The holidays are over and a new year has begun - but there are still some events to keep you busy this winter!
Jan. 1-4
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Through Jan. 11: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at DPAC - Join the next adventure and experience the wizarding world like never before at this record-breaking hit and winner of six Tony Awards including Best Play.
Jan. 1: Kwanzaa Fest - Kwanzaa Fest is free and welcomes everyone, featuring health screenings, a Children's Village, tasty food, dancing, and a marketplace for vendors. It is at Durham Armory.
Jan. 1: Montreal Canadiens at Carolina Hurricanes - Enjoy New Year's Day at Lenovo Center watching this matchup.
Jan. 1: Eno River First Day Hike - The hikes are open to the public and will begin at the large picnic shelter located at the Fews Ford Access in Eno River State Park. There will be 2.6-mile and 4.4-mile hike options available, and those new to hiking are welcome to join.
Jan. 2: Downtown Raleigh's First Friday - It is the first Friday of 2026 and there are some fun events planned including some art shows and flash tattoos.
Jan. 2: January's First Friday in Fuquay-Varina - Enjoy live music, local shopping and community activities in downtown.
Jan. 3: 2026 Emancipation Day Breakfast at City of Raleigh Museum - On January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing enslaved African Americans in the South. COR Museum will host a breakfast and lecture by Dr. Antwain K. Hunter.
Jan. 3: The Music of Harry Potter with the North Carolina Symphony - Relive the magic of Hogwarts and the wizarding world as your North Carolina Symphony conjures up favorite tunes from the Harry Potter films and more.
Through Jan. 3: Durham Bulls FestiBull of Lights - FestiBull of Lights transforms the Durham Bulls Athletic Park into a dazzling winter wonderland.
Through Jan. 11 - North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival - Immerse yourself in a world of wonder with thousands of handcrafted, illuminated lanterns showcasing various themes at Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. This walk-through experience also features captivating cultural performances, a variety of concessions, and interactive elements that delight both children and adults.
Through Feb. 8: Fenton’s Skate the Square - Save $3 on skate tickets each Monday. View skate times and buy tickets here.
Jan. 5-11
Through Jan. 11: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at DPAC - Join the next adventure and experience the wizarding world like never before at this record-breaking hit and winner of six Tony Awards including Best Play.
Jan. 5-6: Felipe Esparza: At My Leisure World Tour - Since winning NBC’s Last Comic Standing, he’s become one of today’s top touring comedians, releasing hit specials on HBO and Netflix and hosting the long-running What’s Up Fool? Podcast. See him at Raleigh Improv.
Jan. 9: History That Doesn't Suck - This ain’t no history lecture – this is History That Doesn’t Suck with Professor Greg Jackson. It’s a night of live storytelling and music.
Jan. 9-10: North Carolina Symphony: Carmina Burana - Enjoy a night with the symphony.
Jan. 10: Chill & Chili: Dry January Kickoff Cook-Off - Bring your best chili — crockpot and all — and compete for bragging rights and prizes at Durham Beer Garden.
Jan. 10: GLOW Under the Silver Moon Parade 2026 - Experience this event at Downtown Cary Park. Begin on Frantz Square Lawn at 6 p.m. and wander glowing pathways with handcrafted lanterns created in sustainable workshops led by Gowri Savoor and Angelo Arnold. Enjoy lively performances from the Bulltown Strutters, One Tribe Rhythms, and Caroleeena’s Circle of Joy, plus food trucks under the starry night sky. Free and open to all.
Jan. 11: "ELVIS: in Person" Starring Matt Stone and the TEC Band - Internationally recognized by Graceland and the Elvis Presley estate, the show's star, Matt Stone, performs the closest thing to the King in history.
Jan. 11: RNB Brunch at Raleigh Improv - The RNB Brunch is the ultimate fusion of good food, strong drinks, and nonstop R&B vibes. It’s part day party, part family reunion, part concert—and all unforgettable.
Through Jan. 11 - North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival - Immerse yourself in a world of wonder with thousands of handcrafted, illuminated lanterns showcasing various themes at Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. This walk-through experience also features captivating cultural performances, a variety of concessions, and interactive elements that delight both children and adults.
Through Feb. 8: Fenton’s Skate the Square - Save $3 on skate tickets each Monday. View skate times and buy tickets here.
Jan. 12-18
Jan. 14: Jason Isbell at DPAC - The North Alabama native possesses an incredible penchant for identifying and articulating some of the deepest, yet simplest, human emotions, and turning them into beautiful poetry through song.
Jan. 15: Rascal Flatts & Chris Lane: Life Is A Highway Tour - See them at Lenovo Center.
Jan. 16: Revolution: The Music of the Beatles with the North Carolina Symphony - “Come Together” and celebrate Revolution: The Music of the Beatles for a stunning multimedia experience featuring symphonic arrangements transcribed from the original master recordings at Abbey Road—accompanied by hundreds of rare and unseen photos along with video and animation.
Jan. 17: Sherri Shepherd: Make It Make Sense Tour - Sherri Shepherd is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host, comedian, actress, and best-selling author. See her at Carolina Theatre of Durham.
