Weekend best bets: Juneteenth, RuPaul's Drag Race
There are so many Pride and Juneteenth events happening this weekend!
Juneteenth
June 17: Capital City Juneteenth Celebration - WRAL is a proud community partner of this event at Dix Park. There will be a full afternoon of entertainment, food, family activities and vendors. The event is from 1 to 6 p.m. on the Big Field at Dix Park and The Chapel at Dix Park.
June 16: Honoring Juneteenth - Celebrate Juneteenth at the NC Museum of History on June 16 from noon to 4 p.m. Meet members of the Battery B Second Regiment, United States Colored Troops (USCT) Light Artillery Reenactors, and discover the legacy of the USCT in the struggle for freedom and citizenship during the American Civil War.
June 16: Juneteenth Joy: A Celebration of Freedom and Gospel Music - This special event features performances from The Clark Sisters, John P. Kee, Pastor Shirley Caesar and special guest Jonathan McReynolds at the North Carolina Museum of Art's Joseph M. Bryan Jr. Theater in the Museum Park.
June 17-18: Juneteenth Celebration - Head to the Golden Belt Campus for this fun-filled, educational and uplifting event that will include national recording artists and local performers, food trucks, vendors, a fashion show, a kids' zone, exhibitors and more. Admission is free.
June 17: African American Festival - This family-centered festival will celebrate African American culture with live music, arts and crafts, vendors, community resources and ethnic foods at Knightdale Station Park from 4 to 9 p.m.
June 17: Garner Freedom Celebration Juneteenth Program - This event at Garner Performing Arts Center will feature remarks and performances by Duke professor Mary Williams as well as performances by gospel legend Lena Mae Perry. Local church choirs will perform. This event is free and open to the public.
Pride
June 16: The House of Coxx: It’s Funny, Girl! A Comedy Variety Show - Vivica C. Coxx presents this one-night-only spectacular involving music, comedy, spoken word, dance and theatrics at Carolina Theatre.
June 17: Pride Market and Drag Show - Co-hosted by Urban Pothos and Hartwell, this event consists of an outdoor makers market and an indoor drag show. Proceeds from the drag show benefit the LGBT Center of Raleigh. The event is at Hartwell Raleigh from noon to 4 p.m.
June 18: RuPaul's Drag Race Werq The World Tour 2023 - Perception is not reality… Asia O’Hara, Laganja Estranja, Lady Camden, Bosco, Rosé, DeJa Skye and select finalists from Season 15 are unknowingly trapped in the Netwerq… Free your mind this summer at the world’s largest drag production. Uploaded by Voss Events in collaboration with World of Wonder and MTV. Line-up subject to change. All ticketholders must be 18 years or older to attend.
Music and food
June 16: All Time Low - See the band play The Ritz in Raleigh.
June 16: Pixies - See the band on stage at Red Hat Amphitheater.
June 17: Flower Fest (Indie Music and Art Festival) - This event in Shakori Hills will feature six bands, art installations, food trucks, drinks, activities, local vendors and more from 11 a.m to 7 p.m.
June 17: Rebelution - See the band on stage at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh.
June 17: Summerfest: Classics Under the Stars - The NC Symphony shares great moments in classical music, including selections from Mozart, Mendelssohn, and more during this show June 17 at Booth Amphitheatre.
June 18: The All White Experience - This event at Fred Fletcher Park in Raleigh will include live performances, free champagne and food. Tickets start at $40.
Family fun
June 16: Fairytale Costume Showdown and Free Movie Night: The Princess Bride - Bring your favorite fairytale and fantasy characters to life during this Fairytale Costume Showdown in Moore Square. Compete for prizes, enjoy food trucks and family games and then settle in for a special screening of "The Princess Bride."
June 16: My Guy & Me Par-Tee - The City of Raleigh is helping children celebrate the special bond between them and their fathers or significant male mentors. Head to Roberts Park for golf lessons, video games, crafts, food, and more.
June 16: Kid Flicks One - Let your imagination take the wheel with Kid Flicks One. Whether dreaming up the fantastical, like a cat the size of a house, or the practical, like finding a beloved teacher a summer romance, these shorts are sure to surprise and delight. This show is at Cart Theater and is recommended for children ages five to ten.
June 16: Kidzu Garden Party - Explore pollinators of all kinds with Kidzu Children’s Museum! Learn about bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and more with nature crafts and activities, plus, enjoy music by Meadowlark Music and see live bees with OC Beekeepers Association! This is a free event.
June 17: Family Movie Night - The Town of Wake Forest will host this outdoor movie night at Joyner Park. The screening will be of the movie "Encanto." Family Movie Nights at Joyner Park will also include movie-related pre-show activities beginning at 7:15 p.m.
June 17: Oberlin Village Heritage 5K Run/Walk - WRAL is a proud partner of this event on June 17 at WakeMed Soccer Park. The event includes a 5K for adults and a Kid's Dash for those 8 years and younger.
June 17: Summer Expo Pop-Up Market - Head to Moore Square for this event featuring more than 70 vendors with retro and modern games, consoles and other geek items. There will also be food trucks, free gaming booths and live music. The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Moore Square.
June 17: Story time at Barnes and Noble at New Hope Commons - Enjoy story time and an activity together. Usually 11 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Call or check the schedule.
June 17: Summer Reading Kickoff - Kickoff the 2023 Summer Reading Program with a celebration you don't want to miss with Harnett County Libraries! Children can register for the Summer Reading Program and receive free Pelican's Snoballs. Melodymaker Entertainment will be here providing face painting, balloon twisting, carnival games, and inflatables.
June 17-18: Scavenger Hunt: Animal Dads at Cape Fear Botanical Gardens - Celebrate dads this Father’s Day weekend with a scavenger hunt to find ten animal dads in the Garden. Find all ten to get a DIY Father’s Day Gift in the Garden Gift Shop. The scavenger hunt is available during regular garden hours. Included with regular admission or membership.
June 18: Kid Flicks: Celebrating Black Stories - Black stories take the spotlight to highlight films that share the joy, determination, resilience, and complexity of being Black and young. Explore a range of genres and styles in a program that spans the globe. Recommended for children age nine and older.
June 18: Durham Community at the Museum of Life and Science - Durham County residents get in free with current proof of residence. All adults must have Durham residency to get in free; each adult can bring up to five children.
