The Downtown Raleigh Event Guide – Friday January 2nd First Friday Edition

Explore the DoRaleigh Downtown Raleigh Event Guide for Friday, January 2, featuring First Friday art shows, Illuminate Art Walk, live music, tours, dance parties, and nightlife across downtown Raleigh.

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Downtown Raleigh kicks off the first Friday of 2026 with a packed lineup of art openings, live music, guided tours, dance parties, and nightlife. From First Friday gallery hops and the Illuminate Art Walk to karaoke, yoga, and late-night talent shows, this guide highlights the best ways to spend your Friday in the heart of the city.

Here’s your Downtown Raleigh Event Guide for Friday, January 2, curated by DoRaleigh.

🎨 First Friday Art, Galleries & Pop-Ups

January First Friday at Artspace 4pm–10pm

First Friday Flashes at Le Dive with Old Ghosts Tattoo 5pm–10pm

Illuminate Art Walk × First Friday 5:30pm–11pm |

Fayetteville Street CoLab First Friday: Ephemeral at The Carter Building 6pm–11pm

First Friday at Captain Cookie & the Milkman (Transfer Co. Food Hall) 6pm–10pm

First Friday at Curate Raleigh with Zapped Raleigh 6pm–9pm

Lump Open Studio at Lump Projects 6pm–8pm

First Friday at Good Trip Ink 7pm–10pm

Charity Art Sales for Food Not Bombs at Boatman Spirits Co. 4pm–9pm

🚶 Tours, History & Experiences

Winter Historic Oakwood Tour 2pm–3pm | Raleigh Walking Tours

Downtown Raleigh Historian-Guided Tour 3pm | Jimmy V’s Osteria + Bar

Illuminate Art Walk Sip n’ Stroll Tour 5:45pm–6:45pm | Raleigh Walking Tours

Downtown Raleigh True Crime Tour 8pm | Moore Square

🎶 Live Music, Dance & Nightlife

Friday Night Live Music at Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen 5pm–8pm

First Friday Dance Party at Current Wellness 7:30pm–9:30pm

Sienna McGeehan – Live Music at Sir Walter Coffee 7:30pm–9:30pm

First Friday Live Music: Michael Parker at The Davie 8pm–11pm

Crank Karaoke at Crank Arm Brewing 8pm–11pm

First Friday Amateur Talent Show at Legends Night Club Complex 9pm

🧘 Wellness & Daytime Events

Prenatal Yoga at Current Wellness 10am–11am

🎉 First Friday in Downtown Raleigh

From gallery hopping and interactive art to live music, karaoke, and late-night performances, First Friday on January 2 sets the tone for the year ahead. Make a night of it, explore something new, and keep checking DoRaleigh.com for the latest Downtown Raleigh event guides.

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