Last updated Sept 28, 2026
If you’re looking for a fun and exciting way to kick off the first weekend of the month in Raleigh, North Carolina, look no further than First Friday!
This popular Raleigh event is a great way to explore the city’s vibrant arts scene, sample delicious food and drinks, and connect with your community.
You don’t need to be an art expert or have a lot of money to participate. All you need is a sense of adventure and a willingness to explore the city. Whether you’re a lifelong resident of Raleigh or a first-time visitor, First Friday is a great way to discover new places and experiences.
Next First Fridays : Nov 6 and Dec 4. January 1, 2027. Events updated on the first of each month.
First Friday Events for Oct 2, 2026
Here are the events planned for October’s First Friday in Downtown Raleigh that has a special Halloween theme. It’s a big one: Raleigh Wide Open fills Fayetteville Street with free music the same night, so expect crowds and plan your parking. You may want to work some of these Raleigh date ideas into your night. Check this guide for parking in Downtown Raleigh or ride the bus!
- Spooky Hollow First Friday Downtown’s official kickoff to Halloween season. Free tarot readings, face painting, live performers and specials from the Smoky Hollow businesses. Wear your costume. 421 N Harrington St. 5pm – 8pm FREE
- First Friday Market & Movie Night: Ghostbusters (1984) at Moore Square, with food trucks and local vendors from 5pm, live music at 5:30pm and the movie at 7:17pm. The lawn fills fast, so bring a blanket and come early. 5pm – 9pm FREE
- Raleigh Wide Open Free roots, bluegrass and Americana on stages along Fayetteville Street all evening. Here’s our guide to Raleigh Wide Open. 3pm – 11pm FREE
- Raleigh Wide Open Artist Interviews at the City of Raleigh Museum. Jim Lauderdale at 4pm, the Fairfield Four at 4:30pm, Brek at 5pm and Earl White at 5:30pm. 220 Fayetteville St. 4pm – 6pm FREE
- Artspace First Friday One of the founding organizations behind First Friday, Artspace opens its doors until 10pm every First Friday. October events include:
- Artist/Curatorial Discussion with Vera Weinfield, a small-group conversation about her new solo show, Whatever Happened to Luba’s Twin? (on view Oct 1 to Nov 1). 4pm – 5pm
- Raleigh Film & Art Festival Opening Celebration, kicking off the festival’s 14th year with independent film and visual art. 6pm – 9:30pm
- First Friday at CoLab: Monster October’s show is all about the monsters that haunt us. DJ JVRGON on the decks, plus the $5 Sketch Wall, where you can start an art collection for the price of a coffee. The Carter Building, 22 Glenwood Ave. 6pm – 11pm
- Gallery 20: Celebrate The inaugural exhibition from the relaunched Gallery 20, with work from 16 new gallery artists and Carter Building artists. Artist reception with light refreshments. 20 Glenwood Ave. 5pm – 8pm FREE
- First Friday at The Raleigh Wine Shop Founder Jeff Bramwell is back for a Piemonte takeover, pouring wines from winemakers in his new two-volume book, with his travel photography on the walls and a menu from the Alimentari at Left Bank team. First come, first served. 5pm – 9pm
- Hey, Pumpkin! at The Cupcake Shoppe An all-pumpkin menu for one night: pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin maple cupcakes and decorate-your-own sugar cookies. 104 Glenwood Ave. 3pm – 8pm
- Curate Raleigh Flash tattoos from Mary Hannah and Tiny Ghost Tattoo, complimentary refreshments and 40+ local vendors to shop. 15 W Hargett St. 5pm – 9pm
- Le Dive teams up with Old Ghosts Tattoo for flash tattoos, drinks and food. 14 W Martin St. 5pm – 10pm
- Copperline Plant Co. Tattoo pop-up with Gabbu Tattoo (walk-ins, first come first served), and the shop stays open late. 23 W Hargett St. 5pm – 9pm
- Haunted History Walking Tour A history tour of Raleigh’s alleged hauntings, including the Governor’s Mansion and the State Capitol. Pay what you want, but register ahead. 7pm – 8:15pm
- First Friday Art Night at The Bike Library Cafe Art for sale from local artists, a full espresso bar and a local DJ. 600 W Cabarrus St. 7pm – 9pm
- Leela’s First Friday Improv Jam & Open Mic Everyone is invited to play, perform or just watch. Free, register on Eventbrite. 18+. 7pm – 9:30pm
- The Raleigh Times Bar First Friday street party with beer, live music and the Morning Times gallery artist and vendor market. 7pm – 11pm
- First Friday at Slim’s Malort tasting (4:30pm – 9pm), live music from Gage Saylor and the Creekside Boys (8pm – 10pm) and a late-night patio hang until 2am. 227 S Wilmington St.
- First Friday: Michael Parker & Storm Adams at The Davie Millennial jams and 20th-century classics. Free entry. 444 S Blount St. 8pm – 11pm
- Garden Grooves at Botanical Lounge Dinner and a live show from local and touring artists. 419 Glenwood Ave. 8pm – 11pm
- Crank Karaoke @ Crank Arm Brewing 8pm – 11pm
A great way to get from one event to the other across downtown is to ride the R-Line. We did it recently as we explored Raleigh by bus. Here is our guide to riding the bus in Raleigh (with our First Friday R Line experience)
What is First Friday in Raleigh?
Held on the first Friday of every month, the event is a celebration held once a month of Raleigh’s arts and culture. Since 1990, First Friday has been a popular monthly event in downtown Raleigh. It’s certainly not unique to Raleigh – city art walks are something we’ve seen in many places on our travels across the USA.
