I believe this is the first Korean festival in Raleigh. According to my research this festival was…read morefounded in 2018 by the Raleigh Korean association. I have seen Chinese festivals and various European festivals in Raleigh so I was very excited to see a Korean festival especially since I am half Korean. Festivals are very hard to put together an even harder to make money in. I'm not sure how much support they got from their sponsors but for a first festival I thought they did a pretty good job. Most of the food vendors are from area Korean churches and I liked that there was very little repetition. Each vendor had something slightly different to offer and the prices were affordable. I had the spicy rice cake dish and it was very good albeit too spicy for me. I like a more sweet and spicy sauce in my ddokk bukki. I was very happy to see boiled egg and fish cake included however. I also had the kim bap. This one was from a restaurant called aroma. I have eaten at aroma before and was not impressed but I will say the Kim bap they brought to the festival was fantastic and reminded me of my grandmother's. We bought the rice punch from a little snack shop that was set up at the food court. It was chilled and a perfect accompaniment to our meal. While I did not mind buying the food from different vendors it would have been nice if the food vendors also offered drinks at least bottled water so we did not have to get in line for every little thing.For dessert we had Korean shaved ice - pang bin su. Connect church did a phenomenal job in the tiny space they had. There was plenty of finely shaved ice and plenty of yummy toppings. The exhibitions were plenty but really hard to get to as people were not sure how to get in line and I thought they could use some volunteers to help with crowd control. The same could be said for vendors who were selling wares. I felt bad for them because when the music would start people would just turn around and stand in front of their store to watch the show instead of getting out of the way for buyers. Once again this is something volunteers can help with and next year hopefully they will have better organization.We caught the very end of some traditional Korean singing, and a fashion show. The traditional drumming was OK but they were hard to see on the stage and I was glad they had Projection TVs set up. The person I wanted to see the most was Luna Lee. She was terrific however the sound people seemed very inexperienced and it was very distorted. There were many many many teenagers there for the K-pop. I was sad to see that they were saving seats the entire time making it difficult for other people to sit and enjoy the shows. My biggest criticism would be that they need a volunteer coordinator as I saw most of their young volunteers enjoying themselves at the festival rather than actually helping. I suspect they were there for the T-shirt and a free entry LOL I also felt that the music was way too loud for the venue. I know K-pop is all the rage but I felt it over shadowed all the other beautiful things Korea has to offer. I almost wish they would do the K-pop separately. I will return next year and this time I will bring my children and husband. I would recommend this festival to everyone. If you are sensitive to noise I would suggest earplugs for sure. At times it was painful.

Free concerts every Thursday evening during the summer smack-dab in downtown Raleigh? Sign me up!…read moreCity Plaza has some great festivals, concerts, entertainment and activities that pass through all year round, Oak City 7 is definitely one of them. With a beer garden area, VIP tent, food trucks [including dessert trucks!] and all sorts of vendors, the evening makes for a great summer time activity. I recommend coming later in the summer, once the hype has died down a bit. Bring a lawn chair but don't worry about arriving early, the evening is long and the crowd comes and goes. Whether you're in the mood for a tribute band or something new, #OC7 has got something for everyone. Be sure to follow their line up, which is pushed early every year, and plan at least one Thursday night downtown for the festivities. It's well organized with staff wondering around to help people, family [or just adult] friendly and the crowds won't be enough to drive you away. Plus, it's easy to come and go throughout the night. Walk up the street or even sit out the patio of another establishment up Fayetteville Street and you can still hear the music. OC7 should definitely be on your summer bucket list.

Oak City 7 is a pretty good time. Food trucks, beer and live music. On a beautiful night it doesn't…read moreget much better than that! We went down this past Thursday for a few hours and had a good time. There was a good selection of breweries, Star Hill, LoneRider, Raleigh Brewing, Big Boss and Aviator. Also a good show of food trucks including American Meltdown, Chirba Chirba, Sarges The Humble Pig, BaguettaboutIt and the Tarheel Creamery. Come out, have a beer, enjoy some dinner and listen to music from a variety of different bands. A great summer evening (weather pending).

We came here on the last day of the festival, which was Sunday from 12 to 6 PM. We parked on the…read moreside of the road with no issues. my husband ordered the chicken kebab as we saw them being freshly grilled, and the meat was very tender and full of flavor. The hummus was smooth, and you can taste the tahini which I really like. There was a large assortment of authentic sweets. Cookies were delicious! Dances were fun to watch. Everything was well organized and volunteers seemed to be working well together. A special treat was listening to a very talented pianist in the church.

Just spent the better part of Sunday at Centerfest 2019 and kudos to the committee who choose the…read moreincredible artists that were there. Every booth had something different and unique. It was SO well done. Parking was easy. I only have raves for those incredible artists who work so hard to bring us part of their heart in their artistry. The bonus, there were stores and art galleries open as well. Thank you Centerfest, for a wonderful day!

This is my 3rd or 4th year visiting Durham's Centerfest Arts Festival. It's always been a nice…read moreannual diversion. There are up and coming musicians and street performers as well as very talented artists selling their works. This year's crowd seemed somewhat smaller than prior years, and although there were many vendors, an unusually large number of jewelry booths were present. Still worth the time to stroll around and take in the sights and sounds on a beautiful day.

