Raleigh Christmas Parade

(121 reviews)

9.4 mi

Amazing ! The show was great as well. I love how in and out it was and all the lights I seen. Very…read morebeautiful place to go to with a friend, loved ones, even kids! They have food trucks, photo tunnels, great performances, etc. unfortunately I picked a rainy day but it was still a blast ! Would definitely go back. Tickets aren't much either. They were flexible on me having to reschedule as well. Was going to go back this year, this experience was three years ago but this past 2025 year, tickets were $50-60$, not worth that much

I love the Chinese Lantern Festival. I make a point to go every year. There is a different theme…read moreevery year, and the lighted exhibits for the theme. There are also interactive exhibits and acrobatic/performance shows. There is is ample parking at Koka Booth. Also, the ticket prices are less expensive in person than via the website. If you're trying g to go on a holiday or weekend, you may not want to take a chance. However, we save about $15 for three tickets buying in person for a Tuesday night in January. This year, I overheard someone say, "It's like walking through Avatar." I think that's a perfect description!

Entrance at night

Dragon

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International Festival of Raleigh

4.8

(18 reviews)

4.0 mi

What a great event! I will go back when it comes back next t year and spend more time there. It was…read morea weekend event and only went on Sunday. Loved the dancing from different countries and enjoyed a samosa with mango lassi.

It was a beautiful event! The food options omg that was a hard one. I wish I had the stomach for…read moreeverything. The performances were really beautiful. I loved the Irish performance personally. Now for the food, I had the cubano and a donut cone ice cream ( think its a hungarian dessert) both were sooooooooo gooooooodd. Very fun and lively ^-^.

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N.C. State Fair

3.8

(195 reviews)

4.0 mi

We absolutely enjoy the fair!…read more Going to the fair is easy- buy your tickets online- it's free to park. We parked in the field on Edwards Mill- buses came every 5 minutes- very comfortable! Friendly drivers. We got dropped at the gate- then enjoyed ourselves- We didn't ride any rides - way too expensive (giant slide $7) unbelievable. The food was so pricey- one sausage $18 - lol - eat before you come (and bring snacks) Seeing all the shows and all the vendors- so much fun!

I had a blast at the NC State Fair this year. My favorite food came from Peachey's: the best donut…read moreand pretzel I've ever had! Food was pricy as always, but I've come to expect from the fair. The garden/flower area was beautiful and they had some volunteers stationed to take your picture. "The Art of Bonsai" demonstration courtesy of the Triangle Bonsai Society my favorite activity this year. It was awesome to learn (and see) how Bonsai trees are raised.

Enjoy a pumpkin macaron at La Farm Bakery

View from a ride

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Eat: Al's French Fries

Carolina Artisan Craft Market

0.3 mi

With their relocation to the Raleigh Convention Center, this has the potential of being the…read moreTriangle's premiere shopping event of the season. Spend a weekend shopping for handmade, one-of-a-kind craft representing more than 110 artists from across the country. For those seeking unique and collectible gifts, you won't want to miss this event! Friday, November 6 - Sunday, November 8, hours are Friday, 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.- Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now! Advance sale discount Visit CarolinaArtisanCraft.com for more information. Let's get social! Use the hashtag #CarolinaCraft15 We will be there, hope to see you!

I started attending this show when it was at the Fair Grounds on Thanksgiving weekends. I'm so glad…read morethey moved it earlier in the month so holiday travel won't interfere with my shopping! The Raleigh Convention Center is such a bright, airy place to showcase such beautiful work. I heard there will be 40 new artists there this year. I can't wait!

Fiber fashion by Jen Swearington.

Mixed media sculptures, FOBOTS, by artist Amy Flynn.

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Woodwork by Mark Ellis.

Got To Be NC Festival

3.9

(8 reviews)

4.0 mi

Just an all out amazing time. There is so much to see....so many vendors. The vendors have…read moresamples and authentic products. The Carolina Pig Jig is held outside. There are over 20 Masonic lodges that are competing for a win for best bbq and sauce. The tickets are only $20 and you cannot eat as much bbq as your soul desires. I look at this festival as a prequel to the state fair that is held in October.

