Raleigh cultural events
28 upcoming. Triangle NC cultural events: Diwali, Oktoberfest, Greek festivals, lantern festival, international film and music, heritage celebrations.
TodaySaturday, October 17
9:30am to 2:30pmFree
The Corner @ NCSU CentennialAsian-owned vendors, Hong Kong-style mahjong, Chinese martial arts, K-pop and Bollywood dance, food, crafts, and performances at NC State Centennial Campus. Free with advance registration.
12 to 8pmFree
City PlazaFifth annual festival pouring wines from Lebanon, Armenia, France, Italy, Georgia, Spain, Chile, and Argentina and beers from Vietnam, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Kosovo, France, India, and the US, with international food vendors and a costume contest. Free admission; tastings extra.
5 to 8pmFree
Morrisville Community ParkTown of Morrisville Festival of Lights with cultural performances, diya and mandala painting, a DJ, and Indian food trucks. Free.
All day, through Oct 18
North Carolina Museum of ArtMajor NCMA exhibition on the art and culture of ancient Nubia, opening October 17 with a free community day October 18, on view through January 10 with related programming.
All day, through Nov 5Free
Duke ChapelInteractive Mexican remembrance installation at Duke Chapel with commissioned work by artist Ricky Armendariz, on view daily for five weeks. Free.
WednesdayOctober 21
7:30pm$30
Stewart TheatreNC State LIVE presents Lucia, a vocalist from Veracruz, Mexico, at Stewart Theatre. Open to the general public.
FridayOctober 23
6 to 8pm$125
North Carolina Executive MansionFormal gala celebrating 40 years of international friendship between Raleigh and its sister cities, with cultural booths, entertainment acts, and hors d'oeuvres, raising funds for youth scholarships and exchanges.
SaturdayOctober 24
11am to 7pm, through Oct 25
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox ChurchSmaller-format 2026 Greek festival with traditional Greek dance music, church youth and adult dance groups, and Greek food and drink.
SundayOctober 25
12 to 4pmFree
City PlazaFree Day of the Dead celebration with a Catrinas parade down Fayetteville Street, ofrenda and wall of memories, Aztec and folkloric dance, live music, Mexican crafts, and food trucks.
MondayOctober 26
6:30 to 8pm
Great Lawn Pavilion, Downtown Cary ParkEvening of Indian music, dance, and community celebrating the Festival of Lights on the park's Great Lawn Pavilion.
TuesdayOctober 27
7pm
Carolina Theatre of DurhamNew York dance company fusing classical ballet with Mexican folklorico in a Dia de Muertos-inspired production honoring indigenous, Afro, and Hispanic roots. Time from ticket listings; not stated on the theatre page.
FridayOctober 30
1 to 6pmFree
Randleigh Dairy Heritage MuseumNC State Howling Cow's fall festival at the dairy museum: free interactive dairy stations, yard games, photo ops, and ice cream and cider from the MooMobile. Costumes encouraged; hayrides $10, butter-making $5.
6 to 7pm$30
French Cultural CenterAlliance Francaise wine tasting with Burgundy-born expert Laurent Drouhin: six wines (three red, three white) touring the Burgundy region. Bilingual. $30 member, $40 non-member, limited to 12 participants.
SaturdayOctober 31
9amFree
Centro Mexican RestaurantFree Day of the Dead street festival following the 14th annual 5K, with music, traditional dancers, local vendors, food, two community altars, and a dance-off costume contest. Benefits the Fox Road Boys and Girls Club. The 5K race itself costs $40-45 to run.
ThursdayNovember 5
All day
Mordecai Historic ParkTraditional British Guy Fawkes Night bonfire at Mordecai Historic Park with food and drink included, the story of the Gunpowder Plot, and the burning of a Guy Fawkes effigy. Tickets $25 adults, $10 children. Note: the organizer page lists conflicting times, so no time is shown.
FridayNovember 6
6:30 to 9pm
City of Raleigh MuseumAnnual Day of the Dead cultural celebration at the museum with a community altar, art, and performances.
SaturdayNovember 7
3pm
Smedes Parlor @ St. Mary's SchoolFrench pianist and 2024 Malmo Nordic Piano Competition Grand Prix winner performing in the 13th annual festival honoring Polish pianist-statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Tickets about $20 to $30.
SundayNovember 8
3pm
St. Mary's SchoolGreek pianist performing in the 13th annual festival honoring Polish pianist-statesman Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Tickets about $20 to $30.
ThursdayNovember 12
7pm
Memorial HallLegendary Japanese Butoh company Sankai Juku performs TOTEM: Void and Height, the final work of choreographer Ushio Amagatsu, a meditation on memory, nature, and the passage of time.
SaturdayNovember 14
3pm
North Carolina Museum of Art - SECU AuditoriumItalian pianist, the first Italian to win First Prize at the Iturbi International Piano Competition, performing in the 13th annual Paderewski tribute festival at the NCMA SECU Auditorium. Tickets about $20 to $30.
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