Every month we send out a newsletter that includes the best of the best upcoming events. If you sign up for our E-magazine, you'll get those, plus all the best new content (our favorite brunch spots, for example, or the details on a hidden kayaking gem just outside of Raleigh).
Hello, summer! June is an incredible time to visit the Raleigh area, with tons of opportunities to do, see and explore more in the City of Oaks than ever. Our best advice? Use these long days and warm weather to the fullest by getting outdoors and staying active!
UNC Health Championship
May 30-June 2
Part of the Korn Ferry Tour—the playing field where future golf stars compete to earn their PGA Tour cards—the inaugural UNC Health Championship presented by STITCH will tee off at the Raleigh Country Club. Tickets can be purchased here.
Raleigh's International Food Festival
June 1
Celebrate Raleigh's diverse community and welcoming spirit by trying food, beer and wine (plus listen to live music and see more entertainment) from around the world. Nearly 20,000 attendees are expected in downtown Raleigh's City Plaza for the event.
NCAA Division II Baseball Championship
June 1-8
In Cary, the USA Baseball National Training Complex—hosting the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship for the 14th time—will be home to a week of action on the diamond as eight teams compete in the double-elimination tournament to claim the ultimate prize. Tickets for the event are available here.
June 5-10
A sold-out phenomenon in 2023, The Soccer Tournament—a 7 on 7, winner-take-all tournament at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary that gives $1 million to the winning squad—is back, bigger and better this summer. The 118-match event will include a women's tournament this year, too, meaning a total of $2 million prizes will be up for grabs, and some of the sports' biggest stars from teams around the world are expected to compete.
Note: Very limited tickets are remaining!
Raleigh Little Theater presents Kinky Boots
June 7-23
Featuring a joyous score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein, this six-time Tony Award-winning musical extravaganza reminds audiences that if you change your mind, you can change your whole world.
Bubbles & Brisket
June 8
This fourth annual event, presented by the NC F&B Podcast, is a collaboration of chefs, pitmasters, winemakers and brewers pairing sparkling bubbles with a variety of cooking techniques and side dishes that feature everyone's favorite—brisket—from 10 Tar Heel State 'cue masters. Taking place at Smoky Hollow.
Run for Love 5k + Dance for Love Day Party
June 8
This annual 5k race at Dorothea Dix Park is presented by local running store Runologie, benefitting the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Music, a drag show, popsicles, sweet finisher medals and an after-party at Trophy Brewery + Taproom? Count us in!
June 9
Hosted in downtown Raleigh by the beloved A Place At The Table, this third annual pay-what-you-can food truck rodeo will feature a dozen local favorite food vendors and deliver big on community fun.
Friday Night on White
June 14
A favorite summertime event in charming downtown Wake Forest, Friday Night on White invites visitors to bring blankets, lawn chairs and their best dance moves out to White St. (the main avenue where White Street Brewing Company, Shorty's Famous Hot Dogs, Bodega and other favorites await).
Bounce! Party Band will take to the main stage from 6-9pm, and food trucks and a beer tent will keep event goers plenty happy.
Exhibit: To Take Shape and Meaning at the North Carolina Museum of Art
Through July 28
Featuring works from 75 Indigenous artists from more than 50 tribes across the U.S., To Take Shape and Meaning: Form and Design in Contemporary American Indian Art brings together a wide range of Indigenous world views, ideas, experiences and traditions. More than 90 works of art are on display, including jewelry, cars, ceramics, weaving, fashion ensembles and more.
Note that this is a ticketed exhibit, but June 8 will be a community day that is free and open to the public.
Summer concert season is officially here (and it's a BIG one!). A taste of what's to come this summer in the City of Oaks:
At PNC Arena:
At Red Hat Amphitheater:
- John Fogerty, June 5
- Brothers Osborne, June 8
- Bryson Tiller, June 9
- Khruangbin, June 11
- Chappell Roan, June 12
- Gary Clark Jr., June 13
- Dwight Yoakam, June 14
- Goose, June 18
- Cody Jinks, June 21
- Bailey Zimmerman, June 28
At Koka Booth Amphitheatre:
- Summerfest: Light Classics, June 7
- Steep Canyon Rangers, June 8
- Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, June 11
- Little Feat, June 13
- The Legendary Wailers, June 14
- Summerfest: Classical Favorites, June 15
- Summerfest: Swan Lake, June 21
- Summerfest: Cirque Under The Stars, June 22
- Summerfest: The Music Of The Rolling Stones, June 29
- Summerfest: Harry Potter Vs. Star Wars, June 24
At Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek:
At the North Carolina Museum of Art:
As part of the North Hills Beach Music Series at Midtown Park:
At Five County Stadium in Zebulon—where the Carolina Mudcats have been a staple for more than 30 years—the 2024 Minor League Baseball season is now well underway. Be on the lookout for Taco Tuesdays, Dog Day Wednesdays, Three Dollar Thursdays, Friday Night Fireworks and more promotions all season long!
This month the Mudcats home schedule breaks down like this:
June 15
This free-admission event brings thousands of retro and modern video games, consoles and other geek merchandise (comics, Pokemon, vintage toys and more) to downtown Raleigh's Moore Square for a day of shopping, music, food trucks, cosplay and other family-friendly activities.
June 15
Sip, shop, dine and groove at the N.C. Hops Festival at Midtown Park in North Hills. More than 100 local beers, ciders and seltzers will be on hand to sample, and live music, local makers and food trucks will help round out an event worthy of raising a glass to.