I love this festival…read more The fact there is an NC based festival that focuses on local vendors and creators is such a wonderful idea! I went to the sip and shop area where you can get an alcoholic drink and wander around. I got to sample so many amazing local foods, sauces, and sweets. I walked out of that place work so much stuff! Then the agriculture center has livestock and learning experiences for the little ones. This festival is definitely a must try if you've never been!

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Southeast Crab Feast

4.9 mi

I came across Southeast Crab Feast at the anniversary party of a local brewery. The Yelp listing…read morefor this business was for an All You Can Eat seafood festival, held by this same business, so a review for a two+ year old event didn't make sense. Yelp moderators may see it differently and that's okay. But for whatever it's worth, this place did a fantastic job. There was one truck and several pots of boiling seasoned water (a low country boil style) and a lot of people, adults and kids, walking away with plates of fresh cooked seafood. It was not an all you can eat event, unlike the annual festival, but each plate had a more-than-fair amount of seafood. According to their website, SECF is a non-profit entity supporting cancer research and treatment. I don't know if this brewery anniversary event was part of that, but if it was, it made the food taste even better. Despite the crowds, the crew working kept up with the orders for the most part and were nice enough, when they did get backed up, to deliver the food to people sitting at the tables. The food was boiled perfectly: The six jumbo shrimp had a light garlic butter sauce and were served with bite size pieces of potato. They shrimp were not overcooked and the potatoes were not undercooked. The crab legs came with a small ear of corn. While SECF had hot sauce and cocktail sauce available, they did not have the utensils to crack open the crab legs, so it required some ingenuity to make that happen. Sometimes the plastic fork, sometimes the original fork (aka fingers), and sometimes . . . well, sometimes just smashing it with something . . . . I'm not sure how well this type of food would work in an AYCE event, but for a single pay-per-plate, like any other food truck, it goes into the "win" column.

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Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival

4.1

(14 reviews)

8.0 mi

I love getting to see the local vendors and their art. Everything was arranged nicely so it was…read moreeasy to walk around and see everything. I liked that the town hall and community center were opened with signs to the restrooms we could use inside. That was convenient. Even more food options would be great. The ice cream available was delicious from Fresh Local Ice Cream, but too expensive at $6 a cup! The only thing I don't like about Lazy Daze is that it is during the hottest part of the year! It was 96 degrees and way too hot to walk around for too long.

This 2 day arts and crafts festival is located in downtown Cary. It's huge and features include…read moreart, music and food. There are events throughout the day featuring acrobatics and performances for kids and adults. Lots of high end artists to explore and enjoy. They have shuttles from various locations as there is limited parking nearby. The fair is located around the Cary town hall and beer garden. Wear your sunscreen and good walking shoes. There are lots of trees for shade but walking around you will be in full sun. Only thing I don't like about it is that you will have to carry all your purchases around but looking is free. Loved the bands that played throughout the day as well as the kids area entertainment.

Shumai

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Dreamville Festival

(5 reviews)

1.4 mi

What an incredible festival. Well run, great artists, good food options and wonderful weather. I…read moreknow this was the last official Dreamville year, but J. Cole and crew put on an incredible show. I look forward to what the future holds. If you like hip hop and R&B, this show is for you! We always felt safe, enjoyed the crowd vibes, and reveled in the incredible performances. Will go again!

Attended the last Dreamville festival in North Carolina this year. Initially, I thought the cost…read morewas too high however, when you factor in all the acts that you see is truly a bargain. With all the people present, it was a wonder that everything ran smoothly, and there was no violence, and everyone was just jamming and Vibin

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First Night Raleigh

(7 reviews)

0.1 mi

I am pleased that the city of Raleigh has a family friendly, alcohol free event on New Year's Eve…read more Over the years of the event, they have excelled in making it an interactive event with a great variety of arts and entertainment. The kids event start in the mid afternoon, and include the full New Year;s Eve countdown treatment at 7pm (12 midnight on Greenwich Mean Time) with the acorn drop and fireworks display. Ever wanted to be in a parade? You have your chance with the people's procession. Lots of paper mache animal heads and shapes are made available for use in the parade, or be one of the many walking the huge puppet named Rhea down the parade route. New for this year was a phone app that made it much easier to see what activities where happening at any particular time. Do be aware this is a popular event and can get VERY crowded, especially at the main stage for both the 7pm and midnight acorn drops. Traffic and parking can be quite difficult, especially for those not used to downtown parking. I have been many times since this event started iver 25 years ago. I have always found it to be an enjoyable way to bring in the new year.

