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Raleigh Wide Open: A Deep Dive into October’s Must-Attend Festival


  • Jim and Lori Hill - Realtors, Brokered by lpt Realty 3825 Wild Meadow Lane Wake Forest, NC, 27587 United States (map)

As your local Realtors, we're bringing you an in-depth preview of the Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival, returning October 3–4, 2025, downtown Raleigh.

From Bluegrass Legacy to a Broader Roots Revival


After a 12-year run of the IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival in Raleigh, the city is stepping forward with its own homegrown event. PineCone, the nonprofit that managed IBMA’s free music, has launched Raleigh Wide Open as the local successor. The name itself comes from a 2005 celebration of Fayetteville Street’s revitalization. Now it signals a new chapter in Raleigh’s cultural life.


Festival Essentials


Dates and Times


Friday, October 3: Free street stages from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.


Saturday, October 4: Free street stages from noon to 11 p.m.


Kickoff celebration: Thursday, October 2, at NC State’s Centennial Campus.


Location


Downtown Raleigh along Fayetteville Street between City Plaza and the State Capitol.


Admission

Street stages are free and open to all. Evening concerts at Red Hat Amphitheater are ticketed. Friday night will feature Greensky Bluegrass and JJ Grey & Mofro.


Musical Lineup


Street Festival Artists


Expect nearly three dozen acts including:


Bluegrass favorites: Balsam Range, Stillhouse Junkies, Town Mountain, Tray Wellington Band, Unspoken Tradition, Jim Lauderdale, Hank Pattie & the Current.


Americana and folk: Sunny War, Shinyribs, Palmyra, Susto String Band, Sonny Miles.


Gospel and cultural heritage: Gospel Jubilators, Legacy Chorale, Kingdon United Voices, Holler Choir.


Eclectic additions: Dom Flemons, The Earl White String Band, Joseph Decosimo, Omar Ruiz-Lopez, A Nest of Singing Birds, Carolina Bluegrass, Charly Lowry, The Gravy Boys, Jason Carter, Nixon-Blevins-Williams, The Loblollies.


Ticketed Show


Friday night: Greensky Bluegrass and JJ Grey & Mofro at Red Hat Amphitheater.


More Than Music


Craft and maker markets, food trucks, beer gardens, and art vendors will line the festival area.


Street square dances led by Big Fat Gap, Earl White String Band, Joseph Decosimo, and Omar Ruiz-Lopez.


An instrument petting zoo for kids to try banjo, fiddle, and guitar.


Accessibility features include scooter rentals, sighted guides, accessible viewing areas, and assistive listening devices at the amphitheater.


Festival Logistics


Where to Stay: Sheraton Raleigh Hotel is offering discounted “jamming floor” and “non-jamming floor” rates if booked by September 5.


Food and Drink: Food trucks and beer gardens will be plentiful. Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks can be brought in.


Seating: Folding chairs are welcome, but please avoid large umbrellas or obstructive chairs.


Parking: Decks and street parking nearby. Street parking is usually free after 5 or 6 p.m. on Friday and weekends.


Volunteering and Vendors: PineCone is seeking volunteers and vendors to help run the event.


Why It Matters


PineCone Executive Director David Brower says success is seeing kids, parents, and grandparents all enjoying the same festival together. Raleigh Wide Open is more than music. It is a gathering of culture, creativity, and community. It continues Raleigh’s bluegrass legacy while adding fresh voices in gospel, R&B, folk, and Americana.


Final Take


This will be a weekend of downtown Raleigh alive with music, dancing, food, and culture. Families will be square dancing in the streets, kids will pick up instruments, artisans will share their crafts, and local and national musicians will keep Fayetteville Street buzzing. Raleigh Wide Open is not just a festival. It is a statement that the city’s heart beats wide open.