November is in full swing — and to help you get the most out of your fall, we’re rounding up some of the top local events (both virtual and in-person) to help you stay connected. 🍂

Disclaimer: It is up to readers’ discretion to determine whether they feel comfortable participating in the following events based on COVID-19 protocols and precautions. If you have questions, please contact the event’s organizers directly.

Friday October 30

Saturday October 31

Holiday
○ Batty for Bats at Thomas G. Crowder Woodland Center | Sat., Oct. 31 | 10 - 11:30 a.m. | 5611 Jaguar Park Drive | $3 | All ages are welcome to join the Halloween festivities by diving into the mysterious world of bats. Participants will learn a thing or two about the animal, play some spooky games, and make a craft as well.

FeaturedEvent
○ Halloween Cup in Hand Kickball Tournament | Sat., Oct 31 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | C.M. Herndon Park, 511 Scott King Rd | $45 | Join Goombay Raleigh Durham for their inaugural Halloween kickball tournament. Teams must have a minimum of 11 players and a minimum of 4 females. Registration ends Oct. 26. Sign up here. Ⓟ

Sunday November 1

Arts
○ Family Day of Guatemala | Sun., Nov. 1 | 12 p.m.| Virtual and In-Person | Free | Join NC Museum of Art and the Consulate of Guatemala for their celebration of All Saints Day, an important Guatemalan holiday that commemorates the lives of those who have died. There will be live-streamed performances, activities, and a viewing of the Esperanza Kite.

Monday, November 2 - Sunday, November 8

Monday November 2

TryThis
○ Intro to Bouldering | Mon., Nov. 2 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | 1010 Martin Luther King Jr Parkway, Durham | $25 for non-members | Triangle Rock Club is teaching a one-hour class on bouldering and basic climbing skills, ideal for beginners or those looking to try something new.

Talk
○ Suspicious Minds: A Virtual Discussion Series On Skepticism | Mon., Nov. 2 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Teaching Assistant Professor of Philosophy at UNC-Chapel Hill Min Tang will dive into the question of human existence and then lead a discussion with series participants on the matter.

Tuesday November 3

Learn
○ Notary Public Class | Tues., Nov. 3 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | 307 North Academy Street, Cary | $150 - $170 | The Cary Chamber of Commerce is hosting a class for those interested in becoming a Notary Public for NC. Those in attendance will learn the basic requirements of the job and complete the application and exam for the position.

Wednesday November 4

Thursday November 5
Civic
○ Appearance Commission Meeting | Thurs., Nov. 5 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | The Appearance Commission meeting is open to the public and will discuss matters related to the visual quality and aesthetics of the city.

FeaturedEvent
○ Campbell University MBA Program Virtual Information Session | Thurs., Nov. 5 | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join a virtual information session to learn more about Campbell’s MBA program, currently offered at 3 locations — downtown Raleigh, 100% online and on the main campus in Buies Creek. They’ll cover the features, benefits, and application process, and also allow time for Q + A. Ⓟ

Network
○ Innovate Raleigh Summit 2020 | Thurs., Nov. 5 | 12-5 p.m. | Virtual | $80 | Day 1 — Raleigh business leaders will have the chance to meet and discuss the challenges + successes they have experienced over the past year. This summit’s theme is “What Was, What Is and What Can Be: Resilience Through a Culture of Innovation.”

Friday November 6

Network
○ Innovate Raleigh Summit 2020 | Fri., Nov. 6 | 12-5 p.m. | Virtual | $80 | Day 2 — Raleigh business leaders will have the chance to meet and discuss the challenges + successes they have experienced over the past year. This summit’s theme is “What Was, What Is and What Can Be: Resilience Through a Culture of Innovation.”

Saturday November 7

FeaturedEvent
○ Jog for Good Virtual Jog with a Purpose | All Day | Virtual | $30+ | Join the virtual jog day and help raise money to provide free training programs for schools and administrations across the country as they continue to raise awareness about the impact of racial inequity. Ⓟ

Sunday November 8

Outdoors
○ A Little Bit of Everything Hike | Sun., Nov. 8 | 2-4 p.m. | 2100 North Harrison Avenue, Cary | Free | A park ranger at William B. Umstead State Park will lead a 3.5-mile hike through the woods + showcase notable spots such as the old Camp Craggy Boy Scout Camp and Twin Falls.

Monday, November 9 - Sunday, November 15

Monday November 9

Arts
○ Surprising Tales from the World of Art | Mon., Nov. 9 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Wake County Public libraries presents podcast host and author of ArtCurious: Stories of the Unexpected, Slightly Odd, and Strangely Wonderful in Art History, Jennifer Dasal. Dasal will talk about her book, stories from art history, and answer questions.

