Fall is in full swing across the Triangle, and that means one thing: festival season is here! From downtown Raleigh to the streets of Durham and the heart of Wendell, there’s no shortage of live music, food, art, and family-friendly fun. Whether you’re looking to dance to bluegrass, explore a Harvest Festival, or take over the streets with bikes and art, these upcoming events are the perfect way to celebrate the season and connect with your community.
Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival | Raleigh
Raleigh Wide Open presented by PNC Bank is finally here! This downtown festival is rooted in Raleigh, featuring live bluegrass, Americana, gospel, folk and R&B plus an art market, food, drink and fun for the whole family. The music along Fayetteville Street runs from 5 to 11 p.m. on Friday, October 3, and from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday.
Best of all, it's FREE.
Check out the full lineup and view a map of the festival here.
Wendell Harvest Festival | Wendell
Nothing says fall like a Harvest Festival! With over 100 vendors and eighteen food trucks filling the streets, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
The festival kicks off at 9 a.m., and the Harvest Festival Parade begins at 10 a.m., circling the festival grounds and setting the tone for a day of celebration. Music lovers can head to the Main Stage in Ashley Wall Square, where performers entertain all day, wrapping up with a performance by The Band of Oz from 6 to 9 p.m.
Kids will love the dedicated Kid’s Village, featuring inflatables and plenty of activities to keep little ones entertained. And for foodies, the festival’s trucks and vendors will serve tasty bites all day until 9 p.m. Check out the vendors and food trucks here.
Move-A-Bull City | Durham
Move-A-Bull City is Durham’s largest open streets celebration where they clear out the cars and open up 1.2 miles of Blackwell, Corcoran, and Foster streets in downtown Durham for people power. We invite all Durhamites to walk, bike, roll, dance, skip, or boot scoot your way through downtown. Participants can participate in pop-up art and thrift markets, join in on a dance or fitness class, enjoy a snack from dozens of local vendors, and much more spread across different activity zones.
Open Streets are programs taking place all over the world to encourage the public to think differently about how streets can be used for other activities besides driving. Learn more about all the different activation zones that are designed to highlight a specific kind of engagement at the Move-A-Bull website.
No matter your interests, the Triangle has something for everyone this fall. These events are a reminder that our communities thrive when we come together - so mark your calendars, grab your friends and family, and make the most of all the local fun this season has to offer!
