Ultimate Guide to Festivals and Events in Raleigh, NC

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Update on Guide to Festivals and Events in Raleigh, NC

Ultimate Guide to Festivals and Events in Raleigh North Carolina Photo Credit VisitRaleigh 2020 @DownshiftingPRO

Updated for 2023-2024: If you are planning your travel year, you certainly will want to look at different festivals. As a big fan of Carnival in Quebec City, The Jazz Festival in Montreal and Brewfest in Vermont, I’ve become a huge fan of FESTIVALS and figuring out what is being held, where is very useful for travel planning.

I have updated this very popular post on a year full of major festivals and celebrations in Raleigh, North Carolina! These events serve an important purpose—they mark history and a sense of pride and showcase talent, creativity and culture, delicious foods and beverages (and some surprises, too!). This is why you need a guide to festivals and events in Raleigh!

September

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Hopscotch Music Festival Photo Credit: Visit Raleigh.

Hopscotch Music Festival, Sept. 7-9, 2023
Three days, nearly 150 bands, 12 venues in downtown Raleigh, totally free day parties and 25,000 fans-it’s no wonder why Hopscotch Music Festival is time and time again named one of America’s can’t-miss music events. The annual event showcases various bands and entertainment, including emerging artists and some of the hottest rising stars in the music business.

BugFestSept. 16, 2023
Experience more than 100 exhibits, crafts, games and activities at BugFest, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ annual event that lets you interact with entomologists and other scientists while learning about the fascinating world of bugs. This year, BugFest spotlights the spiders! The best part? The event is totally free for the expected 35,000 attendees.

La Fiesta del PuebloSept. 17, 2023
Back for a 30th year, La Fiesta del Pueblo, a Hispanic cultural event held in the Fayetteville Street district in downtown Raleigh, draws nearly 20,000 attendees each year and showcases music, art, dance performances, educational booths, children’s activities and food from different regions of Latin America, all in celebration of the diversity of Latin-American culture.

World of BluegrassSept. 23-30, 2023
The arrival of a toe-tappin’, banjo-strummin’ week of non-stop bluegrass in downtown Raleigh is one of the most anticipated times of the year. The International Bluegrass Music Association brings their business conference and the world’s most talented bluegrass musicians to Raleigh. Those musicians then perform in clubs, on street corners and in hotel lobbies-anywhere they can find a jam session during the Bluegrass Ramble.

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IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Photo Credit: Willa Stein Visit Raleigh.

Note besides the business conference enjoy the street festival. IBMA Bluegrass Live! Powered by PNC, which takes place on Friday, September 29th and Saturday, September 30th, 2023. The street festival is free and open to the public and takes place in addition to the Business Conference, which is available only for IBMA members.

October

Triangle OktoberfestOct. 6-7 2023
The ninth annual Triangle Oktoberfest at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary is set to provide plenty of family-friendly activities, including live music, storytelling, dancing and traditional Bavarian food and fare (plus local and authentic German beers on hand).

Ultimate guide to festivals and events in Raleigh, North Carolina @DownshiftingPRO - State Fair

2023 N.C. State FairOct. 12-22, 2023
The largest annual event in the state, the North Carolina State Fair draws one million visitors through the gates each Oct., marking what many consider to be the unofficial beginning of the fall season. Eleven days of high-flying rides, deep-fried foods, live music, stunt shows and other entertainment (including nightly fireworks) has been a can’t-miss event for generations of families—the 2023 version of the North Carolina State Fair marks the 156rd year of the event!

November

The International Festival of RaleighNovember 3 – 5, 2023
This three-day event, a comprehensive platform for local ethnic communities and artists to present their culture, serves more than 25,000 annually. Now taking place at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds, more than 70 ethnic groups will participate to present a variety of arts, cuisine, dance, textile design and cultural expression from across the globe. Art exhibits, dance competitions, sidewalk cafés, main stages for music, vendor booths, and more make for fun finds and discoveries.

Moonlight in the Garden, various dates. 2023 – Event dates are Thursday-Saturday, November 9-11, 2023 & Thursday-Saturday, November 16-18, 2023.
A magical lighting exhibition that’s suited for the entire family, Moonlight in the Garden at JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University is a once-per-year opportunity to see the nationally-acclaimed gardens artfully illuminated by colorful lights. Each evening of the ticketed event is paired with live music, food trucks, hot apple cider, fire pits and marshmallows to roast!

