Summer is really happening now! Raleigh events and festivals are in full swing, people are flocking to cool down at our nearby lakes, and a little further to our NC beaches, and the sunflowers are getting ready to bloom!
This month we have plenty of fireworks, festivals, and outdoor movies! Down below we’re sharing what we think are some of the best events in Raleigh for July.
Please tell us in the comments at the bottom what you are doing this month in Raleigh? It’s helpful for the readers coming after you to discover more cool things to do in Raleigh and the Triangle area!
And, don’t forget to get prepared for beyond July by checking out our annual list of festivals and events in Raleigh guide.
July 4th Events in The Triangle
Instead of listing out all the events here for Independence Weekend, I have written an entire post outlining some things to do for July 4th in Raleigh. Click that link to find everything from lake chillaxing to baseball, hot dogs and fireworks.
Sunflower Fields
I cannot believe it’s been a year already! It feels like yesterday that Savannah and I were twirling around the sunflower fields in Dorothea Dix Park.
Be ready for those giant yellow orbs following the sun. Dorothtea Dix is predicting a mid-July bloom!
Here is our guide to where you can see the sunflowers in Raleigh
JULY MUSIC CONCERTS
To make it easy for you to find the cool music events happening each month, I’m creating a separate section to list them out. Leave a comment to tell me what’s missing from the list and what you’re most looking forward to:
- Train, July 1, Coastal Credit Union
- Luke Bryan, July 8, Coastal Credit Union
- One Republic July 9, Coastal Credit Union
- Whiskey Meyers, July 9, Red Hat Amphitheater
- The Chicks & Patty Griffin , July 12, Coastal Credit Union
- Big Time Rush, July 15, Red Hat Amphitheater
- Chris Brown & Lil Baby: One Of Them Ones Tour, July 15, Coastal Credit Union
- Barenaked Ladies, July 16, Red Hat Amphitheater
- Why Don’t We – The Good Times Only Tour, July 19, Red Hat Amphitheater
- Hanson, July 20, The Ritz
- Tedeschi Trucks Band, July 21, Coastal Credit Union
- Dave Matthews Band, July 22, Coastal Credit Union
- New Kids on the Block, July 22, PNC Arena
- Shawn Mendes w/ Dermot Kennedy, July 23, PNC Arena
- Andre Bird with Iron and Wine, July 25, Koka Booth
- Iration and Atmosphere, July 28 Koka Booth
- Pitbull And Iggy Azalea, July 28 , Coastal Credit Union
- Fleet Foxes, July 29, Red Hat Amphitheater
- Phish, July 29, Coastal Credit Union
- Kehlani, July 30, Red Hat Amphitheater
- Rage Against the Machine, July 31, PNC Arena
Week 1: JULY 1 – 4
We’re going to the Carowinds theme park in Charlotte for the first time early July. Follow our Instagram for that adventure.
First Friday, June 1, 2022
- Where: Downtown Raleigh (various locations)
- Website: downtownraleigh.org
Looking for events in Raleigh this weekend? First Friday is a great way to get to know the culture of downtown Raleigh.
It is celebrated on the first Friday of each month at locations throughout downtown. Art galleries and studios are open late with rotating exhibits and artist talks. First Friday is FREE and open to all.
- Sir Walter Coffee has drink specials, games on the patio and DJs for their Coffee House Sessions.
- State Of Beer hosts an artisan mini market.
- Taverna Agora has a Greek night with food, drink, songs and dancing!! Oompah!
- Designed for Joy offers tours of their studio on First Fridays where you can also shop their wonderful brand of leather handbags, jewelry and home décor in the Warehouse District.
- First Friday Night Markets is also on at Moore Square with local growers and makers plus entertainment and a free outdoor movie after sundown hosted by the City of Raleigh!
Bands, Bites, & Boats, July 1, 2022
- Where: Bond Park, Cary, 6-8pm
On the first Friday of every month, Bond Park Boathouse hosts musicians, food trucks, and after-hours boat rentals. What a great sunset experience to kick off the weekend.
- Band: Currie Clayton
- Bites: 454 Grill
- Brews: BruePrint
Week 2: July 5 – 10
This week, we’ll be cooling off at Wet & Wild in Greensboro! Follow our socials as we showcase what it’s like. Post to come.
Movies in the Garden: SING, July 7, 2022
- Where: Raleigh Little Theater, 7:30 open for an 8:30 movie start
- Website: raleighlittletheatre.org
The movie will be screened outside in the Stephenson Amphitheater. Tickets are general admission and sold at pay-what-you-can pricing.
The food truck Tacos Mama Chava will be there and you can bring your own picnic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Outdoor Films, July 8 & 9, 2022
- Where: Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park, North Carolina Museum of Art, 8:30pm
- Website: ncartmuseum.org
Enjoy two outdoor moves at the NCMA this week. July 8 will be Spider-Man: No Way Home, and July 9: Shag-Chi and the LEgend of Ten Rings. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance as they sell out quickly.
You can bring in water bottles, but no other outside food or beverage. There are snacks and beverages for purchase.
Free for members and under 6 (but do need tickets) $7 for nonmembers
Brick Universe LEGO Fan Festival, July 9-10, 2022
- Where: Raleigh Convention Center, Multiple time sessions
- Website: www.brickuniverse.com/raleigh
This two-day event is one of the largest LEGO fan events in the world. Meet professional LEGO artists from around the world showcasing their creations including mosaics, life-sized sculptures and scaled-down recreations of iconic works of art.
