Start fall off with a bang with Raleigh’s Wide Open bluegrass fest, home tours, football and, of course, Halloween!
by Addie Ladner
Have a Vintage Halloween How many costumes can you come up with just by shopping your closet? For Amy Barnard and Mary Robbins, the answer might be thousands. “With pieces that can speak to every decade — from 1970s-inspired leather cowboy chaps to funky 1990s-era Elton John glasses — Halloween is our favorite!” says Barnard. Of course, the two have an advantage: they’re the owners of TrunkShow, a basement-level treasure trove full of vintage and second-hand clothing, antiques and other oddities from dozens of vendors (1526 Wake Forest Road; trunkshowraleighnc.com). When we asked them to whip up some fun North Carolina-themed outfits, they quickly came back with, from left to right: 1980s NC State sports fan, 1920s-era Pinehurst golfer, 1990s NASCAR fan and 1990s Broughton High School Queen of Hearts. Follow them on Instagram for more inspiration or swing by the store to see what you come up with. Before the 31 rolls around though, there’s plenty of things to kick off fall with from outdoor music to sports to art exhibitions.
Experience In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design
In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers, an immersive exhibition based on herbaria gathered by famed author and naturalist Henry David Thoreau, is on view at the Gregg Museum of Art + Design. Thoreau was known for his love of Walden Pond in Massachusetts, which inspired much of his writing and environmental observations, and his pressed plant and flower specimens are normally housed at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. In Search of Thoreau’s Flowers brings his botanical treasures to life through interactive artwork that touches on themes of biodiversity and how humans should interact with it. Local filmmaker Marsha Gordon, scientist Emily Meineke, photographer Leah Sobsey and digital artist Robin Vuchnich have expanded on the exhibit with interactive wall projections, sound and other interpretations of Thoreau’s collection.
All month | Various times; Free; 1903 Hillsborough Street; gregg.arts.ncsu.edu
Check Out the Raleigh Wide Open
After hosting the International Bluegrass Music Association’s annual conference and street festival since 2013, the City of Raleigh and PineCone decided to continue the tradition with locals. At the inaugural Raleigh Wide Open music festival downtown, enjoy free stages of bluegrass, gospel, R&B and folk music with acts like soul singer Charly Lowry, acoustic bluegrass group Balsam Range and hip-hop artist Sonny Miles. Shop from craft vendors, dance, eat and more at this mostly free community-wide festival celebrating North Carolina’s deep and diverse musical heritage. The excitement starts Thursday with a free concert at The Corner on North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus’s (Oct. 2, 6 – 9 p.m.; 941 Main Campus Drive), and Friday night will include a ticketed show at Red Hat Amphitheater featuring bluegrass jam band Greensky Bluegrass and rockers JJ Grey & Mofro (from $100). Free with some ticketed shows; downtown Raleigh; raleighwideopen.com
Explore Foodie Hub Smoky Hallow
Just steps from both bustling Glenwood South and the heart of downtown, the newish development Smoky Hollow has slowly been filling out with restaurants and bars — enough to be a foodie destination on its own (and with more on the horizon). From BBQ to tapas, craft cocktails to a classic diner milkshake, there are a breadth of options that reflect a community feel within the walkable, welcoming space. “I fell in love with Smoky Hollow almost immediately,” says Tyler Helikson, co-owner of Madre and Moon Room. “The pedestrian-only thoroughfare felt very European to me — I could envision people spilling out of one restaurant into the next, like you see in some of my favorite cities.” Read here for five spots in Smoky Hollow to add to your list.
Hear The Music of John Williams
Conductor John Gennaro Devlin will lead the North Carolina Symphony through a suite of classical film scores from the Oscar-winning composer John Williams. With recognizable tunes from movies like E.T., Star Wars and JAWS, it’ll be a dazzling evening at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.
Oct. 3 & 4 | 8 p.m. $55; 2 E. South Street; ncsymphony.org
Watch the Wolfpack vs. Fighting Camels
Hut, hut, hike! It’ll be orange versus red at Carter-Finley Stadium when the NC State Wolfpack take on another North Carolina team, Campbell University’s Fighting Camels, in from nearby Buies Creek. Gather a group to tailgate before the game, where you can expect to see fans with appetizing grill set ups, lawn games, ice-cold beverages — and possibly Mr. and Mrs. Wuf mingling with the crowd.
