Living

Raleigh Wide Open brings live music, fall vibes to new street festival

By Travis Long

Updated October 4, 2025 8:39 AM

Festival-goers square dance on Martin Street during the Raleigh Wide Open music festival in downtown Raleigh on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. The event features live bluegrass, folk, Americana and gospel artists. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com

Raleigh Wide Open is a new event, but the vibes will feel familiar to anyone who has attended a World of Bluegrass music festival over the past decade.

All along Fayetteville Street, visitors will hear the sounds of banjos and guitars, with music seeping out from music spots and hotel lobbies. There are food trucks, arts vendors and the energy that can be felt as thousands walk through the crowds on a fall afternoon.

The new event organized by Pinecone aims to continue the tradition of bluegrass and folk music from the International Bluegrass Music Association’s weeklong event that took up residence in Raleigh for 12 years. The 40-act lineup adds more Americana, gospel, country and folk.

The festival kicked off Friday night and continues Saturday from 12-11 p.m. The festival along Fayetteville Street is free. Find details at raleighwideopen.com.

Here are photos from the event.