June Events 2023: What's Happening In Raleigh This Month? | This Is Raleigh (2024)

Summer is finally here! Whether you’re planning to hit the beaches, cool off in the mountains, or stay in Raleigh and enjoy all the incredible summer festivals and events and things to do, we’re here to help with lots of ideas on our blog and social channels.

Down below we’re sharing what we think are some of the of the best events in Raleigh for June. This month we have many events celebrating Juneteenth and Pride!

Let us know in the comments what you are doing this month in Raleigh? It’s helpful for the readers coming after you to discover morecool things to do in Raleighand surrounds.

And don’t forget to get prepared for beyond June by checking out our annual list offestivals and events in Raleigh guide.

June Getaway Ideas

Now the weather is warming up, why not go on a fun outdoor getaway or enjoy an easy day trip from Raleigh over the weekend? Here are a few ideas for you:

• 12 Great Beaches under 3 hours from Raleigh
• Things to do on an Ocean Isle Beach Vacation
• 11 Reasons to Visit Ocraco*ke Island
• 15 Fun Day trips from Raleigh
• Camping at Kerr Lake
• Top places to go in the North Carolina mountains
• A night at the Durham Bulls Baseball

Pride Month

Raleigh is transforming into a more welcoming LGBTQ Southern city, and June is one way we can keep growing this. June is Pride Month so let’s put extra attention into celebrating our LGBTQ community and the rich diversity it brings to the City of Oaks.

Here are a list of recourses, businesses, and community programs that support and celebrate the LGBTQ community. Please leave a comment with any more you know of.

• You can find a list of Pride Month events here.
• House of Swank has a great Raleigh Pride T-Shirt
• Legends Nightclub is the oldest and most well-known in Raleigh
• Ruby Deluxe is an this underground bar with drag shows and brunches, themed danced parties and local bands.
• TheLGBT Center of Raleighis a resource and community gathering space in the Warehouse District. The LGBTQ Center’s objective is to “serve, empower, and advocate for the LGBTQ community’s well-being.”
• Stonewall Sports Raleigh Inc.is a nonprofitLGBTQ & Ally sports league whose mission is to ensure that everyone can participate in organized sports and feel comfortable being themselves.
• The Green Monkey is a gay-owned bar downtown in Hillsborough St that sells unique gifts made by local craftsmen and includes a neighborhood bar where all are welcome. The business also hosts a variety of activities, including bingo, quizzes, and drag performances. They are hosting Pride events all month long.

June Music Concerts

To make it easy for you to find the cool music events happening each month, I’m creating a separate section to list them out. Leave a comment to tell me what’s missing from the list and what you’re most looking forward to:

• Dead & Company, June 1, Coastal Credit Union
• Dermot Kennedy, June 3, Red Hat Amphitheater
• TLC, Shaggy En Vogue, Sean Kingston, June 7, Coastal Credit Union
• Subtronics, June 9, Red Hat Amphitheater
• Summerfest: Fire & Rain Songs of the 70s, June 9, Koka Booth
• Ricardo Arjona June 11, PNC Arena
• Noah Kahan; June 14, Red Hat Amphitheater
• Dierks Bentley, June 16, Coastal Credit Union
• Pixies, June 16, Red Hat Amphitheater
• Rebelution, June 17, Red Hat Amphitheater
• Summerfest: Classics Under the Stars, June 17, Koka Booth
• Summer Jam 2023, June 23, Koka Booth
• Peter Frampton, June 24, Red Hat Amphitheater
• NC Symphony: Harry Potter vs Star Wars, June 24, Koka Booth
• KIDZ BOP, June 30, Coastal Credit Union

If you’re looking for accommodation for these concert evenings, check out ourdowntown Raleigh hotelpicks, with our current favorite theResidence Inn Raleigh Downtown.

Sporting Games in June

You know there are too many baseball games to mention, so be sure to check the schedules for the Durham Bulls and Carolina Mudcats.

