+ players over the age of 40 throwing out more than just their backs. It’s sure to be a good time—par none. Sept. 18–22, pdga.com
Comedy
Laugh It Up
Raleigh Comedy Festival: 30 comics. 3 nights. Endless laughs. “Y’all come laugh now” as local comedians Spencer Bland and Jordan Scott Huggins bring the Triangle’s first and only comedy fest to DTR to spotlight the city’s silliest—and no doubt leave audiences in stitches. Oct. 24–26, raleighcomedyfestival.com
Plus headliners we can’t wait to laugh at…
David Sedaris | April 8; Nov. 2 @ Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Zoltan Kaszas | Oct. 17–19 @ Goodnights Comedy Club
Feast Wilmington
Travel
5 Events WorthHitting the Road For
Feast Wilmington Taste, sip, celebrate! Bring your appetite and wear your stretchy pants for Wilm’s second-annual food and drink festival showcasing the area’s top culinary and mixology talent over three days and four unique events—think a chef + brewery pairing experience, elevated brunch affair, and pier party with live music to boot. We’re serious about those stretchy pants… March 29–30, 2025, feastwilmington.com
Lovin’ Life Music Fest Forget stick season. You’ll be loving spring—and life—indeed at Charlotte’s inaugural three-day multigenre fest featuring a star-studded lineup of 40+ renowned artists, including Noah Kahan, Stevie Nicks, Post Malone, Mt. Joy, Young the Giant, The Avett Brothers and many more (really, what’s not to love?!). When you’re not jamming, enjoy free activities and F&B and retail vendors. May 3–5, lovinlifemusicfest.com
Good Moon Wear your sunglasses at night for Durham-based electronic pop duo Sylvan Esso’s inaugural two-night music festival. As the sun sets and the moon rises, Sylvan Esso, Fleet Foxes, Hippo Campus, Dehd, Reyna Tropical and Truth Club will take stage at Durham Bulls Athletic Park for a vibey music-filled evening, followed by afterparties feat. DJ sets. A good (moon) night, indeed! May 31–June 1, goodmoonnc.com
Dinner in the Meadow Say “yes, chefs” as the region’s finest food talent whips up delectable dishes using ingredients sourced from local farms and artisans, with Franklin County’s Meadow Lane Farm serving as a gorgeous backdrop for feasting. Bonus: The annual farm-to-table dinner benefits the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund, which aims to champion and nurture small farms in NC. We’ll eat to that! Sept. 15, dinnerinthemeadow.org
NC Holiday Flotilla We’ll all float on okay. … Snag a primo viewpoint on the docks as decked-out vessels show off over-the-top holiday lights and decor through the Banks Channel via Wrightsville Beach’s festive nighttime boat parade—then vote for your fave by text and enjoy a stunning fireworks show. Think of it like snow on the beach (*wink wink*). Nov. 30, ncholidayflotilla.org
DTR Tree Lighting
Tried + True
Stamp your Raleighite card with these recurring can’t-miss calendar items. Let’s run it back!
