Why This Raleigh Weekend Stands Out
- Raleigh’s September 25–27, 2026 weekend delivers a dense mix of concerts, festivals, comedy, and cultural events across the city.
- glaive at Lincoln Theatre on Friday and Suki Waterhouse at The Ritz on Sunday bookend the weekend with intimate, career-building headline sets.
- The schedule covers hyperpop, indie, hip-hop, punk, Southern rock, reggae, classical, and R&B within a single 72-hour stretch.
- Free community gatherings such as the Raleigh Tamale Festival, NC Oktoberfest, and Juniper Level Botanic Garden open days balance the ticketed shows.
- Plan ahead now to secure tickets for the weekend’s most in-demand performances.
Ticket Links for glaive and Suki Waterhouse
glaive – GOD SAVE THE THREE TOUR
Friday, September 25, 2026 | 8:00 PM | Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
Get glaive Tickets on Etix Find glaive Seats on Ticketmaster
Suki Waterhouse – The Loveland Tour
Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 7:00 PM | The Ritz, Raleigh, NC
Support: Love Spells and EMMMA
Reserve Suki Waterhouse Tickets
12 Can't-Miss Events Across Raleigh
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glaive – GOD SAVE THE THREE TOUR | Friday, Sept 25 | 8:00 PM | Lincoln Theatre (126 E. Cabarrus St., Raleigh)
glaive brings the GOD SAVE THE THREE TOUR to Lincoln Theatre, one of Raleigh's key mid-capacity rooms. The show offers a close-range look at an artist whose audience is expanding quickly. OnesToWatch has tracked glaive’s rise, and this run signals a notable step in their live profile.
Get glaive Tickets on Etix Find glaive Seats on Ticketmaster
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Suki Waterhouse – The Loveland Tour | Sunday, Sept 27 | 7:00 PM | The Ritz (2820 Industrial Drive, Raleigh)
Suki Waterhouse closes the weekend at The Ritz with support from Love Spells and EMMMA. The Loveland Tour has drawn strong attention across markets. The Ritz’s mid-size layout turns this stop into a notably up-close experience for an artist with a rapidly growing audience.
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Lil Wayne – 20 Years of Carter Classics | Saturday, Sept 26 | 7:00 PM | Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek (3801 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh)
Lil Wayne brings his 20 Years of Carter Classics tour to Walnut Creek, Raleigh’s 20,000-capacity outdoor amphitheater. 2 Chainz joins as a featured guest, turning this into one of the weekend’s largest hip-hop events. Tickets are available via Live Nation.
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Gov't Mule & Ziggy Marley – Dreaming the Same Dream Tour | Saturday, Sept 26 | 7:00 PM | Red Hat Amphitheater (500 S. McDowell St., Raleigh)
Two veteran acts share the stage at Red Hat Amphitheater for a co-headline bill that blends Southern rock and reggae. Red Hat is in its final season at the current downtown site before a one-block relocation, so this run carries added historic weight for the venue.
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NC Oktoberfest "Prost, Y'all" | Saturday, Sept 26 | 1:00 PM–8:00 PM | Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh
This free street festival fills Fayetteville Street with North Carolina craft beer, local food trucks, vendors, and live music. Admission is free, while beer tickets are sold through etix.com.
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Raleigh Tamale Festival | Saturday, Sept 26 | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM | Moore Square (201 S. Blount St., Raleigh)
A free community food festival that highlights tamale traditions and flavors from local vendors. Family-friendly activities and community programming round out the event.
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Carolina Culture Food Fest | Sunday, Sept 27 | 12:00 PM | Moore Square (201 S. Blount St., Raleigh)
Moore Square hosts the Carolina Culture Food Fest, gathering regional chefs, food trucks, restaurants, vendors, artists, and entertainers. The result is a concentrated snapshot of the Triangle’s food and arts scene.
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Juniper Level Botanic Garden – Fall Open Garden & Nursery Days | Fri–Sun, Sept 18–20 and Sept 25–27 | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | 9241 Sauls Rd., Raleigh
This 28-acre garden opens to the public only a few weekends each year. Admission is free, with a $5 per vehicle parking fee. Visitors can explore thousands of rare plants, attend educational programs, and browse the adjacent nursery across all three days.
