visitRaleigh insider

A 200-foot-long, 21-foot-tall dragon has invaded Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, N.C. Yes, the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival has returned to the Raleigh area for a seventh time! The festival—which only visits a handful of spots around the country each year is presented in Cary in

Festivals, parades and light displays—the Raleigh area is gearing up for the holidays this month! Shopping sprees, ballets, hockey games and more make for perfect weekend adventures, date nights and family gatherings. Have your jackets, scarves and boots ready? Let's dive in! The Power...

Fall is here! Show of hands—who's enjoying falling leaves, cooler weather, tailgating parties, museum exploring and all pumpkin everything? We've had big plans for these cooler months in Raleigh, N.C.! To keep you busy during this gorgeous time of year, we've put together this...

Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts. Menconi's latest book, "Step It Up and Go: The Story of North Carolina Popular Music, from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk," was published in Oct. 2020 by...

Explore what the Raleigh area has to offer without breaking the bank! Here are 30-plus free (or nearly free) experiences and attractions that can anchor any trip to the area. William B. Umstead State Park N.C.’s most visited state park maintains its status as a peaceful and affordable getaway

Every two weeks, 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 ultimate fall bucket list, for example, or a guide to the N.C. State Fair). It's so long to summer, hello to...

Prost! Oktoberfest is a German beer-drinking festival and tradition that dates back more than 200 years; it's now held annually over the course of two weeks in late September and early October. And because the Raleigh area is no stranger to good beer and good times, there are plenty of ways to...

Important note about this event, updated Sept. 27: IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC is typically an outdoor street festival. Due to forecasted weather for the weekend, all events will move indoors. Previously scheduled Street Stage performances—plus beer garden, art market, jam tents...

Every two weeks, 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 latest insider content (the best al fresco dining in Raleigh, for example, or some of our favorite fall hiking spots). Who's ready...

It's so long to summer, hello to fall! We'll miss these warm-weather months—baseball games, ice cream days, kayaking trips and such. But we're ready to embrace a new season and the new experiences that come with it in the Raleigh area—cultural festivals, major music...