Some might tell you that February in Raleigh is a time for hibernating under fuzzy blankets, clutching mugs of cocoa like a squirrel hoarding acorns. They might paint pictures of skies weeping icy tears and winds that bite like hungry squirrels, too! But oh, what tales those shivering souls miss! For February in Raleigh holds a secret as delightful as a perfectly ripe kumquat (which, admittedly, you’ll have to import).
Although February is the shortest month of the year, there are several holidays and festivities to look forward to including Groundhog Day, the Superbowl, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, and Mardi Gras.
From festivals to athletic challenges that will have you questioning your life choices, here are some of the best things to do in Raleigh in February.
Weather in Raleigh in February
February in Raleigh boasts the dubious distinction of being the driest month, with an average of 2.8 inches of precipitation. And though the average high may flirt with a deceptive 56° F, the average low, a chilling 34° F, promises nights of shivering discomfort. So expect, if you dare, a capricious dance between frigid temperatures, capable of chilling one to the bone, and unexpected bursts of warmth that only serve to mock you. Therefore, it is prudent, my dear reader, to consult the local weather forecast with the utmost frequency.
Best Things to Do in Raleigh in February
1. Compete in the Krispy Kreme Challenge
When: February 1, 2025 at 8 a.m.
Where: Memorial Belltower, 2011 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
The Krispy Kreme Challenge is a unique charity race. In this delightful dash, runners compete by running 2.5 miles from Memorial Belltower through downtown Raleigh to Krispy Kreme where they consume a dozen donuts before running 2.5 more miles back to the Belltower. In order to successfully complete the challenge, challengers need to eat all twelve donuts and finish in one hour.
But it is also possible to register in this joyful jaunt as a casual participant, eating as many or as few donuts as you would like. And this is also a fantastic spectator event. Great places to watch this splendid spectacle include near the Belltower to see the start and finish of the race, or near Krispy Kreme to watch the strategy and hilarity involved in rapidly consuming a dozen donuts.
Registration fees started at $40 for students and $45 for all other participants but registration prices increase as the race date approaches. Registration is open until 7:30 a.m. on race day but you are encouraged to register online as soon as possible.
2. Go to Adult Night at the Museum
When: February 14, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Adult Nights at the Museum offer a unique opportunity to explore the uncensored side of science after dark. The current theme, “Wild Love,” promises to be both enlightening and unsettling as the science of courtship, a topic most often discussed in hushed whispers and exchanged glances, will be laid bare for all to observe.
Forget the saccharine sentimentality of conventional Valentine’s Day celebrations. Here, you shall encounter the extravagant displays of affection found throughout the natural world, from the intricate dances of the birds to the surprisingly sophisticated mating rituals of the mollusks.
Prepare to be both enlightened and bewildered as you:
- Craft microscopic love notes, marvel at Valentine’s Day gemstones, and meet amorous animal ambassadors.
- Shake your tail feather in the globe, while being careful not to collide with other impassioned revellers.
- Explore a blue whale’s mammaries and learn more than you ever wanted to know about nature’s nipples.
- Compare the courtship strategies of various species to the perplexing algorithms that govern online dating.
- Embrace your inner scientist, decipher cryptic messages, and perhaps even uncover a few unsettling truths about the human condition.
- Explore the factors that influence the dimensions of reproductive organs across the animal kingdom, a topic guaranteed to elicit both fascination and a degree of discomfort.
- Learn about the reproductive anatomy snakes and lizards, who will be on site to model (though their private parts will remain discreetly concealed).
- Tickets can be purchased online and are $15 for members and $25 for non-members.
- The museum cannot be held responsible for any emotional distress, feelings of inadequacy, or sudden urges to embrace a life of solitary contemplation that may arise as a result of this peculiar evening.
- Beer, wine, cocktails, mocktails, and food will be available for purchase.
3. Act like a kid at 21 Marbles
When: February 21, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Indulge your inner child at Marbles Kids Museum’s annual 21 Marbles event, where one can partake in a variety of juvenile pursuits, including (but not limited to) the peculiar pastime of “Human Foosball.”