Jan. 17: Killers of Kill Tony at DPAC - “Killers of Kill Tony” will feature your favorite characters doing their longer standup sets, all in one night.
Jan. 17: Dreamfest Children's Program 2026 - Enjoy a morning of stories and crafts, as the youngest among us celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. at Page-Walker Arts and History Center.
Jan. 17-18: NC Vintage Bazaar 2026 - North Carolina’s largest vintage clothing event returns to the Expo Center at the State Fairgrounds for a two day vintage extravaganza! It'll be packed with 100 vintage vendors from across the country bringing you all the best secondhand clothing and accessories, with entirely new vendors each day.
Jan. 18: Gabby's Dollhouse Live! in Raleigh - This is a brand-new stage show inspired by the magical world of the global preschool sensation from DreamWorks Animation.
Through Feb. 8: Fenton’s Skate the Square - Save $3 on skate tickets each Monday. View skate times and buy tickets here.
Jan. 19-25
Jan. 21: An Intimate Acoustic Evening with Gregory Alan Isakov at DPAC - Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now calling Colorado home, horticulturist/musician Gregory Alan Isakov has cast an impressive presence on the indie-rock and folk worlds with his six full-length studio albums
Jan. 22: Don McMillan 2.0 *Now Powered By AI - This former chip designer has been doing his one-of-a-kind, PowerPoint-Driven comedy show for audiences for over 20 years. See him at Raleigh Improv.
Jan. 22: MLK Community Celebration Wake Forest- Several local churches and community organizations are coming together to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a free, public celebration.
Jan. 23: Dungeons & Dragons in the Park 2026 - Downtown Cary Park hosts this event. Players will be using 3rd level characters in this adventure. All materials are provided, if needed, but participants will have the option to bring their own 3rd level characters and dice to use if preferred.
Jan. 23: Brett Young at DPAC - From his self titled debut in 2017, Brett Young has captured the hearts of fans everywhere through his honest lyrics and West Coast meets Southern sound, aptly dubbed his “Caliville” style.
Jan. 23-25: Downtown Raleigh Home Show - With 200+ booths to explore and several unique feature displays to enjoy, this is a valuable event for all homeowners. It is at the Raleigh Convention Center.
Jan. 24: Seth Meyers: Live at DPAC - Seth Meyers is an Emmy Award-winning writer, New York Times bestselling author and host of NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” since 2014.
Jan. 23-24, Jan. 30-31: The Great Cover Up 2026 - A stacked night at Kings with your favorite locals covering a variety of bangers for a good cause. All proceeds from suggested donations will go to various organizations in The Triangle.
Jan. 24-25: Astronomy Days at NC Museum of Natural Sciences - Join us for a celestial adventure that explores the wonders of the universe through technology, telescopes, engaging talks by scientists and special guests, and plenty of hands-on activities.
Jan. 24: Barter Theatre's Alice in Wonderland at Garner Performing Arts Center - When Alice chases the White Rabbit down a rabbit hole, she tumbles into a curious world with a zany cast of characters including the Mad Hatter, a grinning Cheshire Cat, a mischievous Caterpillar, and the imperious Queen of Hearts.
Jan. 24: CINCH World's Toughest Rodeo at Lenovo Center - The world’s toughest cowboys are "in it to win it" in their mission to be crowned Pro Rodeo’s World Champion.
Through Feb. 8: Fenton’s Skate the Square - Save $3 on skate tickets each Monday. View skate times and buy tickets here.
Jan. 26-31
Jan. 30-31: The Great Cover Up 2026 - A stacked night at Kings with your favorite locals covering a variety of bangers for a good cause. All proceeds from suggested donations will go to various organizations in The Triangle.
Jan. 30 and Feb. 1: NC Opera's Madame Butterfly - A love story of passion, sacrifice, and heartbreak, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly delivers some of the most exquisite music ever written.
Jan. 31: 2026 Kay Yow Cancer Fund’s Run/Walk for Women’s Cancer Awareness - This event is at WakeMed Soccer Park. Before the run begins, participants can enjoy a short celebration program and family-friendly activities where warriors from different walks of life come together to share their experiences.
Jan. 31: Hannah Berner at DPAC - Hannah Berner is a stand-up comedian and New York Times Best-Selling author known for her relatable humor and charismatic crowd work.
Jan. 31: 25th Annual African American Cultural Celebration - The African American Cultural Celebration serves as the statewide kickoff to Black History Month in North Carolina. For more than 20 years, this celebration has brought together African American community members, organizations, authors, artists, musicians, filmmakers, scholars, and more around a central theme to highlight the contributions that African Americans, past and present, have made to North Carolina’s history and culture.
Jan. 31: Carolina Theatre’s 100th Birthday Party - An adult-version of a birthday party, choose your own adventure: be a rock star and take a turn on the 100-year-old Carolina Theatre stage with live-band karaoke featuring Local Vocals (or just cheer your favorite rock star on from the seats), win big in Drag Bingo, watch classic cartoons, do crafts, get your face painted, or take a 360-photo in the photo booth.
Through Feb. 8: Fenton’s Skate the Square - Save $3 on skate tickets each Monday. View skate times and buy tickets here.