Hours, tickets + parking

• Gates are open from 12-11 p.m. on opening day (Thurs., Oct. 13) and then are open daily Monday-Thursday + Sunday from 9 a.m.-11 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-12 a.m.
• Pro tip: Purchase tickets online to save a little moolah (read: more money for food + rides).
• Park at either 4501 Reedy Creek Rd. or 5766 Chapel Hill Road Rd. and then hop on the free shuttle which runs Thurs., Oct. 13 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. + Fri., Oct. 14-Sun., Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. until one hour after the gates close.
• Free parking is also available on State Fair, Carter-Finley Football Stadium, and PNC Arena properties. Pro tip: Take Wade Avenue to the Edwards Mill Extension.

Foodie foray

• Appetizer | DoriEsquites, Douglas Farms | Mexican street corn served in a bag of crushed Doritos.
• Main course | Fried NC Flounder Tacos, Waypoint Oyster Bar | Two fried NC Flounder tacos with house-made corn and black bean salsa, topped with an avocado cilantro cream sauce.
• Dessert | Pumpkin Spice Mini Pancakes, Hot Chix Hotcakes & Chicken | Fluffy mini pancakes covered in pumpkin sauce, icing, and pumpkin spice seasoning + served with whipped cream for dipping.

Adventurous finds

• Appetizer | Rattlesnake Corn Dog, Pioneer Wagon | Battered rattlesnake sausage, deep fried + topped with avocado sauce.
• Main course | Thanksgiving Stuffed Turkey Leg, Hickory Tree Turkey BBQ | Smoked turkey leg stuffed with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce — optional: candied yams, collards, or mac-n-cheese.
• Dessert | Frozen Banana Pudding Tacos, Chick-N-Que | Fried tortilla filled with frozen house-made banana pudding, topped with whipped cream, a Nilla Wafer + drizzled with caramel.

• Yoga in the Park | Mon., Oct. 10 | 6 p.m. | Dorthea Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr., Raleigh | Free | Enjoy the nature and tranquility of Dix Park with a yoga class to increase strength and flexibility.

• Sammy Rae & The Friends | Tue., Oct. 11 | 7 p.m. | The Ritz, 2820 Industrial Dr., Raleigh | $25.00 | Listen to this collective of eight musicians perform live.
• WALKinar - A Commute Smart Raleigh Vision Zero Event | Tue., Oct. 25 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Virtual | Free | October is WALKtober! Learn about Raleigh’s Vision Zero efforts and how to become a sighted ally to the visually impaired community at this virtual WALKinar (fancy name for webinar).*

• Carolina Hurricanes vs. Columbus Blue Jackets | Wed., Oct. 12 | 7 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh | $40.00+ | Watch the Canes take on the Blue Jackets.
• RN to BSN On-Campus Information Session | Wed., Oct. 26 | 3-7 p.m. | William Peace University, 15 East Peace St., Raleigh | Free | Prospective students can attend this session to learn about William Peace University’s nursing program, including the application process, start dates, course info + more.*

• Dracula | Thu., Oct. 13-Sun., Oct. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South St., Raleigh | $27.15+ | Watch the Carolina Ballet perform this Halloween favorite with music composed by J. Mark Scearce.

• Oktoberfest party | Fri., Oct. 14 | 6 p.m. | Capital Club 16, 16 W Martin St., Raleigh | $10.00 | Join this 13th annual Oktoberfest party the celebration featuring Bavarian food, beer, and oompah — reservations are not required.

• 71º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain ⛅

• A new report was released last Thurs., Oct. 6 on PNC Arena improvements. The report by CAA ICON included potential developments for hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and a concert venue, encompassing 80 acres. No timeline has been determined + the plans still have to be approved. (The News & Observer)

• Congratulations to Wake County school system’s 2022-23 Principal of the Year Dr. Annice Williams + Assistant Principal of the Year Mary Taylor. Annice has been the principle at Bugg Elementary School in Raleigh since 2020. (The News & Observer)

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Proclaimed in 2017 by Gov. Roy Cooper, this national holiday honors the past, present, and futures of Native people throughout the US.

• This news is bananas. The Durham Bulls will host the Savannah Bananas — a dancing exhibition baseball team — on July 14. See for yourself + set a presale ticket reminder. 🍌
• Let’s hear it for the home team, RAL. What better way to celebrate football season than with a tailgate surrounded by friends. Here are four tips for hosting a tailgate fit for champs. 🏈 *

• Celebrate all things Halloween at the Mordecai Historic Park Pumpkin Picnic festival on Sat., Oct. 29. Enjoy carnival games, inflatable slides, and costume contests at this family-friendly event.

• Gentle Care Animal Hospital (3435 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary) is offering free microchipping for all pets this month in partnership with Cary Animal Control. Call 919-387-3435 to make an appointment. 🐶 (WRAL)

• The fall season means it’s time for pumpkin spice + everything nice. Make this easy, 5-minute Pumpkin Pie Smoothie before work for a refreshing pumpkin fix. 🍂*

• To celebrate the Cary location’s first FAB WEEK, clients who visit Synergy Face + Body (105 SW Cary Pkwy., Ste. 100, Cary) now through Sat., Oct. 15 will be entered for a chance to win $900+ of Botox®. See more specials.*

• Have you ever heard that those who feel good, do good? The Goodsnewspaper focuses on just that by celebrating good news and providing guidance on how you can make a meaningful difference in the world. Sign up to receive the monthly publication in print, digitally, or both.*

• Become bilingual — but make the learning process fun. Babbel’s bite-size, 10-minute lessons are designed to fit into your busy life, helping you learn a new language in as little as three weeks. Pro tip: Get 55% off your subscription for a limited time. 🗺️ *

Important dates + deadlines

• Fri., Oct. 14 | Voter registration deadline
• Thurs., Oct. 20 | In-person early voting begins
• Tues., Nov. 1 | Deadline to submit an absentee ballot request form
• Sat., Nov. 5 | In-person early voting ends at 3 p.m.
• Tues., Nov. 8 | Election Day + absentee ballot return deadline

Early voting sites in Raleigh

• Green Road Community Center, 4201 Green Rd.
• John Chavis Memorial Park Community Center, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• Lake Lynn Community Center, 7921 Ray Rd.
• NCSU Talley Student Union, 2411 Dunn Ave.
• Optimist Park Community Center, 5900 Whittier Dr.
• Southeast Raleigh YMCA, 1436 Rock Quarry Rd.
• Wake County Board of Elections Office, 1200 N. New Hope Rd.

Local ballot items

• Raleigh Mayor | Mary-Ann Baldwin (incumbent), DaQuanta Copeland, and Terrance Ruth
• Raleigh City Council | Find your district and view candidates.
• Wake County Board of Commissioners | Find your district and view candidates (pages 9-10).
• Wake County Board of Education | Find your district and view candidates (pages 10-13).
• Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor | Learn about SWCD and view candidates (pages 13-14).
• Parks and Recreational Facilities Bonds | Vote yes or no for Wake County to allocate $275 million for improving, expanding + constructing parks, greenways, and recreational facilities. Learn more.