Art in Bloom Yet again rising to the occasion is a blooming oasis of flora—and fundraising—worth fawning over. March 19–23, ncartmuseum.org
Artsplosure It’s always an artsplosion at this vast culture and creativity mecca amping up all kinds of artisan pieces. May 18–19, artsplosure.org
DRA Tree Lighting Holidays are pine indeed when oohing and aahing at DTR’s sparkling tree, noshing on food-truck fare and snapping shots with Santa. November, downtownraleigh.org
Krispy Kreme Challenge Pro tip: ~Doughnut~ throw up. Do consume a dozen hot ones and race to the finish during this hourlong 5-miler. February, krispykremechallenge.com
Got to Be NC Festival Homegrown is hot—and the op to bag a smattering of locally made/grown products is sure to keep you feeling rooted. May 17–19, gottobenc.com
Dix Park Fireworks + Sunflowers Feelin’ sparks? America’s bday stays bangin’ in the open air at Dix with fireworks + food truck fare. And keep July vibes on high as the sunflowers bloom for summertime petal season in the park. dixpark.org
NC State Fair Deep-fried everything combined with high-flying rides is always a good idea at NC’s most massive annual event. Oct. 17–27, ncstatefair.org
Chinese Lantern Festival It might get dark early—but the 40+ lit Chinese lantern displays + performances keep the glow on each winter. Mid-November–early January, boothamphitheatre.com
80th Raleigh Christmas Parade Holidaze stay in step with the 80th iteration of DTR’s festive procession—the most massive parade spanning DC and Atlanta. Nov. 23, grma.org
The Christmas Carol The ghost of Christmas future says the show will continue to go on via this classic holiday tale told with a twist. December, theatreinthepark.com
The Nutcracker Get cracking at another magical rendition merging a classic tale—with a few fresh twists. Go nuts! Dec. 12–24, carolinaballet.com
First Night Raleigh Drop that Downtown acorn like it’s hot, er—like it’s 2025—to the backdrop of fireworks and fun once the clock strikes midnight. Dec. 31, firstnightraleigh.com
Illuminate Let’s get frosted! Head into the holidays via this year’s installment of Illuminate Art Walk, lighting up the DTR streets via large-scale interactive and light-based art pieces. It promises to be #lit. Winter, downtownraleigh.org
Carolina Ballet’s The Nutcracker (photo by Armes Photography)
Arts, Theatre & Exhibits
Alice in Wonderland “We’re all mad here.” … Play your cards right by grinning big and heading down the rabbit hole for an experience through the looking glass with Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts—and all the Wonderland crew. Hats—and heads?—off! March 13–30, carolinaballet.com
Jane Eyre Pro female before there was feminism (aka protofeminism), this best of the Brontë sisters (hey, Charlotte!) classic brings its five-Tony legacy and timeless tale of love, loss and morality. May 29–June 9, theatreraleigh.com
Mamma Mia Here we go again! Unleash your inner dancing queen and tag along with Sophie as she tries to reveal who her real father is in this emotional yet feel-good musical based on ABBA’s smash hits that promises to be the time of your life. July 30–Aug. 4, dpacnc.com
Jekyll & Hyde If you thought your ex-best friend was two-faced… buckle up. Come to grips with the duality of humanity via the original dark side story following a man truly split (personality) between good and evil—set to live music and fresh composition. It’s sure to be straight barres. Oct. 17–Nov. 3, carolinaballet.com
Cinderella We’re ready for the ball—where’s our carriage? Making midnights popular before their T Swift prime (“At tea time, everybody agrees”), Raleigh Little Theatre’s classic staging is back with our fave fairy tale moment. If the shoe fits… Dec. 6–22, raleighlittletheatre.org
Amazing Pollinators Oh, honey! Buzz on by NCMNS for a game-based survival adventure diving into the importance of pollinators and the critical work they do for people and the planet. How sweet. Starting June 15, naturalsciences.org
Kinky Boots These boots were made for saving the family business! Follow protagonist Charlie Price as he embarks upon a journey to revive his dad’s struggling shoe biz—while finding an unlikely ally/entertainer who happens to be in search of some fab new footwear. Ready for some sole searching? June 7–23, raleighlittletheatre.org
Akeelah and the Bee Let us spell it out for you: Nab a seat for some inspiration via the story of a young girl creating a bit of buzz in her community as she utilizes her knack for spelling to compete at the National Spelling Bee. Yes, queen! Feb. 7–23, raleighlittletheatre.org
Grand Horizons The golden years can be filled with many things—even divorce! When two seniors elect to split after 50 years of being hitched, their grown-up kids don’t want to take no for an answer. Ah, gotta love family! May 17–June 1, honestpinttheatre.org
