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.
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Beach Music at North Hills 5/15
Enjoy live music from The Chairmen of the Board at Midtown Park in North Hills! 6pm-9pm. Tickets and info.
Cary Night Market 5/16
Head to Downtown Cary Park for the Cary Night Market featuring local handmade artists, food trucks, games on the lawn, entertainment, and fun for the whole family! Friendly dogs are welcome on leash. Presented by The Night Market Co. 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511-3304. 5pm-9pm More info.
Got To Be NC Festival 5/16-18
The Got to Be NC Festival is coming up May 16-18! Head to the State Fairgrounds for three days of food, rides, music, tractors, agricultural exhibits, and fun for the whole family. Check out this awesome lineup:
Carnival rides and games
NC Craft Beer Garden
Action Alley with trucks and equipment
Carolina Pig Jig BBQ competition
Lil’ Ducky Water Racing
Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull
King BMX Stunt Show
Kenya Safari Acrobats
Kidz Corral
NC food, wine, and beer
Local vendors
Live music and more! Round up your crew and get ready to celebrate the best of North Carolina food and agriculture! More info.
NCFC vs. Oakland Roots SC 5/16
Join the North Carolina FC in celebrating first responders, healthcare workers, educators, military, and community leaders who help our community thrive! Meet the Triangle’s heroes and learn more about how they work, day in and day out, to build a safer and stronger community for us all. Community Night! Cheer on NCFC as they take on Oakland Roots SC. 7pm Tickets
Ginger Billy at Goodnights Comedy Club 5/16-17
Check out Ginger Billy at Goodnights Comedy Club this weekend! Shirtless and tattooed, Ginger Billy gives viewers a humorous look into life in rural Upstate South Carolina. Tickets and info.
NC Courage vs. Chicago Stars – Star Wars Night 5/17
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 lightsabers for a friendly battle. May the Courage be with you. Then watch the NC Courage take on the Chicago Stars! 5pm Tickets and info.
Pop-Up Raleigh at Trophy Maywood 5/17
Pop by Trophy on Maywood for this month’s Pop-Up Raleigh market. Check out 40+ local artisans and vintage curators, enjoy bites from local food trucks, a kid’s zone, coffee, and brews from Trophy. 656 Maywood Ave. 12pm-5pm More info.
CaryLIVE!: Flowmingos at Downtown Cary Park 5/17
Head to Downtown Cary Park for another free CaryLive! musical experience, featuring Flowmingos. Flowmingos is a 4-piece brass band born in NYC, blending jazz, R&B, hip-hop, funk, and Latin influences into an energetic, feel-good sound. This concert series is free. Be sure to bring a chair or blanket for a comfortable viewing experience. 7:30pm-9:30pm. More info.
Raleigh Nights at Smoky Hollow 5/17
Head to Smoky Hollow for a night market featuring 30+ local vendors, live DJ, performers, wine and beer, and more from MAKRS! 421 N Harrington St, Raleigh, NC 27603. 5:30pm-9:30pm. More info.
Spring Fling Pop-Up Market 5/17
Head to Lafayette Village for the Spring Fling Pop-Up Market! They’ll have lots of free activities for kids and adults, local vendors, visits from some popular characters with Enchanted Wishes, and more! Jubala Coffee will be provided until they run out. Free to attend, but please register! 9am-1pm More info.
Seaboard Station Community Market 5/17
Join Community Pop-Ups NC for their first Seaboard Station Community Market on May 17th. Shop from some amazing local small businesses, enjoy live music, check out the kids zone, and more! It’s free to attend, family and pet-friendly. 9am-1pm More info.
Grownup and Me Yoga at The Bunny Hive 5/17
Enjoy 30 minutes of grownup and me yoga at The Bunny Hive. 10am More info.
Artsplosure 5/17-18
Artsplosure is back in downtown this weekend. Get ready to experience an Award-winning art market, live music, large scale interactive art installations, and fun for all ages. Art Market Hours: Saturday: 11am-7pm, Sunday: 10am-6pm More info.
Three Seasons Vendor Market 5/17
The Three Seasons Vendor Market is back, bringing you an exciting assortment of unique finds: Handcrafted Crochet Items, Original Art & Crafts, Delicious Sweet Treats, Stunning Crystals & Gemstones, Local Small Businesses…and so much more! They’ll also be collecting cash donations for Paws For Life, NC. Bring your family and friends for a day filled with shopping, delicious treats, and supporting local artisans. 9500 Forum Dr. 10am-3pm. More info.
Rootle Roadster Tour at Marbles 5/17
Head to Marbles for free hands-on activities, games, demonstrations with community partners, PBS KIDS educational resources and more. This is a FREE event happening in Moore Square, the Marbles Playway, and IMAX Theater. Don’t miss FREE screenings of the PBS Kids show, Carl the Collector, at Marbles IMAX at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm & 2pm. 10am-2pm More info.
