8/4
LANY
Calling all sad bois and girls. LANY is bringing its heart-wrenching tunes to Red Hat for a night of, well, tears probably—both the happy and sad kind. redhatamphitheater.com
8/4–6
Ian Bagg
You just know Canadian comedian Ian Bagg has some funny stories to tell. He moved to NYC to live in a youth hostel; winded up on the Late Night With Conan O’Brien (among others); and—fun fact—is the only known comic to have worked for famed director/producer Judd Apatow and not become a multibillionaire. So, yeah, you can assume his show at Raleigh Improv is going to be one for the books. improv.com
8/5
Christmas in August
Christmas is coming early this year at Burial with its Other Half collab can takeover/tap release/Christmas in August party! Head to the taproom for holiday-inspired slushees (um, genius for cooling off while maintaining the holiday spirit!), a DJ spinning ’80s and ’90s NYC hip-hop, an exclusive DTR T-Shirt release, and brews from Burial and Other Half, natch. Ho, ho, ho, indeed. burialbeer.com
8/5
Five for Fighting
Five for Fighting’s Grammy-nominated John Ondrasik is going to be Raleigh’s very own “Superman” for the night—and you won’t wanna miss it. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
8/5
Oak City Arsenal Season Opener
Raleigh’s premier Arsenal supporters club is posting up at Lonerider for the season, with the season opener kicking things off with a bang—think an open beer tab (up to $300!), free pizza, and fresh Oak City Arsenal shirts and stickers available for purchase. COYG! @oakcityarsenal
8/5–6
Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival
Time to go hog wild on 60+ beers, 40+ bourbons, BBQ and bluegrass galore—plus allll the fixins, local vendors and more. Talk about a smoke show. cary.beerandbourbon.com
8/5–21
The Father
See the world through the eyes of a man with dementia via this sobering and emotionally intense Theatre in the Park production starring Ira David Wood III in the leading role. theatreinthepark.com
8/6
RaleighWRLD Festival
It’s a Raleigh world and we’re all just living in it. Come out to Dix Park for a fun-filled festival with food trucks, vendors, live music and performances, giveaways, community donation drives, and more. raleighwrld.co
8/6
Sweat Then Sip
Wye Hill is raising the barre (and the actual bar!) with a 45-minute Pure Barre class, followed by brunch and signature mimosas—NTM, an incredible view of Downtown. Yoganna wanna grab a ticket! wyehill.com
8/6–7
NC Pet Expo
NC’s ulti-mutt pet expo at the State Fairgrounds is the pet lovers’ place to be. The pawty includes a pet costume contest, small dog race, animal food drive, pet fashion show and more. ncpetexpo.com
8/7
Black Representation in the Arts: Building Momentum for Lasting Change Panel Discussion
Join CAM Raleigh for a panel discussion about Black representation in the arts, including talks about the role of art in injustice and healing—with panelists including Stephen Hayes, Clarence Heyward, Allen Mask, Natasha Powell-Walker and Lakea Shepard. camraleigh.org
8/7
Vendor Open House
Olde Raleigh Distillery is turning its house into a home for local vendors across the Triangle specializing in rentals, music, photography, catering and more to showcase their creative offerings. And the creative juices will be flowing indeed, as each ticket includes a craft cocktail! olderaleighdistillery.com
8/9–14
On Your Feet!
In the famed words of Chandler Bing, “either that or Gloria Estefan was right and, eventually, the rhythm is going to get you.” Get on your feet for the inspiring true story of Cubans Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s rise from humble beginnings to international sensations against the heart-pounding beats of the Miami Sound Machine. dukeenergycenterraleigh.com
8/10–31, ongoing
Alley Twenty Six Whiskey Wednesdays
Pour your heart out at Alley Twenty Six each Wednesday, where a different unique bottle of whiskey will be served at a break-even price. Try a Barrell Private Release “Peach Cobbler” on Aug. 10, or a Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel Rye “Dietz Hometown Treatz” on Aug. 17. alleytwentysix.com
8/10
Cookie Decorating Class with Oakwood Cookie Co.
Enjoy sweet skyline views and sip on some vino while you decorate summer-themed cookies—with the help of cookie extraordinaire Taylor Whitworth of Oakwood Cookie Co., of course—that are almost too pretty to eat… almost. thewillardraleigh.com
8/10
REO Speedwagon
We “can’t fight this feeling” that you should go to Walnut Creek to see REO Speedwagon perform their hit tunes live. livenation.com
8/10, ongoing
Noon Tunes
Celebrate “high noon” with Noon Tunes at City Plaza—featuring local musician Elora Dash—while you enjoy lunch outside. downtownraleigh.org