Bull Durham, A New Musical Fun fact: Scenes from the Academy Award-winning Kevin Costner- and Susan Sarandon-starring film were shot in Raleigh at Mitch’s Tavern. Now bringing the baseball classic back home is this “new musical” based on the MGM film; the Bulls (natch); and America’s two fave pastimes, baseball and love. It’s all about that base… Sept. 10–22, theatreraleigh.com
The 39 Steps I spy a silly parody show with ridiculous personalities and a quickly moving plot sure to keep you on the edge of your seat—and who doesn’t love a classic whodunit? Sleuths at the ready! October, theatreinthepark.com
Dueling Dinosaurs Cue the Jurassic Park theme song and stomp over to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for the long-awaited exhibit opening April 27. Channel your inner Ross and go way back in time—think 67 million years ago—for a roaring good time digging into the mysteries of the tyrannosaur and triceratops. And that’s the tea (rex)… duelingdinosaurs.org
Journey to Space Prepare for blast off! Childhood goals met via this interactive exhibit allowing you to (finally) live out your Neil Armstrong dreams by hypothetically traveling to, living and working in space—including facing the challenges of astronauts, engineers and scientists. It promises to be out of this world. Nov. 2–April 27, naturalsciences.org
Good Mythical Tour with Rhett & Link The ultimate dynamic duo, these bodacious Buies Creek-bred besties rose to acclaim for simply being chaotic and sampling snacks online—thus providing a new dream career for teenage boys all over. Now, the two are going beyond the web views for their first-ever tour. May the mythical mayhem begin! June 7, martinmariettacenter.com
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! … Head into the holidays (literally) via this year’s installment of Illuminate Art Walk, lighting up the DTR streets now through Jan. 5 with its signature piece, “Talking Heads,” created by Limelight and distributed by Wireframe. Plus, spy a scad of stunning pieces compliments of NC light artists highlighting our state’s wildlife, along with our innovative past, present and future. Merry and bright, indeed! downtownraleigh.org
Oh, hoppy day! Hopscotch Music Festival is back for its 13th year, and this year’s lineup feels like Christmas in September for any Raleigh music fanatics—NTM, all the other fun activations and festivities taking place (hey, day parties!). Whether you’re a seasoned Hopscotch veteran or completely new to the fest, here’s your guide to making the most of your three-day rhythmic romp. Hop to it!
Who? Nearly 100 artists will be performing, including King Krule, Pavement, Alvvays, Dinosaur Jr. and a slew of other big names from all genres. Comedians are also making their debut at the late-night shows this year, including SNL cast member Sarah Sherman (!).
Where? Festivalgoers will hop (get it now?) between the two main stages in City Plaza and Moore Square for each set. Don’t worry, it isn’t a far walk, and the constant movement of people makes riding the rail so much easier. Performance locations for each artist are listed on the online schedule and Hopscotch app.
Tickets and Prices GA tickets ($199) grant you access to three days of live music at the City Plaza and Moore Square stages, plus the late-night comedy sets. VIP tickets ($375) score you such additional perks as a VIP swag bag, priority access to late-night sets at participating clubs and entry to the VIP Oak Lounges at both stages.
Day Parties Whether you want to join the fun without footing the bill or just want to pregame the headliners, the free day parties are the move. Raleigh’s best bars and breweries are hosting a bevy of local bands to watch. Pro tip: don’t miss our top day party picks, Cor De Lux at Kings, Teens in Trouble at Transfer Co. and My Sister Maura at Neptunes. The parties will even feature a few names from the main lineup (eyes on you, Truth Club and Max Gowan).
What to Bring
Bring your credit/debit card: Hopscotch is completely cashless, and virtual payments such as Apple Pay aren’t accepted.
Tote a small bag or no bag at all: Any bags over 13 inches by 15 inches must be clear—but let’s be honest, who wants to lug a huge bag around all day? Skip the hassle and spring for a cute fanny pack or go purseless.
Bring an empty reusable water bottle or factory-sealed bottle: Would it really be September in Raleigh without 90+ degree temps? Hydrate or diedrate! Empty reusable water bottles are permitted and each guest is allowed one factory-sealed water bottle.
Opt for comfy shoes: The festival will go on rain or shine, so skip the strappy sandals and opt for the most comfortable pair of boots or sneakers you own—your ’fit will still slay (promise).
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!
