Raleigh Festivals & Shows
Raleigh's southern charm and hospitality is accentuated with its ever-growing list of annual festivals and shows. It really doesn't matter what time of year it is, you're sure to find a gathering that piques your interest or maybe one that will enable you to expand your horizons. Either way, these events have proven to be benchmark happenings that both locals and visitors look forward to experiencing every year.
The Krispy Kreme Challenge is a good-natured charity event that is held every February at North Carolina State University. The proceeds go to benefit the North Carolina Children's Hospital. The event involves participants starting at the NC State Belltower on Hillsborough Street, running two miles to the Krispy Kreme store of Raleigh, eating one dozen doughnuts, and then running back to the Belltower in under one hour. An event that is obviously more fun for spectators than participants, the benefits for the area hospital is what it's really all about.
Address: 2701 Sullivan Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607 - MAP
Web: www.krispykremechallenge.com
The
Raleigh Antiques Expo is one of the largest gatherings of collectible antiques in the country. Vendors and buyers alike travel many miles for this event held every January. D'Amore Productions puts this high profile event together; this show is the largest of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Address: 500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 - MAP
Phone: (336) 924-4359
Web: www.visitraleigh.com
July's
Appetite for Art includes an auction and silent auction, as well as a wine and food celebration that works to increase the awareness and funding of the arts in Raleigh. The businesses that support the artistic scene also benefit from the sponsorship opportunities and high visibility of this well-received event.
Address: 501 Cleveland Street, Raleigh, NC 27605 - MAP
Phone: (919) 838-9635
Web: www.da4a.net
More than 700 athletes, 500 coaches and nearly 600 volunteers meet every June for the
Special Olympics North Carolina Midsummer Tournament. Add in the large number of family members as well as friends and supporters and you've got an event of epic proportions. These very special kids work so hard all year long for this opportunity to shine in their sport of choice, and the continued support and love from the community is inspiring not only for them, but for their families, teachers, and friends as well.
Address: 3712 Benson Drive, Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27609 - MAP
Phone: (919) 785-0699
Web: www.specialolympics.org
Art is in the air every May as nearly 70,000 people convene in Raleigh for the annual
Artsplosure. It is one of North Carolina's most well-attended and well-respected outdoor art events. The event is held in the Moore Square Park area in downtown Raleigh and features more than 250 visual and performance artists. The weekend-long celebration is typically held on the third weekend of May and is free to the public.
Address: 313 Blount Street, Suite 200B, Raleigh, NC 27601 - MAP
Phone: (919) 832-8699
Web: www.artsplosure.org
The
Got to be NC Festival is slated for every May and is held at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The event lives up to its title, as it aims to celebrate North Carolina's cultural heritage. With such a wide variety of influences to choose from, the food, art, and curios for sale are all equally important in relation to each other as well as the overall cultural identity of the area. It's a fun, multicultural gathering that tells many of North Carolina's stories in such a truly memorable and interactive way.
Address: 1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607 - MAP
Phone: (919) 733-7887
Web: www.ncagfest.com
The
North Carolina State Fair attracts an impressive 800,000 people every year, making it the largest annual event in North Carolina. Over the course of the 11-day event, arts, agriculture, cultural exhibits and an amusement fairway all offer something fun to do and see every minute that you are there. Also, the event always features performances by nationally recognized talent.
Address: 1025 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC 27607 - MAP
Phone: (919) 821-7400
Web: www.ncstatefair.org
Looking for that Six Million Dollar Man action figure you had when you were a kid? Or maybe you want to see how much that Star Trek Phaser Gun replica will go for? Find answers to those and lots of other similar questions at the
North State Toy and Hobby Show, held every September. Over 70 exhibitors come together to buy, sell and trade many unique, one-of-a-kind collectibles you won't find anywhere else.
Address: NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC 27695 - MAP
Phone: (919)821-7400
Web: www.insidepitch.com
