Events for November 7, 2025
First Friday is celebrated on the first Friday of each month throughout Downtown Raleigh to showcase the best of our city's creative community. Thousands venture downtown to visit art galleries & studios open late to host exhibits, artist talks, and creative activities. Retailers and restaurants also get in on the fun with live music, vendor markets, specials/discounts, and more. There's something for everyone each First Friday.
Create your own First Friday itinerary by selecting the hearts for events and experiences you don't want to miss. Receive a custom map and itinerary to guide your First Friday evening!
Join artist Patrizia Ferreira for an artist-led workshop to co-create public artwork out of reused plastic bags. All supplies will be provided. The event is free to attend.
What you create will be become a part of a work called Air Chrysallis -- a temporary public art piece that invites the viewer to slow down and reflect upon the state of our environment, the beauty around us and how best to preserve it. Many of the plastic bags have been collected from Walnut Creek Park clean ups. This workshop is a partnership between Raleigh Arts and Arts Access North Carolina.
We're staying open late! Captain Cookie is extending hours to 10 PM to join the festivities at @transfercofoodhall. Enjoy art, live music, and, of course, our super-powered cookies. First Friday just got sweeter!
Celebrate First Friday with us as we welcome Casa Imperial Finery to the new Pop-Up Shops at Wilmington Street location on South Wilmington Street!
Stop by to meet the owner, browse her collection, and enjoy complimentary appetizers and refreshments.
RSVPs are appreciated but not required—email KateTurley@downtownraleigh.org.
Join us Friday November 7th for a truly charming, cozy event! Busy Vintage will have a charm bar set up with lots of vintage and cozy themed charms to help you create a one-of-a-kind wearable piece of art, just for you! Enjoy a snack on us and shop our 40+ vendors while your creation is being made. Many of our neighboring shops will be open late and lots of other First Friday events will be happening all around downtown. Come cozy up with us and celebrate local art!
Kick off your weekend with live music this Friday at The Davie!
Join us for an unforgettable night as the incredible Michael Parker takes the stage, blending soulful melodies with crowd-favorite hits. Grab your favorite drink, relax, and let the good vibes roll!
Celebrate Raleigh's First Friday with a unique make-and-take event! Drop-in anytime between 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Designed For Joy studio in downtown Raleigh to create your very own Raleigh Acorn Bell—a charming keepsake that symbolizes our "City of Oaks."
Mary Anne Jenkins, Edith London and Anne Wall Thomas
Three premiere North Carolina female painters from the mid twentieth century are featured in this showcase of Modernist Painting. All were known for their mastery of Abstraction and each broke barriers and established new creative territories. Their significance as artists and teachers brought them many honors, awards, and museum collections.
WHEN ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE MEETS ARTISTIC VISION
Join us for an inspiring evening where the powerhouse spirit of Carolina Courage Women’s Soccer meets the groundbreaking artistry of these painters. Elite athletes Dani Weatherholt and Feli Rauch will be our guests Friday November 7th for a very special opening reception. Experience an evening where past and present converge, showcasing how women continue to shape culture through bold vision and unwavering dedication. Join us to meet Carolina Courage players, explore the stunning exhibition of these pioneer artists wors’ works, and celebrate the legacy of women who refuse to accept limitations.
Whether you’re drawn to the precision of a perfectly executed play or the innovation of mid-century artistic expression, this collaboration honors the fearless spirit that drives women to excel, create, and inspire future generations.
Join Le Dive and Old Ghosts Tattoo for a unique experience every First Friday in Raleigh! Le Dive, teams up with Old Ghosts Tattoo for an exciting night of flash tattoos, good vibes, drinks and food and creative energy!
Create and connect with your creative community! Join us for an evening fun and creativity at Leela Improv Theatre at 309 N. Boylan Avenue in Raleigh.
Start your month with laughter, creativity, and community!
Leela’s First Friday Improv Jam & Open Mic is a one-of-a-kind night where everyone is invited to play, perform, and share. Whether you’re an improvisor, musician, poet, comedian, or just someone who loves to cheer others on, this evening is all about connection, fun, and creative expression.
What to Expect:
Improv Jam – Jump on stage and play improv games with new friends. No experience necessary—everyone is welcome.
Open Mic – Share a song, poem, stand-up bit, or any short performance piece in a supportive, welcoming space.
Dry Event – This is a dry improv jam—a fun, creative night without alcohol. Let's let improv be the mind-altering substance to help us let loose and have fun. We'll celebrate with optional drinks AFTER the jam at a local Glenwood South bar.
Celebrate the power of play, try something new, and connect with Raleigh’s vibrant creative community!
When: First Friday of each month
Where: Leela Improv Theatre, Raleigh
Who: Open to all – performers, audience, and community members alike
Schedule:
7:00 PM - Sign up for the Community Jam & Open Mic, Mix & Mingle
7:30 PM - Community Jam & Open Mic begins
Check out Mandala Sky, a 25-foot overhead sculpture in Smoky Hollow, made up of more than 400 crocheted mandalas. This colorful and whimsical community art project, sponsored by the Glenwood South Neighborhood Collaborative and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, was created by 30 artists and assemblers, working throughout the summer of 2025. It got off the ground -- literally -- just in time for First Friday in October, and will stay afloat throughout the fall. You can view some individual mandalas close up -- and even get one of your own by donating to the GSNC.
Join us for this Free family night out in Downtown Raleigh. Bring a blanket or chair to relax on the lawn for the movie, grab a bite from the food trucks and explore the market!
This outdoor movie night will feature:
🔸FREE outdoor movie: The Princess Diaries (2001)
🔸Food trucks
🔸Local vendors' market
🔸Free field games for all ages
Event Info:
🔹Market & Food Trucks: 5 - 9 pm
🔹Live Music: 5:30 pm
🔹Free Movie on the Lawn: 6:30pm
This event is presented by Get 2 Know Raleigh, the Raleigh Parks team at Moore Square. We thank our sponsor, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, for supporting this series.
Note: The lawn fills up quickly for the movie. Arrive early to secure your spot!
Stay updated: Follow us @get2knowraleigh on FB and IG and subscribe to our newsletter.
Join us for a special after-hours shopping and art experience at your favorite vintage spot! We’re teaming up with a talented local artist - Gracie Diver - to bring you an evening full of style, creativity, and community. As always, enjoy complimentary drinks and light snacks, chill vibes and one-of-a-kind pieces all night long.
@origami_styling
November 7 5p-8p
The Dan Davis Group is playing a First Friday set on November 7th at 9pm! Slim’s opens at 4:30pm so drop in to grab a drink while walking around Downtown Raleigh’s First Friday event, and come back at 9pm to see an energetic live set! The Dan Davis Group brings that smoky, soulful sound you want from a classic jazz organ trio. If you’re down for a night of New Orleans soul-jazz, funk, R&B, and Latin sounds, you won’t want to miss this. Featuring Doug Largent on the B3 Hammond, Kevin Van Sant shredding on guitar, and Dan Davis holding it down on drums, these guys know how to improvise and keep it raw and real.