Raleigh Homes Realty

Residential real estate in Raleigh, N.C.

January 2026: Free Things To Do In Downtown Raleigh

January 3…Black Civil War Reenactors – Pope House Museum – 10:00-4:00

January 4…Open Studio (Ages 5+) -Artspace – 1:30-3:30

January 8…Stroll through History Tour – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 10:00

January 8…Lunchbox Lecture – City of Raleigh Museum – 12:00

January 8…Science Trivia – N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences – 7:00

January 10…Family Fun Day – City of Raleigh Museum – 11:00-2:00

January 11…Open Studio (Ages 5+) -Artspace – 1:30-3:30

January 15…Science Cafe – N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences – 7:00

January 17…Plant Swap – City of Raleigh Museum – 11:00-1:00

January 18…Open Studio (Ages 5+) -Artspace – 1:30-3:30

January 19…Martin Luther King Day – Chavis Park – 12:00-3:00

January 22…Stroll through History Tour – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 10:00

January 23…Free Friday – Mordecai Historic Park – 10:00-4:00

January 24…Astronomy Days – N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences – 10:00-5:00

January 25…Astronomy Days – N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences – 10:00-5:00

January 25…Open Studio (Ages 5+) -Artspace – 1:30-3:30

December 2025: Free Things To Do In Downtown Raleigh

December 4…Science Trivia – N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences – 7:00

December 5…Holiday Lights – Dix Park – 5:00-8:00

December 6…Christmas Open House – Joel Lane Museum House – 11:00-3:00

December 6…Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition Festival – Moore Square – 11:00-3:00

December 6…MAKRS Holiday Fest – Fayetteville Street – 11:00-6:00

December 7…Boylan Heights ArtWalk – Boylan Heights – 12:00-5:00

December 7…Open Studio (Ages 5+) -Artspace – 1:30-3:30

December 11…Stroll Through History Tour – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 10:00

December 11…Executive Mansion Holiday Open House – 5:00-9:00

December 11…Moore Square Winterfaire – Moore Square – 5:00-9:00

December 11…A Night with Santa – Lions Park – 6:00-8:30

December 12…Executive Mansion Holiday Open House – 10:00-5:00

December 12…Reindeer Ride – Dix Park – 5:00-8:00

December 12…Moore Square Winterfaire – Moore Square – 5:00-9:00

December 12…Soulful Holiday Open House – Chavis Park – 5:30-9:00

December 13…Holiday Open House – Mordecai Historic Park – 10:00-3:00

December 13…Executive Mansion Holiday Open House – 10:00-5:00

December 13…Family Fun Day – City of Raleigh Museum – 10:00-2:00

December 13…Moore Square Winterfaire – Moore Square – 11:00-10:00

December 13…Wreaths Across America – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 12:00

December 14…Moore Square Winterfaire – Moore Square – 10:00-4:00

December 14…Holiday Art Market – Artspace – 11:00-4:00

December 14…Chocolatada – City of Raleigh Museum – 1:00-3:00

December 14…Holiday Open House – Mordecai Historic Park – 1:00-4:00

December 14…Open Studio (Ages 5+) -Artspace – 1:30-3:30

December 14…Jazz on the Greene – John “Top” Greene Cultural Center – 4:00-6:00

December 16…Downtown Raleigh Menorah Lighting – Moore Square – 5:30

December 18…Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling – N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences – 7:00

December 19…Chess Club – Express Library – 12:00-2:00

December 19…Silent Disco Night – Dix Park – 5:00-8:00

December 20…Breakfast with Santa – Tarboro Road Community Center – 10:00-12:00

December 20…Holidays with the Popes – Pope House Museum – 10:00-4:00

December 21…Open Studio (Ages 5+) -Artspace – 1:30-3:30

December 28…Open Studio (Ages 5+) -Artspace – 1:30-3:30

December 31…First Night Raleigh 2026 – DTR – 2:00-12:00

November 2025: Free Things To Do In Downtown Raleigh

November 1…Birdwatching – Dix Park – 8 a.m.

November 1…Union Square Walking Tour – State Capitol – 12:30

November 1…Food Trucks, Ofrendas & Movie (Coco) – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 6:30

November 2…Artspace Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

November 2…Dia de Muertos & Catrina Parade – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 3:00-8:00

November 3…Yoga in the Park – Dix Park – 5:30

November 6…Science Trivia – NC Museum of Natural Sciences – 7:00

November 7…First Friday Coffee Ride – Meet at Oak City Spokes -7:30-9:30 a.m.

November 7…Little Explorers ( Ages 2-6) – Dix Park – 11:00

November 7…Market & Movie (The Princess Diaries) – Moore Square – 5:00-9:00

November 7…Dia de Los Muertos – City of Raleigh Museum – 6:30-9:00

November 8…N.C. Veterans Day Ceremony – Capitol Lawn – 11:00

November 8…Marine Mammal Research Day – NC Museum of Natural Sciences – 10:00-2:00

November 8…Fall Arts Fair – Fletcher Park – 10:00-4:00

November 8…Family Fall Fun Day – City of Raleigh Museum – 10:00-2:00

November 8…Veterans Day Celebration – Chavis Park – 11:00-2:30

November 8…Person Street Plaza Block Party – 11:00-4:00

November 9…Day of Play – City of Raleigh Museum – 1:00-6:00

November 9…Artspace Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

November 10…Yoga in the Park – Dix Park – 5:30

November 13…Stroll through History Tour – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 10:00

