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College of Humanities and Social Sciences 
Center for Family and Community Engagement

What’s Happening Now!

This page provides a list of community events coming up in Raleigh and our local area.

In addition to important campaigns like Suicide Prevention Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, there are also a lot of fun and exciting family-friendly activities happening in the Triangle this fall!

Shows a happy family sitting in fall leaves to demonstrate the point of the page (share family-friendly fall activities).

September 2024 Events

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is a prevalent problem that affects individuals of every age and background. Depression and alcohol use disorders are often linked to suicide, but suicide is not limited to a certain group or caused by any one specific reason (American Psychiatry Association). Anyone can struggle with their mental health.

National Suicide Prevention Month challenges all of us make an impact by understanding the risk factors, recognizing the warning signs, learning about the resources available, and having the courage to have difficult but necessary conversations with the people we care about. Our Center encourages you to get connected online. You can repost, like and engage with content related to National Suicide Prevention to spread awareness, educate others and decrease stigma. Follow us on social media (@cfacencstate) for more Suicide Prevention Month (SPM) content.

  1. Centerfest is September 21-22 in Durham! There will be artists from across the country, music, dancers, food, street performers and a children’s play area! You don’t want to miss out on this amazing event.
  2. This year’s IBMA Bluegrass Live Festival is September 27-28 in Downtown Raleigh. Each Fall the streets of downtown Raleigh bubble over with the joyful sound of friends and families coming together in song. There will be multiple stages for performance, another spectacular show at Red Hat Amphitheater, an art market, food and jamming.
  3. BugFest 2024 is on Saturday, September 14 from 10:00am-7:00pm at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Downtown Raleigh. BugFest is dedicated to educating and engaging the public about science and the wonders of the natural world. Explore over 100 exhibits and hands-on activities designed to ignite curiosity and appreciation for these amazing creatures and the natural world! Admission is FREE and this is an excellent family and kid-friendly event!
  4. Family Fun Day @ City of Raleigh: A Day of Adventure and Discovery is an event held on the second Saturday of every month throughout fall at different locations around the city. The upcoming Family Fun Days are September 14, October 12, November 9, and December 14. Expect interactive games, creative crafts, educational exhibits, and live performances throughout the day.
  5. Jazz at Moore Square: Groove to the Rhythm of Fall is a beloved community event that takes place every second Saturday of the month from September to November. The next Jazz at Moore Square event is scheduled for September 14th, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Located at 200 S Blount Street, Raleigh.

Raleigh offers a variety of free events during Hispanic Heritage Month that invite everyone to join in the celebration.

  1. La Fiesta del Pueblo is the Triangle’s largest and most diverse festival of Latin American culture, featuring live music and dance performances, artisanal vendors, food trucks, educational booths, and activities for the whole family!
    • Date: September 15, 2024
    • Location: Downtown Raleigh, Fayetteville Street
  2. The 2024 Raleigh Tamale Festival is a celebration of Latino culture in the heart of downtown Raleigh! This vibrant event attracts a diverse audience with its blend of performances, family activities, and a bustling marketplace featuring vendors and food trucks. Also highlighting the festival is an exciting tamale competition where community members compete for the best tamale in Raleigh.
    • Date: September 21, 2024
    • Location: Downtown Raleigh, Moore Square Park

These free events in Raleigh offer a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Whether through music, art, film, or community discussions, this month encourages us all to come together, appreciate diversity, and honor the invaluable contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to our society.

October 2024 Events

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is a national campaign with the goal of raising awareness about domestic violence. Every October, organizations and individuals unite across the country for a national effort to uplift the needs, voices and experiences of survivors.

The theme for DVAM 2024 is Heal, Hold & Center. We must work together to embrace the ways we can heal from violence, commit to holding space for survivors and center those most marginalized in all of our efforts to end domestic violence.

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, there are a couple of events in the area.

  1. The 2024 Annual Women Veterans Support Services (WVSS) is holding a Domestic Violence Awareness Luncheon on Tuesday, October 1 in Raleigh.
  2. Harmony For Healing Music Festival: A Benefit Concert for DV Survivors. This event on Saturday, October 10 is in Durham Central Park.
  3. The 50 Mile Warrior Run is happening in Hendersonville on Saturday, October 12. This race spreads awareness for domestic violence and sexual assault.
  4. The Domestic Violence Awareness Panel Event is on October 26 from 10:00am-1:00pm in Burlington. This event, which is open to ages 16+ is meant to create awareness, provide resources and encourage healthy conversations surrounding domestic violence and its impact.
  5. The Unbound Conference: Breaking Free from Domestic Violence in Durham. This two-day event held on October 26-27 is dedicated to raising awareness and showing that survivors can overcome.

