When you think of convention centers, your mind is probably conjuring up images of tatty beige carpets paired with the sound of a faint hum caused by strip-fluorescent lighting, but this is far from the case with the Raleigh Convention Center (RCC).
The RCC is a premium exhibition hall and venue in downtown Raleigh that’s sleek and modern, with tons of natural light and a warmly lit event space.
It’s the place to go for some of Raleigh’s biggest expos and conventions, such as GalaxyCon and Animazement, and offers a space that’s less corporate and more energizing and innovative.
We’ve attended many events at the Raleigh Convention Center and think it’s a great space with plenty of rooms for big or small gatherings and a lovely networking space in the lobby with floor to ceiling glass windows for plenty of light.
If you’re planning on visiting the Raleigh Convention Center, but don’t know much about it, this guide has everything you need to know from what you can bring, where you can park, and where you can eat and stay nearby. Get your name tags at the ready!
About the Raleigh Convention Center
The Raleigh Convention Center is an event, convention, and exhibition venue in downtown Raleigh, which opened its doors in September 2008. It was designed by architect firm, Tvsdesign, and covers a 500,000 square foot space set over three levels.
The venue features a 150,000-square-foot exhibit hall, twenty meeting rooms, and a 32,000-square-foot ballroom. On the ground floor, you will find an exhibition hall that can hold 790 booths for expo-style, 9,600 people in theater style, or 6,800 people in banquet style. The top floor is where you will find the ballroom, which can seat 3,630 in theater style or 2,715 in banquet style.
What Raleigh residents really love is the Shimmer Wall on the western wall of the conference center – especially at night when it is lit up and is the most beautiful backdrop for a concert at Red Hat Amphitheater.
The Shimmer Wall was created by local iconic artist Thomas Sayre and is comprised of nearly 80,000 four-inch aluminum panels, which depict an oak tree fluttering in the breeze. At night, the wall glows with LED light which slowly fades from color to color in an ode to the sunset.
If you want more art to admire at the Convention Center, at the front of the building you will find giant green RALEIGH sign and a statue of Sir Walter Raleigh, the city’s namesake.
Over the next couple of years, the Raleigh Convention Center will expand onto the site where the current Red Hat Amphitheater sits, adding an additional 300,000 square feet to its facility.
The expansion will cost $387.5 million and is set to be completed in 2028. The expansion will offer 80,000 square foot event space, 30 meeting rooms, and a 550-room Omni Hotel.
Facts worth celebrating: the Convention Center has a commitment to sustainability. You can read all of how they do that from cooling to compost, reducing waste and powerful gardens. Their roof is home to 2,000 solar panels and their 500kW solar array is the second-largest convention center solar array in the U.S. They produce the amount of energy equal to the approximate annual energy use of 100 homes in N.C.
Annual events held at the Raleigh Convention Center
- Downtown Raleigh Home Show – January
- American Championships (cheerleading competition) – January
- Volleyball Raleigh – February
- NCTies Annual Conference – March
- Women’s Day Expo – March
- Women’s Leadership Conference – March
- Original Sewing & Quilting Expo – May
- Animazement (Raleigh’s premier Japanese animation and culture convention) – May
- ShowStopper Dance Event – May/June
- North Carolina Bridal Expo – June
- The KickBack Sneaker Expo – June
- GalaxyCon Raleigh – July/August
- NCSFA South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo – August
- Triangle Inclusivity Conference – July
- Raleigh Tattoo Arts Festival – September
- Playthrough (North Carolina’s largest game convention) – October
- Junior League of Raleigh Shopping Spree – October
- NCHSAA Invitational Cheerleading Championships – December
Things to know before you go
- Children under the age of 16 must be supervised by an adult at all times.
- No smoking is allowed anywhere in the venue, including e-cigarettes.
- Only service animals and animals used as part of an approved exhibit are allowed in the venue.
- No video or filmmaking is allowed without the approval of the venue.
- For baby changing, head to one of the family/gender-neutral restrooms available in the Main Lobby, Ballroom Lobby, or Mezzanine.