The Raleigh Wine Shop’s 14th Anniversary Sale and Fundraiser 5/17
Celebrate The Raleigh Wine Shop’s 14th Anniversary Sale and Fundraiser! Wines will be on sale all week May 12-18th. A portion of bar proceeds will benefit The Women’s Center of Wake County. On Saturday the 17th, come celebrate with free tastings all day! Alimentari will be serving lunch from 1-4pm. Plus lots of fun with Jell-O shots and exclusive anniversary merch! 12pm-8pm. More info.
Jaguar Bolera 1-Year Celebration 5/17
Jaguar Bolera is turning ONE! Join them on Friday, May 17th from 6pm–12:30am for a night of celebration. FREE 30-Minute Bowling, Epic Raffle with 3 Big Prizes, Enchilada Specials, Mainstay Menu Rollout, and more. They’ll be spotlighting America’s Gold Star Families and encouraging donations throughout the night. Bring your friends, and come celebrate! 6pm-12:30am. More info.
Origami Styling 1-Year Anniversary Party 5/18
Come celebrate one year of vintage goodness at Origami Styling on Sunday, May 18th from 1pm-5pm! They will have lots of freebies, prizes, a store wide sale, activities and a sofa full of $5 grabs. Don’t miss your chance to shop a freshly stocked collection of vintage for men, women, and kids and get nostalgic with your friends. They’re usually closed on Sunday, but this is a big reason to celebrate and they want to spend the day with you! 111 E Hargett Street. 1pm-5pm. More info.
Gluten-Free Block Party 5/18
Local vendors, food trucks, drinks, and more from Gluten-Free, Awesome Fun! Hosted at Earp’s Seafood and Riparian Provision Co. 1414 South Saunders St. 1pm-4pm. More info.
Raleigh Foodie Fare at Moore Square 5/18
Head to Moore Square for a foodie and art market featuring 20 food trucks, 40+ local vendors, and live music. Presented by MAKRS at Moore Square Park. 201 S Blount St. 11am-3pm. More info.
Chance’s Flea at Rebus Works 5/18
Find all your favorite vendors in one place at Chance’s Flea at Rebus Works! Clothing, antiques, art, jewelry, food & much more all in Boylan Heights this Sunday! 301-2 Kinsey St. 11am-3pm More info.
Mike Goodwin at Goodnights Comedy Club 5/18
Check out Mike Goodwin at Goodnights Comedy Club this weekend! For 15 years, his expectation-defying brand of comedy has been leaving audiences laughing hysterically and completely inspired, without a foul or vulgar word spoken. You may have seen him on America’s Got Talent, Dry Bar Comedy, Lifetime, BET, Amazon Prime, USA, or heard him on SiriusXM. The Army veteran has also entertained troops during the USO Europe Comedy Tour. Tickets and info.
Gettin’ Piggy With It at Trophy 5/18
The 3rd annual Gettin’ Piggy With It is this Sunday at Trophy Maywood Hall and Garden! Gettin’ Piggy With It hosts an unbelievably talented group of pitmasters, chefs, local breweries, spirit crafters, sweet treat makers, and more! Hosted by Lawrence Barbecue and Trophy Brewing, all proceeds from Gettin’ Piggy With It support Frankie Lemmon School in Raleigh. Your ticket includes:
All you can eat and sip!
Over a dozen pitmasters and chefs from coast to coast
Sweet treats from local favorites
Your favorite Trophy beers
Tap Truck NC featuring guest taps from across the country
Young Hearts specialty cocktails
Tito’s Frankie Lemmonade Stand
Live Music and more!
Little Piggy includes:
Kids hot dog station from our friends at Lawrence Barbecue
Sweet treats from local favorites; ice cream and more
Kid zone, live music, and more! 1pm-5pm Tickets and info.
Triangle VGM Jams at Hartwell 5/18
Head to Hartwell and jam out to the smooth sounds of Video Game Music from Turnabout Players. 5pm-8pm More info.
Live Shows
5/15-18 Swan Lake – Carolina Ballet at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts Tickets
5/16 The String Cheese Incident at Red Hat Amphitheater Tickets
5/16 Nightrain (Guns N Roses Tribute) w/ Sun Moon Stars (Black Sabbath Tribute) at Lincoln Theatre Tickets
5/16 An Evening Extreme with Benji Hughes and Jon Lindsay at The Pour House Tickets
5/16 Della Mae w/ Laurie Lewis at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts Tickets
5/16-17 Mozart Requiem by Candlelight – NC Symphony at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts Tickets
5/17 Teddy Swims at Red Hat Amphitheater Tickets
5/17 Perpetual Groove + Yarn at Lincoln Theatre Tickets
5/17 Joe May’s Month of Mondays & Duck at The Pour House Tickets
5/18 Korine with Johnny Dynamite & The Bloodsuckers, Tiger Knives at The Pour House Tickets
5/18 Trivium & Bullet for My Valentine at Red Hat Amphitheater Tickets