Enjoy refreshments suitable for grown-ups, while engaging in activities designed to appeal to the most immature of sensibilities.
- Tickets are available online for $15 in advance or $18 at the door.
- While every effort has been made to ensure a pleasant experience, the museum cannot be held responsible for any unexpected bouts of nostalgia, feelings of inadequacy, or the sudden urge to question the meaning of one’s existence.
- Beer, wine, seltzer, soda, water, and food will be available for purchase.
4. Check out Southeast Eurofest Raleigh
When: February 23, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: NC State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
Southeast Eurofest Raleigh is an all European gathering of glistening chrome and rumbling engines. Expect rows upon rows of Audis, BMWs, and Volkswagens vying for the coveted “Best of Show” award and brace yourself for conversations about obscure engine parts that would make a grease monkey blush.
General admission is $10 (kids 12 and under are free) and tickets are available at the door the day of the show. Check out the website for details if you would like to enter a show car.
5. Enjoy a cozy brunch
When: All month long
Where: Restaurants across Raleigh
There’s no better way to warm up on a cold February day than with a cozy brunch. But be warned: brunch in Raleigh is not for the faint of palate. It’s a whirlwind of flavors, a kaleidoscope of textures, a story spun with buttermilk biscuits and swimming pools of sausage gravy. Head to one of Raleigh’s best brunch spots such as:
Here are even more great Raleigh brunch spots.
6. Take in some history
When: All month long
Where: Locations around Raleigh
Raleigh was officially incorporated and established as the state capital of North Carolina in the year of 1972. It was bestowed with the name of Sir Walter Raleigh, a notable English explorer. The city’s design is painstakingly precise and organized, with its streets neatly lined up like checkers on a board, and with the gleaming State Capitol smack in the middle. Want to learn more? Visit one of Raleigh’s many museums and historic sites this February.
- City of Raleigh Museum – 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601 – The museum, with its ever-shifting exhibits delving into the city’s past, is nestled within the 1874 Briggs Building. This storied structure proudly preserves its original elements, such as the tin ceiling adorning the museum gallery.
- North Carolina Museum of History – 5 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601 – This museum is a place where one can encounter an assortment of relics and curiosities spanning over 14,000 years. From the earliest inhabitants to the perplexing events of the 20th century, the museum houses a staggering 150,000 artifacts that whisper tales of times long past. Within its walls, one can wander among numerous exhibits, each shedding light on different eras in North Carolina’s storied history. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, new exhibits materialize, beckoning visitors to embark on fresh journeys through the annals of the state’s past.
The North Carolina Museum of History is currently closed for renovations.
- Joel Lane Museum House – 160 S St Mary’s St, Raleigh, NC 27603 – This house played host to the inaugural meeting of the Wake County Court in 1771.
- Pope House Museum – 511 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601 – In the year 1901, a home was constructed by none other than Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, a distinguished graduate of Shaw University’s medical school in downtown Raleigh. Dr. Pope’s enduring legacy is embodied within this residence, which houses a remarkable assortment of original furnishings, artifacts, and documents, serving as a testament to his extraordinary life and career.
- Mordecai Historic Park – 1 Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC 27604 – This house stands as Raleigh’s most ancient abode, steadfastly rooted on its original foundation. This peculiar home, unlike its counterparts, boasts a style all its own and seems to reverberate with the echoes of its antebellum past. Also on the property lies the preserved boyhood home of America’s 17th president, Andrew Johnson, a haunting relic of a bygone era.
- Historic Oak View County Park – 4028 Carya Dr, Raleigh, NC 27610 – This ancient farmstead holds onto the region’s farming traditions and countryside tales.
- Historic Yates Mill County Park – 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603 – A water-powered gristmill from 1756, painstakingly restored, takes center stage here. In the days of yore, gristmills were a vital establishment, turning corn and wheat into meal and flour. Visitors can join guided tours and witness costumed grinding demonstrations.