Try your hand at a masterpiece of your own at the Building Zone, where thousands of bricks are available to experiment with. Plus there is the “Star Wars Zone” where kids of all ages can build spaceships, as well as the Big Brick pile, with tons of LEGO Duplos for younger visitors.
Week 3: July 11- 17
We’re headed back to the Outer Banks this week for a two night stay on a campaign with Shady Rays and the Outer Banks. We’ll be horseback riding and playing in the dunes of Jockey Ridge State Park.
SouthEast Crab Feast, Jul 16, 2022
- Where: Lake Wheeler Park
- Website: southeastcrabfeast.com
The beach is coming to you this summer with the Southeast Crab Feast with a celebration of the Low Country Coastal Heritage of outdoor cooking of fresh seafood.
This event offers ALL YOU CAN EAT fresh Blue Crabs, one side of Fish & Chips, Music and a Family Friendly Environment for the entire family.
Proceeds go towards nonprofit organizations like St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society.
Movies on the Lawn, Moana: Jul 16, 2022
- Where: Dorothea Dix Park; gates open at 7pm / Movie starts at 8:30pm
- Website: dixpark.org
Moana is on the big screen this month for outdoor family movie night in Dix Park. Come dressed as your favorite superhero or princess. Some of your favorite characters have been invited and you could even win a prize for best costume!
Bring your chairs and blankets. There are food trucks, but you can bring your own food and beverage.
Dino and Dragon Stroll, July 16 & 17, 2022
- Where: Raleigh Convention Center, 10am-3pm
- Website:www.dinostroll.com
DINO & DRAGON STROLL is the only North American tour that lets you walk-thru and get up close to life-like and life-size dinosaurs AND dragons, some standing over 28 feet tall and spanning over 60 feet long. Children can participate in Story time and the Dinosaur and Dragon Craft Creations Station for various hands-on crafts
Week 4 July 18 – 24
This week, we’ll be exploring the Village District!
Park after Dark, July 20, 2022
- Where: Old Cary Library, 7-9pm
Enjoy a chilled evening with friends listening to live music from Lauren Meehan. Food and beer available. A limited selection of free, low-level lawn chairs will be available. Personal lawn chairs are allowed.
Peak City Pigfest: July 22 – 23, 2022
- Where: Downtown Apex
- Website: PeakCityPigFest.com
We visited this Downtown Apex festival last year and found a tent filled with loud music, crowded streets, beer garden and Pig Pickins and 42 cook teams competing for more than $12,000 in prize money cooking chicken, ribs, beef brisket, and pork.
Whole Hog Holler, Jul 24, 2022
- Where: Sam Jones BBQ, 4-7pm
Summer is the season for bluegrass and BBQ and Sam Jones BBQ in downtown RAleigh is ready to serve us up a dose of both.
Their Whole Hog Holler is back every fourth Sunday of the month. Grab a pint and some cue and head to the patio to enjoy live music from the Diamond Creek Bluegrass Band.
XANADU, July 22- 31, 2022
- Where: Raleigh Little Theater, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm | Saturday and Sunday at 3:00pm
- Website: https://raleighlittletheatre.org/shows/xanadu/
Who did not love this roller skating mystical love story when they were young? Totally showing my age here. It’s back! Raleigh Little Theater’s Teens on Stage and Teens Backstage program presents Xanadu!
Outdoor Films, July 23, 2022
- Where: Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park, North Carolina Museum of Art, 8:30pm
- Website: ncartmuseum.org
Tonight’s movie at the NCMA will be Dunes. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance as they sell out quickly.
You can bring in water bottles, but no other outside food or beverage. There are snacks and beverages for purchase.
Free for members and under 6 (but do need tickets) $7 for nonmembers
Week 5 July 25- 31
Galaxy Con, Raleigh, July 28-31, 2022
- Where: Raleigh Convention Center
- Website: GalaxyCon.com
Where are the fandoms from across the galaxies? Do you love pop culture, gaming, fantasy, comic books and more? You will want to devote four days this year at GalaxyCon Raleigh to celebrate your other-Universe adventures.
At one of the biggest events in Raleigh, you’ll be joined by celebrities, artists, writers, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, creators, wrestlers, fan groups, panelists, and other fans dressed in their best costumes.
Pride Night and Pride Festival, July 29, 2022
- Where: Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park
- Website: https://www.nccourage.com/news/pride-night-and-food-truck-rodeo-on-saturday-june-17/
Postponed from June 17, Pride Night and the Pride Festival will now be hosted when the Courage takes on the Washington Spirit.
The Pride Festival, created in partnership with Harmony: NC LGBT+ Allied Chamber of Commerce and the LGBT Center of Raleigh, will also take place on from 5–7 p.m. Admission is free and will feature entertainment, food and beverage trucks, and exhibitors from the LGBTQIA+ community. And be sure to stick around after the final whistle for post-match fireworks
Outdoor Films, July 30 2022
- Where: Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park, North Carolina Museum of Art, 8:30pm
- Website: ncartmuseum.org
Tonight the movie will be Judas and the Black Messiah. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance as they sell out quickly.
You can bring in water bottles, but no other outside food or beverage. There are snacks and beverages for purchase.
Free for members and under 6 (but do need tickets) $7 for nonmembers
Camp out, Durham Bulls, Jul 30, 2022
- Where: Durham Bulls AThletic Park, 6:35pm
- Website: www.milb.com/durham/
Ready for a unique and fun camp out experience in the Triangle? The Durham Bulls has a special Camp Out package this month. For just $30, you’ll get a terrace view seat for the game and fireworks, get to camp at the ballpark after with s’mores, and enjoy a breakfast in the morning.