This place is hot, on a whole new level though. It's a bit off the beaten path from the usual…read moreRaleigh nightlife spots, but it's worth it. It's the best karaoke bar Raleigh has. Cheap drinks Diverse crowd Laid back Cheap eats Fun

Helping Hand Mission Band in he People's Procession

Giant bird puppet in the People's Procession

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Rhea, the giant puppet featured in the People's Procession

World Beer Festival

(14 reviews)

0.1 mi

"I keep drinking because I don't quit. Quitters are losers."…read more Woah! World Beer Festival. Where to start?! Well, for me, it's the corner of Person St and Martin St. I am a stickler of order and rules, so I started out at table #1 and trek my way across the all the brewery. While everyone flipping through their big book of Beer Guide, generously produced and provided by ALL ABOUT BEER MAGAZINE for this year's festivity, I however had done my study. Days before I have compiled and made a checklist of all the confirmed breweries, in Evernote, for easy checking in later in UNTAPPD app. I enjoyed all the national and international breweries, and even though the NC brewery tent was packed from beginning to end, I somehow made it through twice, when there was literally no moving foot traffic. Half way through the evening, feeling the waves of lethargy overcoming me, I wisely hopped over to the food tents, and got myself some stomach padding. The Sloppy Goats with Tots was quite interesting. Helping out at the Yelp booth also gave me some new perspectives, had I kept drinking, how much of a blabbering fool would I look to others. In the end it was a tremendously fun event, which I would most likely return in the coming years. (UPDATE: the final count was 96 check-ins in Untappd)

This was the first year I got a ticket and went to the World Beer Festival in Moore Square. All in…read moreall, I enjoyed it. I didn't stay the whole 6p-10p second session of the day but got to enjoy a lot of the flavor, both festival and beer, in what I did stay. Beer, beer, beer...it's a lot of beer. Greeted with your little clear plastic cup as you walk in, you get to have 2 oz. pours of whatever beers you choose to taste all during your session. And there had to be hundreds. Ciders as well, and actually they surprised me, I had a few I liked! Again, it cemented that I am just not an IPA kinda guy, but at least I got to try and see what I may like if any (just didn't happen with IPAs). From the serious beer tasters to those that were out to enjoy a downtown event to the sloppy drunken frat boy/wannabe frat boys and screeching drunk girls, and all in between, all types were definitely represented at this event. Great people watching event, that was some of the best fun. It was a decent setup, pretty spaced out tents but a bit (no, sometimes a lot) crowded in the actual tents where the beers were. I have low tolerance for claustrophobic situations but in the wide open space of Moore Square, you can get quick relief. The food is more along fair food type of stuff, I had the corn dogs and they were awesome actually! The live music was a good touch as well. I even ran into some fellow Yelpers and even old buds I haven't seen in years...good times. Bottom line: Will I go back again if I have the chance? Probably so. It was fun, and a welcome event to get everyone out and about in the downtown Raleigh area.

People celebrating a birthday at World Beer Festival Raleigh

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Jane jane Pollick

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh

I went to Alamo Drafthouse for a preview of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and had such a good time! The…read moremovie was amazing, the acting was great, and as someone who loved the original, it was so much fun getting to experience this one at Alamo. One of my favorite things about this theater is that it's more than just somewhere to watch a movie. You can order food and drinks right from your seat, but I also love all the nostalgia throughout the theater. Between the arcade games, old movies, music and little throwback details, there's always something to look at or talk about. They also have a sit-in area where you can grab something to eat, hang out and actually connect with other people before or after your movie. It gives the whole place more of a social atmosphere instead of everyone just watching a movie and immediately leaving. Such a fun experience, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 was the perfect movie for it. Alamo continues to be one of my favorite theaters!