American Indian Heritage Celebration, November 18, 2023
Musicians, dancers, artists, storytellers and authors from N.C.’s eight state-recognized tribes will gather for this popular family event. For all ages, the celebration is a firsthand opportunity to learn about the state’s American Indian culture, past and present. Activities include craft demonstrations, hands-on activities, games, foods and much more.

79th Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade, Nov. 18, 2023
A Raleigh tradition for almost 80 years, the Raleigh Christmas Parade is the largest parade of its kind between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. This year’s parade will be void of cars and floats as motorized vehicles have been prohibited. The parade- filled with marching bands, dancers, and more- marches through downtown Raleigh for two hours along a 1.4-mile route that draws a crowd of 60,000 spectators.

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NC Chinese Lantern Festival Photo Credit: Visit Raleigh

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival-CaryNov. 17, 2023 – Jan. 14, 2024
The North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival puts hundreds of larger-than-life lanterns on display at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre, creating an incredible, colorful adventure for you to walk through during the holiday season. The lanterns and more than 15,000 LED lights make up 40 distinct displays, including a 200-foot-long, 21-foot-tall mythical phoenix on Symphony Lake.

December

State Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony (temporarily closed to the public) in early Dec. 2023
Note: The State Capitol Building is temporarily closed to the public; however, the Tree Lighting Ceremony is still taking place outside of the building. With luminaries lighting the Capitol grounds and local choral groups filling the air with seasonal songs, lighting the tree at the North Carolina State Capitol building is a sign for many that the holiday season is officially here. After the lighting of the tree, stick around to tour the inside of the Capitol, covered in wreaths and draped in garland.

North Carolina Master Chorale presents Joy of the Season Dec. 12, 2023
The North Carolina Master Chorale, hailed by critics as the area’s premier choral ensemble and the recipient of a Raleigh Medal of Arts award, has performed choral masterworks with an orchestra since 1942. Joy of the Season celebrates its 20th anniversary this year—this Raleigh holiday tradition fills Meymandi Concert Hall with nearly 200 voices, guest choirs, brass ensemble, Meymandi’s pipe organ and incredible accompanist Susan McClaskey Lohr’s piano playing. 

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First Night Raleigh Photo Credit:Sandra Davidson Visit Raleigh

First Night RaleighDec. 31, 2023
First Night Raleigh, a downtown Raleigh New Year’s Eve celebration for more than 25 years, is an all-day event with more than 100 performances (music, dance, theatre, comedy and more) across 35 venues. Tons of kids’ activities, a 90-foot-tall Ferris wheel and other amusements and a countdown to midnight (where, yes, a giant acorn drops from the sky as the clock strikes 12). Celebratory fireworks highlight a jam-packed day of festivities that’s suited for the whole family.

Ultimate guide to festivals and events in Raleigh, North Carolina @DownshiftingPRO -
Guide to festivals and events in Raleigh

Hotel Recommendations

The Sheraton Raleigh: 421 S Salisbury St, Raleigh, NC 27601
The Casso Raleigh: 603 West Morgan St, Raleigh, NC 27603
Heights House Hotel: 308 S Boylan Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603
Longleaf Hotel: 300 N Dawson St, Raleigh, NC 27603
Marriott: 500 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601

January

23rd Annual African American Cultural CelebrationJan. 27, 2024
An annual statewide kickoff to Black History Month at the North Carolina Museum of History, the African American Cultural Celebration brings together 75+ musicians, storytellers, dancers, chefs, historians, artists and more in downtown Raleigh for a day of pride and celebration of culture.

Astronomy Days: Earth and Ocean WorldsJan. 27-28, 2024 (to be confirmed)
From comet crafts to solar observing, lectures to rocket launches, space enthusiasts of all ages will find something to do at one of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences‘ most popular annual events.

February

 Krispy Kreme Challenge early Feb. 2024

Twenty-four hundred calories, 12 doughnuts, five miles, one hour. The mantra of the Krispy Kreme Challenge epitomizes the test of physical fitness and gastrointestinal fortitude. What started as a challenge among ten friends has transformed into a nationally publicized charity race and the number one tradition to complete before graduating from North Carolina State University (NCSU). All proceeds from the Krispy Kreme Challenge are donated to the N.C. Children’s Hospital so its staff can continue providing the best care and facilities for their patients.

