The Raleigh area offers a bounty of events this October with a calendar full of performances, festivals, sporting events and family-friendly activities.
There's so much to see this month, you'll want to start planning your getaway now! Take advantage of our Hot Deals and Special Offers at area hotels, restaurants and attractions, found only on
www.visitRaleigh.com.
October should be renamed Festober due to the wide variety of festivals taking place throughout the area this month. Have a family heritage from around the world? Check out the
25th Annual International Festival (10/1-3) at the Raleigh Convention Center. More than 45 countries are represented with dance, music, food and games. Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre has a month filled with international-themed events including
Garba Night (10/2), a spectacular form of Indian folk dance, theater and music,
Indian Movie Night (10/8), the
Eid Festival (10/9), a multi-ethnic "Festival without Borders," and the
Cary Diwali Jashn (10/16), a festival of community and lights. The Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts is the place to be with a diverse roster of events. Raleigh’s hometown boy
David Sedaris (10/9)brings his unique brand of comedy to town, while
NBC’s Last Comic Standing Tour (10/29) makes a stop in Raleigh during its national road show. The Raleigh Convention Center goes on
A Shopping Spree (10/20-24) where hundreds of food, clothing, entertainment and decorating vendors help you to set your own personal style. Get into the Halloween spirit with the cult-classic
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (10/28-31), and the N.C. Symphony gets spooky with
Halloween Magic (10/30). Speaking of Halloween, get lost in more than two miles of corn rows at
Ken’s Corny Corn Maze (10/15-16, 22-23, 29-31), and at night, beware as the maze turns into the
Harvested Farm Nightmare (10/15-16, 22-23, 29-31). At the State Farmers Market, the color is orange as pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are displayed during the
Great Pumpkin Contest (10/7). The RBC Center welcomes comedian
Jeff Dunham (10/7) and financial guru
Dave Ramsey (10/16). What would October be in Greater Raleigh without the
NC State Fair (10/14-24)? Giant turkey legs, corn on a stick and fried Oreos, along with rides, games and agricultural exhibits will be at your fingertips during the state’s largest event. Stay until the end each night for a spectacular fireworks display, a celebration for all Greater Raleigh Free Spirits.
The curtain rises for another great month of performances from the area's nationally acclaimed performing arts groups. The Carolina Ballet presents the world premiere of Firebird (9/16-10/3), while the N.C. Theatre performs the 1950s rock-n-roll spoof Little Shop of Horrors (9/18-26), which promises to have you laughing and dancing in the aisles. The North Carolina Symphony Kicks off the 2010-2011 season with a Pops in the City FREE Concert(9/12) at the downtown Raleigh Amphitheater and performsBeethoven's Triple Concerto (9/24-25) at the Progress Engery Center for the Performing Arts. the Raleigh Little Theatre, which is celebrating 75 years of live theater, has partnered with the Actor's Comedy Lab to perform a quicky, heartfelt and slightly wicked tale of Hollywood indulgence in And the Winner Is (9/10-26). Myth, magic and pageantry abound as the Paperhand Puppet Intervention (9/10-11) transforms the N.C. Museum of Art's Park Theater stage, all accented with original live music. Combine Monty Python, Homer Simpson and the Three Stooges with 37 plays in 97 minutes and you have the hilarious Theatre in the Park performance of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (9/17-19, 9/23-26,10/1-3). Come see why Greater Raleigh is for the Creative Genius. 
