Raleigh’s Wide Open Music Festival: Lineup, schedule, tickets & street closures
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- Raleigh Wide Open revives bluegrass tradition with 40+ free performances downtown.
- Festival spans Oct. 2-4 with food trucks, local vendors and family-friendly events.
- Fayetteville Street closes for festivities; paid tickets required for main concert.
It’s officially time for Raleigh’s newest take on one of the city’s oldest events.
This weekend kicks off the Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival, designed to be a “a continuation of the bluegrass festival tradition” that’s filled the streets of the state capital for a decade with World of Bluegrass, which had its last run in Raleigh last fall.
After the International Bluegrass Music Association closed the curtain on its annual event, local groups have been preparing to bring the magic of bluegrass, Americana, gospel, country and folk music with dozens of musical performances at the free festival.
“The return of Raleigh Wide Open is a welcome reminder of what makes this city shine,” Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell previously said in a release. “It’s more than a music festival. It’s a statement about Raleigh’s growth, creativity, and the strong partnerships that fuel our cultural identity.”
Ready to rock? Here’s everything you need to know.
When and where is the festival?
The festival will be held from 5-11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, and from 12-11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4.
The free part of the festival will take place along Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, from City Plaza to Hargett Street — with multiple stages, food trucks and local vendors.
Artist lineup & schedule
The festival lineup is stacked with nearly 40 acts, many of whom are North Carolina natives, across four stages downtown. Find the full lineup at raleighwideopen.com.
Is Wide Open ticketed?
The family-friendly event is free and open to the public so no tickets or wristbands are needed.
But if you plan to go to the Greensky Bluegrass and JJ Grey & Mofro show Friday evening at Red Hat Amphitheater, tickets are required and can be purchased online or in-person at the box office.
Wide Open parking
There is not a designated parking area for those planning to attend the festival, but there are several parking decks and surface lots around downtown.
You can find a full list of 70+ parking spaces in the area online at downtownraleigh.org/getting-around/parking.
You can find more information about the Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival online at raleighwideopen.com.
This story was originally published September 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM with the headline "Raleigh’s Wide Open Music Festival: Lineup, schedule, tickets & street closures."