We'd heard stuff about Alamo Draft House and always wanted to try it, and finally took the time to…read moredo so. We hit it up for two movies. Mandolorian and Grogu, then Toy Story 5. We went for the full experience, food, etc. Place is a bit out of the way for us, and in an odd location for such a nice experience. They have movie ambiance everywhere, even VCR Movie rental. The reason for three stars has nothing to do with the film experience, that's top notch. The problem is, the cost to quality ratio for the food just doesn't work. I unfortunately for my wallet have a big family, and we brought six people first time and five the next time. $400 night. Also between the two showings pizzas disappeared which was .. odd. They weren't amazing but they were better than 75% of the pizzas made, but again the price points is the challenge. Tack on the 18% delivery charge, and it's bank breaking. I get we gotta pay people but at that price, tacking on 18%, and at that 'meh' quality holy cow man. If we were talking fresh hand made stuff great, but between ordering, grill time, time for delivery, just not worth the $200 in food (or more) and we didn't really get anything outrageous like alcohol or tons of snacks, we're talking drink + popcorn + meal. I want these kind of experiences, but the cost makes this not sustainable for us. food and tickets for six people, second time I trimmed it back as I set expectations ahead of time but still was a multiple-hundred dollar afternoon. When all the TV/Movie press is 'why no one going to theaters' it's bills like this is why, even as a couple we could easily see $70-100 night. Something is broke, not sure it's Alamo's fault either this is a symptom of a larger problem. Feels like something 'in the middle' is tacking things into the pricing that breaks it all, bunch of middle men stealing $ without adding value.

Theater 11

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Lobby

Cinemark

3.7

(308 reviews)

7.8 mi

I returned to Cinemark Bistro Raleigh after two years as that is one of the theaters showing Rental…read moreFamily. I don't see myself returning anytime soon, though. It takes me about 45 minutes to get there so it better be worth the drive. The lobby was remodeled, and some concessions are available to grab yourself. Then, when you get to the front of the line, it tells you which register to go to. The theater was actually clean, but some of the seats were still worn. The restrooms were still not clean enough and could use more attention. With all the staff working there, they had plenty of staff to keep the building clean.

I hadn't been to this theater in almost ten years. It had been redone since then with very…read morecomfortable leather reclining seats with side tables. I was very impressed with the food menu as well. The chicken tenders and garlic fries with slap sauce were so good. I went for a private event for Stitching at the Movies. I didn't know you could rent out theaters for events like this, it was so fun!

Chucky popcorn bucket - lifewithhanny

Cup holders

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Six Forks Cinemas /Triangle Cinemas

(43 reviews)

8.3 mi

Love this little theater..Get your tickets when you get there, no lines and great popcorn!read more

Hit or miss. Sometimes they don't dim the lights very much because the senior citizens that often…read morego to it feel unsafe. It's always annoying when they do that because the screen is washed out and you can see everything in the cinema. If a few people complain they will lower the lights to a normal level but then 20 minutes of the movie have gone by. Has happened to me multiple times.

Getting ready for The Good Dianosaur with Grandma, Grandpa and our cousin Lawson!!

A large beer and popcorn for cheaper than a popcorn at a normal theater !!! Yes please.

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Outside

Raleigh Christmas Parade - festivals - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Raleigh Christmas Parade also viewed

First Friday

This is always a great event in downtown Raleigh at the First of the Month...There is great art…read morethroughout the city, and of course there is music and other fun events......It covers quite a large area so saying that don't limit yourself just to the shops in the Downtown area...There are also some good spots on Glenwood, Hillsborough, and other parts of Raleigh that are also part of the First Friday activities...I think you will Truly Enjoy yourself!!!

