February Events 2024: What’s Happening in Raleigh (includes Black History)

Hello friends! Welcome to February in Raleigh. There are plenty of fun things to do in Raleigh this month; it’s the month of LOVE of course (Valentine’s Day) and the time to celebrate Black History. We’ll list events for both below!

We are doing our best to share with you what Raleigh events are happening each month. When we say Raleigh, we may also include events throughout Wake County and the Triangle region!

The beauty of living in Raleigh is we’re within easy access to incredible places, events, and Raleigh attractions within a 30-minute drive. That’s why we love it. So, if we find a cool event in Chapel Hill or Durham that we think it’s worth driving to, we’ll share it so you can continue to enjoy this vibrant Raleigh lifestyle.

Having said that, we cannot include everything, and we don’t always know everything that’s going on, so if you have any suggestions on cool events in Raleigh, leave them in the comment section at the bottom!

We also update our email community every Friday with more Raleigh events, news, and cool finds and so be sure to join us. It’s free and the best way to keep connected. Pop your name in the form below and receive our free PDF checklist of the top festivals and events in Raleigh.

2024 Raleigh Festival & Events Bucket List

Plan for a fun-filled year!

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We’ll also sometimes share personal things happening for our family during the month. Simply because our community love following what we are doing (live on Instagram). Our lives are dedicated to exploring, discovering cool things to do in Raleigh and just living large.

Black History Month: Things to do

February is Black History Month. It’s celebrated throughout Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the rest of the Triangle, with festivals, storytelling, performances, lectures and much more.

This month presents a great opportunity to explore the many Black American heritage sites and historical attractions in Raleigh. Check out the following in-depth post sharing Black history and cultural experiences in Raleigh. For now, here are a couple:

• Estey Hall: is the oldest standing building at Shaw University and the first women’s dormitory constructed for the purpose of educating African American women in the USA.
• Mordecai Historic Park shares the stories of the 200 African American slaves who lived on Mordecai Plantation between the American Revolution and the Civil War.
• The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens are a key stop on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and is also the first public park in the USA solely devoted to Dr. King.
• Pope House Museum is the only African American house museum in the state of North Carolina. It offers a glimpse into the life of one of Raleigh’s most intriguing citizens, Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, who was the only African American man to run for mayor of a Southern capital in the midst of the Jim Crow Era.
• North Carolina Museum of History has exhibits which share the African American story and their contributions to the history of North Carolina. “The Story of North Carolina” exhibit which includes a lunch counter from a 1960 Salisbury, N.C., sit-in during the American civil rights movement.

While we always recommend you support local black-owned businesses in the Triangle, make this the month you go the extra mile and consciously seek them out and show your support. We have curated a list of black-owned businesses in Raleigh and Wake County.

NC MLK Black History Month Parade, Feb 3, 2024

• Where: 3501 Fayetteville St Durham, NC 27707
• Time: 12pm
• Cost: Free
• Website

The 21st annual North Carolina MLK Black History Month Parade will feature DJs, Bounce Houses, Food Trucks, Vendors, Face Painting, and more, making this event “For the Entire Family for the Entire Day.” Parade starts at 12pm.

Living in Color art Exhibition Opening, Feb 3, 2024

• Where: Dorothea Dix Park – Chapel Event Center
• When:
  • Opening Ceremony: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
  •  Exhibit open through Sunday, February 26th, 2023. Hours are Saturday: 10am-4pm & Sunday 12-5pm.
• Website

A month-long display of visual art representing the experience of people of color living in the south with pieces from pieces by professional and student artists. The opening reception that will include drinks and light hors d’oeuvres, spoken word feature performance, a powerful 15-minute live stage play scene, and music.

The Raleigh African American History tour

• Where: One Twenty Wilmington
• When: Every Saturday, 11am
• Cost: $20
• Tickets

The Raleigh African American History tour begins inside One Twenty Wilmington St. This is a walking tour. This tour will highlight the real story behind the African American influences on downtown Raleigh.

Black Transfigurations With Mikael Owunna, Feb 8, 2024

• Where: James B. Hunt Jr. Library, NC State University,
• Time: 1:30 – 3pm
• Cost: Free
• Website

Join the African American Cultural Center and Multicultural Student Affairs for Black Transfigurations. Multimedia artist and engineer Mikael Owunna will present works from his artistic practice that transfigure Black bodies into vessels of eternal life.

