Livable Raleigh

Moore Square Winterfaire
2025-12-14 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Moore Square, 200 S. Blount St., Raleigh, NC, 27601
Raleigh Parks and MAKRS Present: Moore Square Winterfaire, a European style Christmas Market/Festival.
Winterfaire is a 4-day annual festival featuring 60+ vendors, a food truck rodeo, Live Bands, Santa, S’mores, a Beer Garden, and more!
Learn more

La Chocolatada de Luisito - Luisitos Chocolatada
2025-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Artist Studio Project, The Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum, El Centro Hispano,and The Dominican Association of NC invite you to join them at the 9th Annual La Chocolatada de Luisito – Luisitos Chocolatada.
This is a free, bilingual, family holiday storytime event. It includes Free Books, crafts, chocolates, songs, treats, hot chocolate, pastries, and more. It’s part of the 11th Annual El Quixote Festival – Children’s Voices.
This year, we will have children performing:

Ana Jimena will delight us with holiday songs.
David and Victoria Garrett will treat us to holiday favorites with their string instruments.
The Dominican Folkloric Dance Group will dance to get us in the spirit.
And Local children’s Authors will join us to sign their books.
We will also be giving Free Bilingual books to children 0-12 years of age.

Details
Location: City of Raleigh Museum
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No Registration Required

Holiday Open House
2025-12-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Mordecai Historic Park, 1 Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC, 27604
Join us at the annual Holiday Open House at Mordecai Historic Park!
See how the Mordecai House would have been decorated over the past 240 years and learn about different holiday traditions. Walk through the beautifully decorated house and enjoy music, discover historic artifacts, and more.
On Saturday, Dec. 13, do some holiday shopping at the Merry and Bright: A North Pole Market! Visit our vendors to find unique gifts, create festive crafts, and sample food vendors.
Enjoy seasonal entertainment and stop by a cooking demonstration in our historic kitchen. Visit Paper and Stars Studio’s Eventbrite page to register and receive event updates.
The open house continues on Sunday, Dec. 14, with live music by Triangle Shape Note. Both days of this event are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Mordecai Historic Park Visitor Center at 919-996-4364.
Ages: All
Cost: Free

African American Book Fair
2025-12-14 14:00 - 18:00 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Join us for a special event featuring African American book illustrators and authors from across the state!
Explore a wide selection of children’s books, as well as historical and inspirational works from the African Diaspora — all available for purchase.
Special Guest: Mrs. Sherricka Carpenter Stanley, author of “Give Me Some Chin!” and owner of Next Chapter Bookstore & Gift Shop. Come meet the author and support a thriving Black-owned business!
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate Black voices in literature!

Location: John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
Ages: All Ages
Cost: Free
No registration required

Jazz on the Greene - CANCELLED
2025-12-14 16:00 - 18:00 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Join Us for Jazz on the Greene! Relax, unwind, and get into the holiday spirit with live music by local favorite Phenix Fire!
Sunday Afternoon on the Greene, enjoy refreshments and drinks, great company, and smooth jazz vibes. Come dance, laugh, and be merry as we celebrate the season together! All are welcome – bring your friends, your family, and your love of music.
Location: John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No Registration Required

Santa's Trolley
2025-12-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Mordecai Historic Park, 1 Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC, 27604
Santa is lost in Raleigh, and Holly the Elf needs your help to find him!
Join Holly aboard the Historic Raleigh Trolley to help track down Santa in time for Christmas.
Arrive up to 30 minutes early or stay after your tour to make a s’more!
The trolley leaves from Mordecai Historic Park. Advanced registration is required. For more information, call the Mordecai Historic Park Visitor Center at 919-996-4364.
Location: Mordecai Historic Park
Times: 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m.
Cost: $15
Ages: All
Register on RecLink

Yoga In The Park at the Historic Borden Building
2025-12-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Fred Fletcher Park, 820 Clay St, Raleigh, NC, 27605
Build strength and flexibility while enhancing body awareness.
In this alignment-focused class, you’ll learn how to work from a stable base to feel more grounded both physically and mentally, while also improving range of motion, posture, and balance. Props and modifications are available to meet you where you are. No yoga experience necessary.
Class will be inside The Historic Borden Building unless weather permits the use of the Amphitheater.
Location: Fred Fletcher Park – Borden Building
Ages: 18 and older
Cost: $5