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Nateland Live – Good Clean Comedy | Saturday, Sept 26 | 7:00 PM | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh
The Nateland Live "Good Clean Comedy" tour brings Greg Warren, Ryan Hamilton, and Julian McCullough to the Martin Marietta Center. The show offers a family-friendly comedy option amid the weekend’s concerts.
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Becky Robinson – Beasts in Me Tour | Saturday, Sept 26 | 8:00 PM | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh
LA-based comedian, writer, actor, and voice-over performer Becky Robinson brings her Beasts in Me tour to Raleigh. The set adds an edgier comedy counterpoint to Nateland Live’s earlier show.
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NC Symphony – Friday Favorites: Mendelssohn Violin Concerto | Friday, Sept 25 | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts (2 E. South St., Raleigh)
The NC Symphony's fall season continues with a Friday Favorites program built around Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. The concert provides a classical balance to the weekend’s rock, pop, and hip-hop offerings.
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Rise Against – Ricochet 2026 Tour | Sunday, Sept 27 | Red Hat Amphitheater (500 S. McDowell St., Raleigh)
Rise Against headlines Red Hat Amphitheater on Sunday as part of the Ricochet 2026 tour. Their set adds a punk-rock focal point to the weekend’s closing night, pairing with Suki Waterhouse’s show across town.
More Events Worth Adding to Your Itinerary
The anchor shows above shape the weekend, and several other Triangle events can round out a full schedule.
- Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo – Saturday, Sept 26 | 12:00–6:00 PM | Fayetteville Street | Free
- Apex Latino Arts Festival – Saturday, Sept 26 | 3:00–7:00 PM | Apex Town Hall Campus (73 Hunter St., Apex) | Free
- Durham Geek and Grub Market – Sunday, Sept 27 | Free | 40+ vendors, food trucks, and activities
- Triangle Terror Con – Saturday, Sept 26 | Durham
- Raleigh Book Fair – Saturday, Sept 26 | Raleigh Iron Works | Hosted by Front Paige Media
- W.A.S.P. – 1984 TO HEADLESS Tour | Friday, Sept 25 | 7:00 PM | The Ritz, Raleigh (with special guest KK's Priest)
- R&B Rewind Millennial Edition – Friday, Sept 25 | Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
- Appalachian State vs. NC State Football – Saturday, Sept 26 | Carter-Finley Stadium | Tickets starting at $111
How This Weekend Fits Together
The September 25–27 weekend in Raleigh centers on a mix of arena-scale shows and mid-size club performances. Lil Wayne at Walnut Creek and Rise Against at Red Hat showcase established acts in large outdoor settings built for high production. glaive at Lincoln Theatre and Suki Waterhouse at The Ritz highlight artists in rapid ascent, playing rooms where the stage feels close and the production remains direct.
OnesToWatch regularly focuses on artists at this stage, when momentum is clear and catalog depth is still forming. The weekend’s genre spread is unusually broad. Hyperpop and indie-pop (glaive, Suki Waterhouse) sit alongside Southern rock and reggae (Gov't Mule, Ziggy Marley), while hip-hop (Lil Wayne), punk (Rise Against), classical (NC Symphony), and R&B round out the bill within a single three-day window.
Explore OnesToWatch's 2026 Top 30 Artists To Watch
Practical Tips for the Weekend
Weather: The National Weather Service forecast calls for highs around the low 90s with scattered storm chances. Saturday carries the greatest risk of showers and afternoon thunderstorms. A light rain layer and breathable clothing work well for outdoor events, especially NC Oktoberfest and Walnut Creek.
Parking: Most non-event City of Raleigh parking decks, including City Center/Red Hat, City Hall/Municipal Complex, and Moore Square, are free on weekends. Blount Street Deck remains closed to public parking on weekends, and Wilmington Street Station is free except during special events, when a $10 event fee applies. Event garages such as Cabarrus Street, Raleigh Convention Center, Charter Square, and Martin Marietta Center charge $4 per hour with a $24 daily maximum and operate around the clock. On-street parking is free on weekends. For Lincoln Theatre, arriving 30–45 minutes early improves the odds of nearby street or lot parking.