June 15
The fourth annual Capital City Juneteenth Celebration returns to Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Park this month, with an afternoon of speakers, live music, family activities and food on hand for a sunny celebration.
More Juneteenth events in the Raleigh area:
- Morrisville Juneteenth Celebration, June 8
- Juneteenth Jubilee at Chavis Park, June 10-July 1
- Juneteenth Movie at North Carolina Museum of History, June 13
- Wake Forest Juneteenth Celebration, June 14-15
- Juneteenth Joy Concert at North Carolina Museum of Art, June 14
- Cary Juneteenth Celebration, June 15
- Double Dutch Fest, June 15
- Juneteenth Joy Outdoor Movie (The Color Purple) at North Carolina Museum of Art, June 15
- Knightdale African American Festival, June 15
- Apex Juneteenth Festival, June 15
- Garner Juneteenth, June 15
- Juneteenth Variety Show at Ruby Deluxe, June 19
- Juneteenth Music at the North Carolina Museum of History, June 21
- Juneteenth Legends Gala at CAM Raleigh, June 22
Exhibition: Amazing Pollinators
June 15-Sept. 29
This upcoming exhibition at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences dives into what makes pollinators—bats, bees, beetles, butterflies and more—so vital to life on Earth (and challenges both adults and young children to take on a series of playable games and mazes in the ultimate survival quest).
Note: The museum also recently opened an incredible new permanent exhibit—read about the Dueling Dinosaurs here!
June 21-22
The ultimate family fun weekend, featuring food trucks, kettle corn, candy, live music, an outdoor movie, a farmers market and all the fresh peaches you can handle.
June 22
The 12th annual Out! Raleigh Pride festival—one of the state's largest Pride gatherings—takes place on June 22 in downtown Raleigh. Drawing more than 50,000 attendees in recent years, it's an all-day, family-friend affair that has a bit of everything from 11am to 7pm on Fayetteville St. in the center of the city: two stages of live music and dancing, local food and shopping vendors, a beer garden, photo booths, kids' activities and more.
More Pride Month events this month in the Raleigh area:
- DEI Panel with The Diversity Movement, June 4 at Junction West
- Pop Fitness Dance Class, June 6 and June 20 at Poyner YMCA
- First Friday: Adult Drag Story Hour, June 7 at City of Raleigh Museum
- Morrisville Music in the Park Celebrates Pride!, June 7 at Morrisville Town Hall
- Run for Love 5k + Dance for Love Day Party, June 8 at Dix Park and Trophy Maywood
- 2024 Annual Apex Pride Festival, June 8 at Apex Town Hall
- Pride Market + Drag Show, June 8 at Hartwell Raleigh
- Geek and Grub Market: Love & Rainbow Edition, June 8 at Fred Fletcher Park
- The Arena Round 3: Lip Sync Drag Battle Competition, June 8 at KINGS
- Queer Fashion Showcase, June 13 at Junction West
- Parlor Pride, June 15 at Heights House Hotel
- Dragaganza, June 15 at Ruby Deluxe
- GAG Tea Dance, June 16 at Johnston Street Yacht Club
- Birdsong Poetry Open Mic, June 21 at Blackbird Books and Coffee
- Girls Room Pride, June 21 at Junction West
- GAG! Queen with Jaida Essence Hall & Dawn, June 22 at The Ritz
- Legendary GAG! Afterparty with Jaida Essence Hall and Jorgeous, June 22 at Legends Nightclub
- Amateur Burlesque All-Stars (Pride Edition), June 22 at Ruby Deluxe
- Pride Cary Night Market, June 22 at Downtown Cary Park
- The PrideWorx Show, June 22 at ComedyWorx
- #ForTheLove: NC Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars, June 23 at WakeMed Soccer Park
- LGBTQIA+ in Sports, June 27 at Maywood Hall + Garden
- Mirage at 440, June 29 at 440 Nightclub
- Pride in the Park, June 30 at Downtown Cary Park
The Soul Picnic
June 22
A celebration of culture, community and unmatched vibes—paying homage to the vibrant soul of the Tar Heel State and beyond—at Raleigh's Dorothea Dix Park, featuring a lineup of special guest DJs, live music, food trucks and other local vendors.
BrickUniverse Raleigh: LEGO® Fan Expo
June 29-30
Delve into the boundless possibilities of LEGO® bricks as you explore mesmerizing exhibits and artworks crafted by professional artists (plus unleash your inner artist in the community building zones) at the Raleigh Convention Center.
A star-studded lineup of performers will take to the stage in Raleigh this month!
At Raleigh Improv:
At Goodnights Comedy Club:
A new way to travel—discover a curated collection of tours, hands-on workshops and experiences led by local experts in the Raleigh area (the June calendar is filled with new events!).
- Beer and Cider Stroll, June 6
- First Friday Art Walk, June 7
- Garden Tour & Floral Arrangement Workshop, June 8
- Herbal Tea Workshop, June 11
- Guided Dinner and Wine Pairing with Local Chefs, June 13
- Watercolors and Brews Workshop, June 13
- Poetry and Music Showcase at CAM Raleigh, June 14
- Tapestry Weaving Workshop, June 18
- Guided Mezcal Tasting, June 20
- Beer and Cider Stroll, June 20
- Floral Arrangement Workshop, June 20
- Letterpress Card Making Workshop, June 21
- Honey Tasting & Hive Tour, June 22
- Crochet Workshop and Dessert Sampling, June 27
- Watercolor and Brews Workshop, June 27
- Downtown Wendell Treasure Hunt, June 30
Header photo by Garrett Poulos