This past year's PBaRt show, a fundraiser for SPARKcon, was my second year to attend the SIX-year…read moreannual event! It's a FREE event best described as a "mini-warehouse-district-street-festival with circus performers, food trucks, craft vendors, a 90's dance party and a PBR-themed Art Show." Usually occurring the First Friday of June, PBrAt and Raleigh's First Friday Art Walk have morphed into one another. There are so many things I love about this festival: -It's conveniently located next to First Friday vendors and sponsors, taking place on the 300 block of W. Martin Street [you're right next to 311 Gallery, VAE, DesignBox, CAM, feed., Litmus Gallery & Studio just to mention a few!] -You're surrounded by artists: acrobats from Cirque de Vol Studios, stunt performers from Enso Movement, children on stilts, spandex on strong men and SO much more. -FREE PBR [but you should DEFINITELY donate, all proceeds go towards circusSPARK, SPARKcon and the Visual Art Exchange!] -Food trucks [it's different every year, you're in for good bites] -PBaRt Show v5.0 on display inside Designbox & features work by dozens of local and regional artists. Each artist will be using a limited edition (blank) PBR can as their canvas [they're awesome!] -FREE event and open to the public. Pet AND child friendly! -Poetry Fox, works by donation, types up a poem and signs it with a paw print. This is definitely a MUST NOT MISS festival. I am a HUGE fan of Raleigh's First Friday Art Walks and this is just an extension of that, so there's really no reason you should miss it!

Was a great time. Great food an atmosphere…read more I had the gyro and Greek coffee. Outstanding. Cost $5 per adult to get in. Food prices are reasonable. Lots to choose fun. Only complaint is no ketchup.,

We attended the Raleigh Greek Festival for the first time, held at the NC State Fairgrounds in the…read moreJim Graham Building. The $5 entrance fee was well worth it, especially since it supports great causes like Habitat for Humanity and Team Rubicon. Inside, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming with live music, dancing, a wine station, a small marketplace, and of course--delicious Greek cuisine. The main entrée line was quite long, so we opted for the Souvlaki and gyro station instead. Food was prepared on-site and pre-packed for quicker service. The selection was limited, and while I was hoping for a traditional gyro, I'm not a fan of lamb, so I ended up getting the same chicken Souvlaki as my husband. We both really enjoyed the Greek fries--the mix of thyme, oregano, and olive oil was absolutely flavorful. The performers--ranging from children to adults--were fantastic and kept the crowd entertained. The traditional music and dancing added an authentic and energetic vibe to the festival. The vendor selection could be improved. There were some interesting items, but most merchandise felt a bit overpriced. Overall, it was a fun and festive afternoon. With other events like the Raleigh Market, Reptile Show, and Gun Show happening at the fairgrounds the same weekend, there was plenty to see and do all in one place.

This is always a great event in downtown Raleigh at the First of the Month...There is great art…read morethroughout the city, and of course there is music and other fun events......It covers quite a large area so saying that don't limit yourself just to the shops in the Downtown area...There are also some good spots on Glenwood, Hillsborough, and other parts of Raleigh that are also part of the First Friday activities...I think you will Truly Enjoy yourself!!!

I have been going to Raleigh's First Friday since I moved to North Carolina and they never…read moredisappoint. It took me a while to get the layout and come to the realization that it's impossible to hit all the vendors in one night, but I still try! As of late I usually start in the Depot and grab a beer at Tasty Beverage (they don't have "specials" but they're always great!) or go to Jose and Sons for 1/2 price appetizers from 5-7pm, then head over to CAM. From there you can walk down Martin Street and hit four galleries (including Design Box, Visual Art Exchange, 311 Gallery and Tipping Paint Gallery). You might want to sign up (ahead of time) for a free cocktail class at ABV or venture downtown from here. It's easy to pick up the R-Line and take it to R-15. From there walk down E. Cabarrus and visit Flander's Gallery and Lump Gallery (located directly next to one another). From there you can walk down S. Blount and visit Artspace, from there you can swing through City Market which sometimes has live bands playing on the cobblestone streets. Walk up Blount and turn left on Hargett stopping at Adam Cave Fine Art Gallery. Keep walking down Hargett and you'll soon find yourself in an outdoor market (they set it up when the weather's nice outside Raleigh Times Bar). You'll have bands, drinks and see all different media from local artists. That's usually all I can get to in one night, but there are lots more galleries to check out. I have yet to visit the galleries on Glenwood, but it's on my list! First Friday has an AMAZING website that lists all the art galleries, exhibits AND the food and drink specials on a map: http://www.godowntownraleigh.com/first-friday-raleigh/map. It's super convenient and easy to use. If you haven't visited First Friday yet, now's your chance, you won't be disappointed!

This is a really nice event if you are looking to do any kind of repair or landscaping for your…read morehome. They had many different companies who do roofing, gutters, general handyman work, hot tubs, renovating bathrooms, kitchens. You name it and you would find it here. Exhibitors were nice and not pushy. Lots of sweepstakes to enter. And in a corner of one booth they had free wine, beer and restaurant tastings. Yummy barbecue and delicious dessert from local restaurants. Some of my favorite exhibitors were Uncle Yammy from Greenville area. He has a sweet Sriracha sauce that is to die for. Also the softest sheets made from peach skin. Then these cool brooms made from rubber. And a shout out to the sushi kit man. You were a trip. Definitely a worthwhile show if you are even thinking about any home improvements. I'll certainly go back next year and maybe break down and buy those pillows.

This was our first time going and it was really cool! Took advantage of buy one get one free…read moreadmission. We made the mistake of going on a Sunday. Next year, I want to go on Friday since this is a the first day. A perk of going early is being able to buy floor models, which are discounted...they are picked through by Sunday. A lot of super cool booths and information, though. Careful though, that rabbit hole once you get to the garden and patio refinishing services area is real. You'll have your complete dream patio planned out after looking at all the inspiration. Wish they had had more food trucks available since we probably would have stayed longer.