Here are the professional soccer matches not to miss at Wake Med Soccer Park in Cary:

• North Carolina Courage vs. Orlando Pride, June 17
• North Carolina FC vs Lexington, June 18
• NC Courage vs Racking Louisville FC, June 24
• North Carolina FC vs Charlotte Independence, June 30

WEEK 1: June 1- 9, 2024

UNC Health Golf Championship, May 30 – June 2, 2024

• Where: Raleigh Country Club
• Time: First tee off 6:50-7am – 7pm Thurs/ Fri and 5pm Sat Sun
• Cost: $20+
• Tickets

Watch the PGA Tour’s rising stars as well as seasoned professionals at the state’s only Korn Ferry Tour event is on in Raleigh. It’s the primary pathway for golfers seeking to earn their PGA TOUR card.

Featuring 156 pro golfers, and players with local ties, including Ben Kohles, who grew up in Cary and has won two tournaments on the Korn Ferry Tour this year. Other local players expected to play include Ryan Gerard and Carter Jenkins, who both played golf at UNC-Chapel Hill. It’s going to be a fun four days with lots of activities and events on apart from the golf.

International Food Festival, June 1, 2024

• Where: Fayetteville St, Downtown Raleigh
• Time: 11-9pm
• Cost: Free to enetr
• Website

Time to celebrate the vibrant cultures that make up Raleigh. Over 30 food trucks/dessert trucks from around the globe, live performances, and an outdoor international dance party!

Jazz at the NCMA: Samara Joy & Superblue, June 6, 2024

• Where: NC Museum of Art
• When: 7pm
• Cost: $44+
• Tickets

The third installment of the 2024 season features a co-bill featuring “the rich and velvety yet precociously refined” stylings of Samara Joy, the 24-year-old jazz sensation who took home 2023 Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album, and SuperBlue, featuring jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and producer/guitarist Charlie Hunter.

First Friday, June 7, 2024

• Where:Downtown Raleigh (various locations)
• Website:downtownraleigh.org

Looking for events in Raleigh this weekend? First Friday is a great way to get to know the culture ofdowntown Raleigh.

It is celebrated on the first Friday of each month at locations throughout downtown. Art galleries and studios are open late with rotating exhibits and artist talks. First Friday is FREE and open to all.

Click here for our guide to First Friday including the events for the month of June, which will be Pride themed!

First Friday is one of our monthly date nights. See moredate ideas for Raleigh here.

Jazz at the NCMA: Babyface, June 7, 2024

• Where: NC Museum of Art
• When: 7pm
• Cost: $90+
• Tickets

The NCMA welcomes 12-time Grammy Award–winning recording artist, songwriter, and producer Babyface for a special evening of R&B and soul.

Bubbles and Brisket, June 8, 2024

• Where: Smoky Hollows
• Time: 2-6pm
• Cost: $75 for standard ticket
• Tickets here

Created on the North Carolina Food and Beverage Podcast, ‘Bubbles and Brisket’ is a collaboration of chefs, pit-masters, wine producers, sommeliers and brewers, pairing sparkling bubbles with a variety of cooking techniques and side dishes that feature everyone’s favorite: brisket.

This is the fourth year for the event. Your ticket gives you unlimited brisket samples from 10 BBQ pit-master chefs and an array of sparkling beverages ranging from Champagne, Cava, Cremant, Prosecco, Beer, Sodas to Non-alcoholic and Boozy co*cktails.

It’s a really fun annual event in Raleigh.

Geek and Grub Market (Love & Rainbow Edition), June 8, 2024

• Where: Fletcher Park
• Time: 6-10pm
• Cost: Free
• Website

Step into a world where love shines bright, rainbows arch across the sky, and unicorns roam free at our special Love & Rainbow Edition of the Geek & Grub Market! Embrace the magic by dressing up in your most whimsical attire and dive into a host of dreamy, themed competitions and activities.