Oct. 4 | Time TBA; From $100; 4600 Trinity Road; gopack.com
Shop Raleigh Little Theatre’s Annual Costume Sale
Looking for some out-of-the-box inspiration for Halloween this year? Head to Raleigh Little Theatre for its annual costume sale, where they unload pieces from the last year’s worth of productions. Search through their archives of broaches, vintage hats, belts, complete costumes and other theatrical props to build your own unique outfit come Oct. 31. All proceeds benefit this long-running city-operated theater. Oct. 4 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Free to shop; 301 Pogue Street; raleighlittletheatre.org
Tour the Triangle Parade of Homes
Get an up-close look at gorgeous new custom homes in Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties, for free! Swoon over cool kitchen hardware or brilliant lighting, find inspiration for an outdoor living project or, if you’re on the market, get to know your future home builder. More than 200 homes will be open for the public to walk through at your own pace. As part of the tour, you can also take advantage of seeing eight remodeled homes on the Remodelers Home Tour (on October 11 & 12), a subcategory of the Parade. October 4-5, 10-12 and 17-19 | 12 – 5 p.m. Free; various locations; triangleparade.com; remodelershometour.com
Check Out Wake County’s Natural Areas
Some of the best places to play outdoors in the Triangle are courtesy of Wake County. From the mountain bike trails at Harris Lake County Park to the boat rentals at Lake Crabtree County Park to the environmental education center at Blue Jay Point, the county has made play a priority — as have county residents, who have approved, by wide margins, four open-space bond issues since 2000 for $211 million. But while you may be familiar with the county’s more developed parks — with a host of amenities from restrooms to paved parking to playgrounds — you may be less familiar with the county’s three nature preserves, all on the east side of the county. The preserves are more rustic in nature, with an emphasis on self-discovery rather than structured play. You park on gravel, you explore on natural surfaces, you take care of business in a porta-potty. But it means you can hike to a rock outcrop, paddle a swamp or, if you have one, ride a horse in these spaces — each a true departure from the day-to-day. Learn about them here.
See Burning Coal Theatre’s Once
If you were a fan of the ethereal Irish film Once — whose song “Falling Slowly” won an Academy Award in 2007 — then you’ll love this stage performance of the musical by Burning Coal Theatre. Based on the novel and play by Enda Walsh, the story follows an immigrant mother who hopes that her passion and gift for music will afford her family a better life. Along the way, she becomes involved with a talented, charming street musician — despite the complication that they’re both already in committed relationships.
Oct. 9 – 26 | Various times; From $20; 224 Polk Street; burningcoal.org
Enjoy Jazz and Architecture at Moon Over Modernism
NC Modernist is throwing its fundraising soiree, Moon Over Modernism, to celebrate its 18th anniversary. The cocktail party-style event will be at a noteworthy, newly completed modernist home, the Holton House, situated on 110 acres in North Raleigh. Enjoy live music by jazz group Peter Lamb and the Wolves, elevated hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer by Phillip Zucchino of The Wine Feed and, of course, a tour of the stunning home and property.
Oct. 11 | 7 a.m. – 11 a.m.; From $129; address disclosed to ticketed guests; ncmodernist.org
Celebrate our Indigenous Communities at the Inter-Tribal Pow Wow
Experience a day of music, crafts and dancing celebrating the legacy and culture of Indigenous communities in North Carolina. Enjoy a range of performances, including acoustic trio Mark McKinney & Co from Pembroke; Smokey River, a Coharie drum group from Clinton; and tribal dancers Nakya Leviner and Stevie Leviner of the Lumbee Tribe, from Maxton. In addition, the day will feature dance and drum competitions and local vendors.
Oct. 11 | 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Free; 1030 Richardson Drive; dixpark.org/powwow
Prep for a Full Fall in the Garden
This year, on Oct. 7, we will have a full moon, known as the Hunter’s Moon. Many full moon names date back to Native Americans, who used their cycles to keep track of the seasons. As the name might suggest, it is the time of year when folks traditionally prepare for the winter by hunting and gathering. While I won’t be out shooting anything, I’m certainly gathering a harvest from my garden. Cherish October!
Enjoy Fall Meditative Moments with Art at NCMA
As part of the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Mindful Museum event series, Fall Meditative Moments with Art will combine looking introspectively at works in the museum’s collection with seated yoga afterwards. Begin this session by reflecting on selected works that lend themselves to the fall season (think: landscapes, indoor warmth, moody colors), followed by a guided meditation session and gentle flow in the gallery.
Oct. 15 | 6 – 7 p.m.; From $16; 2110 Blue Ridge Road; ncartmuseum.org
Experience Carolina Ballet’s Seven Deadly Sins
Experience wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, lust, pride and envy, each brought to life through visceral choreography from the Carolina Ballet for the company’s premiere of Seven Deadly Sins. With music by famed New York composer Aaron Severini and choreography by Carolina Ballet creative director Zalman Raffael, it’ll be a tantalizing show.
Oct. 16 – 19, 25 & 26 | Various times; From $38; 2 E. South Street; carolinaballet.com
Experience the North Carolina Opera’s Cinderella
The North Carolina Opera will offer a company premiere of a beloved princess tale to kick off its 2025-2026 season. Written by composer Jules Massenet in the 1800s, Cinderella — or Cindrellon, in his native language — will be performed in French with English subtitles. The show lasts two and a half hours with an intermission. International award-winning opera singer and educator Nicole Cabell will play the title role as we follow her on an enchanting, romantic journey from rags to royalty.
