Hopscotch Music Festival fills the streets of Raleigh. | Photo by Garrett Poulos
Lucky you. You just found RALtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Raleigh each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this May.
Live music and shows
“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” Drone Light Show | Saturday, May 3 | 8:30 p.m. | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek | $24+ | Experience a unique telling of the classic novel through a 45-minute light show.
The Marbles Kids Food Festival is perfect for young “Top Chefs” in training.
Photo courtesy of Marbles Kids Museum
Festivals
Marbles Kids Food Festival in Partnership With The Creative Kitchen | Saturday, May 3-Sunday, May 4 | Times vary | Marbles Kids Museum | $25 | Get the kiddos in on the fun of this hands-on weekend filled with activities like cooking workshops and a balanced plate scavenger hunt.
More local events
BBQ & Bubbly | Saturday, May 31 | 1-4 p.m. | Fenton, Cary | $65 | Head to Fenton for an afternoon of barbecue from local eateries like Sam Jones BBQ + Longleaf Swine and pair your meat with bubbles from watering holes including The Raleigh Wine Shop and Trophy Brewing.
Raleigh Earth Day 2025 | 4-10 p.m. | Flowers Field at Dorothea Dix Park | Free | Explore local earth-conscious vendors + organizations while enjoying live music and activities — plus, end the day with a viewing of “The Wild Robot”
Vinyl Night with DJ Fat Thor | 8-11 p.m. | Incendiary Brewing Taproom | Free | Get into the tunes of DJ Fat Thor and bring your own vinyl to spin.
Saturday, April 26
Farmers Market to Table: A Culinary Adventure | 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Home for Entertaining, Cary | $120 | Pick seasonal produce from a local farmers’ market and create a fresh meal with chef Kim.
Craft It: Spring Mason Jar Candles | 2-3 p.m. | Richard B. Harrison Community Library | Free | Create a spring-themed candle in a reusable mason jar.
Spring Kitchen and Bath Tour | Through Sunday, April 27 | Times vary | Wake County | Free | 15 gorgeous homes. 2 days. Endless inspiration. The Spring Kitchen & Bath Tour returns April 26–27, offering free self-guided tours through stunning kitchens and baths across Wake County.*
Sunday, April 27
Triangle Springfest 2025 | 12-5 p.m. | Moore Square | Free | Support small local businesses at this lively fest featuring food trucks and a live DJ.
Lean Into Lyrical Workshop | 2-4 p.m. | Current Wellness | $25 | Dive into this traditional dance class and learn a 90-second combination — all levels are welcome.
Four NC State standouts with Raleigh and Triangle ties — Anthony Belton, Timothy McKay, Davin Vann, and Demie Sumo-Karngbaye — were among 2025 NFL Draft hopefuls. Support local talent and explore the details of last night’s draft. (Axios Raleigh)
Community
Check this out. Solar-powered EV chargers are now available in Raleigh’s Anderson Point, Brier Creek, and Carolina Pines. The free-to-use BEAM stations aim to make eco-friendly transportation more accessible and convenient for the community.
Biz
Blush Cowork, the Triangle’s first coworking space with on-site childcare, received a $70,000 NC Idea Ecosystem grant to expand support for working parents and entrepreneurs. One of 18 winners statewide, the funding will help support programming and resources in its mission to enhance NC’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Concert
“I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” Hans Zimmer, the composer behind movie soundtracks like “The Lion King” and “Dark Horse”, is bringing “The World of Hans Zimmer” tour to the Lenovo Center on Sept. 12. Presale starts Thursday, May 1 + general tickets go on sale Friday, May 2.
Plan Ahead
Local French bistro Jolie is accepting brunch reservations for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Get ahead of the curve and solidify your plans with plenty of French dishes like a croque madame, made of black truffle mornay, ham, and gruyére.
Giveaway
Here’s a giveaway worth syncing up for: We’ve partnered with Tri Pointe Homes to give one lucky reader a basket of Apple tech (worth over $1,000) to celebrate the Tredenham townhome community in Brier Creek. Enter to win before Tuesday, May 1 at noon.‡
Real Estate
What’s your dream office? If you’re thinking skyline views, spacious, and walkable to downtown Raleigh hotspots, check out these lists from Trinity Partners.*
It looks like Blackbird Books & Coffee is gearing up for Indie Bookstore Day tomorrow, April 26. Stop by to support a local bookstore and grab some freebies while you’re there.
Answered
Answered
When will the first Raleigh Wide Open debut?
The new festival will be Oct. 3-4, and 61% of you chose the right answer. In the meantime, check out more of PineCone’s Bluegrass events and what to expect from Raleigh Out Loud.
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