Raleigh's M.A.I.N. events span month of September

In the third year of a combined push to get residents and visitors to downtown Raleigh, Mayor Nancy McFarlane on Friday detailed the 19 events in the 2017 Raleigh M.A.I.N. Events (Music, Art, Innovation, and Noise) lineup, ranging from cultural festivals to new music to entrepreneurship to a Sept. 11 Day of Service.

The month opens with the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh & Wake County and concludes with a coding conference called NC DataPalooza.

An annual celebration of African American culture as expressed through art, music, dance, food & community. Explore the work of visual artists in our Art Gallery Walk; music & dance performances on our Main Stage; and interactive activities in our Family Village. All are welcome!

Local, national, and international talent presenting in the fields of graphic design, user experience, urban planning, technology, architecture, manufacturing, music, food, and film. This two-day event features presentations, workshops, interactive sessions, and street parties.

Showcasing national and international artists alongside North Carolina’s rich local talent, this 3-day music event features a 6,000 capacity Main Stage, 12 downtown venues, day parties, poster exhibition, a makers market, as well as the Hopscotch Design Festival.

Create, tinker and invent the next generation of great ideas at Marbles Kids Museum! Bring your inventions to life alongside some of Raleigh’s most playful makers, designers and artists. Tackle design challenges, explore new materials and mix, mash & make your own creation.

SPARKcon is an annual 4-day creativity festival for all things weird, fun, and free! 1.9 million sq.ft of Downtown Raleigh will showcase 200+ events that highlight over 12 creative disciplines, i.e. comedySPARK, artSPARK, danceSPARK, etc. SPARKcon is a unique opportunity for all people, varying in ages and interests, to experience, to explore, and to contribute to a collective display of creativity.

CED Tech Venture Conference is the premier event for technology entrepreneurs in the Southeast. From early startups to highly successful tech companies, venture funds to angel investors, this annual celebration of technological innovation attracts over 800 entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders and top tech experts from across the country.

The Ray Price Capital City Bikefest is a free family-friendly 3-day event on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh and the Ray Price Dealership, Now in its 13th year, the event celebrates Raleigh's rich motorcycle culture and features live music on 3-stages, parades, charity rides, stunt shows, vendors and more. All proceeds from the weekend are donated to the USO of NC and the US Veterans Corps.

Live & Local: Roots Fest is a free street festival on Hillsborough Street where you can experience the roots of North Carolina music and arts. The festival will feature two music stages with performers ranging from bluegrass to rock and everything in-between. The event will close Hillsborough Street from Enterprise Street to Pogue Street and run 12 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Come explore the work of local arts and craftspersons, amusement rides, food trucks, and specials from your favorite Hillsborough Street merchants.

Held in conjunction with the Ray Price Capital City Bikefest, the Motorsports Expo focuses on the artistry of motorcycles of all makes and models. This free family-friendly, 2-day event is located in the Raleigh Convention Center and features one of the largest public bike shows in the southeast. The Elite Builder Competition features some of the most innovative builders in the country. Patrons can also enjoy death defying stunt shows and a variety of vendors, as well as watch live bike builds and acoustic performances.

Wide Open Bluegrass has a ticketed Main Stage at Red Hat Amphitheater, with part of the proceeds benefiting the Bluegrass Trust Fund; a FREE StreetFest with music on several stages and a dance tent; a music expo inside the Raleigh Convention Center, and more! The North Carolina Whole Hog Barbecue Championship adds a distinctly NC flavor to this event. Plus, check out the juried artists in Artsplosure's Arts Market, Got to Be NC products, vendors from Shop Local Raleigh, and more.

An open-data startup competition to catalyze positive community and economic impact. Kickoff is Sept. 30 in conjunction with CityCampNC, followed by Team Pitch at All Things Open conference on Oct. 23 at the Raleigh Convention Center, concluding with the Finale at Raleigh's Capital Club on Nov. 13.