Neuse River Park Open House - Schematic Design
2025-12-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Abbotts Creek Community Center, 9950 Durant Rd, Raleigh, NC, 27614
Public Meeting to discuss the Schematic Design for Neuse River Park.
This meeting will be family-friendly and will include light refreshments and an art-making station for people of all ages. Accommodations & Translation Services are available upon request. Please contact NeuseRiverPark@publicinput.com
The public workshop will be a drop-in style open house meeting. Staff and consultants will be there to help explain and to answer questions about the Schematic Design.
Location: Abbotts Creek Community Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free

Lunch Box Lectures at the City of Raleigh Museum
2025-12-18 12:00 - 13:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Feed your belly and your brain!
Bring your lunch to the City of Raleigh Museum and listen to a captivating lecture every third Thursday of the month.
This program is in partnership with the City of Raleigh Active Adults Program.
Ages: All
Cost: Free

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Dr. Anna Julia Cooper
Dilip and Anuragini Barman
Thursday, Dec. 18
Dilip Barman is the founder of the Mathematics Institute of the Triangle in Chapel Hill. His daughter, Anuragini, is a high school junior and a tutor at the Mathematics Institute of the Triangle. They will speak on Raleigh’s own Dr. Anna Julia Cooper, mathematician and scholar.

It's a Very Merry Meetup
2025-12-18 18:00 - 21:00 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Thursday nights just got a whole lot merrier!
Get ready to put on your most creative holiday sweater and join the North Carolina Black Women Empowered 50+ group for a holiday open house at the John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center!
Enjoy music, games, and yummy snacks with hot chocolate and apple cider. Craving dinner? A Food truck will be on site for purchases!
Details
Location: John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No registration required

Breakfast with Santa
2025-12-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Tarboro Road Community Center
Please join us for our annual Breakfast with Santa!
This event will have free food, activities, gift raffles, and an appearance from a special guest. We will have toys for ages 5- 11 (while supplies last), but all ages are welcome! Feel free to bring your friends and family for a morning of fun!
Location: Tarboro Road Community Center
Ages: All Ages
Cost: Free
Register on RecLink

Holidays with the Popes
2025-12-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Pope House Museum, 511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Visit the Pope House to enjoy period-accurate holiday decorations, music, and games!
Relax with the Popes as you learn about 20th-century holiday traditions. This guided tour will also feature delicious treats! This is a free event.
Date: Saturday, Dec. 20
Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Ages: All
No Registration Required

Swim with Santa
2025-12-20 12:00 - 16:00 | Pullen Acquatic Center, 410 Ashe Ave., Raleigh, NC, 27606
Bring your swimsuit, towel, and a camera, and take a dip in the pool with Santa!
We will have elves running holiday-themed activities in and out of the pool. Santa will be here to hear all of your Christmas wishes!
Location: Pullen Aquatic Center
Date: Saturday, Dec. 20
Time: noon – 4 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Pool Admission Fees Vary

Worthdale Holiday Pajama Giveaway
2025-12-21 15:00 - 18:00 | Worthdale Park Community Center, 1001 Cooper Road, Raleigh, 27610
‘Tis the season for family fun! Bring the whole family and join Women Who Care and the Worthdale Community Center for a cozy Pajama Party.
Come dressed in your favorite pajamas and enjoy an afternoon filled with carnival games, face painting, arts and crafts, tasty food, a warm cocoa station, and a toy giveaway while supplies last. It’s a celebration you won’t want to miss! Registration isn’t required but encouraged
Location: Worthdale Community Center
Ages: 5 – 12
Cost: Free
Register on RecLink

Emancipation Day Trolley: Oberlin Village Tour
2026-01-03 10:00 - 12:30 | Pope House Museum, 511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Oberlin Village was a vibrant African American community established after the Civil War.
Celebrate Emancipation Day by joining local historian Carmen Wimberly Cauthen and Cheryl Williams for a guided tour of Oberlin Village.
Details
Time: 10 – 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Adults $15, Children $6
Register for Tickets

Fighting for Freedom: Black Civil War Reenactors
2026-01-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Pope House Museum, 511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Travel back in time to see United States Colored Troops and allies as they tell stories of real-life Black soldiers and their lives in the camps and on the front lines.
Details
Location: Pope House Museum
Age: All
Cost: Free
No Registration Required