Lift Every Voice: Black History Month Community Sing a Long, Feb 24, 2024

• Where: East Building, SECU Auditorium, NC Museum of Art
• When: 5pm
• Cost: $8 members, $10 non-members
• Website:

A gathering of choirs, ensembles, and community participants from across the state that includes spirituals, ring shouts, and music reflective of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s as well as Black experience in the US.

Black History Trolley Tour, Feb 24 & 25, 2024

• Where: Mordecai Historic Park
• Time: 1pm, 2:30pm
• Cost: $12
• Tickets

Learn more about African American heritage in Raleigh with this historic trolley tour that will travel to Oberlin Village, where passengers tour the Historic Turner House and Oberlin Cemetery and learn about the neighborhood’s history of community and freedom. 

Black American Films

• Where: East Building, North Carolina Museum of Art
• Time: 2pm
• Cost: $5 members / $7 non-members

NCMA will screen Black American Movies throughout the month of Feb:

• A Raisin in the Sun (Feb 7), This lauded drama follows the Youngers, an African American family living together in an apartment in Chicago. Following the death of their patriarch, they try to determine what to do with the substantial insurance payment they’ll soon receive
• The Gospel According to André (Feb 17), This intimate portrait of André Leon Tally, a fixture in the world of fashion, takes viewers on a journey from Tally’s roots growing up in North Carolina to becoming one of the most influential tastemakers and fashion curators of our times.
• Invisible Beauty (Feb 24) Fashion revolutionary and model turned agent and activist Bethann Hardison knew that Black Is Beautiful well before the fashion industry acknowledged the truth. The documentary trace Hardison’s impact on fashion from runway shows in New York and Paris in the 1970s to roundtables about lack of racial diversity in the early 2000s.

Celebrate Black American contributions to the arts in Town of Cary

The Town of Cary is hosting a variety of programs that address the diverse experiences of the African Diaspora in the United States through film and the arts.

This year’s theme is Acknowledging the Past While STREAMing into the Future. STREAM is the acronym for Science, Technology, Research, Education, Arts, and Music. There’ll be jazz ensembles, panel discussions, a cultural cuisine experience, poetry performances, art exhibitions, and black history films See all events here.

Week 1: FEb 1 – 4, 2024

North Carolina Balley Presents Rhapsody in Blue, Feb 1 – 18, 2024

• Where: Fletcher Opera Theater, Martin Marietta Center
• Time: Various
• Cost: $27+
• Tickets

Rhapsody in Blue captures the exhilarating, heart-beating romantic pulse of George Gershwin’s iconic music. The program will also include two new works by Principal Guest Choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett and Resident Choreographer Amy Hall Garner.

First Friday, Feb 2, 2024

• Where: Various places Downtown Raleigh
• Time: Evening hours
• Cost: Free

First Friday is a great opportunity to support local art and businesses. Check out the rotating art on display in the downtown galleries and here are some other fun events happening. Read our complete guide to First Friday with more tips and information.

Krispy Kreme Challenge, February 3, 2024

• Where: Hillsborough St (NC State Bell Tower) to Krispy Kreme on N. Person St
• Time: TBD
• Website: KrispyKremeChallenge.com

The Krispy Kreme Challenge is one of the most unique things to do in Raleigh. All you have to do is run 5-miles in total (or walk) from the NC State University Belltower to the Krispy Kreme on N. Person Street. Take a quick pit stop there to eat a dozen doughnuts (or as many as you can), then run back!

Suitable for all ages and walking is also encouraged. Of course, devouring doughnuts is optional.

Watch Our Krispy Kreme video from 2020:

2024 Astronomy Days, Feb 3 & 4, 2024

• Where: North Carolina Museum of Natural Science
• Time: 10am – 5pm
• Cost:
• Website

Astronomy Days is an indoor/outdoor festival located in and around the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. This celestial adventure explores the wonders of the universe through technology, telescopes, engaging talks by scientists (including special guests) and plenty of hands-on activities. Asteroids and meteorites — some of the oldest material in the solar system — will be in the spotlight this year. Space enthusiasts of all ages will delight in embarking on this journey through the cosmos!

