This month in the City of Oaks enjoy outdoor music, classic fairy tales performed live on stage, food events and plenty of family-friendly fun
by Addie Ladner

Seize the Day!

Flowing champagne, live music, flaky scones…May is the perfect time to settle in for brunch. And while Glenwood South is known for its nightlife, lately it’s getting buzz for its classy takes on this beloved weekend meal. Botanical Lounge hosts a Sunday Brunch Club where a ticket gets you a complimentary mimosa, all you can eat from their Insta-worthy buffet (think: herb-forward mini quiches, donuts, fresh fruit) and major day-party vibes within a gorgeous setting. They offer specialty cocktails for purchase, too (our pick: the Resting Peach Face, which is made with Lunazul Reposado, lime and peach syrup). (Sundays, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; $32; 419 Glenwood Avenue; botanicalraleigh.com) Vidrio offers an experiential Mediterranean spin on the meal with menu items like Pistachio Baklava French Toast and Lamb Hash with sunny-side-up eggs. Get a group together to try the Tableside Brunch Punch, a bubbly beverage made with lemon, sumac syrup, Aviation gin and sparkling wine. (Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m; 500 Glenwood Avenue, #100; vidrioraleigh.com) Along with the skyline views at The Willard Rooftop, enjoy an à la carte brunch with creative takes on classic dishes, like the BrunchCuterie, a spread of assorted pastries, fruit, deviled eggs, deli meats and cheese. For sipping, consider the Tableside Carafe: a bottle of bubbly paired with your choice of fresh juices. (Sundays, 12 – 4 p.m.; 9 Glenwood Avenue; thewillardraleigh.com). Aside from the delicious food and free-flowing bubbly we’re proposing this month, here are some other things happening around town in May covering everything from family fun to moving art experiences.

See Charlie Silver and Lamar Whidbee’s Exhibition Journey to Healing

Charlie Silver’s pastel paintings reflect his experiences as a businessman, Vietnam veteran and person struggling with PTSD. This month, Frameworks gallery will host a joint show between Silver and his friend and mentor, acclaimed painter Lamar Whidbee. Titled Journey to Healing, the pieces will explore memory, creative expression and how it all intersects through art. Timed to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month and National Military Appreciation Month, the exhibition honors veterans and raises awareness about the benefits of art therapy. Lamar and Silver’s relationship is a special one: Silver read about Whidbee’s work as an art therapist in a previous issue of WALTER and reached out to him for help. It turned into both a healing experience and creative connection. “What started as therapy became a friendship. Eventually, Lamar told me, I want to paint with you. I want us to be partners. That was one of the greatest compliments I could receive,” says Silver. The pieces in the show are a range of colorful yet calm landscapes and vivid depictions of nature. Throughout the month, enjoy free special events that coincide with the show, including an Artist Design Workshop on May 13 (5 – 7 p.m.) and an Artist Talk & Reception on May 21 (5 – 7 p.m.).
May 1 – 31 | Various times; Free; 1520 Dixie Trail; frameworksonline.com

Bring the Kids to This Month’s Kidical Mass at Dix Park

Even the youngest cyclists can enjoy biking in Raleigh! Oaks & Spokes, a local group with a mission to make Raleigh more bike-friendly, is hosting this fun, family-friendly biking event at Dorothea Dix Park. Meet up at Middleton Drive in Dix Park with your children to enjoy a 2-mile loop around the park. It kicks off with a party and opportunities to decorate helmets, get free bike checks, win swag and more. After the ride, enjoy the City of Raleigh’s Bike Bonanza festival. The rides last about an hour and include a snack midway through for motivation!
May 1 | 3:30 p.m.; free; Middleton Drive; oaksandspokes.org

Relive Your Favorite Childhood Pastime at Marbles’ Family Field Day

Children aren’t the only ones who should get to enjoy an end-of-year field day! In partnership with Raleigh Parks and Recreation, Marbles Kids Museum is hosting this fun outdoor event for the whole family. Lace up your sneakers and head to the Marbles Playway and Moore Square for fun, active games for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. Participate in anything from three-legged races to family freeze dance to stroller games and more. Look forward to live entertainment and food trucks after you’ve worked up an appetite.
May 2 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Free; 201 E. Hargett Street; marbleskidsmuseum.org

Come to Center at Junction West with Yoga and Roots and Rhythm

Seasoned local yoga instructor Jen Fisher and nationally known drummer and yoga instructor Brad Ellsworth of Druminyasa have come together for a rhythmic yoga class at Junction West. “The combination helps guide students to a more potent and powerful connection of self and deeper meditative state,” says Fisher. “Join us for a glorious celebration of movement and rhythm that will inspire joy and freedom!”
May 3 | 10 – 11:30 a.m.; $50; 310 S. West Street, #110; jenfisheryoganc.com