- There are nursing pods available on the Main and Mezzanine Levels, which have benches, shelving, a mirror, charging outlets and USB ports.
Where is the Raleigh Convention Center?
The Raleigh Convention Center is located at 500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, in the Performing Arts Complex behind the Red Hat Amphitheater.
Drive times to Raleigh Convention Center from nearby towns:
- From Cary to Raleigh Convention Center: 11.5 miles (15 minutes drive)
- From Apex to Raleigh Convention Center: 14.7 miles (17 minutes drive)
- From Wake Forest to Raleigh Convention Center: 19 miles (20 minutes drive)
- From Durham to Raleigh Convention Center: 28.5 miles (30 minutes drive)
The R-Line, the free circulating bus around Downtown Raleigh, stops in front of the building on S. Salisbury Street.
Where to park for the Raleigh Convention Center?
There is an underground parking garage across the street called the Convention Center Underground Deck, which is accessed via Wilmington Street.
The Raleigh Convention Center has several parking garages around the venue, each with accessible parking spaces on the first level. These are not managed by the venue but by McLaurin Parking. The closest parking garages can be found on:
- On the intersection between Lenoir Street and Salisbury Street
- On Salisbury Street opposite W Cabarrus Street
- On W Cabarrus Street
- On W Cabarrus Street at the intersection with McDowell Street
- On Lenoir Street at the intersection with McDowell Street
Parking costs around $10.00 per day and can be paid for using a credit/debit card. There is a drop-off/pick-up lane in front of the venue on S. Salisbury Street. Read our guide for parking in Downtown Raleigh.
Opening hours
The convention center is open from 8:30am–5:15pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00am – 9:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Bag policy
There isn’t a bag policy per se for the Raleigh Convention Center, as each event will have its own rules and regulations. However, there are some items that all visitors cannot bring with them to ensure the safety of everyone. You can NOT bring the following items into the venue:
- Aerial devices
- Athletic/projectile items
- Bulk outside food or drinks
- Coolers
- Drones
- Helium balloons
- Portable/folding seating
- Pyrotechnics, combustibles, or artificial noisemakers (fireworks, air horns, whistles)
- Tobacco products of any kind and e-cigarettes (vapes)
- Weapons of any kind
NOTE: Diaper bags and medically necessary bags are allowed!
Where to eat and drink nearby
Coffee near the Convention Center: Sir Walter Raleigh
As a regular conference attendee around the globe, I know the first thing I’d be searching would be “Best coffee near the Raleigh convention center” You just can’t start a long day of learning and networking without it. (Let’s face it, conference coffee just doesn’t cut it)
The nearest coffee to the Raleigh Convention Center will be the new Sir Walter Raleigh on Fayetteville St (it will also serve you up cocktails after your conference!) The coffee is pretty good here and they serve up some lunch time food as well if you need another refill.
If you want to stretch the legs for coffee, the next closest we’d recommend is Black and White Coffee in the Warehouse District or Heirloom (two blocks further away).
Chido Tacos (Easy lunch option)
If you’re looking for a quick and easy (and affordable) lunch spot, you can’t beat Chido Tacos just a block away on Fayetteville St. This casual Mexican eatery has tacos, quesadillas, burritos, bowls, and a small margarita bar. ITs one of our favorite taco places in Raleigh – their birria tacos are delicious!
Rye Bar and Southern Kitchen
If you don’t want to walk too far, head to the Rye Bar and Southern Kitchen inside the Raleigh Marriott City Center Hotel. It serves up classic Southern dishes and American cuisine, such as chicken wings, ribs, and steaks. Get here early as you often have to wait to be seated – it’s a popular spot.
Jimmy V’s Osteria & Bar
Located inside the Sheraton Hotel is Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar, which serves modern Italian dishes and traditional comfort food. It features a large outdoor patio and sometimes has live music for guests to enjoy. We love the wood-fired oven pizzas!
Poole’s Diner
Located just one block away, Poole’s Diner is one of the G.O.A.T restaurants in Raleigh, offering retro, 1945 diner vibes.
