TGIF! Time to kick back and soak up those rays (with SPF, of course). From refreshing cocktails to tasty bites and can’t-miss events, your “Summer Lovin’” weekend starts right here. So grab your sunnies, and let’s dive into your Friday Five! 🌞
But First… One Last Shot at Willco 🍸
There’s a new hidden gem in Downtown Raleigh: William & Company’s brand-new back patio! Whether you’re in the mood for a cocktail in the sun, a tamale under the stars, or a night of good tunes, this new hangout spot has the perfect vibe.
Still haven’t checked it out? Now’s the time—we’re giving away a $25 Willco gift card in honor of National Tequila Day (which was yesterday)!
🎉 Enter by Thursday, July 31, for your chance to win a round (or two) on us.
Bite Into Downtown’s Best!
Your taste buds called—Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week is ON! Now through Sunday, August 3, dozens of your favorite spots are serving up drool-worthy deals and exclusive menus you won’t find any other time of year. It’s the ultimate excuse to hop around downtown and try something new (or hit up that go-to fave again). On our list? Mulino, La Terrazza, Vidrio, Wye Hill, and more. Let’s eat!
📍 Downtown Raleigh
💸 Reservations recommended
Let’s Taco ’Bout the Latest, Tastiest Lineup
I don’t know about you, but I could eat Mexican food (with a marg, of course) every night—so this lineup was made for me. Check it out:
🌮 Taco for a Cause at Little Rey (All July)
Little Rey is teaming up with Prime Barbecue’s Pitmaster Christopher Prieto for July’s Taco for a Cause: Smoked Beef Barbacoa with avocado crema, pickled red onion, and cilantro on a corn tortilla. 100% of proceeds benefit the Southern Smoke Foundation—so eat good and do good.
🍸 National Tequila Day at Superica (July 22–28)
Superica is turning up the heat all week with tequila flights and cocktail specials you won’t want to miss. Sip through the Corazon Flight (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo), savor the Don Julio Flight (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, plus Cristalino), and indulge in featured cocktails like the bold Alamo Gold Old Fashioned, the iconic Superita—an Austin-style Mexican martini—and the elevated 100 Grand Margarita.
With over 50 tequila options on deck and an all-out celebration of this expressive, terroir-rich spirit, Superica’s making National Tequila Day a weeklong event worth toasting.
🍉 Watermelon Week at Superica (Aug. 1–7)
Your favorite fruit is getting the spotlight! Superica’s bringing back Watermelon Week with juicy, refreshing features like frozen and on-the-rocks watermelon margaritas, a Mexican candy cocktail, and watermelon salad.
📍 Little Rey: 1101 E Whitaker Mill Rd, Suite 102, Raleigh & Superica: 25 Fenton Main Street, Suite 110, Cary
💸 Reservations & walk-ins welcome
Head to Cary for a Barrel of Laughs with Steve-O
Steve-O is bringing the chaos to Cary! 🔥 The “Jackass” icon hits the stage at Raleigh Improv for two nights only—Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26—as part of his no-holds-barred Crash & Burn Tour. Expect wild stories, raw comedy, and a whole lot of WTF moments. Tickets are going fast, so snag yours while you can!
📍1224 Parkside Main St, Cary
🎟 Tickets available via TicketWeb | Fri. 7 p.m. · Sat. 6:30 p.m.
Bloom Baby, Bloom! 🌻
Dix Park is turning 10, and you’re invited to celebrate on Saturday, July 26, at the Birthday in Bloom Party! Swing by in the morning (9–11 a.m.) for family fun, pollinator activities, and live music—or join the evening party (6–9 p.m.) with glowing blooms, food trucks, drinks, and more. It’s free, pet-friendly, and full of sunshine vibes.
📍 1700 Umbstead Drive
🎉 Free to attend
Look Who’s Blowin’ Into Town 🎶
If you know me, you know I’m an old soul at heart—and nothing hits quite like a good throwback (blame “A Complete Unknown” for jumpstarting my Bob Dylan phase 😉).
The Outlaw Music Festival 10th Anniversary Tour is rolling into Raleigh on Sunday, July 27, bringing a stacked lineup to Coastal Credit Union Music Park: Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Turnpike Troubadours, Charles Wesley Godwin, and Willow Avalon. Expect a full day of toe-tapping Americana, surprise collabs, local eats, crafts, and that signature outlaw energy.
📍 3801 Rock Quarry Road
🎟️ Tickets available now via Ticketmaster | Show starts at 3:45 p.m.
Friday Five: Clear Your Calendar (and Your Trunk)
Ready to shop, sip, laugh, and maybe geek out a little? This weekend in Raleigh is serving up all the summer energy—from sidewalk sales in two of my favorite shopping districts, to beer-fueled book fairs, to a massive toy and comic expo that has something for every generation (looking at you, Pokémon parents 👀). Whether you’re clearing your calendar or your trunk—or both—we’ve rounded up five can’t-miss happenings.
Without further ado, here’s your Friday Five…