Oct. 17 – 19 | Various times; From $33; 2 E. South Street; ncopera.org
Celebrate The Great Raleigh Cleanup’s Backyard Birthday Bash!
The Great Raleigh Cleanup is a grassroots nonprofit that organizes group trash pickups, from combing natural areas like banks of Walnut Creek for bottles and tires to gathering post-concert debris at Red Hat Amphitheater. This month, they are celebrating five years (and nearly 300,000 pounds of trash collected!) with a Backyard Birthday Bash at Coastal Credit Union Amphitheatre. True to its mission, the celebration kicks off with a community cleanup along nearby Rock Quarry and Sunnybrook Roads, followed by a party at the venue’s Backyard VIP Club. There, enjoy tunes from DJ StricklyVybez, drinks, food, prizes and more. Pre-registration is required.
October 18 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Pay what you can; 3801 Rock Quarry Road; raleighcleanup.org
Take a Trip to the NC State Fair
“There’s No Time Like the Fair Time.” That’s the motto for this year’s NC State Fair, an annual event that brings thousands of people from all over the state for 10 days. Enjoy everything from agricultural and livestock displays to classic carnival rides and food to unique-to-North Carolina features like the Village of Yesteryear, which highlights state crafts like blacksmithing and basket weaving. Don’t forget to milk a cow and get a picture with this year’s prize-winning giant pumpkin, both a hit with the littles!
October 16 – 26 | Various times; From $10; 4285 Trinity Road; ncagr.gov
Support Mental Health at the Mighty Giveback Concert
In 2001, friends Tom Lyon, Phil and Shellie Gruber, Danny Rosin and Skip Mangum got together to create Band Together, a nonprofit that uses the power of live music for good. This year, they’re partnering with United Way Greater Triangle on a goal to raise $1 million for six local nonprofits including Foundation of Hope, Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake and Orange Counties and the National Alliance of Mental Health Wake County, with an emphasis on supporting mental health programs. This Mighty Giveback concert will be a throwback-themed show at Lincoln Theatre featuring Southern jam band legends Gov’t Mule (fronted by Warren Haynes of Allman Brothers Band), along with Edwin McCain and Young Gun Silver Fox.
Oct. 18 | 5 p.m.; From $53; 126 E. Cabarrus Street; bandtogethernc.org
Take the Kids to Hillsborough Street for Witches & Warlocks
Test out your Halloween costumes at a trick-or-treating extravaganza along Hillsborough Street. This spooky, family-friendly afternoon will include magic-themed games and a bubbling cauldron at Compiegne Park, candy stations in front of the Welcome to Hillsborough Street mural and a trick-or-treat bag and exclusive comic book by Jake Berlin at The Portal (while supplies last).
Oct. 19 | 2 – 5 p.m.; Free; Hillsborough Street between the Pogue and Logan Court intersections; hillsboroughstreet.org
Check out the International Jazz Open Jam at Transfer Co.
All skill levels are welcome at this lively jam session at Neptunes Parlour, part of a free series from Oak City Music and the North Carolina Department of Cultural and Natural Resources’ Come Hear NC program. This month, jazz band Gaston Reggio Group will headline the session, and guests are encouraged to bring their own instruments (or vocals!) to participate in some fun jazz improvisation. Hot Jamaican food will be available for purchase.
Oct. 21 | 8 – 11:30 p.m.; Free; 14 W. Martin Street; oakcitymusic.com
Watch the Pumpkin Flotilla at Cary’s Bond Park
Head to Bond Park for a pumpkin-themed afternoon with live music, food trucks and craft activities as you get in position to see Cary’s annual Pumpkin Flotilla. When the sun sets, an array of jack-o-lanterns will set off on the water for a silly and spooky display. The pumpkins will remain on the lake and, weather permitting, be relit the next day for extended viewing opportunities. To contribute your own jack-o-lantern, drop it off the afternoon before (just check the website first for guidelines, which specify the size and weight that will work on the flotilla platforms).
Oct. 24 | 4 – 7 p.m.; Free; 801 High House Road Cary; carync.gov
Hear the North Carolina Master Chorale’s Gates of Justice
The North Carolina Master Chorale will present Gates of Justice, a performance of two powerful works that explore spirituality and human dignity. The first is “Gates of Justice,” a piece by late jazz and composer Dave Brubeck with lyrics that include Scripture and writings by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s paired with “Credo” by Margaret Bonds, one of the first Black composers to gain recognition in the United States, which offers a musical interpretation of W.E.B. DuBois’s civil-rights manifesto of the same name. “These works respond powerfully to the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice, offering messages of hope, reconciliation and belief in human potential through bold musical voices,” says music director Alfred E. Sturgis.
Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m.; $35; St. Francis of Assisi Church, 11401 Leesville Road; ncmasterchorale.org
This article originally appeared in the October, 2025 issue of WALTER magazine.