Support the Southern Smoke Foundation’s Behind You Classic

Local food and beverage pros Matt Fern, formerly of (ish) Delicatessen, Sam Ratto of Videri Chocolate Factory and Adam Cunningham of Longleaf Swine BBQ are co-hosting a charity golf tournament at MacGregor Downs Country Club. It will raise money for the Southern Smoke Foundation’s Behind You mental health program, which provides eligible candidates with mental health counseling at no cost. While Southern Smoke has chapters all over the country, including in North Carolina, this fundraiser is specifically to get ours invested in the Behind You program. “As a 30-year veteran of the food and beverage industry, I’ve seen that prioritizing mental health has often been pushed aside and viewed as a weakness,” says Fern. “We are delighted to help raise awareness about this amazing program. The excitement our group has to be a direct line of assistance for friends in a tough industry. That’s what keeps us pushing forward.”
May 4 | Various times; $250 for a single player, $1,000 for a team of four; 430 St. Andrews Lane, Cary; southernsmoke.org

Jam out at the Midtown Beach Music Series

Get ready to groove at this high-energy block party-style music series in North Hills every Thursday from April through July. Midtown Park transforms into a lively hub where locals and visitors alike vibe out while sipping cold beverages, trying out new food trucks and enjoying the warm weather. There are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby, too! You’ll recognize several favorite party bands on the lineup this month, including R&B and motown group Liquid Pleasure on May 14 and, inbound from Detroit, soul group Chairman of the Board on May 21.
Thursdays | 6 – 9 p.m.; $9 per ticket or $90 for general admission to all 15 shows; 4011 Cardinal at North Hills Street; visitnorthhills.com

Join the Raleigh Dinner Club

“We start in small groups to keep it low-pressure, and then all converge on a single spot. The concept aims to make it easier to meet new people in Raleigh, especially newer residents. It also supports restaurants on typically slow weeknights,” says Mason Brown, who runs the Raleighwood Inbox newsletter, on the supper club he launched this year. It starts with an online personality quiz, which he then sorts through to assemble groups of likeminded people at a selected restaurant to share a meal. Then, everyone participating is invited to a post-dinner after-party at a surprise location.
May 7 | 6:30 p.m.; $15 booking fee, plus the cost of dinner; locations vary; raleigh.dnnr.io

Listen to North Carolina Master Chorale’s Shall We Dance?

A chamber group from the North Carolina Master Chorale is headed to Hayes Barton United Methodist for a sweeping performance that explores human connection, art and movement through song. Shall We Dance? features a lively range of music from across the centuries — from Schubert and Brahms to Van Morrison, ABBA and musical theater productions (we’re pumped for a few selections from Wicked!). Be prepared to feel the urge to get out of your seat and dance!
May 8 | 7:30 p.m.; From $18; 2209 Fairview Road; ncmasterchorale.org

Hear the NC Symphony’s Appalachian Spring

Revel in the beauty of the season with the NC Symphony’s performance of Appalachian Spring, composer Aaron Copland’s iconic celebration of the natural world, traditional American music and the lively spirit of springtime. First performed more than 80 years ago, this suite of music features gentle string arrangements that blossom into an energetic allegro, a traditional fiddle section and a wedding day dance.
May 8 & 9 | Various times; From $15; 2 E. South Street; ncsymphony.org 

See Cary Ballet Company’s Peter Pan

Cary Ballet Company presents its first-ever production of Peter Pan, featuring an original score by David Ott. With close to 100 dancers being featured and original choreography by veteran ballerina and company artistic director Katia Garza, the performance will be captivating for all ages. “The process of creation is always both challenging and exciting,” says Garza. “When I revisit a ballet, I don’t simply repeat it — I refine and reimagine it. Creating this choreography was a beautiful challenge, especially in developing new characters so every dancer could shine on stage.” Purchase a VIP ticket for a post-show photo with the stars.
May 9 | 1:30 & 5:30 p.m.; From $57; 2 E. South Street; caryballetcompany.org

Join WALTER for Finding Lost Raleigh

Join WALTER for an evening with preservation consultant Mary Ruffin Hanbury and archivist/historian Ian F.G. Dunn, the co-authors of the novel Lost Raleigh, at Theatre in the Park. The book shares photographs and stories of businesses, schools, churches and other buildings that are no longer part of the City of Oaks’ landscape — and offers a lesson about preservation for the next generation. Your ticket includes a book talk, hors d’oeuvres from Raleigh Cheesy, wine and beer and a signing opportunity with the authors.
May 13 | 5:30 – 8 p.m.; From $41; 107 Pullen Road; waltermagazine.com