It has everything you imagine when you think of a classic American diner – red bar stools, menus on chalkboards, and homey comfort food like mac n cheese or short ribs. Don’t pass up a chance to try the baguette with house-churned butter on the side.
Sam Jones BBQ
If you’re visiting from out of state, you might want to try some authentic NC-style BBQ! Sam Jones BBQ is one of the best places for BBQ in Raleigh, and is located just down the street, a 10-minute walk from the convention center.
The Jones family has been cooking BBQ for three generations, and here you can try some of their whole smoke hogs which are cooked on-site every day. It’s particularly famous for its chopped BBQ, fried chicken, and baked flat cornbread.
The Haymaker
After a long day of conferencing, you might be in need of a cocktail or refreshing glass of wine. In which case, head to The Haymaker, a 3-minute walk away.
This is one of Raleigh’s best cocktail bars with a warm, chic, and vintage vibe. It has creative cocktails (like the Peanut Butter & Jay) and a cozy ambiance. If attending a conference during the holidays they are very festive Christmas holiday bar in Raleigh.
Read more: Our Favorite Downtown Raleigh Restaurants For All Tastes!
Where to stay near Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh Marriott City Center
Located directly across the street is the Marriott Raleigh City Center, which is the closest hotel to the convention center. We’ve stayed here a few times and always found it to be comfortable and quiet at night. It has an indoor pool, a fitness center, and an onsite restaurant serving up Southern cuisine. It also has free parking for guests.
Sheraton Raleigh Hotel
Another very close hotel is the Sheraton, which is across the street and one block away. This is a lovely, luxury hotel with small but comfortable rooms, free parking, and a fantastic breakfast buffet served every day at the onsite restaurant, Jimmy V’s. Read our review of the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel.
2 BR Flat in downtown Raleigh
This two-bedroom flat is in the perfect location in downtown Raleigh in a two-story walk up building. It’s right across the street from the PNC Plaza and is within walking distance of the Raleigh Convention Centrer, as well as the bars, restaurants, and nightlife of Moore Square area. You can also walk to Morgan Street Food Hall, Transfer Co. Food hall, and the Marbles Kids Museum. The condo comes with a fully stocked kitchen, smart Tv’s, and a laundry room.
Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown
Another hotel in downtown we’ve stayed at before is the Residence Inn in downtown Raleigh, which is one block south of the convention center.
It’s also operated by Marriott and offers suites rather than rooms, which all come with kitchens and a living area. It also has a lovely rooftop terrace and bar with downtown skyline views, and it has free parking for guests to use.
Read our full review of The Residence Inn, then check out these Best Downtown Raleigh Hotels (Business or Leisure).
FAQs About Visiting Raleigh Convention Center
How to dress for the Raleigh Convention Center?
There is no dress code for the Raleigh Convention Center, but it’s recommended you wear business casual or business formal depending on the event.
Is the Raleigh Convention Center accessible?
Yes, the Raleigh Convention Center is accessible, with automatic doors at the entrance, elevators to all floors, disabled restrooms, and wheelchairs that can be obtained for guest use from the Main Lobby security kiosk. You can also pick up a KultureCity-certified sensory kit to assist neurodiverse visitors, which contains noise-muffling earmuffs and various fidget devices.
How many people can fit in the Raleigh Convention Center?
The Raleigh Convention Center can fit anywhere between 12,000-15,000 people depending on how the event space is laid out.
Does Raleigh Convention Center have food?
Yes, there is an onsite cafe in the Raleigh Convention Center called Complex Brew, just off the Main Lobby, which serves coffee, small bites, sweet treats, beer, and wine. This cafe is open to attendees only and is a new addition to the conference center – we have not yet tried it but am looking forward to trying it as the coffee is sourced from local roasters on a rotating basis, currently featuring 321 Coffee. When events are on the ground floor, like the Raleigh Home Show or Shopping Spree, there is a small kiosk with drinks and small bites.
Who owns the Raleigh Convention Center?
The Raleigh Convention Center is owned by the City of Raleigh, who also own and operate the Red Hat Amphitheater and the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.
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