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Fun
Things To Do in Raleigh -
Compiled by Raleigh (Brentwood) residents
Note: At the end of this
list is a list of events by month.
ANYTIME:
- State Fairgrounds Calendar of Events There is always something fun going on.
- Farmers Market -- get a traditional Southern breakfast or a fresh fish fry there, too.
- NC Flea Market at the Fairgrounds; held every weekend except when the fair is in town in October.
- NC
Museum of Art on Blue Ridge Road.
In summertime: NC Museum of Art outdoor movies - Wachovia IMAX Theatre at Marbles Kids Museum
- Marbles Museum (was Exploris)
- NC
Museum of Natural Sciences
- Explore Raleigh's downtown nightlife
- See what's
going on at the malls: (In warmer months at you'll find free music,
and on Wednesdays at North Hills, a farmer's market!)
North Hills events
Triangle Town Center events - Go to
DowntownRaleigh.com and
get on their mailing
list to receive weekly news of downtown events. For free concerts
in warmer months, see: Raleigh
Downtown Live
Events (concerts, other performances):
- Coast to Coast Tickets - This is a ticket site, but it has a good list of Raleigh venues.
- Ticketmaster.
Search for events.
For history lovers:
- NC Museum of History
- Mordecai
Historic Park
Events at Mordecai Historic Park - Joel
Lane House, 728 West Hargett Street, Raleigh NC 27603
For More Information, call 919-833-3431, Email joellane@bellsouth.net - Haywood
Hall Museum House and Gardens, Morgan Street and New Bern Avenue
(where New Bern Avenue starts, in downtown Raleigh).
- State Capital Tours (group tours only). Website describes tour and gives history.
For plant lovers:
- J.C.
Raulston Arboretum
The JC Raulston Arboretum is a nationally acclaimed garden with one of the largest and most diverse collections of landscape plants adapted for landscape use in the Southeast. Plants especially adapted to Piedmont North Carolina conditions are collected and evaluated in an effort to find superior plants for use in southern landscapes.
Fun while getting exercise:
- Shelley Lake - Walk, fish, rent a paddle boat
- Falls Lake - Walk, fish, paddle your own canoe
- Jordan Lake - Walk, fish, swim, go boating
- IcePlex
- indoor ice skating
For dance lovers:
Arthur
Murray Dance Studio
2733
Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, N.C. 27604
919-872-8900
- Individual and couples lessons
- Public dances
A Step
To Gold International Ballroom
6278 Glenwood Av., Raleigh, N.C.
Pleasant Valley Promenade
919-781-6868
www.asteptogold.com
- Individual and group lessons, public dances
Carmen’s
Cuban Café and Lounge:
This
is a Latin teamed restaurant club that has sizzling’ Latin dancing.
108
Factory Shops Road, Morrisville, N.C. (near hwy 54)
919-467-8080
Loafer’s
Shag,
Lindy and West Coast Swing dancing. Lessons in Shag and West Coast Swig
are given there. Close to Brentwood at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and
New Hope Church Road.
919-872-5335
www.loafersbeachclub.com
Music
and Dance
888-21SWING
Individual and group dance lessons DJ services
Sunday dances at the Elk’s Lodge (East and West Coast Swing, Latin
and Ballroom)
Carolina Dance Club Members get discounted dance lessons and Sunday admission.
Memberships are available every Sunday at the dance or on line
www.MussicAndDance.com
Red’s
Beach Music
Red’s
recently reopened after changing locations. It is know for Shag and it
attracts a mature audience. Red’s is now located off Capital Boulevard,
inside the beltline, on the right, on the way into down town. The building
is painted red.
919-876-7337
The Red
Room
Restaurant
with Latin Dancing on Glenwood South
510
Glenwood Ave.
919-835-1322
T J’s
Nightlife
Shag,
line dances, ballroom and now Country to fill the gap left by the closing
of the Long Branch. Razs deck party is every Thursday night where you
can eat on the deck and dance to the music of a live band. T J’s
is off Atlantic Avenue right past Millbrook Road, across from Capital
Ford’s service department and beside Burrage Music Co.
www.tjsightlife.com
USA Dance
This
is a ballroom dance that takes place the third Saturday of each month.
It is located at Highland United Methodist Church at the corner of Lake
Boone Trail and Ridge Road, inside the beltline. This is an organization
that rents church space.
The Tuneswingers
Big band music, the fourth Thursday of each month at the Elk's Club. The
Elk's Club is located at the intersection of Millbrook and Lead Mine Roads.
The band and their female singer/musician play Big Band style music from
8:00 to 10:30 p.m.
Dance events for improvisation and free-form movement in the Triangle
area.
