Best Things to Do in Raleigh this Weekend + (Sept 21 – Sept 27, 2026)

Who’s excited? The Stanley Cup champions Carolina Huurricanes kick off their pre-season this week. I doubt we’ll see $10 tickets for that anymore!! Oktoberfest events are happening, the region’s pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and fall farms are mostly all opened, and Halloween events are preparing! And Fall officially starts this week! This may be a good weekend to head down to Benson to discover one of North Carolina’s biggest and most unique festivals!

P.S. Please share this post with your Raleigh friends to help them plan their weekly fun as well! Sign up for our email newsletter here as well.

What’s happening this week in Raleigh

Looking for fun things to do in Raleigh this weekend? This weekly update, hand crafted by us, will help you plan for memorable moments with your friends, family, or even just by yourself. We do our best to check the information for each event is current. But please do your due diligence before visiting each event to check it’s not sold out, been cancelled, details changed, and of course, always check current prices.

We update this post every Monday to share the weekly events in Raleigh this weekend. We try to cover a wide range of interests and will include suggestions on things to do that aren’t event based, like visiting a museum, or taking a hike.

Skip to What’s Happening today in Raleigh

It’s possible you landed here on a Friday or Saturday, and so what happened on Monday is of no concern to you! if you just want to know what is happening today in Raleigh, then click the links below to jump down to the today in Raleigh you are most interested in!

• Today in Raleigh on a Monday
• Today in Raleigh Tuesday
• Today in Raleigh on a Wednesday
• Today in Raleigh Thursday
• Today in Raleigh on a Friday
• Today in Raleigh on Saturday
• Today in Raleigh on Sunday

Monday Sept 21, 2026

• Democracy Unfiltered is a non-partisan voter education series happening at Raleigh Brewing engaging, interactive discussions focused on helping attendees better understand. Free pizza until runs out. 6pm – 8pm

Tuesday Sept 22, 2026

• North Hills Kids – Autumn Adventures Ft. Keta & Dezi Play Co at The Commons. Each week features a unique theme with fun, hands-on activities—like arts and crafts, storytimes, sensory play, music, open play, and more! 9:30am – 11am
• Woodhouse Spa’s Hydrafacial Event ($50 off a hydrafacial + 20% off retail products)
• Buena Vista Social Club (Touring), DPAC
• Carolina Hurricanes vs Florida Panthers (Preseason)
• Shaboozey – Outlaws Never Die Tour, Red Hat Amphitheater
• GoldFord – Space of the Heart Tour, The Ritz

Wednesday, Sept 23, 2026

• Buena Vista Social Club (Touring), DPAC
• Wellness Wednesdays – Dose Yoga at Midtown Park, North Hills 6pm -,7pm
• Woodhouse Spa’s Hydrafacial Event ($50 off a hydrafacial + 20% off retail products)
• Taste Of Chaos, The Ritz

Thursday, Sept 24, 2026

• Woodhouse Spa’s Hydrafacial Event ($50 off a hydrafacial + 20% off retail products)
• Jazz in the Square with  Turnabout Players Moore Square 6pm -8pm FREE
• Benson Mule Days in Downtown Benson is one of North Carolina’s biggest and most unique festival. Expect Rodeos, mule competitions, arts and crafts, food vendors, dances, carnival rides, camping, parades, Bluegrass shows, and musical concerts. FREE 3pm – 11pm
• Buena Vista Social Club (Touring), DPAC
• ZZ Top w/ Dwight Yoakam, Koka Booth Amphitheater
• Drivin N Cryin, Bowstring Pizza & Brewyard
• Candlelight: Neo-Soul Favorites ft. Songs by Prince, Childish Gambino, & More, The Rialto
• Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA The Rialto