Apex Pride Festival, June 08, 2024

• Where: Apex Town Campus, 73 Hunter Street
• Time: 11am-5pm
• Website: apexnc.org

The annual Apex Pride Festival is held in celebration of our LGBTQ+ community members and loved ones. Come out for a day of inclusion, music, food, games, vendors, and activities!

Let’s celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends, families, and community members

Historic Raleigh Trolley ‘Pride Ride’, June 9, 2024

• Where: Mordecai Historic Park
• Cost: $12
• Time: 1pm,2pm, and 3pm
• Website: raleighnc.gov

This Pride Ride on the historic Raleigh Trolley will highlight historic locations, neighborhoods, businesses, churches, and other points of interest throughout the city as they pertain to the city’s LGBTQ community.

WEEK 2: JUNE 10-16, 2024

Happy Father’s Day to all our dads, father figures, and caregivers. We hope you have a special day with a well-deserved break and much love and attention. We’ll be celebrating both Craig, and my father who is visiting from Australia, in Wilmington. In Australia, Father’s Day is in September, so my Dad gets to celebrate it twice this year!

Juneteenth Joy 2024: A celebration of freedom and gospel music, June 14, 2024

• Where: NC Museum of Art
• Time: 7:30pm
• Cost: $54+
• Tickets

This concert features 19-time Grammy-winning gospel music icon Kirk Franklin and his special guest, Stellar Award–winning songstress Maurette Brown Clark.

Juneteenth Celebration at Dorothea Dix Park, June 15, 2024

• Where:Dorothea Dix Park
• Time: 12-6pm
• Website:dorotheadixpark.org

Juneteenth (June 19th) is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the United States.Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy an afternoon of family entertainment with musical performers, vendors, guest speakers, kids’ zone, and exhibits. The celebration begins with a cannon salute by United States Colored Troops reenactors.

WEEK 3: JUNE 17-23, 2024

Summer Solstice Yoga, June 20, 2024

Celebrate the longest day of the year with two special summer solstice yoga sessions happening in Raleigh.

• Dorothea Dix Park: Watch the sun rise over downtown Raleigh on the first day of summer withan early morning yoga session in Flowers Field. 6am-7am Coffee truck after. FREE.
• NC Museum of Art: Celebrate the longest day of the year with an inspiring community yoga class as the sun sets over the Museum Park! You’ll be led through guided meditation, cooling breathing practices, seasonal self-reflection prompts, and gentle yoga movements to welcome the season of abundance. 7:30-9pm $18+

Soul Picnic, June 22, 2024

• Where: Flowers Field, Dorothea Dix
• When: 12 – 9pm
• Cost: $45+
• Tickets

A celebration of culture, community, and unmatched vibes. This day party is a vibrant homage to the soul of North Carolina and beyond witha lineup of special guest DJs, live music spanning R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz, and feel-good tunes, and an array of food trucks and vendors.

Out! Raleigh Pride, June 22, 2024

• Where:Fayetteville St
• Time: 11am – 6pm
• Website:OutRaleighPride.org

Join more than 66,000 people pouring into Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street to celebrate the LGBT community, our friends, and families. The free event features live entertainment, local vendors and artists, great food, a Kids Zone, and a beer garden!

Out! Raleigh Pride is an important way to raise the necessary funds to support the LGBT Center of Raleigh and all of its 20+ amazing community programs. Let’s get out and celebrate and support all people in our community.

Legends Gala: Juneteenth Celebration, June 22, 2024

• Where: CAM Raleigh
• When: 7-11pm
• Cost: $100+
• Website

Join in on an unforgettable evening honoring the legends of our past and the trailblazers of our future. Experience live music, food, and captivating performances. Don’t miss out on this historic event.

