Soco Falls in North Carolina’s Maggie Valley is practically visible from the road. | Photo by RALtoday
It’s time to start thinking about a fall trip to the mountains. Managing Editor Eric here — for years, my family has made a fall foliage trek to Bryson City, renting one of many picturesque cabins up in the clouds to look down on the splashes of vibrant color. About a five-hour drive from Raleigh, its proximity to Nantahala National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park make it an ideal getaway, whether you plan to hike or just relax + observe.
If you go, stop at The High Test Deli & Sweet Shop (order a Hard Top frozen dessert sandwich). Plan an excursion to Cherokee, where you can peruse a range of small shops while keeping an eye out for Nikki’s Frybread & Grill food truck. Nearby, Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a great place to see elk, and Soco Falls is another picturesque roadside stop.
Need an escape a bit closer to home? Check out our guides to Durham and Roanoke.
Asked
Asked
Where do you go for leaf spotting?
This can be locally, in NC, a neighboring state, or even across the country.
Hopscotch Music Festival | Friday, Sept. 5-Saturday, Sept. 6 | Downtown Raleigh | $180+ | Celebrate 15 years of Hopscotch with headliners Earl Sweatshirt, My Morning Jacket, Sparks, and more indie rockers throughout downtown Raleigh.
First Friday — Indie Rewind | 6-9 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum | Free | Head to the museum to celebrate 2010s independent music + 15 years of Hopscotch.
Theatre Costume and Equipment Sale | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | 2241 Dunn Ave., Raleigh | Price of purchase | Help clean our NC State University Theatre’s costume + equipment stock and score vintage clothing, historic costume pieces, craft supplies, and lots more.
NC State vs. Virginia Cavaliers Football | 12 p.m. | Carter-Finley Stadium | $30+ | The Pack is back at Carter-Finley to take on the Cavaliers — can they keep up after last week’s win?
Shrek Rave (18+) | 7 p.m. | The Ritz | $28+ | Bring your ogres, donkeys, and princess to the swamp (AKA The Ritz) for a can’t-miss dance party.
Sunday, Sept. 7
Cary Underground Market | 12-4 p.m. | Bond Brothers, Cary | Free | MAKRS Society and Oak City Music Collective present this market and concert with 50+ local vendors and bumping live music.
Benson Boone: American Heart World Tour | 8 p.m. | Lenovo Center | $70+ | You know this back-flipping “American Idol” star from “Beautiful Things” and “Mystical Magical.”
Monday, Sept. 8
Brewery Trivia Night Mondays | 7-9 p.m. | Ponysaurus Brewing Co. Raleigh | Free | Grab your friends, a pint, and pizza to test your knowledge — arrive early to snag a table.
Kali Uchis — The Sincerely, Tour | 7 p.m. | Lenovo Center | $50+ | Dance along to “Telepatía” and “See You Again” live in concert.
🏡 Inside the new homes of this live-work-play-learn community
Presented by Tri Pointe Homes
Life feels a little easier when everything you need is just outside your door. | Images courtesy Tri Pointe Homes
Get ready to step inside The Townes at NoVi, a new neighborhood of deluxe two-story townhomes in Pittsboro, NC.
Mark your calendar: the model home grand opening is Saturday, Sept. 13, with sales kicking off soon after.
Part of the 8,500-acre Chatham Park community, these high-end spaces connect homeowners to walkable villages of restaurants, entertainment, bike paths, and natural parks along the Haw River.
Play and exercise at the brand-new YMCA across the street
Stroll scenic trails and greenways that connect to nearby pickleball courts
On this day in 1996, Hurricane Fran hit Raleigh with 8.8 inches of rain, the then-highest rainfall ever recorded in the Triangle. Hurricane season is here — read through our preparedness guide ahead of this year’s storms.
Eat
ICYMI, chef Vivian Howard is bringing her Southern eats to the forthcoming St. Pierre in Raleigh Iron Works. St. Pierre, a wine bar from Oakwood Pizza Box’s Anthony Guerra, is set to open soon, and we can’t wait for a bite from Howard. (Raleigh Magazine)
Try This
Is your cooking worthy of a blue ribbon? Enter the NC State Fair’s Home Chef Challenge with a new food challenge every day of the fair, from Pig on a Stick to Sugar Showdown. Registration is open till Sept. 15 — learn more about how to earn your ribbon.
Open
A new legal cannabis biz is now open in Glenwood South with ties to a local farm. Haven Herb Garden Bar is now open with coffee drinks, THC + CBD infused mocktails, and cannabis products sourced from Haven Farm in Knightdale as an alternative to alcohol in the nightlife district. (Triangle Business Journal)
Edu
In the 2027-2028 school year, Raleigh’s North Forest Pines Elementary and Pleasant Union Elementary will move from a multi-track, year-round school year to a single-track, year-round calendar. Instead of one group being out of school at a time, all students will be on the same schedule but with different breaks than traditional calendar schools. (The News & Observer)
Older Adults
Take a day trip to High Point inspired by “Murder in the Market” by Jeane Joyner, a mystery inspired by the furniture-making hub on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Read the book before you go + learn more about High Point’s history and see locales from the book.
This new work-play-live-learn community feels like its own small town — with walkable streets connecting to retail hubs, natural parks, and even a brand-new YMCA. See inside + imagine living where everything’s this close.*
Community
Hey RAL, love local businesses as much as we do? Nominations for our RALtoday’s Best competition open on Sept. 15. Help us gather who is the best of the best in each of our categories. Stay tuned for more details.
Shop
Score this cap sleeve tee for an effortless transition from summer to autumn wardrobing. It features a chic V-neck design and is available in 12+ colors. Bonus: It’s under $17.*
It’s First Friday, and Hopscotch isn’t stopping the fun in downtown Raleigh. Look through everything happening tonight, including a vintage shopping experience at Copperline Plant Co., flash tattoos at Le Dive, a Skate Raleigh pop-up in front of Kings, and so much more.
The chance to learn a new language during Babbel’s Best Sale of the Year. Turn your morning read into a new daily habit — with Babbel, 10 minutes a day builds real conversation skills you can use on your next trip or at the international festival downtown. Get lifetime access for $199 across all 14 languages.*
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Happy Friday from Hopscotch! Even with the festival, this is a packed weekend, and if you’re not seeing anything in today’s newsletter, don’t forget to check out our Plan Ahead guide.