Family Fun Day New Year's!
2026-01-10 11:00 - 14:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Come and celebrate the new year with the museum!
Make magic wish wands, New Year’s resolutions, and learn about the way some of Raleigh’s residents have changed history.
Location: City of Raleigh Museum
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No Registration Required

Plant Swap!
2026-01-17 11:00 - 13:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Calling all plant lovers! Join us for an exciting plant swap event.
Bring your favorite house and garden plants or homegrown vegetables to trade with fellow plant enthusiasts. We ask that you bring only healthy, pest-free plants to ensure everyone’s enjoyment. This event is free and open to the public!
Location: City of Raleigh Museum
Date: Saturday, Jan. 17
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Free

When Community Gathers
2026-01-18 15:00 - 18:00 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Join us on Sunday, Jan. 18, the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026, as we come together to celebrate unity and community through music, dance, and art.
In honor of our ancestors, we invite you to wear African or Afrocentric attire to show your solidarity and pride. Enjoy light refreshments and be inspired by the power of community. No registration needed – just bring yourself and your beautiful attire!
Location: John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
This event is hosted by the North Carolina Black Women Empowered 50+ Group.

John Chavis Memorial Park Presents King Day: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2026-01-19 12:00 - 15:00 | John Chavis Community Center, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
John Chavis Memorial Park presents King Day: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 19, from noon to 3 p.m.
This special event will honor Dr. King’s legacy through meaningful service opportunities, engaging children’s activities, and community-centered experiences.
Join us as we reflect, connect, and celebrate the impact of Dr. King’s life and work. This event is free and open to all ages.
Location: John Chavis Memorial Park
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No registration is required

Drumming Showcase
2026-01-24 11:00 - 14:00 | Five Points Center for Active Adults, 2000 Noble Road, Raleigh, NC, 27608, United States
Celebrate the rhythms of Japan, Senegal, Puerto Rico, and more!
Explore different drumming traditions, enjoy hands-on crafts, and pick up something from a local food truck.
Featuring

Peaceful Forest
Diali Cissokho
Broughton High School Winter Drumline
Tambor y Alma
Triangle Taiko

This event is presented in partnership with the Japan America Society of North Carolina.
Event Details
Location: Five Point Center for Active Adults
Ages: All
Cost: Free

Dix Park Leadership Committee
2026-01-27 09:00 - 10:30 | DIX Park, 1030 Richardson Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27603

Share Your Ideas for Biltmore Hills Park
2026-01-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Biltmore Hills Park, 2615 Fitzgerald Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27610
Join Raleigh Parks for a family-friendly public workshop to explore design options for the expansion of Biltmore Hills Park.

Mental Health Check In
2026-02-02 18:30 - 21:30 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Join us for Mental Health Check-In: Food, Feelings & Connection, a preventative wellness conversation centered on how food impacts our overall well-being beyond diet culture and restriction.Empty headingEmpty heading
Globally, food is recognized as medicine, culture, and a cornerstone of community. This check-in invites us to begin approaching it in the same way, examining how our relationship with food shapes our well-being across multiple dimensions.
Guided by an interdisciplinary panel of professionals and community leaders, this conversation will explore:Empty headingEmpty heading

Food as Comfort — Without Guilt
Food as Preventative Care
Nourishment vs. Restriction
Food, Culture & Connection

This experience reflects a grassroots approach to wellness—neighbors, professionals, and organizers working side by side to ensure our community has access to holistic, non-clinical support. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Hosted by Let’s Get Social Raleigh Foundation INC and John P. Top Green African American Cultural Center
Location: John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No Registration Required

Residential Urbanity: A Modern Showcase of Triangle Skate Photographers
2026-02-06 18:00 - 21:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
In partnership with Skate Raleigh and as part of Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s First Friday events for February, we’re hosting a showcase of three local skate photographers and the backstory behind some of their favorite shots from recent years.
Starting at 6 p.m., we’ll see selections from Zorah Olivia, Chris Facey, and Clinton Perry, along with Q&A, hosted by Miguel Magallanes from Endless Grind. Due to limited space, this will be a free but ticketed event. Use this form to RSVP.
Location: City of Raleigh Museum
Ages: All
Cost: Free
RSVP for Residential Urbanity

