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.

A Saturday Kickoff and Carnivorous Kits for the Courage

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Ready to trade your lounge pants for some pitch-side energy? The NWSL season officially lands in Cary this Saturday, March 14, 2026, as the North Carolina Courage hosts Racing Louisville for their highly anticipated home opener. Expect a high-octane atmosphere at WakeMed Soccer Park as the squad looks to set the tone for the 2026 campaign in front of the home crowd.

This season’s “vibe check” comes courtesy of the newly dropped “Become” kit, which you can see in the gif above. This striking third jersey is a love letter to the Tar Heel State, featuring a “Blue Void” base and a pattern inspired by the Venus flytrap—a plant native only to the Carolina coast. It completes the club’s “Place to BE” trilogy: Believe, Belong, and now, Become.

📍 First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park | 101 Soccer Park Dr, Cary, NC 27511
📅 Saturday, March 14 | 7 p.m.
💰 Tickets start at $25
📎 https://www.nccourage.com/

Whether you’re there for the world-class footy or just to see those flytrap kits in the wild, it’s the place to be. Just try not to get snapped up by the fashion.

Art in Bloom and Above at This Saturday Stargazing Event

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If the Glenwood South crowds aren’t your speed, look up—the museum park is putting on its own celestial show. The NCMA is taking its “Art in Bloom” celebration to a much larger canvas: the night sky. On Saturday, March 14, 2026, the museum is leaning into its zodiac theme of “Air” by partnering with the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center and the Raleigh Astronomy Club for a free community stargazing event. It’s a rare chance to see the Museum Park transformed into an open-air observatory after dark.

The evening is more than just looking through telescopes; you’ll find guided constellation activities and a massive outdoor floral installation by Bloom Works of Raleigh. If you arrive early, you might even snag some Art in Bloom giveaways (while they last). The best part? The floral installations will stay rooted in the park through Wednesday, March 18, so you can revisit your favorites in the daylight later this week.

📍 North Carolina Museum of Art | 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
📅 Saturday, Mar. 14 | 7:30 p.m.
💰 Free
📎https://ncartmuseum.org/events/art-in-bloom-community-day-2/?occurrence=2026-03-14

It’s basically a cosmic bouquet for your Saturday night. Just bring a blanket and a little bit of wonder…

Italian Sunday Supper at Figulina

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If you’ve been looking for an excuse to cancel your Sunday scaries, a trip to Emilia-Romagna (by way of the Warehouse District) is a pretty solid one. While the rest of the city recovers from parade + partying on Saturday, Figulina is turning its kitchen into a love letter to Northern Italy. On Sunday, March 15, the restaurant is ditching its usual brunch service for a one-night-only a la carte dinner highlighting the soul-warming dishes of the Emilia-Romagna region. Think of it as the ultimate comfort food send-off before the new work week begins.

The menu is a curated journey through Italy’s “Food Valley,” featuring heavy hitters like Tagliatelle Bolognese, Tortellini en Brodo, and the crowd-favorite Gnocco Fritto. If you’re feeling festive, start with the meat-and-cheese aperitivo platter and ask about the wine pairings designed to highlight the region’s Lambruscos and Sangiovese. It’s an intimate, focused dinner that trades the typical Raleigh Sunday for a seat at an Italian family table.

📍 Figulina | 317 S. Harrington St., Raleigh, NC 27603
📅 Sunday, Mar. 15 | 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
💰 A la carte pricing
📎https://figulinaraleigh.com/

Pro tip: Don’t skip the Zuppa Inglese for dessert. It’s the kind of sweet ending that makes Monday morning feel significantly further away.

Image Credit: Jeff Bramwell

Looking Ahead: Join Us Friday, March 27, to Support No Woman, No Girl at A Night for Dignity

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Dust off your tuxedo and your dancing shoes—we’re closing the month with a mission that’s as glamorous as it is impactful. Raleigh Weekend is pleased to serve as a media sponsor for this upcoming event!

Since 2021, the No Woman, No Girl Initiative has been a grassroots powerhouse in Raleigh, ensuring that a crisis or life transition doesn’t mean losing access to basic hygiene. From responding to Hurricane Helene in Western NC to launching leadership programs for young girls, they’ve already supported over 8,500 neighbors. Now, they are looking toward their next chapter: the Dignity Program, an in-person shopping experience that provides a 60-day supply of essentials to families in a way that centers on respect and hope.

On Friday, March 27, we’ll gather at Raleigh Union Station for “A Gala for Dignity.” This black-tie-preferred evening features a VIP experience, a live auction, and an after-party, to boot. The goal is to raise $300,000 to fund the first 1,000 shopping experiences at their new Family Distribution Center. They are already over 70% of the way there—let’s help them cross the finish line and bring dignity to those who need it most.

📍 Raleigh Union Station | 510 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601

📅 Friday, March 27 | 5:30 p.m. (VIP) | 7 p.m. (Dinner) | 9 p.m. (After Party)
💰 Gala Tickets Begin at $250, Sponsorships Available
📎https://www.nowomannogirl.org/

If you can’t make the gala but still want to be a hero, you can ship hope directly to their shelves via their Amazon Wish List. It’s the easiest way to make a difference before your morning coffee is even finished.

