RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — One of Raleigh’s most iconic cultural events returned with the new 2025 Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival, which took place Friday and Saturday.
The free two-day festival built on the city’s success as a destination for bluegrass, Americana, gospel and folk music in downtown.
The festival also included separately ticketed evening shows at Red Hat Amphitheater, produced by Live Nation.
Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival, 2025, final day of free concerts in downtown
In addition to great live music, there were bustling craft and maker markets, beer gardens, food trucks and art vendors.
On Saturday, festivalgoer Ashutosh Virmani, of Charlotte, said, “This is a perfect October day.”
Hundreds gathered in downtown Raleigh on Saturday to celebrate the magic of bluegrass.
“My dad loves bluegrass, so I grew up listening to it, and we’ve come every year to the bluegrass festival,” said Ellie Picton. “So even though the IBMA Festival isn’t here this year, we were glad that we were doing the Pinecone Festival so that we can keep up the tradition.”
After the International Bluegrass Music Association closed the curtain on Raleigh last year for its annual event, local artists carried on the tradition, bringing joy to festivalgoers on Fayetteville Street.
“So, it’s nice just to see the community turn out like this and, and see people that I know that I haven’t seen in forever,” Picton said.
Pinecone, which produced and promoted the festival, is wrapping up here, filling the air with bluegrass, folk and gospel music for two days.
“That brings great joy to the artists themselves, because they want to entertain, they want to say something about their life experience, and they love getting an audience,” said David Brower, PineCone Executive Director.
What’s up with the name?
The revived “Raleigh Wide Open” name is a nod to the city’s past while embracing its future, signaling an era of growth, creativity and connection.
According to its website, the Raleigh Wide Open name was born in Raleigh and dates back to 2006. That’s when downtown experienced a cultural renaissance. Fayetteville Street re-opened to traffic, and within a few years, the new Raleigh Convention Center was built and the Red Hat Amphitheater opened.
“Each year, this event brings together thousands of people across generations and backgrounds. It’s a celebration of what makes Raleigh special: great music, community spirit, and a deep appreciation for tradition and progress,” said Brower.
“The return of Raleigh Wide Open is a welcome reminder of what makes this city shine. 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,” said Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell.
ABC11 is the official media sponsor of the event.
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