Celebrate Black History Month at Chavis Park
2026-02-07 11:00 - 14:00 | John Chavis Community Center, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
We invite you to join us at John Chavis Memorial Park for a dynamic event that honors the history, culture, and significant contributions of Black communities.Empty headingEmpty heading
This celebration offers a variety of activities aimed at educating, inspiring, and bringing people together. There will be food trucks, lessons for littles, Black-Owned Business Vendors, bounce houses, arts and crafts, and much more! We hope to see you there.
Location: John Chavis Community Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No registration is required

Mardi Gras Masquerade Prom for Adults
2026-02-07 20:00 - 23:00 | Dix Park Chapel, 1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27603
After the success of last year’s Holly Jolly Raleigh Prom for Adults, tickets are now available for our Mardi Gras Masquerade Prom for Adults on Feb. 7, 2026!
We’re hosting a vibrant, masquerade-style evening where adults (21+) can get glammed up and celebrate Mardi Gras in style with music, masks, and magic all night long. Attendees will dance the night away to beats from our DJ, sip on adult beverages from local vendors at our cash bar, enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and indulge in festive mocktails crafted by talented mixologists on-site.
Every registration supports the Raleigh Parks Play It Forward Financial Assistance Program, helping individuals and families play for a lifetime.
Location: The Chapel at Dix Park
Ages: 21 and older
Cost: $40
Get Tickets on RecLink

Living Legends: C.A.R.V.E. into Black Raleigh
2026-02-08 15:00 - 17:00 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Living Legends: C.A.R.V.E. into Black Raleigh. Honoring Those Who are Uplifting the Black Community Now
Panel Discussion: “Living Legends of Raleigh”

Dr. Paul Baker – Art / Education/ Community
Dr. James T. Roberson Jr – Religion/ Education / Community / Veteran
Frances Lonnette Williams – Education/ Community
Rozalyn Blair-Sanders – Education / Community
SGT Patricia Harris – Veteran / Community
SFC Elree Smith – Veteran / Community

An unforgettable evening as we honor the living legends of Raleigh, North Carolina—visionaries, trailblazers, and community champions whose work has shaped the cultural, social, and economic landscape of the Black community. This powerful panel discussion will spotlight the individuals who have not only witnessed history but made history.
This celebration is a moment to give them their flowers, celebrate their resilience, and acknowledge the impact of their decades of service. Through conversation, storytelling, and shared wisdom, these icons will reflect on their journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the legacy they continue to build.
Discussion Themes

Roots & Rise: The origin stories of Raleigh’s community leaders
Breaking Barriers: How they created opportunities where none existed
Building the Future: Their hopes, advice, and continued vision for the next generation
Legacy & Love: Honoring their commitment, sacrifice, and leadership
Why This Matters in a world that often waits to honor people after they’re gone, we choose to celebrate them now—in their presence, with gratitude, respect, and joy.

Details
Location: John P. “Top” Green African American Cultural Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No Registration is Required

Let's Make Valentines
2026-02-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Pullen Community Center, 408 Ashe Ave, Raleigh, NC, 27607
February is the time to send a special note to the ones you love. Valentines are extra special when they are made by you!
Paper, ribbons, stickers, lace, and more will be provided. Each person can make up to 5 Valentines. This is a drop-in event for all ages, and adults are welcome!
Light snacks will be available, or you may bring your own dinner. Please let staff know at least 2 days in advance if your participant has allergies or special dietary concerns. Please register on RecLink so we can plan accordingly.
Location: Pullen Community Center
Ages: All
Cost: $5 per person
Register on RecLink

Love Bugs: A Program for Preschoolers and Caregivers
2026-02-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Barwell Road Community Center, 5857 Barwell Park Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27610, United States
Do you love to run, hop, skip and play with your preschooler?
Our theme will be love, wearing red, reading about love, and making a special love bug craft. Bring a friend.
This Lovebug program will focus on fostering emotional skills (such as love and friendship) and basic science concepts (insects) through hands-on art, songs, and nature exploration.
Children will learn to appreciate bugs and practice kindness through crafts—such as making their own colorful ‘love bugs’ from craft supplies or natural items—along with stories and simple experiments. The program creates a joyful, engaging environment for learning about feelings and the world around them.
Location: Barwell Road Community Center
Ages: 3-5 (accompanied by an adult)
Cost: $5
