6AM City In-house

Celebrate the Lunar New Year locally 🏮

The NC Chinese Lantern Festival lights up the Triangle
A dragon lantern at the 2021 Chinese Lantern Festival.
Last year’s Chinese Dragon lantern was longer than three school buses at approximately 200 feet. | Photo by Liz Condo Photography
The Chinese tradition of Lantern Festivals dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD). On the fifteenth day of the first month of the Lunar New Year, colorful lanterns are illuminated to symbolize hope, respect, and prosperity. When the tradition first began, most of the ancient lanterns were fairly simple, but today, they are more ornate and embellished with complex designs.

Raleighites can join the 2,000-year-old celebration at the annual NC Chinese Lantern Festival from Fri., Nov. 18 to Sun., Jan. 8 at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphiteatre. Last year, the festival broke records by attracting more than 200,000 visitors. The event will feature 40+ new displays, all crafted by Chinese artisans and comprised of hundreds of parts and thousands of lights.

A giant octopus lantern at last year's NC Chinese Lantern Festival.

Each lantern is created by hand with silk fabric.

Liz Condo Photography


Each larger-than-life lantern is designed with materials shipped from China into the NC ports in Wilmington. The silk fabrics will be stretched by hand over steel frames and lit with LED lights. You may notice lots of red. The prominence of this color in the designs symbolizes good fortune in the new year.

After exploring the lanterns, don’t miss the Chinese cultural performances on the main stage every night. If you get hungry, there will be rotating food trucks on site throughout the event.

Tickets are available now ($11-35).
Flowers Plantation

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Today
  • Trivia Tuesday | Tue., Nov. 1 | 6-7 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join Quizmaster Chris to compete for bragging rights and perhaps learn something cool; questions feature a mix of science facts, current news, pop culture, and scientific discoveries.
Wednesday, November 2
Thursday, November 3
  • Taste & See | Thu., Nov. 3 | 5-9 p.m. | Refugee Hope Partners Welcome Center, 6625 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh | $15.00 - $45.00 | Taste Afghani Baklava, African Sambusa, chai tea, and bites from local restaurants including Vidrio, Taverna Agora, a’Verde, and MOFU Shoppe during this fundraising event.
Friday, November 4
  • 6th Annual Day of the Dead Celebration | Fri., Nov. 4 | 6-9 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh | Free | This family-friendly event will feature an altar, live music, dancing, crafts, face painting, samples of Day of the Dead bread, and traditional hot chocolate.
  • Startup Holiday Market | Fri., Nov. 4 | 6-9 p.m. | Raleigh Founded Warehouse, 310 South Harrington Street, Raleigh | Free | Shop from local startups, pop-up shops, and vendors to ring in the holiday season.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
100+ MORE EVENTS
6AM City In-house

Now Open: Enrollment for 2023-24 Wake County magnet school programs
Four children kneeling and playing around wooden building blocks.
Wake County’s magnet schools are designed to challenge students to think creatively and solve problems while being exposed to new experiences. | Photo provided by Wake County Public School System
Calling all parents. We recently gave you a look into WCPSS’ magnet school programs, which can be found in 56 schools locally — now it’s time to enroll your student and apply for magnet schools.

Here’s how enrollment works:

1️⃣ Find your base school using the address lookup tool

2️⃣ Begin online enrollment

3️⃣ Finalize enrollment by bringing required documents to your base school

4️⃣ Complete the application process.

WCPSS is accepting applications until Wed., Jan. 25, 2023. 🎒 *
LEARN MORE

Weather
  • 76º | Showers | 48% chance of rain 🌧️
Development
  • Raleigh company Atlas Stark is developing a two-story medical office building in Cary. Shady Grove Fertility will be the sole tenant of the 21,000-sqft space, located near the site of Apple’s planned campus. 🏢 (Triangle Business Journal)
Biz
Community
  • Are you new to the City of Oaks? Meet others in the same boat and build friendships at the Newcomers Club of Raleigh’s meetup this week. During First Friday Coffee, you’ll learn about the social organization, its interest groups, and all-member events. ☕
Cause
Job
  • A Place at the Table — Raleigh’s first pay-what-you-can cafe — is hiring front of house staff and a line cook. To apply, email the team your resume and cover letter.
Sports
  • After another weekend full of football, two Triangle teams have moved up in the AP Top 25 College Football Poll. UNC is ranked No. 17 and NC State is No. 21. Next, the Tar Heels will face Virginia and the Wolfpack will play Wake Forest this Sat., Nov. 5. (AP News) 🏈
  • We want to make sure that you’re catching all the sports coverage you need to join the conversation. Tell us what kind of sports content you want to see in RALtoday. The ball is in your court.
Ranked
  • In a recent study, Wallethub ranked Raleigh the best city for veterans to live. Metrics like the share of military skill-related jobs, veteran income growth, and availability of VA health facilities were considered. Durham came in at No. 14 on the list.
Health
  • Eat too much Halloween candy last night? This cordless water flosser can help clean up those pearly whites. It is more effective than traditional dental floss and includes two flossing tips and two pressure settings. Bonus: This battery operated + cordless flosser is travel-friendly. 🦷*
Real Estate
  • Nestled at the end of the road sits this 4 BD, 4.5+ BA home that boasts a main-level primary suite, a large bonus room + cathedral ceilings in the living room. Entertain on the screened porch or relax in the sunroom overlooking the spacious, shaded backyard. Take a video tour. 👀 *
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PNC Arena survey results 👀

Changes some Raleighites want to see at PNC Arena
A rendering of a potential rooftop bar at PNC Arena.
A rooftop bar could be added to PNC Arena. | Photo courtesy of the Centennial Authority
Last week, we shared insider information about PNC Arena’s upcoming renovations and possible ancillary development. Here are some ideas you, our readers, shared via our survey:

What would you like to see added to PNC Arena?
  • Healthier food options
  • A rooftop sports bar with big TVs
  • Local restaurants open on non-event days
  • Larger common areas to improve crowd flow
  • Wider seats with more legroom
  • Food service at your seat
  • More TVs in common areas to watch the action while waiting in line
  • Sportsbook
  • More ticket entryways around the arena
  • More lighting in the parking lot
  • Outdoor water feature
What would you like to see included in a new development built around the arena?
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants, bars, and breweries
  • Parking garages
  • Sports bar
  • Designated space for tailgating
  • Outdoor music venue
  • Retail (yoga studio, Target, Pottery Barn)
  • Outdoor spaces like a park, with greenway access
  • Public transit station
  • Rideshare drop-off and pick-up locations
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anne.

Editor’s pick: While we’re in the spirit of giving, consider dropping off some food to a Little Free Pantry. I know I have some cans collecting dust. 🥫

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? This is what I’d do during a perfect Raleigh day.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Cat George, Anne Tate, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Charis Painter | Advertise with us.
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