Above: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences with fall foliage. https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/13713/zimmytws
What’s Happening Around the Triangle in November
By Janice Lewine
Old North State Storytelling Festival
November 1–2
The Cary Theater
122 E. Chatham Street, Cary
Acclaimed national and regional storytellers, including Lipbone Redding, Linda Gorham and Bil Lepp, present hours of stories to entertain and warm your heart. The festival is presented by the North Carolina Storytelling Guild. Purchase tickets online.
oldnorthstatestorytellingfestival.com
Moonlight in the Garden
November 1–2, 8–9, 14–16
JC Raulston Arboretum
4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh
Enjoy a nighttime lighting exhibition designed to showcase the internationally acclaimed garden, as well as food trucks, live music and roasted marshmallows. Visit the website for timed-entry slots and to purchase tickets.
jcra.ncsu.edu
Bleeding Disorders Walk
November 2, 11 a.m.
Lake Crabtree County Park
1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville
Join the Bleeding Disorders Foundation of North Carolina for its annual Raleigh Family Festival and Walk fundraiser. There will be fun activities, music, entertainment, and a fun walk, all to raise money for the Bleeding Disorders Foundation of North Carolina, the only nonprofit organization in North Carolina that supports people with bleeding disorders. One hundred percent of the proceeds stay in North Carolina to be used for critical programs and services.
secure.qgiv.com/event/2024raleigh
Carolina Tiger Takeover
November 2, 5–9 p.m.
Havoc Brewing Company
39 West Street, Pittsboro
Join Carolina Tiger Rescue as it celebrates 50 years of dedication to saving and protecting wild cats in captivity and in the wild through rescue and education. Enjoy educational presentations, food trucks, live music, games, a raffle and more. Admission is free.
carolinatigerrescue.org
Festifall Arts Market: Día de los Muertos
November 2, noon–5 p.m.
Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Celebrate Día de los Muertos, the Mexican holiday that pays tribute to deceased loved ones, with a street market featuring artisan vendors, music and performances in downtown Chapel Hill.
North Carolina Whirligig Festival
November 2, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park
301 Goldsboro Street S., Wilson
Marvel as talented artists craft masterpieces live, dive into action on thrilling inflatables or keep young Whirligigers entertained in the Kids Zone at this historic park featuring 30 massive wind-driven whirligigs made from found materials by Vollis Simpson. Festival activities and entertainment are free to enjoy.
whirligigfestivalnc.org
Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour
November 2–3, 9–10; studios open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturdays and noon–5 p.m. on Sundays.
Tour the studios of working artists in Orange County. Download a map and brochure from the website for studio locations. Admission is free.
ocagnc.org
Taste of China
November 2, 11 a.m.
327 S. Academy Street, Cary
Experience the best of Chinese culinary delights, traditional performances and cultural exhibits in Downtown Cary Park.
downtowncarypark.com
Donovan Manor Wedding Showcase
November 3, 1–4 p.m.
Donovan Manor
5733 Hilltop Road, Fuquay-Varina
Engaged couples explore Donovan Manor’s first-ever open house to explore the charm of our venue and meet some of the area’s top wedding vendors. Experience a beautiful showcase designed to inspire, with stunning displays, delicious tastings, and endless ideas to make your wedding day unforgettable. Purchase tickets, which are $25, online.
eventbrite.com
“Doubt, A Parable”
Through November 3
Raleigh Little Theatre
301 Pogue Street, Raleigh
Set in 1964 amidst America’s evolving socio-political landscape, “Doubt, A Parable” unfolds at St. Nicholas Church School in the Bronx. School principal Sister Aloysius Beauvier is staunchly traditional and inflexible in her beliefs. Her world is shaken when she develops grave suspicions about the conduct of Father Flynn, the charismatic and modern parish priest who is beloved by the community for his progressive methods. The drama intensifies as she searches to uncover the truth, setting off a profound moral and ethical conflict.
raleighlittletheatre.org/shows/doubt
Art Cart
Most Tuesdays and Thursdays in November and December; visit the website for dates and times
Downtown Cary Park
327 S. Academy Street, Cary
Kids of all ages let their creativity bloom with a craft in Park Art or with a variety of supplies to make their own creation in Art Your Way. Admission is free.
downtowncarypark.com
“Curse of the Starving Class”
November 6–17
Theatre Raleigh
6638 Old Wake Forest Road, Raleigh
The setting is a farmhouse in the American West, inhabited by a family who has enough to eat but not enough to satisfy the other hungers that bedevil them.
theatreraleigh.com/curse
Fragrance Workshop: Rest & Reflection with Bright Black
November 7, 6:30–8 p.m.
The Durham Hotel
315 E. Chapel Hill Street, Durham
Craft a custom scent inspired by the rhythms of rest and the beauty of autumn. Hosted by Durham’s own Bright Black, this workshop invites you to embrace the slower pace of the season as the days shorten, temperatures cool, and fall florals deepen into jewel tones. The Bright Black team will guide you through a sensory experience designed to help you connect with nature and design a body fragrance that embodies rest, reflection, and renewal. Register online, $50/person.
thedurham.com/events/fragrance-workshop-rest-reflection-with-bright-black
Adult Workshop: Basket Making
November 8, 6–8 p.m.