Hymn At Burning Coal, Jan 25 – Feb-12, 2024

• Where: 224 Polk St, Raleigh, NC 27604
• Time: 7:30pm; 2pm on Sundays
• Cost: $20 – $30 ($5 students)
• Website

Hymn portrays a growing friendship between two men who meet for the first time at the funeral of their father.  It is about the joyous and unbreakable bond of blood.

Big Frosty Beer Festival, Feb 3, 2024

• Where: Raleigh Beer Garden
• Time: 12-4pm
• Cost: $40 (21+ event)
• Website

Gather in the Raleigh Beer Garden outdoor space to sample a wide variety of beer and cider from local, regional, & national breweries There will also be food and live music. Ticket price includes a complimentary sampling mug with unlimited samples.

Fairy Tale Tea, Feb 3 & 4, 2024

• Where: Marbles Kids Museum
• Time: 9:30am; 12:30pm; 3:30pm
• Cost: Members, $27; Non-Members, $30
• Website

Fairy dust and sparkling crowns, enchanted wands and dazzling gowns! Dress in your storybook best and enjoy magical activities, majestic treats and enchanting encounters with fanciful characters.

Sporting Events & Concerts this week

• NC State Wolfpack vs. UNC Tar Heels Womens Basketball Feb 1; 8pm @ Reynolds Coliseum
• NC State Men’s Basketball vs Georgia Tech Feb 03; 1pm @ PNC (SOLD OUT)
• The annual American Aquarium Show at the Lincoln Theatre. Feb1 -3, 8pm Only resale tickets left.

Week 2: Feb 5 – 11, 2024

A Tribute to Coldplay & Imagine Dragons, Feb 8, 2024

• Where: Wakefield Barn
• Time: 6:30pm & 9pm
• Get tickets here.

Perfect for a date night, girls’ night out, or even a family evening, the Candlelight concert is a wonderful experience. They’re on monthly in Raleigh. This concert is a tribute to Coldplay and Imagine Dragons! Does it get much better? Once or twice a month, the historic Merrimom-Wynne House and the All-Saints Chapel host a magical candlelight concert. Read more about the Raleigh candlelight concerts.

Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience, Feb 8 – April 7, 2024

• Where: Pleasant Valley Promenade, 6240 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, 27612-2620
• Time: Various
• Cost: $20.90+
• Tickets

Dinos Alive is a dinosaur exhibition featuring life-size animated replicas in an immersive Jurassic venue. Travel back to the Jurassic in a thematic park full of realistic dinosaurs—see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat! Come face to face with over 80 specimens of life-sized, moving replicas: T-rex, Stegosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Velociraptors, and many more.

NC Symphony: Motown Meets Philly Sound, Feb 9 & 10, 2024

• Where: Martin Marietta Center
• Time: Various
• Cost: $33+
• Tickets

The pop, soul, and R&B sounds of Motown meet famous hits from the Philly Sound as your North Carolina Symphony and guest vocalists perform classic songs including “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now,” “Love Train,” “What’s Going On,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and more.

Arthouse, CAM Raleigh, Feb 10, 2024

• Where: CAM Raleigh Warehouse District
• Time: 8-11pm
• Cost: $125 for members, $150 for non-members
• Website

ArtHouse is a fundraising event for art education, supporting the arts and artists of our community, and bolstering the endeavors of CAM Raleigh. his year, we’re bringing the Big Easy to CAM for a New Orleans-inspired celebration. Enjoy a delectable multi-course dinner, open bar while surrounded by vibrant music and art.

Engaged to Death, Feb 10 & 11, 2024

• Where: Tucker House, Historic Oakwood
• Time: 5 & 8pm
• Cost: $70
• Website

What a fun night this sounds like! Step into the glitz and glamor of the 1920s at Raleigh’s historic Tucker House where jealousy, secrets, and betrayal weave a web of mystery around a groom with more enemies than friends. Throughout the 90-minute show, patrons will explore the beautiful Tucker House as this zany original story unfolds. The party includes music, light hors d’oeuvres, and themed mocktails.

