Comedy shows, ghost tours, live music and family activities fill downtown Raleigh’s calendar this weekend. From October 16–18, 2026, residents and visitors can enjoy North Carolina Symphony performances of Rhapsody in Blue, Halloween outings, art experiences and late-night entertainment.

Highlights include Pets and Pumpkins at Moore Square, FRESH Family Day at Artspace, CatVideoFest at Marbles IMAX, and multiple OCCF 2026 comedy showcases.

Schedules are based on the supplied listings. Confirm tickets, reservations, age restrictions and event details with organizers. Events ending after midnight continue into the following day.

Friday, October 16

Explore Downtown Art, History and Food

Start the weekend with a museum visit, a food tour or an afternoon exploring Raleigh’s history.

• 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.
• Friday Favorites: Rhapsody in Blue with the North Carolina Symphony: Noon; confirm the performance venue with the Symphony.
• 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.

Friday Comedy and Theatre

OCCF 2026 brings evening comedy to downtown venues, while Burning Coal Theatre Company presents Travesties.

• Cosmic Chuckles | OCCF 2026: 7:30–9 p.m., Flying Saucer Draught Emporium.
• Travesties: 7:30 p.m., Burning Coal Theatre Company.
• Rebellion Comedy | OCCF 2026: 8:30–10 p.m., Rebellion Media.

Ghost Tours and Haunted Adventures

• 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.
• Haunted Trolley Tours: 7–10 p.m., Mordecai Historic Park; confirm individual departures.

Friday Music and Nightlife

• Raleigh Song Circle: 6:45–8 p.m., Current Wellness.
• Open Mic Night at TBL Cafe: 7–9 p.m., The Bike Library.
• Crank Karaoke: 8–11 p.m., Crank Arm Brewing.
• Garden Grooves: 8–11 p.m., Botanical Lounge.
• Rhapsody in Blue with the North Carolina Symphony: 8 p.m.; confirm the venue.
• Grocery Boy Jr & Buzzard Company: 8:30–10:30 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.

Saturday, October 17

Family Activities and Halloween Fun

Pets and Pumpkins: Celebrating Moore Square’s New Dog Park
11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Moore Square

This seasonal gathering celebrates Moore Square’s new dog park and is a featured Saturday destination.

FRESH Family Day
11 a.m.–3 p.m. | Artspace

Add Artspace to the itinerary for a family outing downtown.

CatVideoFest
2 p.m. | Marbles IMAX Theater

Enjoy feline-focused entertainment on the big screen. Another showing is listed Sunday at 2 p.m.

Downtown Raleigh Halloween Treasure Hunt
2–3 p.m. | Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center

This walking team scavenger hunt offers a Halloween-themed afternoon activity. A Sunday session is also listed.

Patio Pumpkin Painting Party
3–7 p.m. | Boxcar Bar and Arcade

Celebrate fall with pumpkin painting. Confirm participation details and age policies with the venue.

Saturday Wellness and Walking Tours

• Pilates Mat Class: 9:30–10:15 a.m., Heights Pilates.
• Historic Oakwood Walking Tour: 10:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m., Raleigh Walking Tours.
• Puppy Yoga, Parent/Child Class: 10:30–11:30 a.m., Cirque de Vol Studios.
• Puppy Yoga, Adult Class: 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m., Cirque de Vol Studios.

Food, Art and Creative Experiences

• The Park with a City in It: 9 a.m.–4 p.m., City of Raleigh Museum.
• Quiet Company: 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Gallery C.
• National Whole Hog Barbecue Day: 1 p.m., The Pit.
• A Taste of Downtown Raleigh Food Tours: 2:30 p.m., City of Raleigh Museum.
• Good Day Good Night Fall Favorites: 3 p.m., Good Day Good Night.
• Veloce Italian Market Pizza Class: 6–8 p.m., Veloce Italian Market.
• Time Warp: Bringing Back the Funk & Groove of the 1970s: City of Raleigh Museum; listed as 6:30–11, with the a.m./p.m. designation requiring confirmation.