Experience Carolina Ballet’s Beauty and the Beast

Carolina Ballet has taken the roots of Beauty and the Beast, the ancient French fairy tale originally written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, and added an all-new original score by visiting composer Dr. David Goldstein. Together, they’ll create a live, mesmerizing production featuring enchanting choreography and beautiful music. Watch the smart and kind-hearted Belle and her father, who share a deep love for one another, become entangled with the bitter, frightening, cold-hearted Beast. It’s a classic story of transformation, bravery, love, loss and selflessness.
May 14 – 17 | Various times; From $44; 2 E. South Street; carolinaballet.com

Head to downtown for Artsplosure

One of the longest-running arts festivals in North Carolina, Artsplosure takes over downtown for two days each year, celebrating art in all its forms. Enjoy bold, interactive art installations throughout downtown and a market featuring makers of everything from textiles to ceramics to sculpture, plus live music, food trucks, a Kids Zone and more.
May 16 & 17 | Various times; Free; downtown Raleigh; artsplosure.org

See Pitbull and Lil Jon at Coastal Credit Union

What better way to kick off summer than with the high-energy thrum of a Pitbull concert? The artist is returning to Coastal Credit Union Music Park for the first time since 2022, bringing a show that promises fun, funk and hip-shaking beats. Joining Pitbull is Lil Jon, a rapper known for popularizing the crunk genre in the early 2000s.
May 19 | 8 p.m.; From $55; 3801 Rock Quarry Road; coastalcreditunionmusicpark.com

See Palmyra at Lake Raleigh

Virginia-based band Palmyra will take the stage at North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus as part of its family-friendly LIVE at Lake Raleigh series. Bring a picnic blanket to lay out on the shore of the lake while you hear their folk rock and Americana sounds. Food trucks will be on site at 5 p.m. before the show starts at 6 p.m.
May 21 | 6 p.m.; Free; corner of Main Campus Drive & Campus Shore Drive; live.arts.ncsu.edu

Shop Wolfe & Porter’s Vintage Market

Neighborhood bar Wolfe & Porter is hosting a monthly all-things-vintage market on Sunday afternoons this spring and summer. Enjoy a cocktail (try the Velvet Elvis, a specialty drink inspired by the market) while shopping for retro home goods, arts, clothing and more. Regular vendors include small local businesses like pre-owned clothing purveyors Saige Kennedy Finds, Fetching Vintage and Viola Lee Vintage, as well as vintage book dealer Smut Stacks.
May 24 | 2 – 7 p.m.Free; 905 W. Morgan Street; wolfeandporter.com/events

See Old Crow Medicine Show at Koka Booth

We can’t think of a better spot to see the band that coined the state’s unofficial anthem, “Wagon Wheel” than “in the land of the pines,” aka the wooded Koka Booth Amphitheatre. (Fun facts: The song was originally written in part by Bob Dylan and then covered and re-released by Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker.) The Grammy-winning band always attracts a passionate crowd to their Carolina shows with their bluegrass Americana sound. Joining Old Crow is longtime country-folk group Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives.
May 28 | 7 p.m From $41; 7 p.m.; 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary; boothamphitheatre.com

Sip Through Glasshouse Kitchen’s Courtyard Wine Social

Head to RTP to enjoy Glasshouse Kitchen’s lovely courtyard for this evening wine series, the last Thursday of the month until November. Each session, the restaurant will debut up-and-coming
wines from all over the world. Guests will taste pours alongside thoughtfully paired, chef-driven hors d’oeuvres from Glasshouse Kitchen chef de cuisine Kyle Fletcher. May’s wine social will focus on lesser-known rosés like the Vēvē Rosé Vinho Verde from Portugal.
May 28 | 5 – 7 p.m. $50; 5 Laboratory Drive, Durham; glasshousekitchennc.com

Experience Dix Park’s Inter-Tribal Pow Wow

In partnership with the Triangle Native American Society, Dorothea Dix Park is hosting its annual Inter-Tribal Pow Wow. This celebrates North Carolina’s Indigenous communities, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Coharie, the Lumbee, the Haliwa-Saponi, the Meherrin, the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, the Sappony and the Waccamaw Siouan. Throughout the day, experience performances led by head dancers Faith Jacobs and Cameron Richardson, beats from Smokey River Coharie Drum, cultural competitions, vendors and more for a lively day honoring the largest American Indian population east of the Mississippi River.
May 30 | 11:30 a.m – 6:30 p.m. Free; Harvey Hill; dixpark.org/powwow

This article originally appeared in the May 2026 issue of WALTER magazine.