I have been going to Raleigh's First Friday since I moved to North Carolina and they never…read moredisappoint. It took me a while to get the layout and come to the realization that it's impossible to hit all the vendors in one night, but I still try! As of late I usually start in the Depot and grab a beer at Tasty Beverage (they don't have "specials" but they're always great!) or go to Jose and Sons for 1/2 price appetizers from 5-7pm, then head over to CAM. From there you can walk down Martin Street and hit four galleries (including Design Box, Visual Art Exchange, 311 Gallery and Tipping Paint Gallery). You might want to sign up (ahead of time) for a free cocktail class at ABV or venture downtown from here. It's easy to pick up the R-Line and take it to R-15. From there walk down E. Cabarrus and visit Flander's Gallery and Lump Gallery (located directly next to one another). From there you can walk down S. Blount and visit Artspace, from there you can swing through City Market which sometimes has live bands playing on the cobblestone streets. Walk up Blount and turn left on Hargett stopping at Adam Cave Fine Art Gallery. Keep walking down Hargett and you'll soon find yourself in an outdoor market (they set it up when the weather's nice outside Raleigh Times Bar). You'll have bands, drinks and see all different media from local artists. That's usually all I can get to in one night, but there are lots more galleries to check out. I have yet to visit the galleries on Glenwood, but it's on my list! First Friday has an AMAZING website that lists all the art galleries, exhibits AND the food and drink specials on a map: http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/first-friday-raleigh/map. It's super convenient and easy to use. If you haven't visited First Friday yet, now's your chance, you won't be disappointed!

Tobacco Farm Life Museum

(5 reviews)

The Tobacco Farm Life Museum is located in Kenly, NC. Admission was $10 but when I checked in on…read moreYelp it had a deal for $5 admission! We watched a 15 minute or so video when we first arrived that went over planting tobacco, harvesting it and preparing it to sell. There was a lot to it. While the museum's focus is on the tobacco history, it also covers agriculture; medicine; education; and general life in the area. Some of the museum is inside the main building and there are buildings outside that you can enter or peak into. I highly recommend visiting this museum.

Trip back in time. Interesting museum and the buildings are in excellent condition and staged with…read moreperiod pieces appropriately.

Henderson County Heritage Museum

3.3

The Henderson County Heritage Museum is located inside the Historic Henderson County Courthouse in…read moredowntown Hendersonville, NC. The building was constructed in 1904 and is a classic revival style. Admission to the museum is free, but they do collect donations. I only explored the first level of the building, but there may be more exhibits on the upper floors. More signage would be helpful. The museum covers local history and military history. They have artifacts and uniforms of all the wars. One room is dedicated to the area's railroad history. The model trains were not working when I was there, though. There is a memorial to "Big Jim", the world's largest pig. Back in 1941, the pig weighed 2415 pounds and was four feet 8 inches tall and ten feet 8 inches long. If you are in Downtown Hendersonville, this museum is worth a visit. There is a small gift shop as well.

Cute museum that was very clean and had a inviting staff plus nice restrooms! The information they…read morehad displayed was great and my whole family enjoyed it. It's free and a nice change from the shopping on main st.

Wake Forest Friday Night On White

4.8

We just went to the last FNOW and it was a beautiful night and a fun upbeat band called Liquid…read morePleasure! We brought our portable chairs which was ideal. I enjoyed all the vendors that offer all kinds of street food and drinks from donuts, adult beverages, pulled pork, ice cream, popcorn, pizza, nachos etc. The weather was absolutely perfect too. People of all ages enjoyed the event.

Friday Night On White really highlights the historic downtown Wake Forest area, inviting the whole…read moreneighborhood to come hang out. This is a small town event with a big turn out! I appreciate that music, some great food, beverages and friends are all this night out needs. Not a ton of vendors, that's not what this is. You will however have a good selection of food trucks to choose from. I opted for crispy pork sticky buns from Baozi, which is served up with a side of rice and garnished pretty to complete the "I'm eating something special" feel. Absolutely bring fold up chairs! My group now knows every brick planter and back staircase in the area to sit down on. Chalked it up to a memorable evening in a lovely town.

