Things to know before visiting the Red Hat Amphitheater

If you’ve ever walked around downtown Raleigh on a summer’s eve and heard the roars of a crowd or seen strobe lights fill the air, chances are you’re in proximity of the Red Hat Amphitheater. 

This popular outdoor music venue in Raleigh is known for its incredible sound system, sprawling lawns, and electrifying atmosphere.

It’s where some of the biggest names come to perform, from the Goo Goo Dolls to Stone Temple Pilots and Chapell Roan, and hosts a variety of festivals and events throughout the summer season.

Red Hat is our favorite outdoor music venue in Raleigh for its open-air vibe, ability to walk around during the concert, hang around up the back near the bars (and still have a great view), the friendly and fun atmosphere, and gorgeous views, especially during sunset and the shimmer walls.

It’s also totally unique when a train comes through behind it tooting its horn. It feels like it has more of a festival vibe than a concert one. We love that it’s immersed in the heart of the city if Raleigh, offering you fantastic opportunities for pre-and-post-show dinner and drinks.

It’s also an easy walk from several downtown Raleigh hotels if you are visiting for a concert. Plus, unlike other Raleigh concert venues, there are multiple roads in and out of downtown, so traffic isn’t as big as a problem as the other arenas.

If you’ve never been to the Red Hat Amphitheater before and are not sure what you can and can’t bring, what to wear, where to eat or drink before a show, or even where to stay – this guide is for you. This is everything you need to know about visiting the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh. It’s an open-air musical institute not to miss!

About the Red Hat Amphitheater

The Red Hat Amphitheatre is another important music venue in the Performing Arts Complex in downtown Raleigh, owned and operated by the City of Raleigh. It sits adjacent to the Raleigh Convention Center and is a short walk to the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, which are also run by the same division of the City of Raleigh.

The amphitheater is an outdoor venue, which means it only puts on performances from April through to October due to weather conditions. All acts are booked by Live Nation.

It has a seating capacity of 5,990 people, with 1,800 fixed seats and 2,700 movable seats, plus a lawn space for an additional 1,000 people. 

It has hosted many globally recognizable acts over the years, including the Arctic Monkeys, the Smashing Pumpkins, Weird Al, The Black Keys, and many more. We have seen LIVE, Stone Temple Pilots, and the IBMA Bluegrass concert here.

Red Hat arena was constructed in June 2010 and was originally called the Raleigh Amphitheater. It changed its name to Red Hat after signing a deal in 2012 with Red Hat Software, Inc.

Relocation of the Red Hat Amphitheater

Thia amphitheater was built temporarily on the spot it currently occupies in downtown Raleigh, which was intended to be the spot for future expansion of the Convention Center. 

The expansion has now been funded and so the amphitheater will relocate and will open in its new location in 2026. Until then, the amphitheater will continue to host concerts until the end of the 2025 season, so there shouldn’t be any disruptions to performances this year.

Don’t worry though, the venue will only move one block away from its current location on 500 South McDowell St to 205 West Lenoir St.

Things to know before you go

If you’ve never been to the Red Hat Amphitheater, there are a couple of things you should know before you go:

• Performances happen rain or shine. Be prepared for rain and check the forecast before you go. And pack a poncho! Concerts will get delayed, postponed, or cancelled however if there are thunderstorms (this is rare though!) . Our LIVE and Stone Temple Pilots concert was postponed due to raging thunderstorms. After delays for two hours, they finally decided to postpone it to the following night. Lucky that had an empty space on the calendar, as did we so could still go!
• You can rent lawn chairs in advance and on-site. Click here to rent lawn chairs in advance through Live Nation.
• Children aged 2 and under can attend events for free.
• There is a “pit section” which is standing only. If you want to sit down, make sure you don’t pick “general admission” when choosing tickets as this will be for the standing section.
• You cannot re-enter. Once you leave the venue, that’s it!
• You can buy Fast Lane tickets and enter Gate 1 if you don’t want to queue.
• You cannot camp overnight, even if you are a die-hard fan, you will have to line up the day of the show.
  • For the Chappel Road concert, my daughter went down early (like 7am) the morning of the concert, to get a line admission ticket. This determined her position in the line for when the gates opened. I liked this system as it meant no one had to line up all day. I’m not sure if they do this for every concert but it’s worth investigating. (This is obviously for pit tickets, as the other tickets are reserved seating.) Note the Pit is not a huge area, so technically, you could mosh your way through to the front. But is that concert etiquette? You decide!
• There’s a smoking section outside Gate 4, otherwise the rest of the venue is no smoking.
• It’s a cashless venue and only accepts credit and debit cards or mobile pay.
• If there is space, you can upgrade your ticket when you enter the event. We were able to do this for the LIVE concert. We just jumped online, chose the seat we wanted and upgraded from the lawn. (It was a cheap upgrade) When you enter the gates, they usually have a sign telling you if this is an option. Be sure to ask in case!
• The open-air space is what makes this venue so epic. The downside of that is that there is no shade – so you can definitely bake in the height of summer. So don’t forget your hats, sunglasses, and mineral sunscreen.

