Soak up the end of summer with art exhibitions, food and drink experiences and outdoor festivals for every kind of celebration.
by Rachel Simon

Spark Your Creativity at a First Friday

The first Friday of each month is an opportunity to connect with our city’s diverse creative community — and reignite your own cultural arts spark. For casual collectors and art lovers alike, Artspace hosts free events from 5 – 10 p.m., including new exhibitions, an interactive art activity and a chance to meet and shop with their 30-plus studio artists. (201 E. Davie Street; artspacenc.org) Head to Gallery 20 (formerly Glenwood Fine Art) for its grand reopening reception from 5 – 8 p.m., where guests can meet its newest artists and tour working studios. (20 Glenwood Avenue; gallery20glenwood.com) For film lovers, Moore Square hosts a First Friday Market & Movie Night. It starts with food trucks and live music at 5 p.m., followed by a screening; this month it’s the inspirational classic Remember the Titans. (201 S. Blount Street; raleighnc.gov) If you’re looking for an excuse to get behind a mic, head to the Warehouse District’s Crank Arm Brewing for its weekly evening of “liquid courage” and sing-alongs from 8 – 11 p.m. (319 W. Davie Street; meetup.com) Prefer talking over singing? Head to Glenwood South’s Leela Improv Theatre for its adults-only First Friday Improv Jam + Open Mic event from 7 – 9:30 p.m.; no experience needed. (309 N. Boylan Avenue; leela-nc.com)

Catch En Plein Air at Wake County Parks

Earlier this year, Wake County asked a number of local artists to visit the area’s parks and preserves and capture their beauty in paintings, a commission meant to honor Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space’s 50th anniversary. Now you can see the stunning results in a traveling outdoor exhibit. Featuring more than 40 paintings, the unique art experience is making its way through four parks throughout the year. It’s currently on view at Historic Yates Mill County Park through Sept. 7, then from Sept. 14 through Oct. 11 you can catch it at Harris Lake County Park.

Now – Sept. 7; Sept. 14 – Oct. 11 | Various times; Free; 4620 Lake Wheeler Road (through Sept. 7) then 2112 County Park Drive, New Hill; wake.gov/parks50/art

Test Your Wine Knowledge at Perception vs Palate

Calling all aspiring sommeliers: hosted by the professional wine school Vitis House, this fun and unique class will challenge even the most experienced oenophiles. Expect blind tastings, behind-the-scenes demonstrations, and wine-fueled experiments at the event, which will be held at The Loading Dock. By the end of the 90-minute course, you’ll have a much stronger sense of which wines you enjoy most, regardless of factors like price or bottle design.

Sept. 1 | 6:30 p.m.; $115; 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road; vitishouse.com

Explore Threshold at VAE’s Jobe House Gallery

Four Raleigh artists explore how humans and nature coexist in Threshold, a new exhibition at VAE’s Jobe House gallery. Through woodcuts, oil paintings, sculptural work and graphite drawings, Amy Friend, Sarah Howes Whitney, Autumn Cobeland and Andie Freeman examine themes of conservation, habitat loss and nature’s reclamation of the spaces we’ve built. Threshold opens on First Friday, and the artists will host a public reception from 2-5 p.m. on Sept. 12.

Sept. 4 – 27 | Various times; 909 W. Morgan Street; thresholdexhibition.art

Celebrate African American Culture at the African American Cultural Festival

Now in its 17th year, this vibrant festival brings tens of thousands of people to downtown Raleigh for a celebration of African American arts, food and cultural traditions. The 2026 theme is “Rooted in Community: Anchored in Legacy,” and attendees can spend the weekend shopping from dozens of vendors, participating in kid-friendly crafts activities and enjoying both local and national music performances on City Plaza’s Main Stage.

Sept. 5 – 6 | Various times; Free; 400 Block Fayetteville Street; aacfestival.org

Hear Godfrey Cheshire at The Rialto

Triangle native and renowned film critic Godfrey Cheshire is celebrating the release of his fourth book, Cheshire on Film, at quite the fitting venue: The Rialto, the beloved Raleigh arthouse theater for which he programmed movies and music back in the ’80s and ’90s. “I have a long history with The Rialto,” says Cheshire. “It’s a great Raleigh institution.” During the event, the author will speak on various topics, including writing for Raleigh’s former weekly The Spectator, aiding the growth of the area’s punk and new wave arts scene and, later, traveling the world as a critic and journalist. It will also explore his experience returning to North Carolina in 2008 to make the highly personal documentary Moving Midway about the relocation of his family’s plantation home and the role of plantations in American culture. “I bounced back and forth, but I never really lost touch with the Triangle,” Cheshire says. The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signing.

