The N.C. State Fair's final weekend, Kooky Spooky at Marbles Friday, the last Haunted Trolley tours, Carolina Ballet's Dracula and free Halloween fun Saturday.

The N.C. State Fair has its final three days, Marbles Kids Museum throws its Kooky Spooky party Friday, and the city’s Haunted Trolley makes its last runs, with free Halloween events at Mordecai Historic Park and Sanderford Road Park on Saturday.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is rebuilt every Thursday for the coming weekend. Each listing links to the organizer. For the rest of the month, see things to do this month, the arts and exhibitions page and our Halloween events page.

Weather. The National Weather Service forecast on Monday called for a sunny weekend, with highs near 70 degrees and lows in the upper 40s. Bring a jacket for the fair at night.

Friday, Oct. 23

  • N.C. State Fair, 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., N.C. State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Road. Adults $13, youth 6-12 $7, seniors $5. The last Friday of the 11-day fair. Our State Fair page has parking and shuttles. Fair hours.
  • Kooky Spooky Halloween Party, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St. $20 for members, $22 for everyone else; every adult and child needs a ticket. An after-dark costume party with a Monster Mash dance and a costume parade. Marbles.
  • Haunted Trolley Tour, 7, 8 and 9 p.m., from Mordecai Historic Park, 1 Mimosa St. $15, ages 6 and up. A ghost-story ride through downtown; book by calling 919-996-4364. City page.
  • Dracula, Carolina Ballet, 7:30 p.m., Fletcher Opera Theater, 2 E. South St. Martin Marietta Center.
  • The Music of John Williams: Star Wars and More, NC Symphony, 7:30 p.m., Meymandi Concert Hall, 2 E. South St. Concert page.
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, opening night, 7:30 p.m., Raleigh Little Theatre, 301 Pogue St. Adults $33; seniors, students and military $30. Show page.
  • Travesties, Burning Coal Theatre Company, 7:30 p.m., Murphey School Auditorium, 224 Polk St. Burning Coal.

Saturday, Oct. 24

  • Midtown Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon, The Commons at North Hills, 4191 Main at North Hills St. Market site.
  • Shred + Dead, 9 a.m. to noon, Wilders Grove Solid Waste Services Facility, 630 Beacon Lake Drive. A drive-thru drop-off for paper shredding (up to four boxes or bags), small electronics and household batteries, with free yard waste bags while they last. See our trash guide. City page.
  • N.C. State Fair, 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., the fair’s last Saturday. Fair hours.
  • Spellbound at Mordecai, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mordecai Historic Park. Free, all ages. City page.
  • Dracula, Carolina Ballet, 2 and 7:30 p.m., Fletcher Opera Theater. Martin Marietta Center.
  • Syllabary closing reception, 2:30 to 4 p.m., Pullen Arts Center, 105 Pullen Road. Free. The last weekend of Jason Lord’s show. City arts page.
  • Trunk-Or-Treat at Sanderford Road, 3 to 5 p.m., Sanderford Road Park. Free, all ages. City fall events list.
  • Star Wars and More, NC Symphony, 3 p.m., Meymandi Concert Hall. Concert page.
  • Haunted Trolley Tour, 7, 8 and 9 p.m., the final night. City page.
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, 7:30 p.m., Raleigh Little Theatre. Show page.
  • Travesties, 7:30 p.m., Murphey School Auditorium. Burning Coal.

Sunday, Oct. 25

  • N.C. State Fair, closing day, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fair hours.
  • Camera Obscura, 11 a.m. to noon, Dorothea Dix Park. Part of the park’s Click! photography exhibit. Dix Park.
  • Dracula, Carolina Ballet, 2 p.m., Fletcher Opera Theater. Martin Marietta Center.
  • Travesties, closing performance, 2 p.m., Murphey School Auditorium. Burning Coal.
  • Sound Bath, 2 to 3:30 p.m., the Chapel at Dorothea Dix Park. Dix Park.
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, 3 p.m., Raleigh Little Theatre. Show page.
  • The Art of Hospitality with Molly Irani, 5:30 p.m., NCMA West Building cafe, 2110 Blue Ridge Road. $50. The Chai Pani cofounder talks about her book “Service Ready,” with a signing. NCMA.

All weekend

  • Ancient Nubia: Excavating Treasures of the Nile, North Carolina Museum of Art, through Jan. 10, 2027. Adults $20. Exhibition page.
  • Whatever Happened to Luba’s Twin?, Vera Weinfield at Artspace, 201 E. Davie St., through Nov. 1, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Artspace.

Regular weekend fixtures

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Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Raleigh this weekend?

The N.C. State Fair has its final weekend, closing Sunday, Oct. 25. Marbles Kids Museum holds Kooky Spooky on Friday night, the city’s last Haunted Trolley tours run Friday and Saturday, and Carolina Ballet’s Dracula plays Friday to Sunday downtown.

What is free in Raleigh this weekend?

Spellbound at Mordecai (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday), the Sanderford Road Park trunk-or-treat (3 to 5 p.m. Saturday) and the Syllabary closing reception at Pullen Arts Center (2:30 p.m. Saturday) are free, their organizers say. Shred + Dead takes documents and small electronics 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

How much is the N.C. State Fair this weekend and where do I park?

Adult tickets are $13 at the gate or online, youth 6-12 are $7 and seniors are $5. Parking on fair and Carter-Finley Stadium lots is free, with free shuttles from the Dogwood and Cardinal lots, the fair says. Gates open at 9 a.m.; you must be inside by 9:45 p.m.