Looking for things to do in downtown Raleigh this weekend? October 9–11, 2026, brings ghost tours, live music, theater, creative workshops, markets and late-night entertainment. The Downtown Raleigh Weekend Event Guide includes Nightmare Weekend Raleigh, performances of Travesties, Korktoberfest activities and opportunities to explore local history.

Plan an afternoon of art and food, an evening of music or a Halloween-themed outing with the daily listings below. Admission prices, ticket availability and registration requirements were not supplied for most events. Confirm details directly with each venue or organizer before attending.

Downtown Raleigh Weekend Highlights

● Halloween outings: Nightmare Weekend Raleigh, haunted walking tours, Haunted Cocktail Rydables tours and Sunday’s Halloween treasure hunt.

● Live entertainment: LOL Raleigh, Edith Marquez, Travesties and performances at Slim’s Downtown.

● Creative activities: Pottery painting, fiber drawing and candle making.

● Markets and seasonal celebrations: October Market on the Videri Patio and the Korktoberfest Day Party.

● Local history: Historian-guided and African American history tours, plus an exhibition celebrating 50 years of Raleigh’s greenway system.

Friday, October 9, 2026

Daytime Art, History and Food

● The Park with a City in It: Celebrating 50 Years of the Raleigh Greenway System — 9 a.m.–4 p.m., City of Raleigh Museum.

● Quiet Company: Paintings and Linocuts by Will South — 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Gallery C. Listed regular hours are Tuesday–Saturday.

● A Taste of Downtown Raleigh Food Tours — 12:45 p.m., City of Raleigh Museum.

● Downtown Raleigh Historian-Guided Tour — 3 p.m., Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar.

● Opening: Old Fashioned Week at 10th & Terrace — 4–11 p.m., 10th & Terrace.

Evening Workshops, Theater and Ghost Tours

● Spirits & Spirits: Haunted Cocktail Rydables Tour — 5–7 p.m. and 7–9 p.m., Raleigh Rydables.

● Pottery Painting with Cozy Panda at TBL Cafe — 7–8:30 p.m., The Bike Library.

● Sip n’ Stroll Raleigh Ghost Tour — 7–8:15 p.m., Raleigh Walking Tours.

● Travesties — 7:30 p.m., Burning Coal Theatre Company.

Music, Comedy and Nightlife

● Crank Karaoke @ Crank Arm Brewing — 8–11 p.m., Crank Arm Brewing.

● Garden Grooves — 8–11 p.m., Botanical Lounge.

● LOL Raleigh — 8 p.m., Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

● Nightmare Weekend Welcome Party — 8 p.m.–2 a.m., Boxcar Bar and Arcade.

● The Veldt at Slim’s — 8–10 p.m., Slim’s Downtown.

● Signature Fridays Featuring DJ Drop — 9 p.m.–1 a.m., Haymaker.

● Late Nights at Neptunes! — 10 p.m.–2 a.m., Neptunes Parlour.

Friday offers options from afternoon history tours to late-night music. Pair a daytime museum or gallery visit with pottery painting, theater or a ghost tour before exploring the evening entertainment.

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Morning Activities and Afternoon Discoveries

● Pilates Mat Class — 9:30–10:15 a.m., Heights Pilates.

● The Park with a City in It: Celebrating 50 Years of the Raleigh Greenway System — 9 a.m.–4 p.m., City of Raleigh Museum.

● Fletcher Field Day — 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Fred Fletcher Park.

● October Market on the Videri Patio — 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Videri Chocolate Factory.

● Roots of Discovery: Sands of Knowledge — 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

● Quiet Company: Paintings and Linocuts by Will South — 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Gallery C.

● Fiber Drawing with Linette Knight — 1–5 p.m., Artspace.

● Korktoberfest Day Party — 1–7 p.m., The Raleigh Wine Shop.

● Loon and Crow — 2–4 p.m., Slim’s Downtown.

● A Taste of Downtown Raleigh Food Tours — 2:30 p.m., City of Raleigh Museum.

Halloween Events and Theater

● Nightmare Weekend Raleigh — Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center. Event hours were not supplied; confirm the convention schedule.

