Please note that the following events will create an influx of people to the area. If planning your wedding or event at the same time, book hotel rooms and excursions as early as possible as space will be limited!

  • GalaxyCon Raleigh – GalaxyCon Raleigh is a local Comic-Con.  It’s a 4-day festival with celebrities, creators, voice actors, cosplayers, entertainers, fan groups, gamers, panelists, and streamers.
  • Raleigh’s International Food Festival – Celebrate Raleigh’s diverse community designed to promote cross-cultural exchange and promote respect between cultures. This very popular festival will feature a wide variety of international food, international beer and wine, international performers, and more.
  • African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County – The premiere annual Labor Day Weekend celebration of African American culture as expressed through art, music, food, and community engagement. Held in downtown Raleigh along Fayetteville Street.
  • Hopscotch Music Festival – The Hopscotch Music Festival is a 3-day music festival in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina featuring more than 120 bands.
  • Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival – Held in Cary, NC, and Wilmington, NC, the festival is 2 days with over 60 beers, 40 bourbons, and a ton of barbeque. For more information about the Eastern Carolina details, visit the Cary Festival page and Wilmington Festival page.
  • Brewgaloo – Brewgaloo is a 2 day festival featuring over 110 craft breweries from around NC and partnering with local food trucks, local vendors, and local bands to bring you North Carolina’s largest craft beer festival!
  • IBMA Bluegrass Live! – IBMA Bluegrass Live! is the largest FREE bluegrass festival featuring award-winning legends, top-notch emerging acts, and unforgettable collaborations.
  • Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival – Raleigh, North Carolina’s premier visual and performing arts festival
  • Raleigh Christmas Parade – Attracting an estimated 60,000 spectators from across the state to downtown Raleigh, the Parade is the largest single-day event in Raleigh each year.
  • First Night Raleigh – North Carolina’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration. Tens of thousands of people flock to downtown Raleigh each December 31st for the family-friendly community celebration of art, presented by Artsplosure.