Saturday Comedy Shows

• Triangle Roast Battle: 7–8:30 p.m., Transfer Co. Ballroom.
• Comedy Loft at The Davie | OCCF 2026: 7:30–9 p.m., The Davie.
• Cosmic Chuckles | OCCF 2026: 8–9:30 p.m., Flying Saucer Draught Emporium.
• Out Loud Comedy | OCCF 2026: 8–9:30 p.m., LGBT Center of Raleigh.
• Rebellion Comedy | OCCF 2026: 9–10 p.m., Rebellion Media.
• Certified Fresh: A Comedy Benefit: Artspace; confirm the start time.

Saturday Ghost Tours

• Sip n’ Stroll Raleigh Ghost Tour: 4:45–6 p.m. and 7–8:15 p.m.
• Spirits & Spirits: Haunted Cocktail Rydables Tour: 5–7 p.m. and 7–9 p.m.
• Haunted Trolley Tours: 7–10 p.m., Mordecai Historic Park; confirm departures.

Saturday Music, Theatre and Nightlife

• Tanner Hunt: 3–5 p.m., Slim’s Downtown.
• Travesties: 7:30 p.m., Burning Coal Theatre Company.
• Rhapsody in Blue with the North Carolina Symphony: 8 p.m.; confirm the venue.
• The Sweet Potatoes: 8–11 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.
• Cozy Saturday featuring DJ JMar — The Wizard: Haymaker; confirm the start time.

Sunday, October 18

Sunday Morning and Afternoon

Ease into Sunday with a run, a market visit, a performance or a history tour.

• Sunday Run Club: 9–10:30 a.m., The Bike Library.
• Day Course in Mindfulness: Current Wellness; listed as 11:30–4:30 p.m. Confirm the start-time designation.
• Halloween Tattoo Flash Day: 11:30 a.m.–6 p.m., Pinky Swear Tattoo.
• Preparing for Fall: Noon–1:30 p.m., Copperline Plant Co.
• Morgan Street Sessions: Noon–4 p.m., Morgan Street Food Hall.
• Rise n’ Grind: DJs and Market on the Videri Patio: Noon–4 p.m., Videri Chocolate Factory.
• Free Air Hockey Tournament: 1 p.m., Super Rad Retro Lounge.
• CatVideoFest: 2 p.m., Marbles IMAX Theater.
• Downtown Raleigh Halloween Treasure Hunt: 2–3 p.m., Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center.
• Travesties: 2 p.m., Burning Coal Theatre Company.
• Megayacht: 3–5 p.m., Slim’s Downtown.
• Raleigh African American History Tour: 4–5 p.m., Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar.

Sunday Evening Entertainment

Old Fashioned Week Closing
4–11 p.m. | 10th & Terrace

Sunday is the final listed day of Old Fashioned Week.

Michael Blaustein: The Taste Me Tour — The Final Leg
7 p.m. | Meymandi Concert Hall at Martin Marietta Center

The touring comedy show joins Sunday’s entertainment lineup.

Good Times at Raleigh Times | OCCF 2026
8–9:30 p.m. | The Raleigh Times Bar

Catch another OCCF 2026 showcase before the weekend ends.

Emo Karaoke
8 p.m.–midnight | Neptunes Parlour

Bring the weekend to a musical finish at Neptunes.

Stephen’s Pharmacy with Richard Bacchus
9–11 p.m. | Slim’s Downtown

Slim’s hosts a late Sunday music option.

Sunday ghost outings include Sip n’ Stroll from 5–6:15 p.m. and Spirits & Spirits Rydables tours from 5–7 p.m. and 7–9 p.m.

Plan Your Downtown Raleigh Weekend

Choose a few priorities from the overlapping performances and activities, confirm booking requirements, and allow time for parking and travel between venues.

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