Come Visit Raleigh in October!

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-classicThe 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.