Sept. 9 | 7:30 p.m.; From $15; 1620 Glenwood Avenue; therialto.com

Enjoy Live Music at Hopscotch Music Festival

King Princess and Dexter and the Moonrocks headline the 16th year of downtown Raleigh’s beloved music festival. Over the course of three days, more than 100 genre-spanning artists will take the stage at venues ranging from City Plaza to The Pour House. Whether you opt for a regular or VIP ticket pass, make sure to stop by Moore Square Commons, the festival’s all-new free public space full of music, vendors and community activities.

Sept. 10 – 12 | Various times; From $79 for single-day passes, $159 for full festival; various locations; hopscotchmusicfest.com

Experience the Weird and Wonderful at Raleigh Fringe Festival

Not many arts festivals offer everything from rock concerts to burlesque shows to solitaire lessons, but the Raleigh Fringe Festival isn’t your ordinary event. Entering its third year, this multi-disciplinary performing arts festival — established to celebrate all things “weird and wonderful” about our city — offers an intriguingly eclectic mix of performances, workshops and other events, all held at Theatre Raleigh.

Sept. 10 – 12 | Various times; Various prices; 6638 Old Wake Forest Road; raleighfringefestival.squarespace.com

Celebrate 60 Years of the Eno River at the Carolina Theatre

The Eno River Association marks six decades of conservation work with Festival for the Eno: The Eno Flows Downtown, a one-night benefit concert at Durham’s Carolina Theatre. It’s a lineup of North Carolina roots royalty — folk troubadour Jake Xerxes Fussell, Indigenous blues duo Pura Fé & Cary Morin, and soul artist Tre. Charles all take the Fletcher Hall stage, backed by guest speakers, poetry-and-sound collaborations and a culture and history exhibit. Can’t make the evening show? Swing by earlier: ERA hosts a free community celebration in the theater’s plaza from 1 to 5 p.m., with the Paperhand Puppet Project, a Rowdy Square Dance and live mural painting.

September 12 | Doors at 6:30 p.m. (free plaza celebration 1–5 p.m.); Carolina Theatre, 309 W. Morgan St., Durham; carolinatheatre.org

Dine for a Cause at Dinner in the Meadow

A delicious feast, a beautiful setting and a worthy cause — what’s not to love? The eighth annual Dinner in the Meadow is a starry food-filled fundraiser hosted by WUNC’s former State of Things host Frank Stasio at Meadow Lane Farm. Noteworthy local chefs like Cheeni’s Preeti Waas, Prime Barbecue’s Christopher Prieto and M Tempura’s David Lopez are volunteering their time to craft the night’s menus, and proceeds from the event will go towards a $5,000 grant awarded to a local farm owner chosen by the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund nonprofit. “A whole lot of love and passion for our mission comes together by so many to make Dinner in the Meadow a memorable event,” says Ellen Stainback, an organizer of the event alongside Meadow Lane Farm owner Martha Leonard Mobley.

Sept. 13 | 5:30 p.m.; From $150; 571 Leonard Farm Road, Louisburg; dinnerinthemeadow.org

Celebrate Innovative Women at WINnovation

Spend a Friday evening at The Umstead Hotel and Spa attending WALTER’s annual summit celebrating innovative female leaders and entrepreneurs. This year’s speakers include Shirnetta Harrell, founder and executive director of the No Woman, No Girl Initiative; Lauren Kennedy Brady, founder and executive director of Theatre Raleigh; Jean Gray Mohs, artist and co-executive director of Visual Art Exchange; and Stacey Buescher, EVP of Commercial Operations at Kane Realty. Tickets also get you access to workshops, a networking cocktail hour and a three-course meal.

Sept. 18 | 4:30 p.m.; From $150; 100 Woodland Pond Drive, Cary; waltermagazine.com

Hear Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at Martin Marietta Center

The North Carolina Symphony’s opening weekend includes this must-see concert at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto and featuring pianist Boris Giltburg. Music lovers attending either night will be wowed by the moving rendition of Rachmaninoff’s famed concerto, plus Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun” and Stravinsky’s “Petrouchka (1947 version).”

Sept. 18 – 19 | 8 p.m.; From $27; 2 E. South Street; martinmariettacenter.com

Get Buggy at Bugfest

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ largest annual event is also its buzziest. Bug lovers of all ages can enjoy an exciting day full of over 100 exhibits, games, activities and lessons about all creatures creepy and crawly. The 2026 theme is “Hoppers,” with critters like leafhoppers, aphids and cicadas taking center stage — even on the museum’s Cafe Insecta menu, where local food trucks offer free bug-infused snacks for those with brave appetites.

Sept. 19 | 10 a.m.; Free; 11 W. Jones Street; naturalsciences.org

Cheer on NC Courage Against Gotham FC

Gotham FC may be the defending champions, but NC Courage will have plenty of local fans cheering them on during this exciting soccer match held on our team’s home turf. And with the night taking on a theme of “Local Heroes,” your ticket will help support Triangle service officers in addition to the National Women’s Soccer League.