Sporting Events & concerts this week

• NC State vs. Louisville Cardinals (women’s) Feb 5; 6pm @ Reynolds Coliseum
• Carolina Classic – N.C. State Icepack v UNC Tarheels – College Hockey, Feb 5, 7pm PNC Arena
• Carolina Hurricanes vs. Vancouver Canucks, Feb 6, 7pm PNC Arena
• NC State vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Mens Basketball, Feb 7, 7pm PNC Arena
• NC State vs. Virginia Tech (women’s) Feb 8; 8pm @ Reynolds Coliseum (SOLD OUT)
• Carolina Hurricanes vs. Colorado Avalanche, Feb 8, 8pm PNC Arena
• Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils, Feb 10, 7pm PNC Arena
• Niko Moon, Feb 9, 7pm The Ritz

Week 3: feb 12 – 18, 2024

It’s Galentine’s and Valentine’s Week. We’ve got plenty of ideas for you with our Valentine’s Day in Raleigh Guide as well as more date ideas in Raleigh.

Sun Records Live, Feb 14 – 18, 2024

• Where: Theatre Raleigh Arts Center
• Time: Various
• Cost: $50
• Tickets

In honor of Sun Records and the 100th birthday of founder Sam Phillips, this concert features thrilling live performances made famous by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. P.S. Sun Studios in Memphis is a fun tour!

UniverSOUL Circus, Feb 14 – March 10, 2024

• Where: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
• When: Various times
• Cost: $22+
• Tickets here.

Head to under the Big Top for a highly interactive show that combines circus arts, theater, and music. This is a Valentine’s Date for the whole family. UniverSoul Circus embraces and celebrates the unique and familiar aspects of urban pop culture globally by bringing them center stage with a cast of international performers that reflect the cultural diversity of the world in which we live.

Tar Heel Troubadours: Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road, Feb 17, 2024

• Where: NC Museum of History
• Time: 7pm
• Cost: $12 – $14
• Tickets

This great monthly music series is in an intimate venue within the museum. Craig and I attended a concert in December and loved it.

Rapidly rising on the bluegrass scene, Billboard-charting artists Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road perform internationally and stateside, winning both industry awards and the hearts of fans who turn out to see them at some of the industry’s most iconic venues. Watch our video.

Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb 17, 2024

• Where: North Carolina Museum of Art Ellipse
• Time: 9am and 11am
• Cost: Free
• Website:

An annual worldwide citizen-science event to count and track birds in honor of the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Come to the Museum Park to help collect this important data and learn more about birds in the process. Dress in layers and bring binoculars. Open to ages 8 and up and levels of birders. The walk is led by local naturalist Deja Perkins.

Sporting Events & Concerts this week

• NC State Women’s Basketball vs. Georgia Tech, Feb 18; 12pm @ Reynolds Coliseum
• LANY – a beautiful blur: the world tour Feb 13 & 14, 7:00 PM at the Ritz
• Andrea Bocelli: 2024 Valentine’s Tour, Feb 14, 2024, 8pm PNC Arena
• Larry Fleet, Feb 16, 7pm The Ritz
• Journey the Freedom Tour 2024, Feb 17, 2024, PNC Arena 7:30pm

Week 4: Feb 19 – 25, 2024

A Tribute to Taylor Swift, Feb 20, 2024

• Where: Merrimon Wynne House
• Time: 6:30pm & 8:30pm
• Get tickets here.

What a beautiful way to spend the evening listening to a string quartet play some of Taylor Swift’s biggest songs in an historic home. Kalyra and I loved this! Highly recommend this for a date night or a thing to do in Raleigh with teens.

Museum for Adult Nights (Taylor’s Version), Feb 23, 2024

• Where: NC Museum of Natural Sciences
• Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm
• Cost: $25, $15 Members
• Tickets

Dance like you’re feeling 22, make friendship bracelets, sing along to the greatest hits, and get enchanted by fun, interactive activities inspired by those classic things — Taylor Swift and Science. Beer, wine, Taylor-themed specialty cocktails and food will be available for purchase.

Grateful Dub – Reggae Infused Tribute to the Grateful Dead, Feb 25, 2024

• Where: Lincoln Theatre
• Time: 7pm
• Cost: $13.75+
• Website

Dead Heads, break out the dreads. There’s more than one way to celebrate this iconic band from the free-loving hippies’ era. My favorite kind! Playing with Roots of Cration and the Quasi Kings.