Friday Sept 25, 2026

• Juniper Level Botanic Gardens is back with their Fall open day! Enjoy strolling the 28-acre campus showcasing more than 27,000 different kinds of native perennials, exotic plants, rare delights and unusual specimens of trees and shrubs not found many (or any) other places on earth.  Read more about Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Raleigh N.C. 8am – 5pm Free but $5 parking fee.
• Pop Up Music – Bella G North Hills Commons 6pm – 9pm
• Oakwood Cemetery Series: Burning Coal Theater Company: From the Ground Up, written and directed by Robert Kaufman, introduces audiences to the men and women who laid the groundwork for Raleigh’s vibrant arts scene that we know today! 6:30pm $10 – $20
• Explore Raleigh’s haunted history on a plush Rydable ghost tour with cocktails. Sip hand-crafted drinks, visit local bars, and hear eerie legends while gliding through spooky streets — a thrilling, unforgettable adventure. 5pm & 7pm
• Benson Mule Days in Downtown Benson is one of North Carolina’s biggest and most unique festival. Expect Rodeos, mule competitions, arts and crafts, food vendors, dances, carnival rides, camping, parades, Bluegrass shows, and musical concerts. Saturday’s Mule Day parade is a highlight. FREE 9am – 12am
• Buena Vista Social Club (Touring), DPAC
• R&B Rewind Millennial Edition, Martin Marietta Center
• North Carolina Symphony – Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Martin Marietta Center
• W.A.S.P. -1984 TO HEADLESS, The Ritz

Saturday, Sept 26, 2026

• Benson Mule Days in Downtown Benson is one of North Carolina’s biggest and most unique festival. Today is the big parade. Also enjoy rodeos, mule competitions, arts and crafts, food vendors, dances, carnival rides, camping, parades, Bluegrass shows, and musical concerts. . FREE 9am – 11pm
• Juniper Level Botanic Gardens is back with their Fall open day! Enjoy strolling the 28-acre campus showcasing more than 27,000 different kinds of native perennials, exotic plants, rare delights and unusual specimens of trees and shrubs not found many (or any) other places on earth.  Read more about Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Raleigh N.C. 8am – 5pm Free but $5 parking fee.
• Raleigh Tamale Festival in Moore Square There’ll be a competition for the best tamale in Raleigh, as well as performances, activities and food trucks. 11am – 2pm Free
• Gizmo Brew Works Oktoberfest heavy on the live music as well as festive beer, contests, good food, music, and a beer garden that’ll be fully ready for steins, pretzels, and “just one more Märzen.” 12pm – 9pm FREE
• American Dance Festival: Made in NC (Encore Performance),, Downtown Cary Park, A captivating outdoor evening of modern dance featuring four distinct, short performances commissioned by the American Dance Festival. This FREE 7:30pm – 9pm
• Oakwood Cemetery Series: Burning Coal Theater Company: From the Ground Up, written and directed by Robert Kaufman, introduces audiences to the men and women who laid the groundwork for Raleigh’s vibrant arts scene that we know today! 6:30pm $10 – $20
• Explore Raleigh’s haunted history on a plush Rydable ghost tour with cocktails. Sip hand-crafted drinks, visit local bars, and hear eerie legends while gliding through spooky streets — a thrilling, unforgettable adventure. 5pm & 7pm
• Holly Springs Pride Festival From live music and storytelling to local vendors, food trucks, games, and interactive activities for all ages, the festival is a vibrant reflection of the diverse voices that make Holly Springs shine. 3pm – 6pm FREE
• Buena Vista Social Club (Touring), DPAC
• Becky Robinson – The Beasts in Me Tour, Martin Marietta Center
• Nateland Live: A Good Clean Comedy Tour, Martin Marietta Center
• Gov’t Mule and Ziggy Marley, Red Hat Amphitheater
• LIL WAYNE: 20 YEARS OF CARTER CLASSICS, Coastal Credit Union Music Park
• North Carolina State Wolfpack Football vs. Appalachian State Mountaineers Football, Carter Finley Stadium

