CAROLINADAZE festivities will begin at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14. | Photo by Garrett Poulos
A new arts + music festival is coming to Raleigh this September to drive young people to vote. Put on by nonpartisan nonprofit Common Cause North Carolina, CAROLINADAZE has a packed lineup all in the name of Gen Z civic engagement.
Common Cause is pro-democracy, nonpartisan organization with over 50 years of history and 30,000 members in NC. According to an interview with INDY Week, this festival is intended to encourage young voters to go to the polls.
Rocking Red Hat Amphitheater on Saturday, Sept. 14, headliners include Janelle Monáe, Tierra Whack, Helado Negro, and NC-based artists Moses Sumney, Lute, and Elora Dash, making for a lineup of R&B, rap, neo-soul, and folk.
In addition to the stacked lineup, local community leaders + nonprofits from the 919 will be on Lenoir Street — which will be shut down for the fest — alongside You Can Vote providing voter registration services and arts vendors. Think: posters by local artists, candle makers, vintage finds, and more.
You can get tickets for any spot at the amphitheater for $15 with code NC15 when you click “Unlock” on Ticketmaster. Plus, look out for a subsequent fest in Asheville this October.
CAROLINADAZE is happening ahead of the city council’s vote Tuesday, Sept. 17 on whether to move Red Hat a block south + keep the amphitheater downtown. Raleighites can voice their thoughts on this issue at the Tuesday, Sept. 10 public comment session.
Childish Gambino | Friday, Aug. 30 | 8 p.m. | PNC Arena | $75-$200+ | See the actor, writer, and rapper perform hits like “Redbone” and “This is America.”
15th African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County | Saturday, Aug. 31-Sunday, Sept. 1 | 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. | Fayetteville Street | Free entry | In addition to an eclectic lineup of live R&B, jazz, hip hop, and gospel, shop handmade wares + traditional crafts.
Quails from the Crypt | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 5 p.m. | Quail Ridge Books | Free | This creepy crawly book club will discuss “Maeve Fly” by CJ Leede.
Sunday, Sept. 1
Neptunes Comedy | Sunday, Sept. 1 | 6:30-9 p.m. | Neptunes Parlour | $10 | Watch these nationally touring comedians at this once a month comedy show.
Raleigh Ghost and Urban Legend Walk | Sunday, Sept. 1 | 8-9 p.m. | Williams Courtyard | $10 | This spooky tour shares some of Raleigh’s scariest true crime and ghost stories.
Historical preservationists are concerned about the land next to Prince Hall lodge, a historic center of Black life in Raleigh since 1907, being sold to become a seven-story hotel. City council voted in favor of the hotel last week while preservationists worry about erasing Black history. Check out Preservation Raleigh for more info. (The News & Observer)
Sports
See how NC State did in its home opener against Western Carolina and stay tuned-in to the Wolfpack all season long with our guide to the season. (ESPN)
Coming Soon
A top jewelry retailer is coming to Cary’s Fenton. Kendra Scott plans to open fall 2024 as the third store in the Triangle — expect the brand’s signature Elisa necklaces and more chic jewelry soon. (The News & Observer)
Community
Speaking of Red Hat Amphitheater, read up on 11 burning questions about the upcoming vote with Raleigh Convention Center and Performing Arts Complex Executive Director Kerry Painter, including what will happen in the case of a tied vote and the “DPAC moment.” (Raleigh Magazine)
Fun Fact
A UNC student has returned from space as the youngest woman to cross Earth’s atmosphere. Karsen Kitchen, 21, experienced zero gravity for over a minute thanks to Blue Origin. Kitchen proceeds her father, a UNC professor, as the second person in her family to visit space. (ABC 11)
Learn
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Finance
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The City of Raleigh was named one of the 2023 Best Workplaces for Commuters. | Photo by the City of Raleigh
GoRaleigh will resume fare collection this Sunday, Sept. 1 after four years of free bus transit. Standard single day fare is $1.25, and you can purchase a seven-day or week-long pass for a better bang for your buck.
For a cash- and card-free ride, commuters are encouraged to use the new Umo app to pay their fares, and those ages 13-18 and 65 or older will ride free through Umo. You can also purchase passes at the GoRaleigh Station, and day passes can be purchased as you board your bus.
GoRaleigh’s bus tracker allows you to see your vehicle in real time to help you plan your route accordingly. Mobile app Umo also allows for easy travel, a system-wide view of buses, and trip planning with a variety of options. Plus, track your bus’s live location online.
You wouldn’t believe it... but last night was my first NC State football game. Our guide to Wolfpack football is going to be relevant all season, but you might want to grab your tickets to games now before they sell out.
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