Sept. 19 | 6:30 p.m.; From $32; 101 Soccer Park Drive, Cary; nccourage.com

Hear TLC and Salt-N-Pepa at Coastal Credit Union

TLC and Salt-N-Pepa were two of the biggest music trios of the ’90s, and — with support from the similarly popular group En Vogue — they’re coming together to co-headline the aptly named “It’s Iconic” tour. At the upcoming Coastal Credit Union Music Park stop, fans can sing along to all-time hits like TLC’s “No Scrubs” and Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It.” Start planning your concert fit now.

Sept. 19 | 7:30 p.m.; From $47; 3801 Rock Quarry Road; coastalcreditunionmusicpark.com

Celebrate Latin American Culture at La Fiesta del Pueblo

The Triangle’s largest annual event celebrating Latin American culture, La Fiesta del Pueblo has brought thousands of attendees to the heart of downtown for three decades and counting. From the dance performances to the food trucks to the live music to the vibrant costumes, there’s plenty of fun-filled entertainment for the whole family to experience.

Sept. 20 | 12 p.m.; Free; Fayetteville Street; elpueblo.org

Hear Shaboozey at Red Hat Amphitheater

Genre-spanning singer Shaboozey, who’s known for chart-toppers like “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and “Good News,” has a new album and a new tour to boot. During the Raleigh leg of his “Outlaws Never Die” tour, Shaboozey will be promoting his fourth record, a concept album called Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales. Canadian singer-songwriter Noeline Hofmann, who earned buzz for her 2024 Zach Bryan collab “Purple Gas,” will be opening the concert at Red Hat.

Sept. 22 | 7:30 p.m.; From $26; 500 S. McDowell Street; redhatamphitheater.com

Support Diaper Train at Bottoms Up

Diaper Train, the only diaper bank exclusively serving Wake County, is holding its annual fundraiser to support its programs. There’ll be a BBQ-filled meal, live music, and opportunities to connect with both donors and families benefiting from the nonprofit’s mission to give all Wake families access to essential gear.

Sept. 25 | 7 p.m.; $100; 1812 Tillery Place; diapertrain.org

Rappel Down One City Plaza at Over the Edge

Over the Edge is a thrilling event that takes fundraising to new heights — literally. For the last 17 years, Special Olympics North Carolina has raised money by inviting brave participants to rappel down Raleigh’s 17-story One City Plaza. Why? “Every day, [athletes with disabilities] demonstrate incredible courage by overcoming obstacles, pushing beyond expectations and proving what’s possible,” says Walker Brittain, SONC’s development director of fundraising. “This event gives the rest of us an opportunity to show that same courage.” Each daredevil must raise at least $1,000 to take part, but spectators can enjoy a dance party and cornhole games from below at no cost.

Sept. 26 | 9 a.m.; Free; 421 Fayetteville Street; sonc.net

Cheer on the Wolfpack Against the Mountaineers

Spend a Saturday night cheering on the North Carolina State University Wolfpack during their highly anticipated football game against the Appalachian State University Mountaineers. Make sure to wear your best Wolfpack merch and bring all your tailgating essentials so you and your fellow fans can make the most of the matchup.

Sept. 26 | Time TBA; From $82; 4600 Trinity Road; gopack.com

Explore Ecologies of Scale at the NC Museum of Art

A transdisciplinary artist known for immersive works that often incorporate technology, Nancy Baker Cahill is the force behind Ecologies of Scale, an upcoming North Carolina Museum of Art exhibit exploring the intersection of nature and digital life. The Los Angeles-based artist has created a mix of sculptures, video installations, augmented reality (AR) projects and more to display inside the museum. But you’ll also be able to see and engage with an AR piece by Baker Cahill outside in the museum park by using an app to contribute personal media to a collective living archive.

Sept. 26 – Jan. 31 | Various times; From $20 for non-members; 2110 Blue Ridge Road; ncartmuseum.org

Meet the Author Behind a New Nina Simone Biography

NC State Distinguished Professor W. Jason Miller marks the release of his new book, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood: Nina Simone, Langston Hughes, and the Birth of Black Power, with a launch celebration at Quail Ridge Books. It’s a deep dive into the overlooked friendship between Simone and Hughes, centered on her landmark 1965 performance for 25,000 people at the Selma to Montgomery march — with Hughes as her closest confidant behind the scenes. Miller, a biographer of Langston Hughes whose work has appeared on CNN, NPR and The Rachel Maddow Show, will be introduced by Raleigh music journalist Dave Menconi before sitting down for a conversation with North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green.

September 29 | 7 p.m.; Quail Ridge Books, 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Rd.; quailridgebooks.com

This article was originally published in the September 2026 issue of WALTER Magazine.