We’ve got your weekend lineup, Raleigh! Check out these local things to do to keep you busy this weekend!
Every week, we curate a list of local things to do in and around Raleigh. Our goal is to uplift local businesses and connect you with fun, community-driven experiences.
We prioritize events from our Shop Local Raleigh members, offering you the best local experiences. Want to add your event to our list? Consider becoming a Shop Local Raleigh member or contact us for collaboration opportunities.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X(Twitter) to stay in the loop on all things local. Let’s get out and show some local love to our community!
🩰 Carolina Ballet: Beauty and the Beast 5/14-17
A tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast invites audiences into a world where appearances can be deceiving and love reveals what is true. Compassion, courage, and an open heart have the power to transform. This ballet brings the story to life through movement, music, and design. Enchanted elements fill the stage, from graceful birds whose dancing adds lightness and wonder, to fairies who guide the story’s magic and transformation. Sweeping ensemble scenes and intimate pas de deux reveal the emotional depth of the characters, from moments of fear and uncertainty to tenderness and joy.
Performances
Thursday, May 14th, 7:30pm
Friday, May 15th, 7:30pm
Saturday, May 16th, 2pm
Saturday, May 16th, 7:30pm
Sunday, May 17th, 2pm
💙 Bridal Glow-Up – Cocktails & Cosmetics 5/14
Exclusive bridal event for brides to be on May 14th, 2026, from 6pm-8pm! The event will take place at City of Oaks Dental in Raleigh, NC. Refreshments will be provided and other local vendors such as IndiGlow and Lather Hair Salon will be there offering services. There will be a BIG raffle giveaway at the end of the night. Opportunities for free goodies and a night of fun! 5109 Bur Oak Circle. 6pm-8pm. Register here
😂 Gianmarco Soresi at Goodnights Comedy Club 5/14-16
Check out Gianmarco Soresi at Goodnights Comedy Club this weekend! 401 Woodburn Rd. More info.
💙 Microneedling in May Consultation Event 5/14
For improving skin tone and texture, nothing beats microneedling options from BodyLase Med Spa! Address concerns like aging skin, pore size, and texture concerns. Morpheus8 and VirtueRF are powerful RF microneedling solutions and regenerative microneedling combines the power of PDGF with SkinPen microneedling. Grab your spot at the Microneedling in May Event! Book a FREE consultation and get your glow on! Raleigh, Cary, Chapel Hill & Clayton spas. More info.
🏖️ Beach Music at North Hills 5/14
Enjoy live music from Liquid Pleasure at Midtown Park at North Hills! Now in its 17th season, the Midtown Beach Music Series continues to be a local favorite. 6pm-9pm. Tickets and info.
🎸 Rhythm and Brews at Iron Works 5/14
Rhythm & Brews brings live music to the Yard, setting the vibe while you sip, shop, dine, and hang. Featuring a rotating weekly residency by Relay Relay + Sterling Scott. Thursdays in the Yard at Raleigh Iron Works. 1101 E Whitaker Mill Rd. 5:30pm-7:30pm. More info.
🖌️ Pottery Painting at Daughters Coffee & Books with Cozy Panda Event Co. 5/14
Get ready to unleash your creativity at this self-guided pottery painting workshop from Cozy Panda Event Co. They’ll provide everything you need, including paint and brushes – just bring your imagination! This 90-minute, self-paced session lets you create at your own speed, with the Cozy Panda Event Co. team on hand to offer guidance, tips, and a little artistic inspiration whenever you need it! 5410 North Carolina 55, #AF Durham. 6pm-7:30pm. More info.
😂 Adam Minnick at Goodnights Comedy Club 5/14
Check out Adam Minnick at Goodnights Comedy Club! 401 Woodburn Rd. More info.
🚜 Got To Be NC Festival 5/15-17
Head to the State Fairgrounds this weekend for three days of food, rides, music, tractors, agricultural exhibits, and fun for the whole family. Check out this year’s lineup:
🎡 Carnival rides and games
🍻 NC Craft Beer and Spirits Garden (Fri. and Sat. – Noon to 8pm. Sun. – Noon to 7pm)
🛻 Action Alley with trucks and equipment
🐖 Carolina Pig Jig BBQ competition
🐥 Lil’ Ducky Water Racing
🚜 Tractor Parade
🏴☠️ Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean High Wire Thrill Show
🎨 Kidz Corral
🦮 K-9 Working Dog Demonstrations
🪄 The Comedy Farm Magic Review
🚜 Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull & Antique Tractor Pull
🐻 Storytime with Smokey Bear (Sat. at 3:30pm and 6:00pm, Sun. at 1:30pm and 4:00pm)
🦋 Butterfly Barn
🐎 Lauryn Zepeda & Trick horses
🐝 Big Bee the Transforming Robot Car
🍔 Food trucks
🛍️ Local vendors
🎸 Live music
And more! Gate Admission and Parking are FREE! Gate Hours: Friday, May 15: Noon-10 pm. Saturday, May 16: 10 am-10pm. Sunday, May 17: 10am-8pm. More info.