March

Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Wearin’ ‘O the Green Festival, March 16, 2024
In celebration of the great St. Patrick as well as Irish and Celtic traditions and culture, a parade of dancers, bagpipes, musicians and more march through downtown Raleigh and afterwards continue a day of fun with a full line-up of live music and performances in Raleigh’s City Plaza.

Art in Bloom, March 13-17, 2024
One of the can’t-miss events of the year at the North Carolina Museum of Art, Art in Bloom is a five-day festival of art and flowers. More than 50 floral interpretations inspired by the museum’s galleries, some more than 10 feet tall, are created on-site by world-class designers and showcased throughout the museum’s West Building (have your cameras ready!). The ticketed event invites participants to attend presentations and workshops, dine at NCMA Cafe and shop for one-of-a-kind gifts.

April

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Dreamville Music Festival Photo Credit: Garrett Poulos VisitRaleigh.

Dreamville Festivalearly April, 2024
Held annually each spring in Raleigh, the Dreamville Festival is an outdoor weekend music celebration curated by internationally acclaimed hip-hop superstar J. Cole alongside his Dreamville team.

The festival serves as Dreamville’s signature annual event for its fans worldwide bringing together local residents and travelers alike to gather together and enjoy incredible music performances in one of America’s most beautiful and historic public parks, Dorothea Dix Park – Raleigh’s largest city park with over 300 acres of sprawling greenspace.

North Carolina ‘Cuegrass Festivalmid-April, 2024
What could be finer than a jam-packed day of drool-worthy barbecue from The Pit, plenty of local brews and toe-tappin’ bluegrass music in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District?

Peak City Pig FestApril 12-13, 2024
Live music, a beer garden, a barbecue competition (sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society) and more make for one of Apex‘s tastiest events of the year.

Spring Daze Arts and Crafts FestivalApril 27, 2024
Featuring more than 170 local artists, Cary‘s Spring Daze Arts and Crafts Festival fills the streets with art-paintings, jewelry, sculptures and more-plus food vendors, children’s activities and all-day live music.

Brewgalooend of April, 2024
N.C.’s largest craft beer festival-featuring 100 breweries, 50 food trucks and drawing 30,000 people-Brewgaloo takes over downtown Raleigh for two days each April. The festival, which has free admission on Sat. (so bring plenty of friends!), allows you to purchase either beer samples or full pints from breweries located across the state. The event is part of Beer Month in Raleigh, N.C., a month-long celebration of the nearly 30 craft breweries that call the area home.

May

Meet in the Street Festival in early May, 2024
A day filled with food, fun and entertainment in historic downtown Wake Forest for more than 35 years running, Meet in the Street pulls together all-day live music plus an additional stage of entertainment with dancers, martial arts, magicians and more.

43rd Annual Apex PeakFest, early May, 2024
Salem St. in historic downtown Apex comes alive with more than 22,000 visitors during PeakFest. For over 40 years, the arts and crafts festival has brought families together for a day of fun, food and fellowship. The town of Apex’s largest annual event, PeakFest has all-day live music, all the arts and crafts you can imagine, entertainment for kids and food vendors that bring their best State Fair-style goodies.

Longleaf Film FestivalMay 10-11, 2024
The Longleaf Film Festival is held annually at the North Carolina Museum of History in downtown Raleigh, a free-to-attend film festival that highlights the best short- and feature-length documentary and narrative films.

Got to Be NC FestivalMid-May, 2024
Putting the best of N.C. food and beverage on display, the Got to Be NC Festival offers tons of eating opportunities, live music, a huge collection of antique tractors, a carnival for children and more activities (plus free parking and admission) at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds.

Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival, Mid-May, 2024
One of the Southeast’s premier arts festivals, Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival attracts more than 80,000 people to downtown Raleigh during the third weekend of May each year. Celebrating fine visual art and live music since 1980, the festival puts more than 180 artists’ work, using countless mediums, on display for all to see and enjoy during the free festival.

AnimazementMay 24-26, 2024
Get in on the action at Animazement, a three-day Japanese animation and culture celebration over Memorial Day weekend that draws 15,000 attendees to the Raleigh Convention Center. Cosplay is a huge draw: guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters simply for fun, or to participate in contests showcasing their talents!

