Events for November 6, 2026
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 us at the Bike Library Cafe for First Friday! There will be art for sale by local artists, coffee bar open with wine and beer for a suggested donation, music by a local DJ, and vibes. Bring a friend and spread the word!
Join us for a First Friday pop-up with locally-owned organization Forevers, which is dedicated to celebrating and deepening friendships. They’ll be hosting a literary celebration of friendship, including a community poetry project you can contribute to, curated books that center friendship, and free zines you can fill out and give to a friend!
Romanticize your friendship with an evening of writing love poems to our dear friends!
Join us for a relaxed evening of creativity and community as we write love poems to our dear friends. No experience needed!
Here at Forevers, we are firm believers in romanticizing friendships and finding creative ways to show we care. What better way to do that than with some poetic displays of affection?
At this interactive poem-writing party, we'll:
Work through some warmup exercises to get you thinking of all the reasons you love your friend
Have a mini poetry reading of friendship poems by others to inspire you
Guide you through multiple ways of writing a love poem to a friend
Provide materials to decorate your poem so you walk away with a beautiful and meaningful gift!
All skill levels are welcome! Whether you’re a regular poet or haven’t written a verse since elementary school English class, join us to create something we promise your friend will cherish.
This event will be co-hosted by Sam Amberg and Erin Greenawald, longtime friends and co-founders of Forevers, a project to help you deepen your friendships. It’s part of Friendship Fest, a four-day celebration of friendship in Raleigh-Durham. Click here to see all of the events!
During the event, we'll also be hosting a free First Friday pop-up, including a community poetry project to contribute to, curated friendship books to browse, and free zines!
Dinner & a Show every weekend. Experience intimate performances from local and touring artists. Every Friday and Saturday.
10TH ANNUAL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS RETURNS TO THE CITY OF RALEIGH MUSEUM
The City of Raleigh Museum will come alive with music, dance, poetry, art, traditional flavors, and community as the 10th Annual Día de los Muertos celebration returns Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6:30–9:30 PM.
This year’s celebration is part of the 12th Annual El Quixote Festival – Voces Poéticas | Poetic Voices and will honor Mexican artist and printmaker José Guadalupe Posada, whose iconic calaveras helped shape the visual language we now associate with Día de los Muertos.
In the spirit of Poetic Voices, the celebration will also explore the long connection between poetry and Día de los Muertos—from the satirical verses associated with Posada’s calaveras to the Calaveritas being created and shared today.
The evening will feature:
Altar honoring José Guadalupe Posada by visual artist Lety Alvarez
Calaveritas – Young poets from Maracas Montessori – Full Spanish Immersion Programs
Music by Raleigh Celletons
Violins by siblings David and Victoria Garrett
Father-daughter duo Ana Jimena & Juan de la Masa
Baile Folklórico Vicky
La Danza de los Viejitos – Orgullo y Alma Latina
Carnaval Otomí – Danza Ancestral Otomí
Hot Chocolate – Dominican Association of North Carolina
Pan Tradicional
Atole de Cacao – Magali Santos
Face Painting – Patricia Robles Castillo
Family Arts & Crafts
And more!
Presented in collaboration with Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum, Artist Studio Project, and El Quixote Festival, this FREE community celebration brings families, artists, and neighbors together to remember, create, and celebrate.
Friday, November 6, 2026 | 6:30–9:00 PM
City of Raleigh Museum
220 Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh
FREE and open to the public
This production was made possible with support from United Arts.
Hop on the mic every Friday night at Crank Arm Brewing for Karaoke Night! Bring your crew, start with some "liquid courage", and warm up those vocal cords. Whether you’re here to belt it out or just sip and cheer, it’s the perfect way to roll into the weekend.
Crank Arm offers craft beers, wine, cider, seltzer, and cocktails, as well as THC-infused beverages & non-alcoholic options.
So pedal over, raise a glass, and let’s turn those Friday nights into full-throttle sing-alongs!
Join Curate on Friday November 6th from 6 to 9pm for a cozy charm bar event with Made by Macie! Pick your chain, pick your charms, and shop from over 45 local artists while your one-of-a-kind jewelry piece is made by Macie! There will also be cozy vibes and complimentary snacks. We can't wait to see you there!
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!
Are you ready to create and connect with your improv community?
Whether you’re a seasoned performer or a curious first-timer, this is the perfect place to jump in, have fun, and discover the joy of improv. Hosted by our skilled and experienced Leela faculty, our intention is to foster a welcoming space where improv artists of all experience levels can take risks and build community.
Whether you want to step out of your comfort zone, meet new people, or just laugh your heart out, our Improv Community Jam has something for everyone. So grab your friends, bring your Yes And! attitude, and come join the FUN! Let’s play!
When: First Fridays, at 7:00 PM, on-going, monthly
Where: Leela Improv Theatre, 309 N Boylan Ave., Raleigh, NC 27603
Why Join Our Improv Jam?
* Mindful Intent: Our jams promote mutual respect, collaboration, and joyful play.
* No Experience Needed: Everyone is welcome! Just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to try something new.
* Instant Fun: Jump right into games and scenes, and let your imagination run wild.
* Supportive Community: Meet fellow improv lovers, make new friends, and share the stage with people who love to play.
* FREE to Join: Register on Eventbrite (below), then show up and play!
* Dry Jam: Let’s allow improv be the mind-altering substance that brings us together. We’ll celebrate with optional drinks at nearby watering holes AFTER we jam.
* This is an 18+ event.
What to Expect:
* A warm-up session to connect with your play mates and get that energy flowing.
* A Leela host facilitating a kind, structured, and supportive jam experience.
* A chance to perform, watch, and cheer on your fellow improvisors- all experience levels welcome and encouraged (even if none!)
* Laughter, surprises, and unforgettable moments.
* Sign-ups begin at 7 pm for solos (open mic), improv pairs, and improv groups (5+). Sign up for one, none, or all of these categories and the host will curate an evening of entertainment on the fly
* Jam goes from 7:30-9:30 pm
Free outdoor movie and market! Bring a blanket or chair to relax on the lawn, enjoy the music, watch the movie, grab a bite from the food trucks and explore the market!
This is a monthly First Friday series.
Our May 1 event features:
🔹Food trucks & local vendors: 5:00-9:00 pm
🔹Free movie on the lawn: 6:30 pm, Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
🔹No live music this month, the movie starts early at 6:30 pm
Note: The lawn fills up quickly for the movie. Arrive early to secure your spot!
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.
Stay updated: Follow @Get2KnowRaleigh and subscribe to our newsletter.
Party at Neptunes with us late night! Dance to some of the most talented Djs in the local area! Playing house music to hip-hop, top 40's blends over the decades and everything in between!
FIRST FRIDAYS 2026—LET’S GO!
Join us every First Friday from 7–11 PM at The Times!
What’s on deck?
- BEER
- LIVE MUSIC
- MORNING TIMES GALLERY ARTIST & VENDOR MARKET
Art you say? You got it! Every game at super rad has been fully restored to be time period accurate - new paint, new art, all original game hardware. These are not just arcade games, they are a throwback to another era. Come and check out our games and get 8 free tokens to try them for FREE! We know you will love them.