Ticketing: Will call at Lincoln Theatre opens one hour before the event and requires a valid photo ID. Tickets for Walnut Creek shows are sold through Live Nation, and the box office opens at noon on concert days.
Suggested Day-by-Day Itinerary:
- Friday, Sept 25: Spend the afternoon at Juniper Level Botanic Garden (open 9 AM–5 PM). Choose NC Symphony or R&B Rewind at Martin Marietta Center for early evening. Close the night with glaive at Lincoln Theatre at 8:00 PM.
- Saturday, Sept 26: Start with the Raleigh Tamale Festival at Moore Square (11 AM–2 PM). Move to NC Oktoberfest on Fayetteville Street (1–8 PM) or the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo. In the evening, pick between Lil Wayne at Walnut Creek or Gov't Mule and Ziggy Marley at Red Hat, both at 7:00 PM.
- Sunday, Sept 27: Visit the Durham Geek and Grub Market in the morning. Head to Carolina Culture Food Fest at Moore Square from midday. Finish the weekend with Suki Waterhouse at The Ritz at 7:00 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does glaive's show start at Lincoln Theatre on September 25?
The GOD SAVE THE THREE TOUR stop at Lincoln Theatre is scheduled for 8:00 PM on Friday, September 25, 2026. Doors usually open earlier, so arriving 30–45 minutes before showtime works well. Will call opens one hour before the event and requires a valid photo ID.
Can I see both glaive and Suki Waterhouse in the same weekend?
Yes. glaive plays Lincoln Theatre on Friday, September 25, and Suki Waterhouse plays The Ritz on Sunday, September 27. The schedule leaves Saturday open for other events, which creates a straightforward three-day music itinerary.
Which events this weekend are free to attend?
Several events do not charge admission. The Raleigh Tamale Festival (Saturday, Moore Square, 11 AM–2 PM), Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo (Saturday, Fayetteville Street, 12–6 PM), Durham Geek and Grub Market (Sunday), Apex Latino Arts Festival (Saturday, Apex, 3–7 PM), and Juniper Level Botanic Garden Open Days (Friday–Sunday, $5 parking fee only) are all free to enter. NC Oktoberfest is also free to attend, with beer tickets sold separately.
What is the parking situation for downtown Raleigh venues like Lincoln Theatre and The Ritz?
As outlined in the Practical Tips section, most downtown decks are free on weekends, while event garages charge hourly rates. Lincoln Theatre sits at 126 E. Cabarrus St., with nearby street parking and public lots. The Ritz, at 2820 Industrial Drive, offers its own parking area. Early arrival remains the most reliable approach on busy nights.
What should I know about the weather forecast for this weekend?
Temperatures stay in the high 80s to low 90s Fahrenheit, with Saturday presenting the highest storm risk. Friday and Sunday carry lower but still notable chances of afternoon storms. Indoor venues such as Lincoln Theatre and The Ritz operate as scheduled, while outdoor events, especially NC Oktoberfest and Walnut Creek, may adjust based on conditions. Checking the National Weather Service forecast closer to showtime is recommended.
Why This Weekend Matters for Raleigh Music
Raleigh's September 25–27 weekend stands out as a concentrated showcase of music and culture this fall. glaive at Lincoln Theatre on Friday and Suki Waterhouse at The Ritz on Sunday frame the weekend with rising artists in intimate rooms, while Lil Wayne, Gov't Mule, Ziggy Marley, and Rise Against bring large-scale productions to the city’s biggest stages. Free food festivals and the 28-acre botanic garden add daytime depth for visitors and locals planning full days out.
For listeners tracking emerging names, OnesToWatch remains a key resource for spotting artists like glaive and Suki Waterhouse before they move into larger venues.
Check Out OnesToWatch's 2026 Top 30 Artists To Watch