This August, savor the back end of summer with sweet treats, eye-opening festivals and unique performances.
by Rachel Simon

Have a Sweet Treat!

A good milkshake offers a welcome relief from sweltering Aug. temperatures with a little less mess than a cone full of ice cream. “Going out for a milkshake is rarely just about the food — it’s an activity,” says Roger Kornegay, owner of The Yard Milkshake Bar in Seaboard Station. “It gives friends, couples and families a casual reason to gather, step into an air-conditioned space and share a moment.” From classic chocolate and vanilla to over-the-top creations piled high with toppings, you can find milkshakes for every taste across Raleigh. A few we love: At The Yard Milkshake Bar, extravagant creations come topped with everything from cookies to slices of cake. (704 Seaboard Station Drive; theyardmilkshakebar.com) At MoJoe’s Burger Joint, diners can choose from classics like vanilla, chocolate and strawberry or opt for specialty shakes such as Reese’s Cup, Birthday Cake and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. (620 Glenwood Avenue; mojoesburgerjoint.com) And with dozens of flavor options, drive-through go-to Cook Out is a favorite stop after a hot day at the pool or sports practice — or anytime you want a quick pick-me-up. (Various locations; cookout.com) — Kendall Campos

Hear Tim McGraw at Coastal Credit Union

Country star Tim McGraw is making a long-awaited return to the stage after canceling much of his 2024 Pawn Shop Guitar Tour to recover from back and knee surgeries. Attendees of this performance can expect to hear classics like “Live Like You Were Dying” and “Don’t Take the Girl” plus the new song that inspired the tour’s name.
Aug. 7 | 7 p.m.; From $49; 3801 Rock Quarry Road; coastalcreditunionmusicpark.com

Cheer on Runners at the Sir Walter Miler

The 13th year of this short but thrilling Raleigh race is poised to be its biggest yet. Dozens of elite runners will each vie to complete one mile in under four minutes on Meredith College’s track, with thousands of spectators cheering them on (when they’re not enjoying the nearby assortment of food trucks and carnival rides starting at 6 p.m.). The free event is the culmination of the nonprofit Sir Walter Running’s “Summer of Miles,” which includes pop-up races, competitive qualifiers and community events sponsored by brands like Brooks and Adidas.
Aug. 7 | 8 p.m.; Free; 3800 Hillsborough Street; sirwaltermiler.com

Laugh with Comedian Rene Vaca at Raleigh Improv

If you don’t know comedian Rene Vaca’s name, let his impressive resume do the talking: the 30-year-old stand-up won the elite StandUp NBC competition, has performed with Bill Burr and Ken Jeong, and was named a rising star at the 2024 Netflix Is A Joke Fest. Known for his witty crowdwork, the Mexican-American comic with over 2 million social media followers will be bringing his talents to Raleigh Improv with five shows.
Aug. 7 – 9 | Various times; From $33; 1224 Parkside Main Street, Cary; improv.com/raleigh

Hop Aboard the Indie Bookstore Crawl

Raleigh resident and romance author Katie Karambelas is leading this all-day event, during which book-loving attendees will explore five of the Triangle’s most loved indie bookstores on a party bus. Between stops at shops like Raleigh’s Blackbird Books & Coffee and Wake Forest’s Page 158 Books, you’ll enjoy mimosas, lunch and bookish swag bags provided by the author. Spots are limited, but if you miss out, not to worry; Light Me Up writer Karambelas will be hosting a second crawl in October.
Aug. 8 | 10:15 a.m.; $125; 6440 Rogers Road, Rolesville; katiekarambelas.com/indie-bookstore-crawl

Get Up Close with Reptiles at Repticon

Lizards, geckos and turtles, oh my! This traveling reptile and exotic animal convention will give attendees the chance to see and in some cases interact with a wide variety of creatures big and small. Held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds’ Agri Supply Exposition Center over two days, the family-friendly event also includes educational seminars, live feedings and animal sales.
Aug. 8 – 9 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday; From $6; 4825 Trinity Road; repticon.com

See The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Vintage Church

You may be familiar with Victor Hugo’s classic (or the Disney musical) about a disfigured bell-ringer’s struggle for acceptance, but you haven’t seen it performed like this. Theatre Raleigh is holding the show inside downtown’s Vintage Church, a space that director Eric Woodall says “offers acoustics, stained glass and an atmosphere” meant to evoke Paris’ Notre Dame. The special experience also features a live choir made up of members of the North Carolina Master Chorale, who’ll bring Alan Menken’s unforgettable score to haunting life.
Aug. 12 – 15 | Various times; From $39; 118 S. Person Street; theatreraleigh.com

Catch Films at the OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival

Since 1995, the Carolina Theatre in Durham has played home to OUTSOUTH, the Southeast’s second-largest LGBTQ+ film festival. Each year, thousands of movie fans from across the Triangle and the country spend the weekend taking in a mix of features, documentaries and short films. This year’s works of cinema will compete for jury-voted awards like Best Narrative Feature Film, and attendees will also get to celebrate the Carolina Theatre’s 100th anniversary.
Aug. 13 – 16 | Various times; From $15; 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham; carolinatheatre.org

