Raleigh Weekend

The Local's Guide to Things to Do in Raleigh, NC

Your Weekend Guide to Raleigh

Your go-to weekend cheat sheet for Raleigh. Think of it like having a well-informed friend pointing out the coolest shows, food popups, and reason-to-get-out-of-bed plans — all tailored to what’s happening locally this weekend.

Saturday on Glenwood: Costumes, Cocktails, and Haunted Bar Hopping

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For my fellow Halloween fanatics, I see dusting off the costume bin a week early in your future… 🔮

On Saturday, Oct. 24, Glenwood South turns into an all-out street spectacle for the Raleigh Official Halloween Pub Crawl. Check in at The Dogwood Bar & Eatery to snag your wristband, which scores you free cover, themed drink discounts, and automatic entry into the night’s costume contest at several of the strip’s liveliest spots.

The crawl runs at your own pace from 3 to 11 p.m., giving you plenty of time to track down craft pours, mingle with fellow goblins, and pose for the roving photographers before the night gets hazy. (If you already have plans, they’re running encore rounds on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, too.)

📍 The Dogwood Bar & Eatery – 610 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27603
📅 Saturday, Oct. 24 | 3–11 p.m.

💰 Ticketed (From $16.73; advance purchase required, 21+)
📎 Tickets and Info via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/raleigh-official-halloween-pub-crawl-2026-by-bar-crawl-live-tickets-1987572378488

Cue up your rideshare app early and hydrate between stops. May your drinks stay cold and your face paint survive the night!

Cast Shadows on Sunday with Ghost Lore, Backstage Secrets, and Gothic Cocktails at Martin Marietta Center

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Wandering through backstage corridors after dark is easily the coolest way to lean into spooky season without getting chased through a corn maze.

On Sunday, Oct. 25, the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts is dimming the house lights for “Curtain Call From Beyond: Theatre Haunts & History”. The 50-minute guided walking tour navigates dimly lit backstage passages and historic performance halls while guides share theatrical superstitions, local ghost stories, and the building’s hidden history.

Your ticket also opens the door to The Lounge, which is getting decked out in candlelight and moody, gothic-inspired decor for the evening. Each admission includes one complimentary signature cocktail or mocktail, making for a sophisticated Sunday nightcap. Note: The tour is recommended for ages 12 and up.

📍 Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts – 2 E. South St., Raleigh, NC 27601
📅 Sunday, Oct. 25 | 8 p.m. (Accessible tour at 7 p.m.)
💰 $42.35 (Includes tour and one signature beverage)
📎 Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/curtain-call-from-beyond-theatre-haunts-raleigh-north-carolina-10-25-2026/event/2D006513C63624EB

Keep your eyes peeled near the wings and hold your cocktail steady if the room suddenly turns cold. May all your phantom sightings come with five-star theatrical flair!

Take a Tuesday Field Trip to Banish Flat Hair, Sip Wine, and Master the Perfect Curl in Cary

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Admitting defeat to your curling iron well into adulthood is a surprisingly universal experience.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, venture over to Cary for a styling intervention with the pros from Roots. Salon and Wellness. They’re teaming up with the popular champagne bar RBF for a hands-on “Don’t Curl Up and Die” workshop designed specifically for those of us still mystified by irons, wands, and styling serums.

For $20, you’ll score live demonstrations, personalized help to nail those elusive waves, and light snacks to fuel your learning. The bar will be pouring up drink specials, making this the ideal excuse for a productive, glamorous midweek outing.

📍 RBF – 210 East Chatham St., Suite 10, Cary, NC 27511
📅 Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 6 p.m.
💰 $20
📎 Purchase Your Ticket: https://rbf.wine/menu/rbfchampagne/group_47b095be-deba-4677-a1e3-f90875a507d0/item-1027-dont-curl-up-and-die-curling-hair-101_1c823e52-069b-4a74-9ff6-6d03a31583d3

Grab a glass of bubbles and prepare to finally conquer your hot tools. May your new bouncy waves last well through the weekend!

Survive Haunted Mansions and Shifty Friends on Wednesday in Holly Springs

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Spooky season is prime time for tabletop drama, especially when one of your pals secretly turns against you… 😲

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, ditch the usual midweek Netflix queue and head south of Raleigh to The Perch in Holly Springs. The neighborhood board game lounge is hosting a free “Learn to Play” night featuring Betrayal at House on the Hill, a cult-classic thriller where players explore an eerie, tile-by-tile mansion.