  1. NC State’s PrideFest is Tuesday, October 8, 2024. PrideFest is an annual celebration of the NC State LGBTQ+ community, and all community members are welcome to attend. There are different events occurring throughout the day.
    • 3:00-5:00pm is a t-shirt decorating event. There will also be food trucks and vendors with self-care items.
    • 4:00pm is the time for speakers and the start of the parade.
    • 4:10-5:00pm is when the parade across campus will occur.
  2. The Wake Forest Pride Fest is Saturday, October 5, 2024. Pride Fest is hosted in downtown Wake Forest at E. Owen Ave. & Brooks Street from 11:00am-5:00pm. This is a celebration of diversity, love and acceptance. Join us for a day of festivities, live performances and community unity. There is something for the whole family!
  1. The Falling for Local is a FREE event held on Saturday, October 5 at the Big Field in Dorothea Dix Park from 11:00am-6:00pm. Enjoy live music from local talent and demos from local businesses! There will also be hay rides, inflatables, lawn games, kids activities and a pumpkin patch.
  2. The 96th Annual Wendell Harvest Festival is on Saturday, October 5, 2024. There are multiple events happening here.
    • 9:00am-9:00pm Vendors and Food Trucks
    • 10:00am The start of the Harvest Parade
    • 10:00am-5:00pm Kids Village
    • 11:00am Welcome
    • 11:30am-3:00pm Stage Performances
    • 6:00pm-9:00pm Concert featuring The Band of Oz
  3. The North Carolina State Fair is October 17-27 at the NC State Fair Grounds off Blue Ridge Road. The N.C. State Fair creates an experience unique to North Carolina and is an unparalleled value with free entertainment, thrilling rides and games, thousands of animals, endless family activities, competitions, vendors and creative deep-fried delights.
  4. HollyFest is from 10:00am-4:00pm on October 26 at Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park. This annual, family-friendly event celebrates Holly Springs and all the people, places and services that our community has to offer. Featuring local artists, businesses, food vendors, children’s activities, and local entertainment; this free event is a Holly Springs tradition.
  5. Triangle Oktoberfest is October 4-5 and is North Carolina’s most authentic German festival. This year’s event is held at the Cary Booth Amphitheater at 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary. You must be 16+ to attend, and tickets ahead of the event are $20 and $25 the day of.
  6. NCMA Outdoor Films: A Cinematic Experience Under the Stars is a series of outdoor films brought to you by the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA). This fall, NCMA will screen family-friendly films every Friday evening in October. Gates open at 7:00pm and films start at dusk (around 8:00pm). Held on the museum’s spacious lawn at 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh.
  1. Hum Sub Diwali is happening this year at the Cary Koka Booth Amphitheater on 8003 Regency Parkway on October 12. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is India’s most-loved festival.  It falls in the month of October and brings together people of not just the Hindu faith, but of all faiths to celebrate the simple idea that good always triumphs over evil.
  2. The Phoenix Fest Music Festival, Food Truck Rodeo & Africana Market is on Saturday October 5, 2024 for its 23rd year as Durham NC’s funkiest street music festival for the whole family.

November 2024 Events

Check out all the events happening in Raleigh and the Triangle to celebrate Family Engagement Month!

  1. The North Carolina International Festival is September 27-29 at the Jim Graham Building on the North Carolina State Fair Grounds! There will be incredible authentic international food, desserts, and drinks, as well as vendors and bazaars, fun cultural booths to learn about different countries and the dedicated kid-friendly area with games and fun!
  2. Moonlight in the Garden is happening at JC Raulston Arboretum throughout November! This event is meticulously designed to showcase our internationally acclaimed garden and all its splendor. Bring your family and friends to stroll through the garden, listen to a live band, grab a bite to eat from a food truck, roast a marshmallow or two at the fire pits, and sip a cup of hot apple cider, all while showing your support for the JC Raulston Arboretum.
    • November 1: Preview Night
    • November 2: Opening Night
    • November 8-9: Second Weekend
    • November 14-16: Third Weekend
  3. The 80th annual Raleigh Christmas Parade is on Saturday, November 23.
  4. The NC Chinese Lantern Festival begins November 16, 2024 and runs through January 12, 2025. It is located at Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary.

Opportunities to Join the Child Welfare Workforce
Tomeko Brown

Child Welfare Workforce

North Carolina is one of nine states in the United States that operates as a federally mandated, state supervised, county administered social services system. This means that social services (including child welfare services and adult services) receive funding and authorization of programs at the federal level. The state (Health and Human Services) provides oversight and support while each county agency is responsible for the delivery and administration of necessary services and benefits to children and families across the state.

Since 2015, North Carolina Child Welfare Services has been working on agency-wide improvements in areas such as service provision, family and youth leadership, staff development, and improving services and support for youth in out-of-home care. Throughout these past eight years, the state has witnessed many positive impacts in communities across the state as a result of these improvements. While county-child welfare agencies continue to raise their standard of care and professionalism in service to their communities, one of the most difficult challenges they face in recent times is staffing shortages. Across the state of North Carolina, many county child welfare agencies are working at less than full capacity staff levels, which leaves the workforce and community feeling the strain. In the field of social work, there are many unique opportunities to assist family members, children, and youth. Social workers help families to tap into their strengths and build resilient support networks to work through personal challenges and make their families safer and healthier. Honoring the principles such as “families are experts about themselves,” “judgements can wait,” and “everyone has strengths,” child welfare staff work tirelessly with families to keep them together, increase access to resources for parents and youth, and engage other community agencies to actively support overall family, child, and youth, wellness. If you or someone you know may be interested in joining the child welfare workforce, please take a look at what opportunities may be available to you here!  

For more information about child welfare jobs, visit the links below.

To look at our archive of past events, you can click the button below.

Past Events!