Sunday, Sept 27, 2026

• Benson Mule Days in Downtown Benson is one of North Carolina’s biggest and most unique festival. Expect Rodeos, mule competitions, arts and crafts, food vendors, dances, carnival rides, camping, parades, Bluegrass shows, and musical concerts. FREE 8amm – 5pm
• Juniper Level Botanic Gardens is back with their Fall open day! Enjoy strolling the 28-acre campus showcasing more than 27,000 different kinds of native perennials, exotic plants, rare delights and unusual specimens of trees and shrubs not found many (or any) other places on earth.  Read more about Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Raleigh N.C. 1pm – 5pm Free but $5 parking fee.
• NC Oktoberfest “Prost Y’all” A community celebration and lively German-inspired street festival featuring craft beer from across North Carolina, local food trucks, vendors, and live music. Fayetteville St 1pm-8pm Free + drink tickets
• Buena Vista Social Club (Touring), DPAC
• Oakwood Cemetery Series: Burning Coal Theater Company: From the Ground Up, written and directed by Robert Kaufman, introduces audiences to the men and women who laid the groundwork for Raleigh’s vibrant arts scene that we know today! 2pm $10 – $20
• Pop Up Music – Savanna Bassett North Hills Midtown Park 2pm – 5pm
• Explore Raleigh’s haunted history on a plush Rydable ghost tour with cocktails. Sip hand-crafted drinks, visit local bars, and hear eerie legends while gliding through spooky streets — a thrilling, unforgettable adventure. 5pm & 7pm
• Rise Against: Ricochet 2026, Red Hat Amphitheater
• Suki Waterhouse: The Loveland Tour, The Ritz

BEST OF FALL: It is the season for FUN! Our guides will help you plan an epic Fall season in Raleigh: BEST Raleigh Fall Festivals & Events (2026 Guide), Things to Do in Raleigh in the Fall (See, Eat, Explore, Play), Guide to The NC State Fair (2026, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and fall farms, Halloween events, How To Enjoy Fall Season In North Hills, Raleigh in 2026, Sip Into Raleigh’s Must-Try Fall Drinks for 2026,

Plan in Advance

Here we like to share things events coming soon in Raleigh to help you book a ticket before they sell out. Or to make sure you get it in your calendar.

• Sept 27 – Oct 29 Curtain Call From Beyond: Theatre Haunts & History Tours
• Oct 9 & 10: Serial Killer Speakeasy: Jack the Ripper 
• Oct 11: 38th Annual Thad & Alice Eure Walk for Hope Walk Festival
• Oct 15 – 25: NC State Fair (tickets now on sale)
• Nov 21 – Jan 11: Chinese Lantern Festival (tickets now on sale)

RALEIGH VENUE GUIDES

• A Guide to the Lenovo Center: Home of the Hurricanes, Wolfpack Basketball (men’s), Big-Name concerts and more.
• A Guide to WakeMed Soccer Park: Home to North Carolina FC and NC Courage
• Guide To Reynolds Coliseum (NC State University’s Iconic Venue: Home to Wolfpack Women’s Basketball
• Guide To Carter-Finley Stadium: Home Of NC State Football
• A Guide to Candlelight concerts in Raleigh
• The North Carolina Museum of Art guide
• A guide to the Lincoln Theatre (indoor venue)
• A guide to Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. (outdoor venue)
• A guide to Red Hat Amphitheater (outdoor venue)
• A guide to Coastal Credit Union Music Park (outdoor venue)
• A guide to the Ritz (indoor venue)