Grand Taste Experience

The grand taste this year was fantastic. The only reason why I give it 4/5 stars is that the price…read morewill keep some people away. Personally I think the venue, setup, and live music was better this year than last. The armory was so scenic and the stranded lights were fantastic. The food was laid out around the rectangular perimeter while the spirits and wine was on the inside of the room giving it a better flow as opposed to the "every other" station like it was last year. Also, the live jazz band was a nice touch and was set up far away enough to not cause a loud ambiance. Some other patrons we ran into also said the food was running out about halfway through. While I can understand some of the dishes take days to prepare, there should be an understanding that you need to make enough for everyone to get some (my wife and I did so we were pleased). Great event and I highly recommend it to anyone who takes their food scene seriously. We had multiple highly rated restaurants from the triangle in a single location doing their best work. Can't wait for next year's event!

Raleigh Winterfest

Thank goodness the rain held off just long enough for the kickoff event on Friday! Weather on its…read moreside, Raleigh turned it out with a nice line-up: scheduled performances and public skating on our brand spanking new outdoor rink; musical guests; free carriage rides; and events for the kids like sledding ramps. The fun only extended a block, which made it feel a little cramped. And I'm hoping the fest will grow in the coming years. I'd like to see more events involved--choir performances, maybe a handbell group, an indoor crafts-market would be nice--scattered throughout downtown. Still, a great turn-out for a well-organized and free family-friendly evening. I didn't get a chance to skate under the stars because the rink was completely mobbed, and the line for tickets huge. Boo. But I did scarf down some delicious honey-coated pecans from "Bob's Nuts" (tee-hee)!

Carmichael Arena

4.2

(5 reviews)

It's hard to walk into UNC's Carmichael Arena and not appreciate the sheer magnitude of basketball…read moretalent that competed under its roof. Coach Dean Smith led the 1981 Tar Heel team to a national championship here, with the help of a few guys named Jordan, Worthy and Perkins. Before the team relocated to the Dean Dome in 1986, the venue was considered one of the loudest (and some say, hottest) in college basketball, and Coach Smith's legacy still looms large in the building today. Yes, the seats can be tight and uncomfortable, the concourses cramped and the concession stands undersized, but Carmichael remains a North Carolina treasure, as well a great place to enjoy a women's basketball game, a volleyball match or a gymnastics meet.

My husband loves wrestling and wanted to check out a match here in NC. We headed to visit with 2 of…read moreour kids to watch UNC v. Navy. Upon arrival my youngest had her headphones on and got anxious. She ran out. The staff was so kind. No one judged and sought to make her comfortable. It was truly a gift! Thank you for hiring staff that work to be kind!

Dean E. Smith Center

4.5

(46 reviews)

One of the most storied venues in college basketball, the Dean Smith Center (or the 'Dean Dome' as…read moreit's affectionately known) is a modern-day cathedral to the sport, where Tar Heel legends like Kenny Smith, Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse and Tyler Hansbrough held court. The rafters are home to a collection of jerseys that could make up the roster for an NBA Legends team, featuring names like Jordan, Worthy, Perkins and Jamison, along with the coach for whom the building is named -- the legendary Dean E. Smith. With a capacity of nearly 22,000, it's one of the largest venues in college hoops, and there's rarely an empty seat in the house when the Heels are playing. The energy here is indescribable -- from the electric pregame festivities to the halftime show, it's one of the best experiences in all of college sports. In 2025, the University of North Carolina began discussions about replacing the 40-year old Dean Dome with a new arena, either elsewhere on campus or at Carolina North, a planned satellite campus a few miles north in Chapel Hill. But while the Dome's aging roof and narrow concourses support a credible argument for a replacement, it's hard to imagine the UNC campus without it. Here's hoping the UNC Board of Trustees sees the wisdom of renovating this wonderful arena to ensure it's continued role in college basketball lore. The Dean Smith Center is an experience no fan of the game should miss!

I attended UNC CH as an undergraduate. This felt like a homecoming of sorts. My husband father in…read morelove and daughter all caught a basketball game in the Smith Center. We had great seats and the heels won!

Legends Pride Block Party

Super fun environment, very accommodating staff, also had my ass grabbed by a famous drag queen…read more 10/10.

Triangle Vegfest Vegan Mac & Cheese Cook Off

3.0