🍿 NCMA Outdoor Films at Moore Square 5/15
Watch “Poupelle of Chimney Town” at NCMA Outdoor Films at Moore Square. Enjoy themed activities and programming, including food trucks, beginning at 6 pm, followed by an evening film under the stars at 7:15 pm. Moore Square. More info.
🧝 Adult Nights: Social In the Shire 5/15
Gather up your Fellowship as the Museum becomes Middle Earth for a night. Lay siege to Gondor, dance with dragons and show off your Tolkien trivia at this adults 21+ event. Enjoy a unique opportunity to experience the Museum at night while exploring the uncensored side of science. The event features interactive science stations, music, games, local entertainment and special activities. Beer, wine, themed cocktails and food will be available for purchase. Costumes encouraged (but not required). Tickets: $25; $15 Members. You must be 21 years or older to attend. 11 W Jones St. 6:30pm-10pm. More info.
😂 Matt Ross at Goodnights Comedy Club 5/15-17
Check out Matt Ross at Goodnights Comedy Club this weekend! 401 Woodburn Rd. More info.
🌼 Spring Open Nursery and Garden Days at Juniper Level Botanic Garden 5/15-17
Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery celebrate the arrival of spring and 40 years in bloom with an open garden weekend (Friday – Sunday, 9am – 5pm). Visitors are invited to explore 10 acres of display gardens, participate in free garden walks and talks with horticultural experts, and shop the Plant Delights sales greenhouses. Local food trucks will be available for lunch, along with a bingo scavenger hunt for the kids. 9241 Sauls Rd. More info.
😂 Tisha Campbell at Goodnights Comedy Club 5/15-17
Check out Tisha Campbell at Goodnights Comedy Club this weekend! 401 Woodburn Rd. More info.
⚽ Star Wars Night – NC Courage vs. Chicago Stars 5/16
“Do or do not. There is no try.” Welcome to the Courage’s Star Wars galaxy! Meet fan-fav characters, show off your Star Wars fandom with finish-the-line movie trivia, and even whip out those Light Sabers for a friendly battle. It’s soccer. It’s sci-fi adventure. It’s a night you won’t want to miss! May the Courage be with you. The first 500 fans will take home a Grogu bobblehead. 201 Soccer Park Dr., Cary. 6:30pm. Tickets
🍷 North Hills Wine Walk 5/16
Put on your pink and sample wines (or brews!) as you sip and shop to support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. 4191 Main at North Hills St. 3pm-6pm. More info.
🎸 Toadies at The Ritz 5/16
The Toadies are bringing their ‘90s alt-rock energy to The Ritz this weekend. Expect a loud night packed with gritty guitar riffs and throwback hits. 2820 Industrial Dr. 7pm. More info.
🐱 Pottery Painting at Purr Cup Cafe 5/16
Get ready to unleash your creativity at this self-guided pottery painting workshop from Cozy Panda Event Co. They’ll provide everything you need, including paint and brushes – just bring your imagination! Don’t forget that everyone will get to snuggle the kitties that live there! This 90-minute, self-paced session lets you create at your own speed, with the Cozy Panda Event Co. team on hand to offer guidance, tips, and a little artistic inspiration whenever you need it! 210 Prospect Ave. 10am-11:30am and 12pm-1:30pm. More info.
🎉 Crafty Anniversary Party 5/16
Join Crafty in celebrating 13 years of serving the people who made it all possible! Enjoy samples of over 100 new beers and wines! $5 sampling bracelet, live music, food truck, Kid and dog friendly. 2005 Fairview Rd. 2pm-6pm. More info.
🎶 Ole 60 at Red Hat Amphitheater 5/16
Ole 60 performs at Red Hat Amphitheater. 500 South McDowell St. More info.
🏎️ Village District Concours Auto Show 5/16
Explore iconic cars from the Carolina Exotic Car Club while you enjoy live tunes from Kerry Long and a selfie booth. Don’t forget you can grab a to-go beverage (from one of the Village District Sip n’ Shop participants) and stroll along Daniels Street for the show! This event will benefit the non-profit Ride of Your Life. The organization’s mission is to create unmatched experiences for Blind, Deaf and Underserved Youth in need, through the power of automobiles. 427 Daniels St. 9am-12pm. More info.