Celebrate 10 Years of BBSI at the Beyond Gala

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the prestigious Cary-based Boys Ballet Summer Intensive (BBSI), the program is hosting a gala at the Martin Marietta Center’s A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater featuring performances by students, alumni and professional dancers. Guests will get to watch “exceptional talent and artistry from dancers who have traveled from around the world” perform both classical and contemporary dance, according to BBSI directors Kimber Frenette, Emma Frenette and Christina Fannéy. Students enrolled in this year’s intensive will showcase sections from Le Corsaire to choreography created just for the gala.
Aug. 14 | 7 p.m.; $62; 2 E. South Street; boysballetsummerintensive.com

Celebrate Afro-Caribbean Culture at CaribMask Carnival

This year will mark the 13th annual CaribMask Carnival in downtown Raleigh, which celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture via a lively, colorful festival. Ideal for families, the day (led by the Raleigh-Durham AfroCaribbean Association) starts with a three-hour-long, Grand Marshall-led parade full of costumed bands, followed by hours of live music, international food and art vendors, and a flag ceremony representing more than 15 countries.
Aug. 15 | 11 a.m.; Free; 400 Fayetteville Street; caribmaskcarnival.com

Watch Wicked: For Good at Moore Square

“Thank goodness” for this outdoor showing of the blockbuster sequel Wicked: For Good coming to Raleigh this month. A collaboration between Moore Square and the North Carolina Museum of Art, the event is one of several downtown movie nights occurring this summer. Guests can dine off food trucks under the summer evening sun for the event’s first hour before sitting back to take in the musical story of estranged friends Glinda and Elphaba’s escapades in the magical Land of Oz.
Aug. 21 | 6 p.m.; Free; 201 S. Blount Street; raleighnc.gov

Hear Big Ideas at TEDxRaleigh

This offshoot of the widely known TEDx conferences about “ideas worth spreading” will see 14 acclaimed speakers take the stage at Raleigh’s McKimmon Center. Each person will discuss the theme of “Beyond the Blueprint,” offering unique takes on unexpected paths to success and fulfillment. Once the business leaders and professional storytellers have shared their thoughts, attendees can enjoy a VIP reception with dinner and drinks.
Aug. 22 | 1 p.m.; $59; 1101 Gorman Street; tedxraleigh.com

Party at Packapalooza

Every year, NC State ends its Wolfpack Welcome Week with an all-day block party and street fair on Hillsborough Street. You don’t have to be or know a student at the school to take part; over 90,000 people are expected to attend the festivities, which include over 350 food and art vendors plus live music and family-friendly activities. There’ll be fun happening all day long in the event’s nine zones, but make sure not to miss the evening fireworks at the Belltower main stage.
Aug. 22 | 2 p.m.; Free; Hillsborough Street; packapalooza.ncsu.edu

Watch Soapbox Racers at the Kirby Derby

One of Raleigh’s silliest annual events is back for another round. Founded in 2002, the Kirby Derby brings downhill soapbox racing to Dix Park, with drivers careening down Harvey Hill in elaborately adorned, non-motorized vehicles. This year’s event will also feature mini handheld pinecar racing for kids and a costumed parade, so expect big crowds. “We’re welcoming more people every year to experience what has become a wacky Raleigh tradition,” says Lauren Danforth, Dix Park’s senior manager of marketing and communications.
Aug. 22 | 3:30 p.m.; Free; 695 Palmer Drive; dixpark.org

Hear Jack Johnson at Coastal Credit Union

There’ll be no shortage of good vibes at laid-back singer-songwriter Jack Johnson’s Coastal Credit Union tour stop, for which the popular genre-bending band Lake Street Dive are opening. Johnson’s first tour in four years is tied to Surfilmusic, his 2026 documentary about his passions for both surfing and music. Concertgoers will undoubtedly hear fan favorite tunes like “Upside Down” and “Banana Pancakes,” and some proceeds from the tour will go towards Johnson’s Ohana Foundation to support environmental, art and music education.
Aug. 22 | 7:30 p.m.; From $72; 3801 Rock Quarry Road; coastalcreditunionmusicpark.com

See Chance the Rapper at Red Hat Amphitheater

Expect more old than new at the popular musician’s “Coloring Book” tour, which celebrates the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed 2016 mixtape of the same name. The Grammy winner will be performing the record in full (which includes hits like “No Problem” and “Same Drugs”) as well as a handful of additional songs.
Aug. 29 | 7 p.m.; From $47; 500 S. McDowell Street; redhatamphitheater.com

Eat and Dance Your Way Around the World at The International Festival

Get ready to eat, drink and dance your way around the world. The International Festival, hosted at Theatre Raleigh, will feature a wide variety of food vendors, music performances and cultural experiences over the course of two days. Tickets include access to entertainment like Chinese lion dancing and Brazilian samba; meals ranging from egg rolls to kebabs; and a drink ticket. There will also be an interactive scavenger hunt meant to help kids engage with other cultures.
Aug. 29 – 30 | 11 a.m.; From $19; 6638 Old Wake Forest Road; theatreraleigh.com

Watch Pro Pickleball at the Veolia NC Open

Pickleball fans, you won’t want to miss this! The Veolia NC Open is kicking off the pro season with some of the sport’s highest-level athletes competing for cash prizes at Cary Tennis Park. Pros like Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters will take the court, while amateurs will get a chance to play in tournaments throughout the weeklong event. Plus there’ll be live music, clinics and activations galore. “Fans are in for one of the most spectacular weeks pro pickleball has ever seen,” says Conner Ogden, chief experience officer for the Carvana PPA Tour.
Aug. 31 – Sept. 6 | Various times; From $30; 2727 Louis Stephens Drive, Cary; ppatour.com

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