Labor Day Weekend in the Triangle features festivals, concerts, art, and more.
Make sure to also check out list of Labor Day Weekend food deals, which will be updated soon with all the 2023 Labor Day Weekend deals.
Fall is looking great around the Triangle, whether you’re looking for something spooky or totally kid-friendly! Check out our HUGE list of fall festivals, as well as our list of pumpkin patches, haunted trails and corn mazes! We have also put together a big list of Halloween events and Trick or Treat events!
Looking for even more Labor Day Weekend events? Scroll down for our complete calendar of free and cheap events from Friday, September 1, to Monday, September 4, 2023.
Movie and Market at Moore Square
First Friday Market and Movie Night
Friday, September 1, 2023
5 to 9 p.m.
Moore Square
200 S Blount Street, Raleigh, NC
Free
Pop-Up Carolinas is presenting a market featuring a curated collection of arts and crafts, baked goods, body products and more. There will be pre-show entertainment, and then, at dusk, the movie Back to the Future will be shown.
Bands, Bites and Boats
Bands, Bites and Boats
Friday, September 1, 2023
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Bond Park Boathouse
801 High House Road, Cary, NC
Free
Enjoy a performance by the band Mysti Mayhem from land or water (boats available for rent.) Food will be available for purchase from Jerk Man Island and Las Gringas, and beer will be available from Fortnight.
Labor Day Concert for Living Wages
Labor Day Concert for Living Wages
Monday, September 4, 2023
2 to 6 p.m.
Steel String Brewery at Pluck Farm
6901 NC 54, Mebane, NC
Free
Live music by Blue Cactus, Mellow Swells and Titan and Crew (East Chapel Hill High School’s jazz band.) There will be games and an 18-hold disc golf course. 10% of Steel String purchases will go to Orange County Living Wage, an organization that works to lift wages for the entire community.
First Fridays at the Eno Arts Mill
Eno Arts Mill First Friday
Friday, September 1, 2023
6 to 9 p.m.
Eno Arts Mill
437 Dimmocks Mill Road, Suite 17, Hillsborough, NC
Free
Enjoy an opening reception for a new exhibition, kids’ activities, food trucks, beverages and music.
Old-Fashioned Farmers’ Days
Old-Fashioned Farmers’ Days
Saturday, September 2, and Sunday, September 3, 2023
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Silk Hope Farm Heritage Park
4221 Silk Hope Road, Siler City, NC
$5 (free for kids under 6)
Live music, working farm animals, Junior Dairy Show, antique farm equipment, parades, more.
Wake Forest Unplugged
Wake Forest Unplugged
Sunday, September 3, 2023
5 to 7 p.m.
E. Carroll Joyner Park
701 Harris Road, Wake Forest, NC
Free
Unplug from your devices and enjoy sack races, relay races, corn hole, and miniature golf. A free concert, featuring SNAP, will take place at 5:30 p.m.
African American Festival of Raleigh and Wake County
African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County
September 2 and 3, 2023
Check back soon for time (typically 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Raleigh (check back soon for details — typically at City Plaza on Fayetteville Street)
Free
The African American Cultural Festival is a Labor Day Weekend tradition in Raleigh. The festival is a celebration of African American culture as expressed through art, music, dance, food and community.
Treasures of the Earth
Treasures of the Earth Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show
September 1 to 4, 2023
Friday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kerr Scott Building at NC State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raleigh
$8 (for whole weekend)
This show offers a vast array of precious and semi-precious gem stones, pearls, beads and beading supplies, fossils, minerals, crystals, gems, and finished jewelry in gold and silver, including 14K, 18K and platinum fine jewelry, hand-crafted, custom designs, fashion jewelry, and sterling silver.
Durham PLAYlist
Durham PLAYlist
Friday, September 1, 2023
7 p.m.
Durham Central Park
501 Foster Street, Durham
Free
Start your weekend out with this free concert in the park. Performing Friday, September 1, 2023, will be Queen Esther.
Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo
Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo
Sunday, September 3, 2023
12 to 4 p.m.
Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham, NC
Free
Dine at one of the food trucks at this popular food truck rodeo.
Slowdown Saturday
Slowdown Saturday at RambleRill Farm
Saturday, September 2, 2023
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
RambleRill Farm
913 Arthur Minnis Road, Hillsborough
Free
This event, which takes place the first Saturday of the month, through November, is a farmers’ market, with the bonus of peaceful farm activities. Bring a picnic, meet the goats and chickens, explore the gardens and walk the woodland trail.
Come Out and Play Sculpture Show
Come Out and Play
Every Saturday in September
2 p.m. until dark
JimGin Farm
150 Wild Horse Run, Pittsboro
Enjoy a wide array of fun sculptures in a magical setting. More than 80 artists will be sharing their work on this 17-acre farm in Chatham County. This is a family-friendly event. It actually kicks off August 26 and 27, from noon to dark, so if that weekend is better for you, check it out!
Peak City Circuit Concert
Peak City Circuit
Saturday, September 2, 2023
7 p.m.
Apex Nature Park Amphitheatre
2600 Evans Road, Apex, NC
Free
First Friday Raleigh
First Friday Raleigh
Friday, September 1, 2023
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Various locations in Raleigh
Free
Kick off Labor Day Weekend with this monthly celebration of art and music in Raleigh. Follow the above link as Labor Day Weekend approaches to see what will be taking place at this month’s installment of First Friday Raleigh.
Concert at Colonial Inn
Concerts at the Colonial Inn
Monday, September 4, 2023
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Colonial Inn
153 W King Street, Hillsborough, NC
Free
Enjoy live music by Kennan Jenkins in the courtyard of Colonial Inn.
The Raleigh Market
The Raleigh Market
Saturday, September 2, and Sunday, September 3, 2023
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
North Carolina State Fairgrounds
4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh, NC
Free
Every weekend, shop from hundreds of indoor and outdoor vendors. You’ll find antiques, power tools, jewelry, art, and much more.
More free and cheap things to do Labor Day Weekend
This list is subject to change.