Looking for things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and the Triangle this weekend? September 25–27 brings festivals, outdoor movies, art walks, live music and fall celebrations across the region.

Highlights include the Raleigh Tamale Festival, Carrboro Music Festival, Benson Mule Days, Apex Latino Arts Festival and Oktoberfest celebrations. Families can explore gardens, browse markets or catch an outdoor movie, while music fans have options throughout the weekend.

Below are weekend highlights. The complete guide with daily listings⁠ includes the full schedule.

Friday, September 25: Art Walks, Movies and Live Music

Start With Gardens, Coffee and Benson Mule Days

Benson Mule Days runs from 9 a.m.–11 p.m. in downtown Benson, with free admission.

Garden lovers can visit Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden during Fall Open Nursery and Garden Days, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., or explore Sculpture in the Garden at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill during the same hours. Both offer free admission; the sculpture exhibition suggests a $5 donation.

Other morning options include Garden Storytime at JC Raulston Arboretum, 10–11 a.m. for $5, and a free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee in Durham at 10 a.m.

Explore Friday Art Events

Hillsborough’s Last Fridays lineup offers several overlapping activities:

• Makers Market: 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the Old Courthouse.
• Live on the Lawn: 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the Old Courthouse.
• Last Fridays Art Walk: 5:30–9 p.m. throughout downtown Hillsborough.

In Cary, the Cary Gallery of Artists’ Final Friday Reception runs 6–8 p.m., while the Final Friday Cary Art Loop runs 6–9 p.m. These events are listed as free.

Dolly-Themed Fun and Outdoor Movies

Durham hosts two Dolly Parton-themed outings: Dolly Tribute Skate at Wheels Durham, 6–8:30 p.m. for $4–$8, and Dolly Day at American Tobacco Campus, 6–9 p.m., with free admission, live music and games.

Friday’s free outdoor movie listings include:

• Toy Story 5: 6:30–9 p.m. at Halifax Park and Community Center in Raleigh.
• A Nightmare Before Christmas: 6:30–9:30 p.m. at Hargraves Community Center in Chapel Hill.

These are overall event windows; confirm screening times before arriving.

Music, Comedy and Late-Night Entertainment

Catch Brent Stimmell at Crooked Hammock Brewery in Raleigh from 6–9 p.m., Police and Thieves at Fortnight Brewing in Cary from 7–10 p.m., or Five-Cent Kings at Yonder in Hillsborough from 8–11 p.m.

Comedy options include Durty Bull Brewing Company’s stand-up open mic, 8–11 p.m., and Late Night at the Longleaf, 9–11 p.m. Both are listed as free.

Schedule note: The supplied lineup lists Relay Relay at both The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP and Compiègne Park in Raleigh at overlapping times. Confirm the correct performance with the venue.

Saturday, September 26: Food Festivals and Oktoberfest

Raleigh Tamale Festival and Community Celebrations

The Raleigh Tamale Festival takes place 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at Moore Square, with free admission. Food purchases are separate unless otherwise specified.

More Saturday highlights include:

• Community Day at Olde Raleigh Village: 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.; free food, giveaways, face painting and more.
• Crooktober Family Fest: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at Crooked Hammock Brewery in Raleigh.
• St. Eugene International Food & Music Festival: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at J. Ashley Wall Towne Square in Wendell.
• Mead Fest: Noon–5 p.m. at Starrlight Mead in Pittsboro.
• Apex Latino Arts Festival: 3–7 p.m. at Apex Town Hall.
• The Common Market Durham’s Third Anniversary Party: 3–8 p.m.

All are listed as free to attend, with purchases potentially extra.

Oktoberfest Across the Triangle

Saturday offers plenty of fall celebrations:

• Peaktoberfest: 11 a.m.–10 p.m. at Southern Peak Brewery, Apex.
• Compass Rose Oktoberfest: Starts at 11:30 a.m. in Raleigh.
• Carolina Brewing Company Oktoberfest: Noon–9 p.m. in Holly Springs.
• Blackbird Brewery Oktoberfest: Noon–11 p.m. in Wake Forest.
• Bearded Bee Oktoberfest Block Party: Noon–11:45 p.m. in Wendell.
• Oaklyn-Toberfest: Starts at noon at Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina.
• NC Oktoberfest — Prost, Y’all: 1–8 p.m. on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh.
• Durham Oktoberfest: 3–10 p.m. at Durham Central Park.

Admission is listed as free; food and beverages cost extra.

Markets, History and Family Activities

Browse the Durham Craft Market from 8 a.m.–noon, the North Carolina Botanical Garden’s Fall Plant Sale from 9 a.m.–1 p.m., or The Raleigh Market from 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Families can catch a free sensory-friendly screening of Kung Fu Panda at The Carolina Theatre at 11 a.m. History options include free State Capitol tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., plus Duke Homestead’s Field and Factory Tours at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.

The Hayti walking tour, Hymns for Salted Bones, runs 2–3:30 p.m. from 1201 Fayetteville Street in Durham. It is free, but registration is required and space is limited.

Finish the evening with free American Dance Festival performances at Downtown Cary Park from 7:30–9 p.m.

Sunday, September 27: Music Festivals, Food Trucks and Markets

Carrboro Music Festival

The Carrboro Music Festival runs 1–9 p.m. at various locations, with free admission. A festival kickoff is also listed for Saturday from 2–4 p.m.

For an earlier musical outing, Weaver Street Market in Carrboro hosts free brunch music on the lawn 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Food purchases are separate.

Food Trucks and Fall Celebrations

Durham Central Park has Pride Vendor and Food Truck Rodeo and Fall Food Truck Rodeo listings for noon–4 p.m. These may describe overlapping programming; check organizer details before treating them as separate events.

Other Sunday highlights include:

• Benson Mule Days: Noon–5 p.m. in downtown Benson.
• Morgan Street Sessions: Noon–4 p.m. at Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh.
• Inaugural Oaktoberfest: 1–4 p.m. at Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale.
• Black Farmers’ Market: 1–4 p.m. at Southeast Raleigh YMCA.
• Kermes, Community Fiesta: 3–7 p.m. at El Futuro, Durham.

Relaxed Sunday Outings

Start with Cars and Coffee Raleigh, 8–11 a.m. at 6270 Glenwood Avenue, or free yoga at Compass Rose Brewery, 10–11 a.m.

Afternoon options include Pop Up Music at Midtown Park, 2–5 p.m., and the 25th Anniversary of Strowd Roses, 3–4:30 p.m. at Gene Strowd Community Rose Garden in Chapel Hill.

Close the weekend with Bluegrass Open Jam at Bond Brothers Eastside in Cary, 4–7 p.m., or An Evening with Mozart at Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill at 7 p.m. Both are free.

Plan Your Triangle Weekend

Free admission does not necessarily include food, drinks, merchandise or additional activities. Pumpkin painting at For Garden’s Sake requires a pumpkin purchase.

Confirm schedules, registration, weather plans and age requirements with organizers before heading out.

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