Those looking to enjoy fun cultural experiences throughout the year can find an excellent variety of festivals in Raleigh, North Carolina. This array of entertaining Raleigh events provides a range of opportunities to celebrate music, artistic endeavors, and great food.
Several times each year, Raleigh music festivals fill the air with outstanding instrumental and vocal performances from highly talented musicians. Bluegrass music lives at the Wide Open Bluegrass Festival, where the International Bluegrass Music Association holds its annual World of Bluegrass event, featuring performances by over 150 live bands. The sounds of several genres can be heard at the Hopscotch Music Festival, which features a diverse three day lineup of musical acts, including performances by rock, metal, hip-hop, and folk artists.
Raleigh also has festivals offering unique combinations of themes and activities. Art and music come together at The Raleigh Arts Festival, also known as Artsplosure. The event features an art market, with a variety of work from multiple artists on display. Artistic styles represented include paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, wood work, and glass work. Continuous live music is added to the atmosphere, creating an exciting cultural experience in downtown Raleigh. Art, food, and live music are collectively celebrated at the Fresh Catch Festival, which is specifically devoted to offering a broad variety of locally grown foods, and to showcasing talented local artists and musicians. Finally, the annual Raleigh World Beer Festival features an array of craft beers, live musical performances, and organized opportunities to play games, including Jenga and Connect Four.