Friday Five: Friday Hoops, Birthday Brews, and a Weekend of Local Magic

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Is it just me, or does it feel like the ACC Women’s Basketball tourney totally snuck up on us? 👀 Consider me your official local hype girlie, officially clocking in for duty because our local teams are dominating the court. 🏀 The strategy for today is simple: post up at Players Retreat—or your favorite neighborhood watering hole—to watch our local powerhouses do their thing. We’ve got #1 Duke at 11 a.m. (on ESPN2), #4 NC State at 1:30 p.m. (on ACCN), and #3 UNC at 7:30 p.m. (on ACCN).

Once the buzzer sounds, the weekend keeps rolling with Raleigh Brewing’s anniversary, outdoor fun for the kids, girl-power-packed markets in Downtown Raleigh, vegetable-growing classes, and more. Whether you’re hunting for fossils, sipping mimosas while scavenging for vintage finds, or learning to ditch the grocery store by starting your own seed plots, there is zero excuse to stay on the couch.

As always, pick one thing or pick five. Just don’t sit at home scrolling and saying there’s “nothing to do”—I’ve already done the homework for you!

But First… Register for Your Chance to Win Tickets to Touch-A-Truck® 2026 🚒🚜

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Raleigh Weekend is proud to return as a media sponsor of the 11th Annual Junior League of Raleigh Touch-A-Truck®, and we’re giving one lucky winner a four-pack of tickets ($40 value) to this can’t-miss spring tradition.

Big trucks. Loud horns. Tiny humans in absolute awe.

📅 Saturday, April 11
⏰ 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
📍 The Exchange Raleigh—1000 Social Street, Raleigh, NC 27609

And this year? It’s bigger and better.

Touch-A-Truck® will be held at The Exchange Raleigh, featuring a dedicated 1,500-space parking garage, smooth guest flow, expansive layout, and easy access for attendees. (Translation: minimal stress, lots of exploring.)

Register For Your Chance to Win Tickets

Friday & Sunday: Double the Girl Power, Double the Local Finds

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If your weekend plans don’t involve supporting the women who keep Raleigh’s creative engine humming, you might want to rethink your itinerary.

The celebration of Women’s History Month kicks off with a powerful one-two punch, starting with “Feminist First Friday” on Friday, March 6. Centered at Hartwell on West South Street, the Downtown Raleigh Alliance is hosting a high-energy night featuring a women-owned vendor market, live music, and even complimentary professional headshots with hair and makeup touch-ups. It’s the ultimate city-wide gallery crawl upgrade, complete with flash tattoos and career support from Dress for Success to ensure you’re looking and feeling your most “boss” self.

The momentum carries straight into the weekend for the second annual Raleigh Women’s Market, taking over Moore Square on Sunday, March 8. In honor of International Women’s Day, this vibrant, community-driven festival scales up the celebration with a curated lineup of female makers, artists, and women-led food trucks in the heart of downtown. Whether you’re browsing handmade jewelry or soaking in live performances by local musicians, it’s a feel-good Sunday dedicated to the impact of women-led businesses across the Triangle.

📍 Hartwell Raleigh (Friday) | Moore Square (Sunday)
📅 Fri, March 6, 5–9 p.m. | Sun, March 8, 2026, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
💰 Free Admission (Vendor and food prices vary)
📎 Feminist First Friday – https://downtownraleigh.org/first-friday-raleigh/about | Raleigh Women’s Market – https://www.facebook.com/events/1147515780604695

Think of this as your official Raleigh “Power Weekend”—come for the headshots, stay for the food trucks, and leave with a bag full of local treasures. Just try not to spend your entire paycheck before Sunday afternoon!

Saturday Scavenging: Mimosa Sips and Nomad Trips

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If you’ve been looking for a sign to declutter your life, this couple is about to make you look like a minimalist amateur.

Local adventurers Brenna and Jason Dragos are officially trading their Raleigh zip code for a converted Sprinter van and a nomadic trek from Alaska to Argentina. To fund the dream and lighten the load for their two pups, they are hosting “Not Your Grandma’s Estate Sale 2.0” on Saturday, March 7. This isn’t a dusty collection of mothballed quilts; expect a curated party featuring mimosas, music, and high-end gear that definitely won’t fit in a van.

The inventory is a Raleigh treasure hunter’s dream, ranging from Lululemon and Peter Millar threads to professional camera gear and handmade furniture. Whether you’re hunting for vintage comics, high-quality power tools, or “fancy” art supplies, the prices are fair, and the vibes are celebratory. Since they hit the road on March 15, everything—and we mean everything—must go to a good home.

📍 9413 S Mere Ct, Raleigh, NC 27615
📅 Saturday, March 7, 2026 – Sunday, March 8 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
💰 Free entry (Cash and Venmo accepted for hauls)
📎 https://www.facebook.com/events/1974858246798631

Come for the Lululemon, stay for the mimosas, and try not to feel too jealous of their upcoming 10,000-mile commute. Just remember: if you buy their couch, you have to be the one to carry it out!