Tuesday November 10

Edu
○ SAT, ACT and College Admissions during COVID-19 Webinar | Tues., Nov. 10 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | An expert from The Princeton Review will advise on the latest changes to the ACT + SAT and how to navigate college admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday November 11

Thursday November 12

TryThis
○ DIY Body Care Products | Thurs., Nov. 12 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Virtual | $45 - $55 | A NC State Craft Center staff member will lead a workshop on how to create your own lotion, skin scrub, and lip balm right at home. Most supplies are included with the registration.

Learn
○ Autobiographical Zinemaking Part 1 | Thurs., Nov. 12 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Virtual | $55 - $65 | Artspace is holding a two-part class on how to make an autobiographical, short-form publication using writing and imagery. Students will learn bookmaking techniques, drawing skills, and how to creatively share their story. The second part of the workshop will be a week later on Thurs., Nov. 19.

Learn
○ Virtual Science Cafe: Using Geography to Map Data | Thurs., Nov. 12 | 7-8 p.m | Virtual | Free | The NC Museum of Natural Sciences will host James Alberque, the GIS + Emerging Technology Manager for the City of Raleigh, for a discussion on geography and map data.

Community
○ Wellness Wind-Down: Nourishment | Thurs., Nov. 12 | 6 p.m. | Virtual | Join us for a conversation with Linda Nguyen about how we can best fuel ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Friday November 13

Dish
○ The Downtown Durham Streetery | Fri., Nov. 13 | 5-9:30 p.m. | Downtown Durham | Free | The City of Durham will open multiple streets to pedestrian traffic, have musical performances, and hang festive lights. Visitors can walk around, pick up food, and shop at the local shops downtown.

○ RTP Food Truck Rodeo | Fri., Nov. 13 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | 800 Park Offices Drive, Morrisville | Free | The rodeo will have various food trucks in the parking lot of Frontier RTP Campus. Guests can order ahead or onsite and are welcome to eat at socially-distanced tables, in their cars, or take it home.

Saturday November 14

Outdoors
○ Falling for Color Gardening & Landscape Design Symposium | Sat., Nov. 14 | 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. | Virtual | $50-65 | The JC Raulston Arboretum is bringing together a panel of experts in horticulture and conservation to inform participants on how to make the best out of their fall garden and landscaping.

Sunday November 15

Show
○ Balloonacy | Sun., Nov. 15 | 1:30–2:30 p.m. + 3:30–4:30 p.m. | Raleigh Little Theatre, 301 Pogue Street | $12+ | RLT is having its first in-person performance since February under Phase 3 reopening protocols. Balloonacy is a one-person show for younger audiences about acceptance, imagination, and companionship.

Monday, November 16 - Sunday, November 22

Monday November 16

Civic
○ Dix Park Community Committee Meeting | Mon., Nov. 16 | 6–7:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | The committee will meet to address manners related to the Dorothea Dix Park project and bring together residents of the park’s surrounding neighborhoods to provide perspective.

Tuesday November 17

Health
○ Healthcare Forum 2020 | Tues., Nov. 17 | 9–10 a.m. | Virtual | $80 | Raleigh Chamber representatives + major health system executives will talk about the current state of healthcare, the economic impacts of COVID-19, and opportunities for advancement due to present challenges.

Edu
○ STEM Career Showcase for Students with Disabilities | Tues., Nov. 17 | 1–3:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Presented by the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, students with disabilities in grades 6 through 12 will have the chance to hear stories and advice from adults with disabilities who are succeeding in the STEM career field.

Civic
○ Public Information Meeting with Federal Aviation Administration | Tues., Nov. 17 | 6–7:30 p.m. | Virtual | Free | The Federal Aviation Administration is having a community meeting about updates to fights and air traffic control procedures at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Wednesday November 18

Tech
○ GIS Day 2020 | Wed., Nov. 18 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | Virtual | Free | The City of Raleigh is celebrating geographic information systems and their integration into daily life for GIS Day 2020. The event will have presentations from experts in the field and include time for questions from participants.

ForKids
○ Science Detectives Online! — Owls: Our Nocturnal Neighbors | Wed., Nov. 18 | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. | Virtual | $20+ | An instructor at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences will help kids learn how to identify native owls by their calls, what they eat, and the clues they leave behind. Registration covers the cost of an owl pellet that participants will dissect as a part of the class.

Talk
○ Fireside Chat with Todd Olsen & Polina Marinova | Wed., Nov. 18 | 11 a.m. | Virtual | Free | Todd Olson, co-founder and CEO of Pendo, and Polina Marinova, founder of The Profile, are sitting down for a fireside chat about entrepreneurship and to celebrate Olson’s new book, The Product Led Organization.

Thursday November 19

Arts
○ Third Thursday Virtual Tour of the Gregg Museum | Thurs., Nov. 19 | 4–5 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Guests will participate in an in-depth “walk” through the museum’s current exhibits. The tour will be presented in real-time so viewers can ask questions about the art.