WEEK 4: JUNE 24- 30, 2024

Live After Five, June 26, 2024

• Where: Fayetteville St
• Time: 5-8pm
• Cost: Free
• Website

Downtown Raleigh’s monthly summer block party is back. This month is Elora Dash and Azul performing Beyoncé, Adele, Tina Turner, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, and Aretha Franklin. Local Downtown Raleigh breweries and food trucks will provide beer, wine, signature drinks and food. There’ll be vendors, including vintage gear!

N.C. Hops Festival, June 24 2023

• Where: Jim Graham Building at North Carolina State Fairgrounds
• Time: 2-6pm
• Cost: $45 / $10 DD
• Website: shoplocalraleig.org

We’re beer tasting again! No matter the month, it seems there is a beer festival to match. This month takes us to the showgrounds for the annual NC Hops Festival featuring NC craft beverages, live music, local makers, and food trucks!

For one price, you can responsibly enjoy unlimited samples of NC beer, cider, seltzers, and more. See you there!

Brick Universe LEGO Fan Festival, June 29 & 30, 2024

• Where: Raleigh Convention Center,
• Time: Multiple time sessions
• Cost: $14.99
• Website

This two-day event is one of the largest LEGO fan events in the world.Meet professional LEGO artists from around the world showcasing their creations including mosaics, life-sized sculptures and scaled-down recreations of iconic works of art.

Try your hand at a masterpiece of your own at the Building Zone, where thousands of bricks are available to experiment with. Plus there is the “Star Wars Zone” where kids of all ages can build spaceships, as well as the Big Brick pile, with tons of LEGO Duplos for younger visitors.

WEEK 5: JUNE 26-30, 2023

ONGOING RALEIGH EVENTS in June

• Spiders: Fear to Fascination; June 18- Oct 8, 2023 at the Museum of Natural Sciences, 10am-5pm Spiders is a conversation we have with many people in Raleigh when they find out we’re Australian! Well, you can satisfy that curiosity and itch that fear at this exhibition that spins an immersive tale, revealing how this incredibly diverse group of animals has evolved and survived for 300 million years.
• Jazz at the NCMA will be held frequently during June. Head to this page to see who is playing and when. The Joseph M. Bryan, Jr., Theater in the Museum Park—is situated at the heart of the Museum campus amid gardens, meadows, woodlands, and site-specific art installations and sculpture.
• A Little Princes is on at Willaim Peace University from June 9 – Sun June 25, 2023. The classic story of Francis Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess is reinvented into an original adaptation for Sweet Tea Shakespeare audiences.
• Historic Yates Mill County Park will have corn grinding demonstrations and costumed tours every Sunday and Saturday until November.They also have a lot of wonderful programsin April the kids will love.See our guide on this wonderful Raleigh Parkand a pretty trail to do after your tour.
• Tongue & Groove Open Micis on every second Sunday attheVAE Gallerydowntown. Poets, musicians, storytellers jump onto the stage to co-create a night of ephemeral art. FREE!
• Want to see a two-time Academy Award winner’s costumes? Ruth E. Carter: Afrofuturism in Costume Design” will open to the public at the North Carolina Museum of Art on April 1 – Aug 6, 2023. This exhibit features60 original costumesfrom films like “Black Panther,” “Amistad,” “The Butler” and “What’s Love Got to Do with It.
• Pay what you want farmstandandWine & Weeds every Wednesdayat Raleigh City Farm. This is a great way to connect to Mother Earth and community!
• Wellness Wednesdaysare back at Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park from 6 – 7pm $5
• Midtown Beach Musicat the Coastal Credit Union Midtown Park inNorth Hillsis on every Thurs until June 22, 5-9pm $5
• Moore Square Marketis back every Sunday now until October 22, 2023. Pick up your local produce and treats, meet up with friends, and enjoy live music at Moore Square Market!​.11am – 3pm
• Raleigh Night Market will be on June 7 and 11 at City Market. Find locally-made goods and enjoy a night filled with music and entertainment with Triangle area artisans, food, and drinks