Local businesses and galleries open their doors to the public for free showcasing creative work from local artists. Small retail stores, bars, and restaurants may also participate offering unique experiences to add to the celebration and help bring the community together.
From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., visitors can stroll through downtown Raleigh, stopping at various participating venues to enjoy live music, art exhibits, food and drink specials, and more.
First Friday will often reflect different seasons and celebrations happening in Raleigh like Halloween, Restaurant Week, and the Holiday Season.
Where is Raleigh’s First Friday?
The First Friday event takes place throughout downtown Raleigh, with many businesses and galleries located in the historic Warehouse District.
Some popular Raleigh art venues to check out include Artspace, a non-profit visual arts center and working studios, and any of the bars in downtown Raleigh. Don’t miss these wine bars in Raleigh as well!
But the fun doesn’t stop there! During First Friday, you’ll also find street performers, food trucks, and other outdoor activities. It’s a great opportunity to mingle with other Raleigh residents and meet new people who share your interests. Support these black owned businesses and female-owned businesses in Downtown Raleigh too.
Here is our guide to the Warehouse District – Use First Friday as an opportunity to explore it more.
Regular First Friday experiences not to miss
Events and experiences can change month to month, but typically there are a few regular events that happen for First Friday that we recommend you explore.
You may still find some wine here and there – but mostly it will come at an affordable price. It’s just too popular now for these small spaces to sustain free wine and art!
Artspace
Our First Friday experience – and most since – was wandering the halls and working art studios within Artspace. This is a non-profit visual arts center in City Market that has more than 35 artists working in their studios. They hold frequent events, exhibitions, and classes.
On First Friday, you can wander the halls of Artspace and see the studios, meet some of the artists, and look at any specific exhibitions they may have.
City Market Artist Collective
On the other side of Artspace is City Market Artist Collective, another art gallery in Raleigh we like to visit on First Friday. Inside are eight gallery spaces filled with the work of resident artists including paintings, sculpture, and mixed media. Artists are usually present on First Friday!
Plant lovers may want to pop next door to Copperline Plant Co. They often have events on for First Friday – and one can never have too much oxygen!
Moore Square Markets and Movie Nights
Every First Friday, Moore Square hosts a community artisan market and movie night. It’s usually related to the season or special events of the month in Raleigh. They also have live music, games for the kids, and food trucks.
Other First Friday Local Businesses
The Warehouse District is usually buzzing with people during First Friday moving from gallery to gallery, boutique store to boutique store and popping into bars and restaurants in between.
Taverna Agora
It’s not just expression of self through paint, textures, and mixed media on First Friday in Raleigh, it’s also expressions of body and taste that we celebrate.
Every First Friday, Taverna Agora – home of our favorite restaurant patio in Raleigh – has a fun filled entertainment night with belly dancing, and bouzouki music, all while having an authentic Greek dinner! Do I hear an Opa? Read our full review of Taverna Agora here.
Current Wellness
A huge supporter of First Friday in Raleigh is Current Wellness located in East Raleigh near the Transfer Food Hall Co.
The team there always seems to have some First Friday event usually relating to the season or specific themes happening in the city such as Black History Month etc. and fun experiences like yoga with drumming!
Curate Raleigh
Curate Raleigh on E Hargett St is a favorite place to visit with my teen. It’s also a spot I pick up some welcome gifts for our clients who buy homes in Raleigh with our partner realtors.
They have a cute collection of local Raleigh and NC products as well as jewelry, plants and home decor. On First Friday, they do fun events like craft classes with complimentary drinks.
How to make the most of your First Friday experience
Here are a few tips to make the most out of this fun monthly event.
- Wear comfortable shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking, so make sure you’re wearing shoes that won’t leave you with sore feet.
- Bring a friend: First Friday is more fun with company, so invite a friend or two to join you.
- Take a date: First Friday would be a fantastic date night experience in Raleigh. What a great way to get to a future potential long-term partner.
- Plan your route: Take a look at the First Friday map ahead of time and plan out which venues you want to visit. We typically look at a few galleries then choose somewhere to have a drink or dinner.
- Be open-minded: First Friday is all about exploring and trying new things, so be open to whatever the evening brings.
Whether you’re an art aficionado, a foodie, or just looking for a fun night out, First Friday in Raleigh is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. So, mark your calendar, grab a friend, and get ready to explore all that this exciting event has to offer!
First Friday Frequently Asked Questions
When is First Friday in Raleigh?
On the first Friday of every month, all year round, across downtown Raleigh. It’s been running since 1990. Check the top of this post for the next date and that month’s events.
What time does First Friday start?
Most galleries and venues open from 6pm to 9pm. Plenty start earlier, around 5pm. The bars and live music keep going well past 9, some until 2am. If you want the galleries, go early. If you want the party, go late.
Is First Friday free?
Yes. Galleries and studios open their doors for free, and so do most of the street events, including the Moore Square market and movie. You’ll pay for food, drinks and anything you buy. A few special events are ticketed or ask you to register, and we note those in the event list.
Where should I park for First Friday?
Downtown gets busy, so give yourself extra time. Here’s our guide to parking in downtown Raleigh. Or skip the car. The R-Line bus loops around downtown and makes it easy to hop between neighborhoods. Here’s our guide to riding the bus in Raleigh.
Is First Friday kid-friendly?
Yes, especially early in the evening. Kids love the Moore Square movie nights, and wandering the Artspace studios is a great way to introduce them to art. Later in the night it shifts to bars and live music, and some events are 18+ or 21+.
Looking for more stuff to do in Raleigh? Check out our post on the top 25 Raleigh attractions, and 90+ things to do in Raleigh (bucket list) and the best art galleries in Raleigh NC.
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