FeaturedEvent
○ Campbell University MBA Program Virtual Information Session | Thurs., Nov. 19 | 12-1 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Join a virtual information session to learn more about Campbell’s MBA program, currently offered at 3 locations -- downtown Raleigh, 100% online and on the main campus in Buies Creek. They’ll cover the features, benefits, and application process, and also allow time for Q + A. Ⓟ

Friday November 20

Learn
○ 25th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration | Fri., Nov. 20 + Sat., Nov. 21 | 9 a.m.– 3:15 p.m. | Virtual | Free | This two-day event is hosted by the NC Museum of History and includes a variety of interactive sessions and performances for, by, and about local Indigenous people and tribes. Sessions are centered around native heritage and practices such as painting, storytelling, and tribe regalia.

Saturday November 21

Sunday November 22

Holiday
○ Holiday Market & Lighting of the Trees | Sun., Nov. 22 | 12–6 p.m. | 8450 Honeycutt Road | Free | Lafayette Village is ringing in the holiday season with its annual market and tree-lighting ceremonies. People can walk around the European style village + shop at various stores.

TheBuy
○ The Black Farmers Market | Sun., Nov. 22 | 1 - 4 p.m. | 1436 Rock Quarry Road | Free | If you are looking for some fresh produce to add to your weekly groceries and maybe want to grab a bite to eat, consider stopping by and checking out the market’s Black farmers, vendors, and entrepreneurs.

Monday, November 23 - Sunday, November 29

Outdoors
○ Winter Wonderland with Goats | Wed., Nov. 18 - Thurs., Dec. 24 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 5306 Homer Ruffin Road, Chapel Hill | $13.50 | Guests at Spring Haven Farm will get immersed in the farm experience, feed barn animals, and participate in holiday activities.

Monday November 23

Outdoors
○ History Hike: Fanny Breeze | Mon., Nov. 23 | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | 6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham | Free | A ranger at Eno River State Park will be leading a moderate difficulty hike through Fanny's Ford Trail and tell the history of the trail’s namesake Fanny Breeze, a midwife and formerly enslaved person.

Holiday
○ Fieldstream Farm Christmas Light Show | Mon., Nov. 23 | 6:30–9:45 p.m. | 8008 Old Stage Road | $20 | This drive-thru Christmas celebration displays over 1 million different lights throughout the farm and is known for its entire tunnel covered in LEDs.

Tuesday November 24

Community
○ Coffee with Lindsay Rice | Tues., Nov. 24 | 9–10 a.m. | Virtual | Free for members | Small business owners in the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce are encouraged to attend this event, network, and hear about how others are managing their establishments. This event’s speaker is Lindsay Rice, the local owner of Vita Vite.

Wednesday November 25

Holiday
○ Lake Myra Christmas Lights Opening Night | Wed., Nov. 25 | 5:30–10 p.m. | 10 S. Cypress Street, Wendell | Free, donations accepted | Recognized as one of the largest Christmas light shows in NC, Lake Myra Christmas Lights puts on a 45-minute show synchronized to music and featuring 250,000+ lights.

ForKids
○ Thanksgiving Baby Storytime and Craft | Wed., Nov. 25 | 9:30 a.m. | 6548 Glenwood Avenue | $10+ | Little Doodles Cafe staff will read a Thanksgiving story and lead a festive craft—great for the whole family. There will be free play time after activities and parents can grab a coffee from the cafe area.

Thursday November 26

Holiday
○ Drive-Thru Festival of Lights Opening Night | Thurs., Nov. 26 | 5:30-10 p.m. | 703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville | $20 per vehicle | Hill Ridge Farms is celebrating the opening night of their Festival of Lights for the holiday season. The display is over a mile long and showcases around a million different lights.

Friday November 27

Saturday November 28

TheBuy
○ Shop Small Saturday | Sat., Nov. 28 | 1–5 p.m. | 500 E. Davie Street | Free | Triangle Pop-Up and its artisan vendors will be setting up shop at Transfer Food Co Hall. Visitors can shop for creative, hand-crafted goods and grab something to eat or drink.

ForPets
○ Repticon Raleigh | Sat., Nov. 28 + Sun., Nov. 29 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | 1025 Blue Ridge Road | $5-$12 | Repticon Raleigh is a two-day reptile and exotic animal expo at the NC State Fairgrounds. Guests can meet live animals, learn about unique species, and buy animal care supplies.

Sunday November 29

TheBuy
○ Pop-Up at North Hills Midtown | Sun., Nov. 29 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m. | 4011 Cardinal at North Hills Street | Free | The MAKRS Society is having its first pop-up market with over 30 local vendors selling handmade goods–plus a food trunk for lunch. Local celebrity The Poetry Fox will be making an appearance as well.

Monday November 30

Arts
○ Author Event: David Menconi | Mon., Nov. 30 | 7 p.m. | Virtual | Free | Page 158 Books is hosting an author discussion with Dave Menconi about his book Step It Up and Go. The novel chronicles North Carolina’s contributions to popular music from Nina Simone to Scotty McCreery, and everyone in-between.