Downtown Raleigh comes alive this Thursday with a full day of creative expression, live performances, and nightlife energy. Whether you’re in the mood for craft cocktails, comedy, classical dance, or karaoke, October 16, 2025 offers something for everyone. Here’s your complete DoRaleigh.com guide to everything happening in the heart of the city.
🍸 Daytime Vibes & Happy Hour Specials
$10 Classic Cocktails at Boatman Spirits Co.
📍 All Day | Boatman Spirits Co.
Kick off your Thursday with timeless cocktail favorites — all for just $10. From Manhattans to Old Fashioneds, Boatman’s bartenders are serving up perfection all day long.
Lunchbox Lecture at the City of Raleigh Museum
📍 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | City of Raleigh Museum (COR Museum)
Take a cultural lunch break downtown and learn about Raleigh’s fascinating history. This free lecture series connects the city’s past to its present with engaging local stories.
💃 Performing Arts & Creativity
Opening Night: Carolina Ballet presents The Seven Deadly Sins
📍 7:30 p.m. Evening | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
The Carolina Ballet debuts its newest production — a stunning performance exploring morality, temptation, and desire through movement. Matinee performances also available at 2 p.m.
Fiction I with the Redbud Writing Project
📍 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Redbud Writing Project
Writers unite! This creative workshop helps you hone your storytelling skills in a welcoming, hands-on environment guided by local instructors.
Leela Improv Theatre: Drop-In Improv Class
📍 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | Leela Improv Theatre
Explore your spontaneous side in this interactive class designed for all skill levels. A perfect way to laugh, connect, and step out of your comfort zone.
🎧 Music, DJs & Nightlife
DJ Terminator X at Boatman Spirits Co.
📍 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. | Boatman Spirits Co.
Turn up the volume! The legendary DJ Terminator X brings high-energy beats and classic hip-hop grooves to one of Raleigh’s hottest bars.
The Veldt with Actual Humans and DJ Kraze/DJ Pangean
📍 8:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. | Slim’s Downtown
Experience a night of genre-bending music at Slim’s, where The Veldt’s dream-soul sound blends with Raleigh’s underground scene for a show that’ll keep you moving.
Zenith Raleigh Downtown Karaoke
📍 9:00 p.m. | Zenith Raleigh
Own the mic! Sing your favorite hits in one of the city’s most stylish downtown karaoke lounges.
Thursday Night Music Karaoke at Wolfe & Porter
📍 8:00 p.m. | Wolfe & Porter
Classic karaoke meets a cool neighborhood bar vibe. Grab a drink and join the fun — or just cheer on the performers.
🍻 Community, Comedy & Connection
Singles Mingle at Good Day Good Night
📍 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Good Day Good Night
Meet new people, make new friends, or find that special someone at this relaxed social event. A great way to connect over cocktails and good conversation.
Oak City Comedy Festival Presents: Laugh & Lounge Longleaf
📍 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. | Longleaf Hotel
Wind down the evening with laughter as local comedians light up the Longleaf Lounge with sharp wit, bold jokes, and great vibes.
Free Gussie’s Wings & Thursday Football
📍 8:15 p.m. | Wolfe & Porter
Watch Thursday Night Football while enjoying free Gussie’s wings — the perfect pairing of sports, snacks, and social energy.
👻 After-Dark Adventures
Sip n’ Stroll Raleigh Ghost Tour
📍 7:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. | Raleigh Walking Tours
Uncover Raleigh’s haunted history on a guided ghost tour through downtown. Sip, stroll, and discover eerie tales from the city’s storied past.
Make Your Thursday Unforgettable in Downtown Raleigh
From afternoon lectures to evening cocktails, improv classes to late-night DJs, Downtown Raleigh is brimming with entertainment this Thursday. Whether you’re exploring solo or planning a night out with friends, there’s no better place to experience local culture, creativity, and community.
Explore, engage, and enjoy — because every night is a chance to DoRaleigh.
Your week, your city, your fun — stay connected with everything happening in the Raleigh at DoRaleigh.com
DoRaleigh 