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RALEIGH TOURS TO CONSIDER

• If you like walking tours, this Rust, Rebels, & Ruins may be a hit for couples who love to get their SPOOK on. Uncover the lurking ghosts and spirits of Raleigh on a guided paranormal walking tour. Stand as close as you dare to the Heck-Andrews House and listen to chilling tales of this city’s dark history. See our review of this fun ghost tour in Raleigh.
• Oakwood and N. Blount Architecture & History Tour: Explore the historic streets of Oakwood and North Blount, featuring many of Raleigh’s most breathtaking historic homes.
• Tour the Joel Lane House Weds-Fri weekly; 10am, 11am, 12pm, and 1pm & Sat 1pm, 2pm, & 3pm. $4-$8 Explore the beginnings of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, and the United States—from the colonial era, through the Revolutionary War, into the first years of a new nation at the oldest house in Raleigh.
• Raleigh Downtown: Historic Walking Tours: This walking tour takes you between some of Raleigh’s historic downtown sites, including the Heck-Andrews House, Christ Church, Haywood Hall, and much, much more.
• Raleigh African American History Tour: The tour will take you between various historic sites created by or important to Raleigh’s African American community. Has produced educators, engineers, political leaders, medical scientists, military officers, and much more.
• Burgers, Brews & Views Bike tour in Johnston County with Triangle Adventures.
• Ghosts, Mysteries and History ebike tour along the Art to Heart trail.
• Raleigh Rydables Tour: Landmarks, Legends & Hidden Gems: Explore Raleigh’s landmarks and vibrant districts on a guided Rydable tour. Discover hidden gems, learn about the city’s history, and stop for photos at iconic landmarks.
• Trolley Pub Public Tour of Raleigh – Grab your friends and dive into Raleigh’s vibrant scene with our two-hour pedal-powered pub adventure! Bring your own drinks Fri – Sun various times.

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ENJOY THESE GARDENS FOR A STROLL

Time to soak up those colors and smells at the following Triangle gardens and parks.

• Sarah P Duke Gardens in Durham are stunning! Don’t miss the tulip garden.
• JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State
• The Raleigh Rose garden
• Here are more lovely gardens in Raleigh
• Dorothea Dix Park has lots of spots for picnics … views included.
• Juniper Level Botanic Gardens
• WRAL Azalea Gardens

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WANT TO GO FOR A HIKE?

Any day is a good day for a hike. Below are a few of our favorite trails in Raleigh. All of these are great for kids too:

• FOR LAKE VIEWS: The easy 3-mile paved loop around Lake Johnson
• FOR A FOREST IMMERSION: Loblolly Trail, Umstead State Park
• FOR UNIQUENESS: Hemlock Bluffs in Cary
• ART, NATURE & CITY: Enjoy this ultimate combo on the 6-mile one way Art to Heart bike trail
• FOR A LONGER UMSTEAD HIKE: Company Mill Trail in Umstead State Park

If these ideas don’t warm up your heart, choose one from this list of top trails in Raleigh to suit all levels and styles and here is our guide to Umstead State Park.

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RAIN IN THE FORECAST?

Don’t despair, if there is rain in the air, there’s plenty of activities in Raleigh this weekend you can do indoors:

• RALEIGH’S BEST ATTRACTION: We think the free NC Museum of Art is Raleigh’s best foot forward. If the sun peaks out head to their fantastic sculpture park for some outdoor fun!
• NC’S MOST POPULAR MUSEUM: The free North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is perfect for a rainy day for all ages. Learn more about the world we live in through fun exhibitions and interactive displays.
• FOR SPORTS LOVERS: The NC Sports Hall of Fame celebrates excellence in athletics and commemorates and memorializes exceptional accomplishments in sports. It’s located on the third floor of the NC Museum of History (currently closed for renovations). Here is a list of our favorite sports bars in Raleigh, if you want to catch a game with other sports lovers on the weekend!
• FOR KIDS: You can’t go past Marbles Kids Museum for younger kids. Defy Gravity, Urban Air, and are two fun indoor amusement zones. You also can’t go past the movies, and bowling (check out King’s in North Hills) Here’s a full list of things to do with kids in Raleigh and a list of things to do in Raleigh with teens.
• WANT MORE? Here are some of Raleigh’s best art galleries and museums and things to do in Raleigh on a rainy day.

