Join the 11th annual Out! Raleigh Pride Festival. | Photo by RALtoday
June is Pride month, a month dedicated to celebration and commemoration of the LGBTQ+ community. And Raleigh always pulls out all the stops. Use this guide to plan ahead and make the most of Pride month in the City of Oaks.
Festivals + parties
Pride Plaza Party | Friday, Jun. 2 | 6-9 p.m. | 227 Fayetteville St., Raleigh | Free | Join Raleigh Pride and Downtown Raleigh Alliance for a special celebration featuring a DJ, vendor market, and live entertainment.
Gag Presents: Girls Room Pride | Friday, Jun. 23 | 8 p.m. | Junction West, 310 S. West St., Ste. 110, Raleigh | $10-$20 | Dress to impress at this music and art-filled party created and curated by queer women.
Out! Raleigh Pride Festival | Saturday, Jun. 24 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Fayetteville Street, downtown Raleigh | Free | Take the family to enjoy this inclusive festival featuring live entertainment, local vendors and artists, food, a KidsZone, and a beer garden in support of the LGBT Center of Raleigh.
Learn + discuss
The Art of Queer Resistance Panel Discussion | Thursday, Jun. 8 | 6 p.m. | Artspace, 201 E. Davie St., Raleigh | Free | Register to join this panel discussion where LGBTQ+ visual and performing artists will discuss creativity, identity, and advocacy.
Pride: I Don’t Want to Say the Wrong Thing | Thursday, Jun. 8 | 7-8 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Learn the difference between gender, sex at birth, and sexual orientation, as well as important terms, concepts, and pronouns in the LGBTQ+ community.
Spaces for Queer Joy Panel Discussion | Thursday, Jun. 15 | 6-8 p.m. | CAM Raleigh, 409 W. Martin St., Raleigh | Free | Listen to local DJs and producers discuss the history of Raleigh’s Queer nightlight scene and the need to preserve them.
First Friday Market & Free Movie Night | Friday, Jun. 2 | 5-9 p.m. | Moore Square, 201 S. Blount St., Raleigh | Free | Stroll through the market, grab a snack from a food truck, and watch “Mamma Mia” on the big screen.
Go Fish Scavenger Hunt | Friday, June 2 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Nash Square, 200 S. McDowell St., Raleigh | $0-$32 | Compete to win prizes from local businesses during this nautical-themed hunt through the city.
Saturday, June 3
Paint, Sip & Dip | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 2-5 p.m. | Georgia Tardy Art Studio, 1011 S. Person St., Raleigh | $55 | Grab a paintbrush and a glass of wine to get creative with this local artist.
Summertime Beer Fest | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 3-7 p.m. | Clouds Brewing, 1233 Front St., Raleigh | $25-$60 | Celebrate more than 25 NC beers on tap; general admission gets you a commemorative glass and 10 beer tickets.
Jubilant! A Juneteenth Concert | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 5-8 p.m. | CAM Raleigh, 409 W. Martin St., Raleigh | $20 | Celebrate Juneteenth through art and song with Negro spirituals, African American art songs, and Black resistance music.
Dermot Kennedy The Sonder Tour | Saturday, Jun. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Red Hat Amphitheater, 500 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh | $35-$56 | Watch this Irish signer-songwriter perform live with special guest Mehro.
Sunday, June 4
Food Truck Rodeo | Sunday, Jun. 4 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | A Place at the Table, 300 W. Hargett St., Ste. 50, Raleigh | Pay-what-you-can | Vendors like Bulkogi and Season It Up Vegan will be set up across from the cafe for this second annual pay-what-you-can food truck rodeo.
Plan Ahead
Before the Altar Bridal Showcase | Friday, Jun. 16 | 5-8 p.m. | City Club Raleigh, 150 Fayetteville St., Ste. 2800, Raleigh | Free | Brides-to-be are invited to a free bridal showcase at City Club Raleigh, featuring the best view and vendors of Raleigh.*
SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. | Photo by Dean Mitchell
Whether you’re almost ready to retire or just (wisely) planning ahead, there are five tips that can help optimize savings when withdrawing your investments.
Test your knowledge:
Don’t dive straight into your 401(k) or IRA — you could cost yourself years’ worth of income in retirement savings. Tip or Mistake?
Don’t automatically claim Social Security benefits at age 62. Tip or Mistake?
Do start auto-withdrawing money from your 401(k) when you turn 59-and-a-half. Tip or Mistake?*
Taco ‘bout good news. Salt & Lime Cabo Grill is opening its second location tomorrow, June 3. The new space at 4800 Grove Barton Rd. features a large patio and Baja-inspired cuisine like key lime mahi-mahi, chicken tinga, and Santa Fe corn. Browse the menu.
Announced
Fireworks are coming back to Dix Park for the Fourth of July. The City of Raleigh announced that this year’s celebration will feature more activities for park-goers to enjoy like games, music, food trucks, and a firework show at 9:30 p.m.
Number
$1 million. That is the prize money for the winner of The Soccer Tournament running now through Sunday, June 4 at WakeMed Soccer Park. Dubbed as “The World Championship of 7v7 Soccer,” this fast-paced competition features players from around the world. Hospitality passes start at $250.
Active
Find your happy pace. Yesterday was Vault Craft Beer’s first run club. The group will meet at the taproom every Wednesday at 6 p.m. with varying routes between two and five miles.
Try This
Crank Arm Brewing is hosting a luau-style party on Sunday, June 18. Grab your festive island attire to head to this brewery-turned-tiki-inspired lounge featuring tunes by Vibe Xotica, piña colada slushies, and good eats.
Ranked
Caniacs, this one’s for you. WalletHub ranked the City of Oaks No. 10 on its 2023 list of the best cities for hockey fans. The rankings were determined based on 21 key metrics like NHL fan engagement, franchise value, and average ticket price.
Travel
Watch amateurs and celebrities play golf with Korn Ferry professionals in a three-day competition full of fun at the BMW Charity Pro-Am June 5–11 in Greenville, SC. See the schedule of events, roster of celebrities, and purchase tickets.*
Wellness
Ready to get your glow on, Raleigh? On June 6, Synergy Face + Body is hosting a Glowing Virtual Summer Event. Enjoy savings on treatments and participate in live demos, Q+As, and giveaways. Join from the comfort of your own home through the Synergy app.*
Eat
Fancy a Glasshouse Kitchen hookup? We know how you can get $20 off dinner — with an Offline membership, the social club that gives you money off two local restaurants each month. Hello, smoked bone marrow and Funghi pizza.Sign up with code “RALTODAY.”*
Try Bright Spot Donuts’ original glazed with buttermilk-vanilla. | Photo by RALtoday
Happy National Donut Day. It’s time to get that dough. Donuts, that is. From savory to cream-filled, we have a sweet tooth for these six Raleigh donut shops.
Baker’s Dozen Donuts | Try the apple fritters from this tasty neighborhood spot.
Bright Spot Donuts | Opened last spring, this neighborhood joint features creative donuts made with 100% organic flour.
Daylight Donuts | This sweet shop offers specials Tuesday-Friday like two donuts and a medium coffee for $4.85.
Sola Coffee Cafe | Though this neighborhood cafe is known for its coffee, the made-to-order Hot Minis nearly melt in your mouth.
Tepuy Donuts | This pop-up shop specializes in sourdough donuts. Try the jelly-filled or crème brûlée donuts made with 24-hour raised sourdough brioche dough.
My 5-year-old niece, Lottie, is performing in the CC & Company Dance Complex Gala at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium this weekend. Her Auntie Cat is so proud. Good luck to all of the dancers and performers at this weekend’s Gala.
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