● Haunted History Tour — 4:45–6 p.m., Raleigh Walking Tours.

● Spirits & Spirits: Haunted Cocktail Rydables Tour — 5–7 p.m. and 7–9 p.m., Raleigh Rydables.

● Sip n’ Stroll Raleigh Ghost Tour — 7–8:15 p.m., Raleigh Walking Tours.

● Travesties — 7:30 p.m., Burning Coal Theatre Company.

● Nightmare Weekend Welcome Party — 8 p.m.–2 a.m., Boxcar Bar and Arcade.

Concerts and Late-Night Entertainment

● CARNIBOYS: SAINT’S HOMECOMING — 8 p.m.–midnight, Kings.

● Edith Marquez — 8 p.m., Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

● Cozy Saturday Featuring DJ JMar – The Wizard — Haymaker. Start time was not supplied.

● Puddled, Dave Bender Rebellion, and David Prather — 9–11 p.m., Slim’s Downtown.

● SNL at Killjoy with DJ Deluxe and Knu Element Entertainment — 9 p.m.–1 a.m., Killjoy.

● Late Nights at Neptunes! — 10 p.m.–2 a.m., Neptunes Parlour.

Saturday’s calendar combines outdoor activities, shopping, creative workshops and Halloween outings. Check workshop registration and tour availability in advance, especially when planning multiple stops.

Sunday, October 11, 2026

Morning and Early Afternoon

● Sunday Run Club — 9–10:30 a.m., The Bike Library.

● The Park with a City in It: Celebrating 50 Years of the Raleigh Greenway System — Listed as 9 a.m.–4 p.m., City of Raleigh Museum. Confirm Sunday opening hours before visiting.

● Author Meet & Book Signing with Cassie Swindon — 11 a.m., 10th & Terrace.

● Morgan Street Sessions — Noon–4 p.m., Morgan Street Food Hall.

● FREE Air Hockey Tournament — 1 p.m., Super Rad Retro Lounge.

● Downtown Raleigh Halloween Treasure Hunt – Walking Team Scavenger Hunt! — 2–3 p.m., Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center.

● Jazz Sundays with Workbook — 2–5 p.m., Incendiary Brewing Taproom.

● Travesties — 2 p.m., Burning Coal Theatre Company.

Afternoon Workshops, History and Music

● Candle Making with Usu Company Candles — 3–5 p.m., Copperline Plant Co.

● Trey Everette — 3–5 p.m., Slim’s Downtown.

● Raleigh African American History Tour — 4–5 p.m., Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar.

● Sip n’ Stroll Raleigh Ghost Tour — 5–6:15 p.m., Raleigh Walking Tours.

● Spirits & Spirits: Haunted Cocktail Rydables Tour — 5–7 p.m. and 7–9 p.m., Raleigh Rydables.

● The Soundtrack of Our Lives – A Smooth & Sexy Sunday Celebration — 5–9 p.m., Element Gastropub.

● CARNIBOYS: SAINT’S HOMECOMING — 8 p.m.–midnight, Kings, according to the supplied Sunday listing. Confirm this date with the venue.

● Over and Over — 8–10 p.m., Slim’s Downtown.

Additional Sunday Listings

● Nightmare Weekend Raleigh — Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center. Confirm Sunday hours with the organizer.

● Closing: 16th Annual Korktoberfest Sale & Fundraiser — The Raleigh Wine Shop. Closing-day hours were not supplied.

Gallery schedule note: Quiet Company was also included in the supplied Sunday list, but its stated regular hours are Tuesday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday access is not confirmed; contact Gallery C before planning a visit.

Plan Your Downtown Raleigh Weekend

For a Halloween-focused outing, compare Nightmare Weekend Raleigh with the walking ghost tours, Haunted Cocktail Rydables tours and Sunday’s treasure hunt. For arts and culture, consider Gallery C on Friday or Saturday, Artspace’s fiber drawing workshop or a performance of Travesties.

Sunday offers a mix of a run club, jazz, candle making, local history and evening music. Check addresses, ticket requirements, age restrictions, accessibility and weather updates with organizers. Listings ending after midnight continue into the following calendar day.

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