November 15…Learn to Ride a Bike – Dix Park – 9:00-11:00

November 15…Wizards Market – Fletcher Park – 10:00-3:00

November 15…“The Doctor Is In!” – Pope Museum House – 10:00-4:00

November 15…Guided Walking Tour – Dix Park – 12:00

November 15…Group Ride Ready – Adults – Dix Park – 12:30-2:30

November 16…Artspace Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

November 17…Yoga in the Park – Dix Park – 5:30

November 19…GIS Day – City of Raleigh Museum – 8:30-12:00

November 19…Peace University Tree Lighting – 6:30-8:00

November 20…Lunchbox Lectures – City of Raleigh Museum – 12:00

November 20…Science Cafe: Pilot Whales – NC Museum of Natural Sciences – 7:00

November 21…Nash Square History Stroll – Nash Square – 11:00

November 21…Chess Club – Express Library – 12:00-2:00

November 21…Tree Lighting & Holiday Market – Moore Square – 5:30-8:00

November 22…Raleigh Christmas Parade – DTR – 9:30

November 22…Walking Tour – Mt. Hope Cemetery – 10:00

November 23…Artspace Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

November 24…Yoga in the Park – Dix Park – 5:30

November 30…Artspace Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

October 2025: Free Things To Do In Downtown Raleigh

October 2…Jazz in the Square – Moore Square – 6:00-8:00

October 2…Science Trivia – N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences – 7:00

October 3…First Friday – DTR

October 3…Market & Movie (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) – Moore Square – 5:00-9:00

October 3…Raleigh Wide Open – Fayetteville Street – 5:00-11:00

October 3…Trivia Night – Dix Park – 6:30-8:00

October 3…Movie on the Lawn – Halifax Park – 6:30-10:00

October 4…Falling for Local – Dix Park – 11:00-6:00

October 4…Raleigh Wide Open – Fayetteville Street – 12:00-11:00

October 5…Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

October 6…Yoga in the Park – Dix Park – 5:30

October 9…Stroll through History Tour – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 10:00

October 10…Fall Into History – Moore Square – 4:00-7:00

October 11…Family Fun Day – City of Raleigh Museum – 11:00-2:00

October 11…Inter-Tribal Pow Wow – Dix Park – 11:30-6:30

October 12…Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

October 12…Outdoor Film: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – Moore Square – 5:30-9:00 (cancelled)

October 13…Yoga in the Park – Dix Park – 5:30

October 14…Preschool Explorers – Dix Park – 11:00

October 16…Lunchbox Lecture – City of Raleigh Museum – 12:00

October 16…Science Cafe – N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences – 7:00

October 17…Trivia Night – Dix Park – 6:30-8:00

October 18…Foodie Fare – Moore Square – 11:00-3:00

October 18…Raleigh’s International Beer and Wine Festival – Fayetteville Street – 12:00-8:00

October 18…Raleigh Zombie Walk – Meet at Moore Square – 6:45-9:00

October 19…Crystals + Mystics Festival – Moore Square – 12:00-5:00

October 19…Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

October 20…Yoga in the Park – Dix Park – 5:30

October 23…Stroll through History Tour – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 10:00

October 24…Market & Movie (Inside Out 2) – Moore Square – 5:00-9:00

October 25…Spellbound at Mordecai – Historic Mordecai Park – 10:00-3:00

October 25…Dia de Oakwood opening ceremony – Historic Oakwood Cemetery – 4:00-8:00

October 26…Forest Bathing – Dix Park – 10:00

October 26…Day of the Dead Celebration – City Plaza – 12:00-4:00

October 26…Open Studio (Ages 5+) – Artspace – 1:30-3:30

October 27…Yoga in the Park – Dix Park – 5:30

October 31…Chess Club – Express Library – 12:00-2:00

October 31…Halloween Double Feature – Dix Park – 5:00-10:00

October-2024-Free-Things-to-Do-in-Downtown-Raleigh-a-list-curated-by-Raleigh-Homes-Realty

International Festival 2009

Were you at the International Festival in Raleigh’s new convention center this past weekend?  Thought so.  Judging by the size of the crowd, I don’t think anyone in town missed it.  And it was definitely an event not to be missed!

There were three stages of entertainment, with attentive audiences at each stage.  Hundreds of appreciative spectators filled the seats at the dance demonstration stage.  There were booths offering information and booths selling items from countries around the world,  even henna tattoos and belly dancing lessons!

And the smells!  The whole place smelled so delicious that it was difficult to decide which country’s menu to order from.  Fortunately for us, most of the menus at the food stands offered a selection of  inexpensive items, so that we didn’t have to choose after all, but instead enjoyed food from Bagladesh, China, Turkey, and Nepal.  What a treat to be able to sample authentic foods from so many different countries all in one place!

While I expected to see a diverse group taking part in the International Festival,  I was amazed by the incredible diversity of the festival-goers.  Raleigh has truly become a melting pot.

That’s Life in Raleigh.

Our Sir Walter Raleigh decked out for the 2009 International Festival.
Our Sir Walter Raleigh decked out for the 2009 International Festival.

SPARKcon……..wow!

SPARKcon 2009 transformed Raleigh into an amazingly cool place to be on a weekend in September.

SPARKcon is a grassroots event celebrating the creativity in our area –  the “creative hub of the south.”  And if you think Raleigh can’t possibly live up to such a weighty description, you obviously missed SPARKcon this year.  For four days, Downtown Raleigh was spilling over with proof of this creativity.  Music, art, dance, ideas, film, poetry…….

….fashion.  Did I mention fashion?  The fashion show on the stage in the middle of Fayetteville Street had to be a turning point for our fair city.  The loud, thumping beat, the large, appreciative crowd, the models whose hair and makeup were  closer to “Night of the Living Dead” than “Night in Raleigh, N.C.,” plus the designs being showcased had me murmuring that famous line about Toto and not being in Kansas anymore! Raleigh has graduated to the big time.

That’s Life in Raleigh…a big, happening city.

SPARKcon 2009
SPARKcon 2009