The game starts as a cooperative effort, but the real fun begins when the inevitable “haunt” triggers and reveals one person at the table as a villain or monster. The staff will guide newcomers through every room discovery and omen roll, so you can dive right into the mystery without deciphering a 20-page rulebook first.

📍 The Perch – 1125 McChesney Hill Loop, Holly Springs, NC 27540
📅 Wednesday, Oct. 28 | 6 p.m.
💰 Free
📎 Event Details at The Perch: https://thirdperch.com/community/

Choose your game-night allies wisely and keep one eye on the exit. May the omen rolls be ever in your favor when the lights go out!

Thursday Tails: Pups, Pours, and Prizes at Boatman Spirits

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There is arguably no purer joy in this world than seeing a golden retriever dressed as a hot dog while sipping a well-crafted drink.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, grab your four-legged best friend and head over to the patio at Boatman Spirits Co. in Seaboard Station for a Halloween dog costume contest that actually gives back. As you enjoy $10 classic cocktails, a panel of judges will evaluate the furry fashionistas, awarding a $150 gift card to the top dog’s human and a $100 gift card to the runner-up.

Even if you don’t have a pup of your own to dress up, it’s worth swinging by to support the cause and boost your serotonin levels. A portion of the evening’s sales will directly benefit Freedom Ride Rescue, and they will be on-site with a few adoptable dogs looking for their forever homes.

📍 Boatman Spirits Co. – 713 Seaboard Station Dr., Raleigh, NC 27604
📅 Thursday, Oct. 29 | 6 p.m.
💰 Free to attend (Drinks and donations encouraged)
📎 Event Info at Boatman Spirits Co.: https://www.boatmanspirits.com/

Start practicing your dog’s runway walk and bribe them with treats now. May the most ridiculous canine costume win!

Friday Five: Six Non-Fair Escapes for Movies, Music, and Autumn Fun 🍂

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The aroma of powdered funnel cakes is officially blanketing West Raleigh, but braving the Blue Ridge Road traffic gridlock is far from your only option this week. Whether you prefer open-air cinema under downtown high-rises, midnight shadow casts, or an eco-friendly wardrobe overhaul, you can celebrate the mid-autumn chill without standing in an hour-long line for a turkey leg. I’ve even tossed in a bonus solid mid-week option in Cary for your consideration. Y’all have a good week/end, Raleigh!

Friday Night “Movies on the Bloc” Return

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Fall evenings in downtown Raleigh are practically begging us to spend more time outside.

Get ready to cozy up under the stars on Friday, Oct. 16, because Movies on the Bloc are officially back. The courtyard at 321 Coffee in Bloc[83] is transforming into an outdoor cinema for a family-friendly movie night featuring “Hoppers”.

Admission is completely free, and every guest scores a complimentary drink courtesy of First Horizon Bank. Just remember to pack your favorite blanket or lawn chair to claim your spot before the movie rolls.

📍 321 Coffee Bloc[83] Courtyard – 615 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603
📅 Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 | 7 p.m.
💰 Free
📎 https://321coffee.com

Grab your crew and secure a good patch of concrete early. We’ll see you there with a latte in hand!

Late-Night Time Warps, Fishnets, and Cult Energy This Friday at The Rialto

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October in Raleigh just isn’t complete without a midnight pilgrimage to Five Points in fishnets and eyeliner.

Keep the “Rockytober” momentum rolling on Friday, Oct. 16, as local shadow cast The Low Down Cheap Little Punks brings “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” back to the historic Rialto Theatre. Whether you are a seasoned creature of the night who knows every call-back by heart or a first-timer experiencing the bedlam for the very first time, this October series is the Triangle’s quintessential immersive cult tradition.

Doors open at 11:30 p.m. ahead of the midnight showing, giving you plenty of time to grab a drink from concessions, pick up theater-approved prop bags, and stake out a good seat before the floor show takes over. It is rowdy, unapologetically campy, and hands-down one of the most electric community vibes you will find along Glenwood Avenue all spooky season.

📍 The Rialto Theatre – 1620 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27608
📅 Friday, Oct. 16 | 11:30 p.m. – 2 a.m.
💰 $11
📎 https://therialto.com/events

Don’t dream it, be it—just remember to leave your squirt guns and uncooked rice at home. See you in the aisles ready to jump to the left!