Museum of Life and Science
433 W. Murray Avenue, Durham
Julia Gartrell, sculptor and artist of Radical Repair Workshop, leads a two-hour workshop on turning natural, forgeable plants into beautiful baskets. Learn about styles and traditions of basketry in North Carolina, and make your very own basket to take home. Register online.
lifeandscience.org/explore/adult-workshop-basket-making
Kids Night Out
November 8, 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Museum of Life and Science
433 W. Murray Avenue, Durham
Parents, drop your little ones off for a kids-only evening of hands-on fun. Kids eat pizza, play games, explore exhibits and work together on science experiments. Register online.
lifeandscience.org/explore/kids-night-out
NC Comicon
November 9–10
Durham Convention Center
301 W. Morgan Street, Durham
The ultimate celebration of comics and pop-culture in the Triangle features a creator-focused vision and intimate, all-encompassing atmosphere. NC Comicon is a prime destination for fans and creators of all walks and passions to learn, celebrate, and share in a wide variety of interests and fandoms, from comics to cosplay, gaming, film, animation, design, and more. All ages. Purchase tickets online.
nccomicon.com
“Ernani”
November 10, 2 p.m.
Meymandi Concert Hall
2 E. South Street, Raleigh
A riveting tale of love, betrayal, and vengeance set in 16th-century Spain. The bandit Ernani seeks to rescue his beloved Elvira, but she is being wooed by both the young King Charles, and the older nobleman Silva. Political intrigue, personal vendettas and passionate music deliver an exhilarating opera experience.
ncopera.org
IMPACT Series I: “Mendelssohn and More!”
November 10, 4 p.m.
Church of the Nativity
8849 Ray Road, Raleigh
Enjoy a concert featuring the complete Mendelssohn Octet for 8 string players, as well as the premiere of James Dargan’s new String Quartet (movement 1) called Honey Rock; Wood Valley. Mr. Dargan was commissioned by NCCMI to compose the piece. Musicians are all members of the North Carolina Symphony: violinists Emily Glover, Jeanine Wynton, Erin Zehngut, and Jessica Ryou; cellists Bonnie Thron and Elizabeth Beilman; and viola players Sam Gold and Amy Mason. Admission is free, but a suggested donation of $15 is appreciated.
nccmi.org/programs-and-events/faculty-artist-series
Winter Wonderland Pop-Up
November 14–December 28
AVA Rooftop Bar
301 Fenton Gateway Drive, Cary
Immerse yourself in tinsel and twinkling lights, holiday-inspired cocktails and small bites, several unique holiday photo opportunities and private igloos for reservation at AVA Rooftop Bar atop Sports & Social Cary at Fenton. This experience will be open Tuesday through Sunday, beginning Thursday, November 14 through December 28. Visit the website for hours.
avarooftopbar.com
Sunday Supper: Friendsgiving
November 17, 4–8 p.m.
The Durham Hotel
315 E. Chapel Hill Street, Durham
Gather your crew, share stories and indulge in comfort food with a seasonal twist. Relax, enjoy great food and connect with friends over a family-style feast in a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. Friendsgiving is a time for your heart to be full of gratitude and your plate to be full of seasonal flavors like grilled red wine-roasted garlic marinated flank steak, aged white cheddar mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole, and a slice of pie. Reservations required online.
thedurham.com/events/sunday-supper-friendsgiving
“Carmina Burana”
November 21–24
Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
2 E. South Street, Raleigh
Embrace the complexities of the human experience with Lynne Taylor-Corbett’s “Carmina Burana.” Follow the Wall Street story of a working-class man whose life transforms after a lottery win. This adaptation by Carolina Ballet brings a contemporary twist to Carl Orff’s rhythmic and roaring music.
carolinaballet.com/carmina-burana
“Jeff Boyer’s Bubble Trouble”
November 22, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Fuquay-Varina Arts Center
123 E. Vance Street, Fuquay-Varina
Jeff Boyer hosts a one-man bubble extravaganza for all ages and invites audience members to create bubble art. Performances are suitable for those with sensory sensitivities. Purchase tickets online.
fuquay-varina.org
American Indian Heritage Celebration
November 23, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
North Carolina Museum of History
11 W. Jones Street, Raleigh
Take the family for demonstrations, presentations and performances that highlight the traditional and contemporary contributions of American Indians in North Carolina. The celebration takes place outdoors on Bicentennial Plaza between the North Carolina Museum of History, which is closed for a three-year renovation, and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Visit the website for more information.
ncmuseumofhistory.org
Mac Barnett: Holiday Kickoff Storytime
November 23, 10:30 a.m.
Quail Ridge Books
4209-100 Lassiter Mill Road, Raleigh
Come dressed in your best holiday sweaters for an event featuring treats, activities, decorations and a special storytime with award-winning author Mac Barnett. Tickets are required and include two seats (for parent and child) and one signed copy of “Santa’s First Christmas.”
Turkey Trot 5K Run
November 23, 10 a.m.
Apex Community Park
2200 Laura Duncan Road, Apex
Chase down that turkey on a scenic course at Apex Community Park. Take part in a competitive or recreational 5K in either the youth or adult division. Register online.
apexnc.org
Shop Small Mall at the Fairgrounds
November 30, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; December 1, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Kerr Scott Building, North Carolina State Fairgrounds
1025 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh
100 local makers, live music, food trucks, workshops and art installations. Purchase tickets online. General admission tickets are $5. Children 16 and under are free.
eventbrite.com
Sculpture in the Garden
Through December 8
North Carolina Botanical Garden
100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill
Sculpture in the Garden unites the work of local artists with the native plant landscapes of the North Carolina Botanical Garden. This year’s show features over 80 installations by 66 North Carolina artists. The show is free to visit during normal Garden hours, and all ages are welcome. Most sculptures are available for purchase, and a portion of proceeds benefits the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Donations are welcome.
ncbg.unc.edu/visit/exhibits/sculpture-in-the-garden