Note: Be sure to contact them
to confirm the event is still being held.
| Carrboro
Dance Jam Every 1st Friday of the month 8:00 - 10:30 pm Balanced Movement Studio at 304 W. Weaver St. in Carrboro $5 - $8 sliding scale Dance with yourself/ partners/ group Experience the benefits of improv dancing Smoke free, Alcohol Free Info: Ron- 919-678-8776 |
Spirit
Dance Last Sunday of every month, 10 am to noon Franklin Street Yoga Center, University Square Building 123 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC $5 suggested donation Freeform movement and dance to empower the individual, create community, and integrate the body, mind, and spirit in a sacred supportive environment. Accompanied by live and recorded music. |
| Cary
Belly Dance and Drum Jam The second Friday of every month starting in July 7:00 - 9:00 pm Bond Park Community Center in Cary, NC Free and open to the public Dancers of all levels, drummers, hoopers, and improv-ers are invited to celebrate the ancient art of Middle Eastern dance in a non-structured environment. Music of various styles will be provided. Fun dance attire encouraged but not required. For more info, contact Gloria at 919-357-6712 www.mysticsforpeace.com |
Funky
Fridays - approximately once or twice a month in warmer months 7:30pm - 10:00 pm Ben and Jerry's at 3801 Hillsborough St. (919) 807-0707 - ask for Betty Come out and play! fire dancers, poi dancers, hoopers, belly dancers, jugglers and drummers. We welcome all those who want to play. Come out and join us! |
| Raleigh
Hula Hoop Jam at Pullen park Wednesdays from 6:30 til dark Free and open to the public No experience necessary- extra hoops available! For more info or hooping classes, contact Carolyn.mabry@gmail.com or 919-834-4431 |
Playdance
Women's Group Wednesdays, 11:15 am-12:15 pm Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Durham in the Sanctuary An open time for people to explore movement and space through their bodies. No previous experience is necessary, and all are welcome to join in the fun. For more information contact Jennifer Mayo at 919-732-2791 |
| Interplay
Carrboro- 2nd Fridays from 7:30 - 9:30 at Balanced Movement Studio at 304 W. Weaver St. Raleigh- 1st Saturdays from 10:00 am - Noon at the Friends Meeting House at 625 Tower St. Sliding Scale $5 - $15 Come as you are for play that refreshes, energizes and reconnects body and spirit! We'll explore InterPlay's simple yet powerful forms based in movement, voice, story and stillness. Indulge in a creative process rooted in affirmation and ease. All levels of experience welcome. For more info, go to www.interplaync.org/ |
Movement
Meditation 3rd Sunday of every month from 6 - 8 pm Namaste Yoga Studio, 1003 High House Rd, Cary, NC Movement meditation is a powerful and healthy way to connect with your spirit and create the life you really want to be living from the inside out. Using free-form dance, breathing, and meditation, you'll experience letting go of what's holding you back and and exhilarating energy flow that invites self discovery. Your "dance" can help you uncover your true purpose and transform your dreams into reality. No previous movement or dance experience required. For more info, go to http://freeyourcreativespirit.com |
EVENTS BY MONTH:
March
- Dog
Shows at the State Fairgrounds - Tar Heel Dog Show Circuit
- Six days of all breeds of dog shows; event held the third week of
March. Held at the fairgrounds at the Jim Graham Building. For all dog
fanciers, it is fun to watch the competition, talk to exhibitors to
learn more about your favorite breed, lots of booths set up with cute
things for your pooch, such as specialty foods, toys, grooming supplies,
leashes, and crates.
April
- Southern
Shows Usually held at NC State Fairgrounds:
- Southern Ideal Home Show, Spring edition, held the first week in April.
- Southern Women's Show, generally last weekend in April. (Editor's note: Why do they have someone with a British accent to voice over the Southern Women's Show online video? Why not a Southern accent? Hmm.)
- Salute
to the Troops Day in April, Downtown Raleigh: http://www.visitraleigh.com/event.details.php?id=11826
May
- Artsplosure in mid-May in downtown Raleigh.
July
- Fourth
of July fireworks at NC
Fairgrounds
September
- International
Festival - first week in September (new!) Raleigh Convention Center
- Dog
Shows at the State Fairgrounds -Tar Heel Dog Show Circuit
- Labor Day weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at at the fairgrounds
at the Jim Graham Building. For all dog fanciers, it is fun to watch
the competition, talk to exhibitors to learn more about your favorite
breed, lots of booths set up with cute things for your pooch, such as
specialty foods, toys, grooming supplies, leashes, and crates.
- Southern
Ideal Home Show, Fall Edition the last week in September - Click
here for $1 off coupon for 2008
October
- NC State Fair - Rides, exhibits, food, FUN!
November
- Veteran's Day Parade, Downtown Raleigh
December
- Historic
Oakwood Candle Tour - First week in December; held Saturday and
Sunday afternoons. Gorgeous homes and decorations. Don't forget to enjoy
tea and cookies at the end of the tour at the historic
Tucker House.
- Luminarias
in Brentwood - On Christmas Eve at dusk, drive through beautiful
Brentwood to see luminaries lining all the streets as well as home
Christmas light displays in this vintage 1400-home subdivision.
SURROUNDING AREAS:
- Go to
Wake Forest and walk around and have an ice cream cone. A real estate
agent recommends this ice
cream store in her blog.
- North
Carolina Museum of Life and Science in Durham. Great fun for kids.
Worth the drive to Durham.
- In Greensboro,
visit Wet 'n' Wild Emerald
Point waterslide park.
- Go to
Paul Green Theatre in
Chapel Hill on Tuesdays (community day, costs less); featuring plays
starring nationally known actors.
- Two hours away: Visit Wilmington on the coast and go to Wrightsville Beach http://www.visitwrightsville.com/
OFFICIAL RALEIGH LINKS:
Raleigh
of Chamber links:
OTHER:
- Courses:
- FREE courses through GCFLearnFree.org - Excellent tutorials and online courses in a variety of topics.
- Encore Center at NC State - offers classes for people over 50, and if you're over 65, you may get a big break on tuition.
- Wake Tech has a location just a few short miles away from Brentwood offering a variety of classes.
- Meetings: Search for your interests and others who share your interests at Meetup.com.
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