🍖 Pickin’ In The Park 5/16
Enjoy an unforgettable free event celebrating great food and live music in partnership with Prime Barbecue! Savor expertly crafted barbecue while listening to lively bluegrass tunes in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. 810 N First Ave, Knightdale. More info.
🎨 Artsplosure 5/16-17
Artsplosure is a 2 day event held in downtown Raleigh. It features an Art Market comprised of approximately 175 juried visual artists from across the United States showcasing works in ceramics, glass, fiber art, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, wood, and more. The festival presents national and regional entertainment on two stages, provides arts-based activities for children, and presents large-scale temporary art installations. Downtown Raleigh. Sat. 11am-7pm. Sun. 10am-6pm. More info.
👩🌾 Midtown Farmers’ Market at North Hills 5/16
Head to the Midtown Raleigh Farmers’ Market for a direct connection to 35+ local vendors featuring locally produced breads, desserts, produce, nuts, dairy, meats, crafts, and more. The market fosters a community atmosphere and delivers fresh foods from producers to your table. 4191 Main at North Hills St. 8am-12pm. More info.
🎙️ NC Symphony: ICON: Motown & Beyond 5/16
Guest vocalists join the NC Symphony to perform hits by such iconic artists as Michael Jackson, Prince, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Elvis Presley, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, and many others. Celebrate the voices that changed music! 2 East South St. More info.
👩🌾 Cary Farmers Market 5/16
Join the Cary Farmers Market for the traditional market season along East Park St., next to Downtown Cary Park. Find a wonderful lineup of vendors offering all locally made and locally grown items. Shop for freshly-harvested produce, humanely-raised meat, and artisan-made goods. Children can also get their very own Farmers Market Passport and participate in the Eat-A-Rainbow program, which encourages children to eat healthy, nutritious foods. 160 E. Park St., Cary. 8am-12pm. More info.
🛍️ Old Hillsborough Road Market 5/16
Browse local makers, vintage finds, food vendors, handmade goods, and more at the Old Hillsborough Road Market at Bennett Place State Historic Site. With a mix of local vendors, historic scenery, and plenty of treasures to uncover, the program also features historic trades demonstrations and free ranger-talks in the Bennett home. 4409 Bennett Memorial Rd., Durham. 11am-3pm. More info.
🧑🌾 Apex Farmers Market 5/16
The Apex Farmers Market provides fresh, local homegrown organic and conventional fruits and vegetables, pastured and sustainably farmed chicken, beef and pork, fresh farm eggs, baked goods, honey, cheeses, jams and preserves, sauces, salsas, and other artisanal food products, along with a variety of crafts. 122 N Salem St 8am-12pm. More info.
🍴 2026 Spring Food Truck Festival at Brier Creek 5/17
Join Brier Creek Eats for an unforgettable evening filled with Gourmet Food Trucks, Sweet Treats & Local Desserts, Live Music from Sleeping Booty, Local Art Vendors, Kids’ Zone & Family Fun. Admission is FREE – Just bring your appetite! 8010 Arco Corporate Dr. 5pm-8pm. More info.
🐐 Goats and Greens Farmers Market at Haven 5/17
The Goats and Greens farmers market will feature vendors, local produce grown by Haven, herbal offerings, food and drinks, goats and the best vibes around! Each month features rotating vendors, seasonal produce and food options, fun activities and more!
🐐 30 local art and craft vendors
🌿 Local farms, produce, and plants
🥬 Activities for the whole fam, including face painting, playgrounds, and kids activities!
🌿 Flower bar
🫛 Rotating food and treats vendors
🐐 Goats to play with!
Come see us for our spring dates from 12-4pm! Free and open to all ages (and doggies!) 8521 Buffaloe Rd. Knightdale. More info.
😂 Emo Philips at Goodnights Comedy Club 5/17
Check out Emo Philips at Goodnights Comedy Club this weekend! 401 Woodburn Rd. More info.
🎶 Live Music
5/14 Jacoozy at Lincoln Theatre – Tickets
5/14 The Wilson Springs Hotel at The Pour House – Tickets
5/15 Brodie Cormack Band, Josh Rhyne and Silvertones w/Kyle Mullins/Sophie Taylor at Lincoln Theatre – Tickets
5/15 Resurrection: A Goth Night at The Pour House – Tickets
5/16 Overcome Fest IV at Lincoln Theatre – Tickets
5/16 The Bleeding Hearts w/ The Temp Agency, Dead Rat Disco! at The Pour House – Tickets
5/17 The Black Angels at Lincoln Theatre – Tickets
5/17 Square One EP Release w/ Larry., Times Tables at The Pour House – Tickets