Body Mind Spirit Celebration, Feb 24 & 25, 2024

• Where: NC State Fairgrounds Exposition Center
• Time: 10am-7pm / Sun 10am – 6pm
• Cost: $15
• Website

This two-day event celebrates holistic living with the nation’s finest psychics and mediums, the best in alternative health, wellness tools, products and resources. You can also participate in learning sessions and presentations featuring psychics, experts and holistic practitioners at the top of their fields! 

Sporting Events & Concerts this week

• NHL Carolina Hurricanes vs Chicago Blackhawks: Feb 19; 7pm @ PNC
• Sammy Rae & Friends, Feb 20, 7pm The Ritz
• NHL Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers: Feb 22; 7pm @ PNC
• Lauren Daigle – The Kaleidoscope Tour, Feb 23, 7pm PNC Arena
• PineCone presents: Appalachian Road Show, Feb 23, 7:30pm, Martin Marietta Center
• NC State Men’s Basketball vs Boston College Eagles Feb 24; 2pm @ PNC (SOLD OUT)
• NHL Carolina Hurricanes vs Dallas Stars: Feb 24; 8pm @ PNC

Week 5: Feb 26 – 29, 2024

Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy, Feb 29 – Mar 3, 2024

• Where: Theatre Raleigh Arts Center
• Time: 6pm, 8pm, 10pm
• Cost: $55
• Tickets

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the dark and mysterious world of Edgar Allan Poe. This exclusive speakeasy will transport you to a bygone era as you sip on expertly crafted cocktails inspired by, and while listening to, four of Poe’s most beloved stories.

Sporting Events & Concerts this week

• NC State Women’s Basketball vs. Syracuse Feb 29; 7pm @ Reynolds Coliseum
• Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Ricky Martin: The Trilogy Tour, Feb 29, 7pm PNC Arena

February Festivals in North Carolina

You know that we always encourage leaving the borders to explore! Adventure and lifelong memories await on the other side. Here are the top festivals happening in North Carolina in February 2024 you may want to experience.

North Carolina Jazz Festival, Wilmington

• Dates: 1st – 3rd February 2024
• Where: Hotel Ballast Ballroom Wilmington
• Official Website: ncjazzfestival.org

Running for over 40 years, the North Carolina Jazz Festival is one of the longest-running annual festivals in the state. Featuring some of the best traditional jazz musicians from all over the world, including The Port City Trio, a local group from Wilmington, as well as The Emmet Cohen Trio and many more. 

Beaufort Mardi Gras Celebration

• Dates: 9th – 11th February 2024 
• Where: Beaufort
• Official Website: visitbeaufortnc.com/mardi-gras

Mardi Gras is one of the most vibrant and immersive events of the year, no matter where you are in the country. It’s a three-day event that celebrates the Christian holiday, Fat Tuesday, and marks the end of Lent. In North Carolina, the place to celebrate Mardi Gras is undeniably Beaufort, which is known for its street carnival and parade.

Dress up in beads, bright colors, and glitter and celebrate this festive period at one of America’s Quirkiest Towns (according to Travel & Leisure Magazine). The parade on Front Street and Middle Lane is the place to be (starting at 3 pm on the first day). There are also some activities for kids including balloon art and face painting.

Hotels in Downtown Raleigh

If you’re visiting Raleigh from out of town for any January events, here are our recommendations for accommodation in Downtown Raleigh.

•  Residence inn Downtown Raleigh – fantastic location and big suites
•  StateView Hotel – hidden away in a forest on NC State’s Campus
• 4 Raleigh hotels with great rooftops
•  Check out 10 of our short-term rental favorites

If you are visiting from out of town and have a few extra days, here are some guides to help you plan out your days exploring Raleigh:

• 24 hour itinerary guide for Raleigh
• 48 hour itinerary guide for Raleigh NC
• 22 of our favorite downtown Raleigh restaurants
• 14 best coffee shops in Raleigh

What do you have planned for February in 2023 in Raleigh or beyond? We’d love to hear your suggestions on more things to do!