Special Edition

We’ve got 20+ events every Raleighite should have on their radar this summer. First, we want to talk to you about how you can support this free newsletter — and why it matters in 2024.

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Plan Ahead

☀️ Best summer ever, here we come

A ton of people walking on Fayetteville Street with vendors lining the streets.

Plan ahead for the next big festival in Raleigh. | Photo by RALtoday

Summer’s here and Raleigh is so ready. From live music and Memorial Day celebrations to hiking and festivals, summer is when the 919 comes alive.

Get ready to get outside with this guide featuring 25 summer events — including ideas for the Fourth of July — happening between May and August.

Festivals + music

Got to Be NC Festival, NC State Fairgrounds | Friday, May 17-Sunday, May 19 | This festival celebrates NC agriculture like none other with farm-themed activities and all the good food you can imagine.

Raleigh’s International Food Festival, Fayetteville Street | Saturday, June 1 | More than 50 food trucks representing various cultures and cuisines will flood downtown alongside an international dance party.

CaribMask, Fayetteville Street | Saturday, Aug. 17 | This lively Caribbean fest inspired by Carnival includes a parade, international food vendors, and more.

Arts, conventions, shopping, and more fun

Animazement, Raleigh Convention Center | Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26 | This three-day family-friendly convention celebrates all things anime.

Sunflower field blooming, Dorothea Dix Park | Mid-July | Covering five acres of one of Raleigh’s biggest parks, these sunflowers are planted in mid-May to bloom just at the right time. Write this one down so you know to go before it’s all over your Instagram feed.

Sporting events

The Soccer Tournament, WakeMed Soccer Park | Wednesday, June 5-Monday, June 10 | Men’s and women’s soccer teams from across the world will face off in single elimination matches with one team taking it all. With 56 representing, keep an eye on Wrexham (owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney), the US Women, and your hometown NC Courage and NCFC squads.

2024 US Open, Pinehurst Golf Course | Thursday, June 13-Sunday, June 16 | The course will host the US Open for the fourth time in the competition’s 124 years — watch golf’s toughest competitors tee off approximately an hour from downtown.

See full event list

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