What’s Happening This September
in Raleigh & Wake Forest – 2026
September is one of my favorite months in the Triangle. Summer isn’t quite ready to say goodbye, fall is starting to make an appearance, and the local event calendar is packed.
From live music in Downtown Raleigh and Wake Forest to festivals, art, food, and some wonderfully weird bugs, there are plenty of reasons to get out and explore this month.
Here are some of the events worth adding to your September calendar!
🎬 First Friday Market & Movie Night
September 4 | 5–9 PM | Moore Square, Raleigh
Kick off September with a night downtown! Moore Square will host a free First Friday Market & Movie Night featuring local vendors, food trucks, live music, and lawn games, followed by an outdoor showing of Remember the Titans beginning around 7:15 PM.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and arrive early if you want a good spot for the movie.
🎨 African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh & Wake County
September 5–6 | Downtown Raleigh
The 17th Annual African American Cultural Festival returns to Fayetteville Street for Labor Day weekend.
This free celebration brings together visual art, live music, theater, dance, food, local vendors, and cultural experiences throughout Downtown Raleigh.
It’s become one of Raleigh’s signature cultural events and a great way to spend part of the holiday weekend downtown.
🎮 Raleigh Game & Geek Expo
September 5–6 | Raleigh Convention Center
Gamers, this one’s for you.
The Raleigh Game & Geek Expo takes over the Raleigh Convention Center with gaming tournaments, tabletop games, arcade and PC gaming, retro and modern consoles, trading card games, industry guests and plenty of pop-culture nostalgia.
There’s even an ’80s and ’90s time-machine lounge!
🎶 Concerts in the Park
September 6 & 13 | 5:30–7:30 PM | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest
Grab a blanket, pack a picnic, and head to Joyner Park for two free Sunday evening concerts.
🎤 September 6: ACE Party Band
🎸 September 13: The Band Next Door
Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase.
The September 6 concert coincides with Wake Forest Unplugged, so it’s an especially good evening to make plans for Joyner Park.
🌿 Garden Story Walk
September 5–13 | JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh
Looking for something a little quieter?
The JC Raulston Arboretum is hosting a free self-guided Garden Story Walk throughout the first half of September. Pages of a story are placed throughout the gardens, letting visitors read as they explore.
There’s no scheduled starting time, so you can visit during garden hours and experience it at your own pace.
🎵 Hopscotch Music Festival
September 10–12 | Downtown Raleigh
One of Raleigh’s biggest music weekends returns in September.
Hopscotch takes over Downtown Raleigh with three days of performances at City Plaza, Moore Square and clubs and venues throughout downtown.
The 2026 lineup includes Dexter and the Moonrocks, Cory Wong, King Princess, Soccer Mommy, Duckwrth and dozens of other artists.
And there’s something new this year: Moore Square Commons, a free, open-to-the-public area featuring live music, local vendors, food, drinks and community programming. That means you can experience part of Hopscotch even without purchasing a festival pass.
🎤 Friday Night on White
September 11 | 6–9 PM | Downtown Wake Forest
Summer isn’t officially over until we’ve had one last Friday Night on White!
Wake Forest’s popular downtown concert series wraps up its 2026 season with Liquid Pleasure on September 11.
South White Street will once again fill with live music, food, drinks, and plenty of people enjoying a night downtown.
The concert is free, so grab some friends and enjoy the final FNOW of the year.
🎨 Community Celebration of the Arts
September 12 | 10 AM–2 PM | Wake Forest Renaissance Centre
Wake Forest’s Community Celebration of the Arts returns with a free day dedicated to creativity and local art.
This year’s event includes hands-on art experiences, works from local educators, a Guild of Artists mini market, and a performance of Tangled Tales by Grey Seal Puppets.
It’s an easy Saturday activity to pair with lunch or shopping in Downtown Wake Forest.
🐛 BugFest
September 19 | 10 AM–7 PM | Downtown Raleigh
This might be one of the most uniquely Raleigh events on the list.
BugFest celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026 at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences with more than 100 exhibits, games, crafts and activities dedicated to the world of arthropods.
This year’s theme is “Hoppers,” spotlighting treehoppers, planthoppers and leafhoppers.
You can meet scientists, see live insects, catch performances and, if you’re feeling adventurous, sample bug-inspired creations at Café Insecta.
Best of all, BugFest is free.
☀️ Good Neighbor Day
September 19 | 1–4 PM | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest
Good Neighbor Day returns to Joyner Park for an afternoon centered around community and connection.
Hosted by the Wake Forest Human Relations Council, this annual event brings Wake Forest residents together for an afternoon at one of the town’s most beautiful parks.
📚 Broadsides’ Ink & Drink Book Faire
September 19 | 11 AM–3 PM | Downtown Wake Forest
Book lovers have another reason to head downtown this month.
The Broadsides’ Ink & Drink Book Faire is scheduled for September 19 in the Fidelity Bank parking lot on South White Street.
Add a little downtown shopping, coffee or lunch afterward, and you’ve got yourself a pretty great Saturday.
🚶 Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk
September 20 | 2–4 PM | Wake Forest
The annual Wake Forest CROP Hunger Walk begins at the Wake Forest Historical Museum on North Main Street.
It’s an opportunity to get outside, connect with the community, and support efforts addressing hunger locally and around the world.
🥕 Wake Forest Farmers Market
Every Saturday | 8 AM–Noon | Downtown Wake Forest
Don’t forget one of our weekly favorites.
The Wake Forest Farmers Market continues every Saturday throughout September behind Town Hall on South Taylor Street.
It’s a great place to pick up locally grown produce, baked goods, and other locally made products while supporting area farmers and makers.
🍂 Hello, Fall!
September 22 officially marks the first day of fall, which means we’re entering one of the best times of year to explore Raleigh and Wake Forest.
Grab dinner outside while the evenings are still warm. Walk through Joyner Park. Spend a Saturday exploring Downtown Wake Forest. Head into Raleigh for a festival you’ve never attended before.
Sometimes it’s the little things happening right outside our doors that remind us why the Triangle is such a special place to call home.
I’ll see you out there!
Allison Caudle Abbott
Southern Lux Living