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LOOKING FOR PLACES TO EAT IN RALEIGH THIS WEEKEND?

• BRUNCH: It’s the weekend, of course you want a long lingering brunch with peeps you love. Check out these memorable Raleigh brunch spots. Press Coffee & Crepes is our favorite!
• BREAKFAST: If you want to be more traditional, here are some of our favorite breakfast places in Raleigh.
• Looking for a date night restaurant? We love Crawford & Son, Second Empire Tavern, Peregrine, Brodeto & Figulina See more date ideas in Raleigh here.
• LUNCH: Here’s where you can find some of the best sandwiches in Raleigh. And 40+ lunch spots in Raleigh.
• MORNING COFFEES have never tasted so good at these downtown Raleigh coffee shops, coffee shops worth driving to, and laptop friendly cafes. Don’t miss our very favorite Fount Coffee & Kitchen.
• DRINKS: Want a view with that cocktail? Try these rooftop bars with a view. We love these Wine Bars in the Raleigh and Raleigh cocktail bars and here are some breweries in Raleigh.
• BURGERS: We love Burger Village on Glenwood Ave for their gourmet, exotic grass-fed burgers and organic food. More burger joints in Raleigh here.

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FEEL LIKE A DAY TRIP?

Who wouldn’t? Vacations don’t always have to involve a plane trip and overnight stay. They can be refreshing adventures just a short car ride away. If you’re looking for getaways from Raleigh this weekend, consider these:

• JOHNSTON COUNTY: At only 20-40 minutes’ drive away, you’ll find a unique cultural escape in Johnston County. It’s not all farmland fun. There are vineyards, fantastic restaurants, and classy whiskey bars. Check out our date day experience in Joco and a day in Pine Level and Princeton and a day trip from Raleigh to Selma
• SMALL CITY BREAK: Full of art, culture, food, and local experiences, Durham is always a fun day trip from Raleigh. Here are some ideas on things to do in Durham. We also have ideas on things to do in Chapel Hill. We also love the Pinehurst area! And if you’re going to Greensboro for a concert, we have ideas on other things to do.
• FOR THE KIDS: They will love learning about birds at Sylvan Heights Bird Park or sliding down waterslides at Wet & Wild or these theme parks near Raleigh
• BEACH & WATER: Enjoy this day trip to Wrightsville Beach or these other places to swim in Raleigh

And don’t miss our fun day trips from Raleigh.

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WHAT ABOUT A SUMMER GETAWAY?

It’s an incredible time to travel! Here are some ideas.

• Sun, Sand + Seclusion: 9 Top Outer Banks Beaches To Set Foot On!
• Fun Things To Do On Ocracoke Island (OBX At Its Best)
• Best beaches in North Carolina less than three hours’ drive
• Things to do at Carolina Beach
• Camping at Kerr Lake or Lake Gaston or these other places to go camping near Raleigh

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Visiting Raleigh this weekend for an Event?

If you’re visit Raleigh from out of town for any weekly 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
• Casso Hotel – for its uniquely Raleigh boutique feel and AMAZING restaurant (hidden gem!)
• Best Downtown Raleigh hotels and hotels near Lenovo Center.
• You may like these upscale hotels near Raleigh including the 5-Star Umstead Hotel & Spa.
• Check out 10 of our Airbnb rental favorites and see more Raleigh Airbnb rentals here.

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

• 24 hour itinerary guide for Raleigh
• 48-hour itinerary guide for Raleigh NC
• 2 Day sophisticated itinerary for Raleigh (great with friends)
• Getting around Raleigh

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CLOSING

There you have it, all the cool things to do in Raleigh NC this weekend. Leave us a comment below if you have any events this weekend in Raleigh we should know about? Tell us what you’re doing this weekend in Raleigh? Anything we missed or can include next week for you!