Subscribe to our email list so you don’t miss all our event updates, we also have an event calendar, and a weekly events guide sharing all the upcoming concerts at Walnut creek Amphitheater. Click here for upcoming concerts and tickets at Red Hat Amphitheater.

Food and Drink at Red Hat

We recommend you eat before the concert as you’re surrounded by great restaurants in downtown Raleigh. Red Hat does have some limited options which concessions such as nachos, hot dogs, BBQ sandwich and snacks at fairly decent prices.

There is also an on-site food truck with burgers, fries, mozzarella sticks and more. I had a really yummy Cobb salad from here which, at $13, I didn’t find too bad a price for a venue.

There are a couple of bars lining the arena with a variety of beer, wine, and cocktails for sale. Our favorite is Crank Arm Brewing. The alcohol inside is expensive venue prices so drink up before you visit and go easy on the beer.

Red Hat Ice Skating Rink

Fun at Red Hat does not have to stop at the end of October. From the Raleigh Christmas Parade to the end of January, Red Hat transforms to a city ice skating rink complete with igloos, music, bars, and pop-up markets. With those beautiful shimmer wall views it’s a beloved magical holiday experience that Raleigh residents love!

Discover more Christmas experiences in Raleigh not to miss.

Bag policy

All bags are subject to searches upon entering the venue, and there may be additional levels of screening subject to artist or management discretion.

Due to the fact that these are Live Nation events, the bag policy is a little different from other music venues in Raleigh.

You may only bring clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC tote bags that are no larger than 12″x6″x12” in size or a small clutch measuring less than 6″x 9″.

If your bag is deemed unsuitable, you will either need to put it in your car or check it into the baggage storage at guest services by Gate 2, which costs $10 for a clear bag to put your belongings into – so it’s best to bring the right bag to avoid having to pay for this.

At many Raleigh events I go to, people will stop and ask me where I got my clear bag! You guys, clear bags are essential these days if you attend a lot of events. I have the following:

• Clear cross body purse
• Clear purse with gold chain (taking clear bags to a new fancy level)
• Clear bag backpack

What you can NOT bring

The following items are prohibited:

• Aerosol sunscreen or bug spray 
• Alcohol
• Audio or video recording equipment e.g. GoPros
• Baby strollers
• Coolers
• Drugs
• Fireworks
• Full face paint
• Glass bottles or cans
• Glow sticks
• Hula hoops
• Outside food or beverages – except for one factory-sealed bottle of water no more than a gallon in size
• Personal lawn chairs 
• Posters or signs
• Professional cameras aka any with detachable lenses
• Selfie sticks
• Skateboards or in-line skates
• Smoking paraphernalia including vapes
• Umbrellas
• Weapons of any kind

What you CAN bring

But the following items are OK:

• Non-aerosol sunscreen
• One factory-sealed water bottle up to one gallon
• Portable cell phone charger stick
• Poster tubes
• Raincoat / Poncho
• Seat cushions (without metal)
• Small blankets
• Small handheld portable fan / neck fan

Where is the Red Hat Amphitheater?

The Red Hat Amphitheater is located at 500 South McDowell Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 in downtown Raleigh. Drive times to the Red Hat Amphitheater from nearby towns:

• From Cary to Red Hat Amphitheater: 11.5 miles (15 minutes drive)
• From Apex to Red Hat Amphitheater: 14.7 miles (17 minutes drive)
• From Wake Forest to Red Hat Amphitheater: 19 miles (20 minutes drive)
• From Durham to Red Hat Amphitheater: 28.5 miles (30 minutes drive)

Where to park for the Red Hat Amphitheater?

There are several parking decks near the Red Hat Amphitheater, the closest ones are on Lenoir Street between Salisbury and McDowell Street, South Street between Salisbury and McDowell Street, and Cabarrus Street between McDowell and Dawson Street.

Accessible parking can be found on the first level of each garage, and they are owned and operated by McLaurin Parking, not the Red Hat.

There is a drop-off and pick-up zone by the Red Hat Amphitheater Box Office, near the intersection of Cabarrus and McDowell Streets. This is also accessible. No waiting, this is a strictly no-parking zone.

Here is our guide to parking in Downtown Raleigh.

Where to eat and drink nearby

The Red Hat Amphitheater is part of the Sip N’ Stroll Downtown Social District, which means you can purchase drinks from a venue and wander around designated areas without being confined to a venue.

However, outside drinks are not allowed in the venue. You can buy drinks in the Red Hat and leave with them, but not the other way around. Here are some popular restaurants and bars near the Red Hat for a pre-gig meal or drink (and post-gig drink!)

Crank Arm Brewing

Located in the Warehouse District just a short, two-block walk to the amphitheater is our favorite spot for a pre-concert drink is Crank Arm Brewery.

They have some of the best craft brews in the city, and also offer ciders, seltzers, cocktails, wine and liquor. It’s a friendly community brewery that has a nice outdoor seating area, plenty of room inside, and even games if you want to play. Read more about Crank Arm Brewing

The Pit Authentic Barbecue

Pit Authentic Barbecue is one of the best places to get BBQ in Raleigh, serving authentic Eastern NC-style, pit-smoked pork dishes in its converted 1930 meatpacking warehouse. 