NC Sugar Rush, end of May 2024
One of the sweetest events of the year, NC Sugar Rush is an all-dessert food truck rodeo held at Raleigh’s City Market. More than 20 vendors—offering a range of goodies from cotton candy to cupcakes to cherry pies—will be on hand, along with face painters, balloon artists and more to keep the kids entertained.

June

Capital City Juneteenth Celebrationmid-June, 2024
First held at Dorothea Dix Park in 2021 as a celebration and commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the United States, this event featured speakers, artists, historical interpreters, music and more.

Town of Cary’s Pimento Cheese Festival, early June, 2024
In downtown Cary, food trucks will line the streets to serve their regular menu and new dishes featuring a Southern delicacy: pimento cheese! Enjoy live music at Downtown Park, grab a drink from local breweries and taste some of the best pimento cheese samples from local restaurants. Come hungry!

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OUT! Raleigh Pride Photo Credit: Keenan Hairston Visit Raleigh.

Out! Raleigh Pridelate June, 2024
Out! Raleigh Pride is the area’s annual, family-friendly street festival that celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies, and the festival celebrated 13 years in 2023! Organized each year by the LGBTQIA+ Center of Raleigh, the festival’s speakers, performers and vendors (and a Kids Zone) bring eight hours of fun and family to downtown Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street district.

July

Raleigh 4th of July Fireworks DisplayJuly 4, 2024
You can’t miss Raleigh’s Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza! Having returned to West Raleigh in 2018, the city’s annual July Fourth fireworks are held near the Stadium and Arena Complex (Carter-Finley Stadium and PNC Arena area). With plenty of free parking available, this breathtaking show is a must-see (and best enjoyed with lots of family and friends!).

Town of Cary July 4th CelebrationJuly 4, 2024
Relax under the pines at Koka Booth Amphitheatre for the Town of Cary‘s July 4th Celebration, where you’ll be able to enjoy family-friendly activities, including rides and games, a venue-wide scavenger hunt, watermelon eating contests and even a 50-foot Ferris wheel! Live music—often performed by the Cary Town Band and followed by a performance from the North Carolina Symphony—caps the evening just before fireworks light up the sky.

GalaxyCon RaleighJuly 25-28, 2024
A three-day festival for fans of pop culture, superheroes, science fiction, anime and more, GalaxyCon Raleigh will be back and bigger than ever at the Raleigh Convention Center in July. Featuring celebrity guests, comic book creators, artists, cosplayers and other industry guests, GalaxyCon Raleigh is expected to bring an incredible 30,000 attendees together in downtown Raleigh to see and be seen, meet celebrities, go head-to-head in video games and have a blast participating in all things geek!

August

Packapalooza, late Aug., 2024
This annual, all-day block party and street festival, drawing over 80,000 attendees, caps off North Carolina State University‘s Wolfpack Welcome Week at the start of another academic year. The free and open-to-the-public event features more than 300 vendor booths lining Hillsborough St., food, games, arts and crafts, a water slide (bring your bathing suit!), visual and performing arts and more. Music will take center stage to close out the evening.

CaribMask CarnivalAug. 17, 2024
A festival to promote diversity and equality and create a deeper appreciation for Afro-Caribbean culture in the Raleigh area, CaribMask returns to downtown Raleigh in 2024. A parade of bands, flag ceremony, live music and tons of food and drinks keep a joyful crowd of more than 15,000 happy people.

Wide Open Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh NC photo credit Jack Hollingsworth and Visit Raleigh
Wide Open Bluegrass Festival Photo Credit: Garrett Poulos / VisitRaleigh.com

Conclusion:

With a population of 1.3 million in the Raleigh MSA encompassing many different neighbourhoods and small cities, there is much to see in this state capital. From Apex to Cary, Wake Forest to the European-styled Lafayette Village, you will find festivals and events focused on arts and crafts, the local food scene and bluegrass music. The fun of attending any festival is a community of people looking to discover a city and all it offers.

Make plans to spend a day or a weekend in the Raleigh area around these trip-worthy events! Thanks to Visit Raleigh for providing this comprehensive list. You can find the entire list of festivals and events here.

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Margarita Ibbott is a travel and lifestyle blogger. She blogs about travel in Canada, the United States and Europe giving practical advice through restaurant, hotel and attraction reviews. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and other online media outlets.