It’s one of the most famous restaurants in Raleigh because it won a rib challenge on Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay” and was featured on “Man v Food.” 

We’re confident nothing will fill you up more for a concert than their Big Boy burger. It’s an 8-minute walk from the Red Hat Amphitheater via S Dawson Street.

The Berkeley Cafe

Another favorite for a pre-concert meal and drink, and only one block from Red Hat is the iconic hole-in-the-wall Berkeley Cafe. We popped in here after our Stone Temple Pilots concert for a drink with new friends we made at the concert!

They have cheap, delicious eats – most loved is the Reuben sandwich, burgers, and I had a great chicken cobb salad. They also have live music here so you might get lucky with a double bill!

Element Gastropub

For vegan cuisine, head to Element Gastropub, which serves only plant-based dishes. It offers Southern comfort food with a plant-based twist, such as fried “chicken”, burgers, and sandwiches. It’s ideal for light bites and quick meals before a gig at the Red Hat.

It’s a 9-minute walk from Element Gastropub to the Red Hat via Fayetteville St and W Lenoir Streets.

Whiskey Kitchen

If you’re looking for somewhere that serves craft cocktails, quick and simple meals, and is less than a 10-minute walk from the Red Hat Amphitheater, look no further than Whiskey Kitchen.

Famous for its extensive whiskey selection (more than 300 of them) and tasty Southern American food, this is the perfect bar-restaurant combo. 

We love the outdoor seating area and the comfy couches in the indoor seating area. And their Smoked NC pork chop is one of the best dishes I’ve had in Raleigh. We ate it after our LIVE and Stone Temple Pilots concert was canceled!

Morgan Street Food Hall

If you’re with a group and everyone has different tastes when it comes to food and drink, then a 15-minute walk away is the Morgan Street Food Hall, a popular food venue with 21 food vendors, axe throwing, and a communal seating area.

Everyone in your group can order different cuisines from different vendors, and all sit together in either its indoor or outdoor seating area.

Boxcar Bar + Arcade

Another popular place for quick and easy bar food is Boxcar Bar + Arcade, which has American fast food such as burgers, chicken wings, and hot dogs. If you have time, you can challenge your friends to a classic arcade game before or after a gig.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

Another popular place to drink just a 15-minute walk from the Red Hat is the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, a taproom with more than 200 global beers on offer. 

It has a tavern-like decor and offers hearty pub fare. It would make a nice date night venue before a show or a late-night beer after a weekend show (closes at 2:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays).

Where to stay nearby

The Casso, Raleigh, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

The CASSO Hotel is a fantastic 3-star hotel in downtown that’s a bit more of a walk than the other two hotels (15 minutes), but it has a convenient location near Glenwood Avenue which is popular for nightlife, so you could easily do some bar hopping after a show. It has a modern and stylish decor with a local theme, an onsite restaurant, and a bar serving craft cocktails – perfect for a pre-gig drink. Read our full review of the Casso Hotel.

Sheraton Raleigh Hotel

The Sheraton is another luxury hotel in downtown within walking distance of the Red Hat Amphitheater. We think it has a wonderful buffet breakfast, and we personally found the staff to be really friendly and welcoming. The rooms are comfortable, but smaller than the Raleigh Marriott City Center. Read our full review of the Sheraton Raleigh.

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 Red Hat Amphitheater, 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.

Raleigh Marriott City Center

Our favorite hotel in downtown is the Marriott Raleigh City Center, which is a 2-minute walk from Red Hat Amphitheater and within easy reach of the major thoroughfare, Fayetteville Street. 

It has an onsite restaurant that serves Southern cuisine, as well as an indoor pool, a fitness center, and parking. Rooms are spacious and feature contemporary furnishings.

Read more: Check out these Best Downtown Raleigh Hotels (Business or Leisure)

You can use the following map to find more Raleigh hotels as well as vacation rentals. And if traveling with a furry friend, you may want to check this list of pet-friendly hotels in Raleigh.

FAQs about visiting Red Hat Amphitheater

Is the Red Hat Amphitheater accessible?

Yes, Red Hat Amphitheater is accessible but those with mobility issues should select “wheelchair accessible” when booking tickets as there is a limited number of wheelchair-friendly seating. There are wheelchair-friendly parking spaces on the first level of the parking lot, and all restrooms and entrances have a ramp.

What is the dress code for the Red Hat Amphitheater?

There is no dress code for the Red Hat Amphitheater, but they recommend smart casual or business attire. Be sure to bring sun protection items and a poncho if rain is in the forecast. I don’t recommend you wear heels to the Red Hat Amphitheater, especially if you have a standing ticket, as it will tire your feet out!

Can you start a mosh pit at the Red Hat Amphitheater?

Although heavy metal bands do play at the Red Hat Amphitheater, moshing and crowd surfing are prohibited in the venue.

Can you refill water bottles at the Red Hat Amphitheater?

Yes, there are water filling stations outside the restrooms by Section 1 at the Red Hat Amphitheater.

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