7. Go to a Movie
When: All month long
Where: Movie theaters across Raleigh
February in Raleigh is the perfect month to seek solace in the darkened embrace of the cinema. Imagine, if you will, a haven of plush seats and popcorn-scented air, a hushed sanctuary from the incessant chirping of Valentine’s Day cheer. Raleigh has several movie theaters to chose from, but these are favorites:
Pro tip: Sign up for Drafthouse Notifications to be notified as soon as new movies or events are listed at Alamo so you can get tickets before they sell out!
8. Go to a Carolina Hurricanes game
When: Various dates throughout the month
Where: Lenovo Center, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
Despite being a southern city, Raleigh is a hockey town! The Carolina Hurricanes have consistently been one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference in recent years, reaching the playoffs in each of the last six seasons. This success has generated excitement among the fanbase and led to one of the highest average attendances in the NHL. Join the sea of red flooding Lenovo Center, faces flushed with the twin thrills of victory and overpriced nachos.
Here are the home games in February:
- February 1 – Carolina Hurricanes vs. Los Angeles Kings
- February 8 – Carolina Hurricanes vs. Utah Hockey Club
- February 27 – Carolina Hurricanes vs. Buffalo Sabres
The Hurricanes have some of the most affordable tickets in the NHL. Ticket prices vary but start at approximately $30 and can be purchased online through Ticketmaster, or at the box office at Lenovo Center.
9. Tour the Pope House Museum
When: Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by at any time during these hours for a tour.
Where: 511 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope was one of the first graduates of the Leonard School of Medicine at Shaw University and an officer in an all-Black volunteer unit during the Spanish-American War. He dared to dream the unthinkable – becoming the only African American to run for mayor of a Southern capital in the Jim Crow Era. The audacity! The gasps!
On South Wilmington Street, surrounded by beautiful surface parking lots, stands a lone sentinel from a bygone era: the Pope House. As the only African American house museum in North Carolina, it’s a portal to a time when the shadows of segregation stretched long and cruel.
The Pope House Museum, with its worn armchairs and faded portraits, stands as a testament to Dr. Pope’s unwavering spirit. The resilience of his family is etched in every floorboard creak and every historical artifact dating back to 1851.
Here’s more information about visiting the Pope House Museum.
10. Go for a hike
When: All month long
Where: Trails around Raleigh
February in Raleigh is the perfect time to lace up your boots, bundle up like a human burrito, and embark on a hiking adventure! Though winter lingers, February often boasts days kissed by sunshine, warm enough to chase away the shivers and paint your cheeks with a rosy glow.
And after conquering the hills and befriending the squirrels, imagine sinking into a steaming mug of hot chocolate (or a frosty beer, if you’re that kind of daredevil). Your muscles pleasantly weary, your heart full of the day’s magic, and the world, somehow, just a little bit brighter.
Here are a few trails right in Raleigh to try out:
- William B. Umstead State Park – Sycamore Trail or Company Mill Trail for moderate intensity hikes.
- Lake Johnson Park – 2.8 mile hilly paved east loop or 1.5 mile natural surface west loop.
- Historic Yates Mill County Park – Any combination of the Mill Pond Trail, High Ridge Trail, and Creekside Trail for short hikes with great scenery.
- Durant Nature Preserve – Five miles of short trails in North Raleigh. Hike along a stream, through hardwood and pine forests, past wildflowers and ferns, through wetlands, and alongside two lakes.
- Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park – Wind through an oak-hickory forest, past rock outcrops, or through meadows and around a one-acre farm pond with turtles, depending on which trail you choose.
11. Check out the Raleigh Market
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: NC State Fairgrounds, 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
The Raleigh Market is an indoor-outdoor haven for the curious and the adventurous, a place where even the grumpiest grumpus might crack a smile (albeit secretly, behind a well-placed scarf).
For half a century, this flee market has sung its siren song to bargain hunters and treasure seekers alike. Hundreds of vendors, each with their own whimsical world of wares, spill out from every corner. Imagine, if you will, a glittering galaxy of trinkets: vintage china winking at modern art, handcrafted toys nestled beside power tools, and antique furniture alongside ten-packs of ankle socks.
And fear not the grumbles of your tummy! A delectable smorgasbord of culinary delights awaits. Food trucks and fair stands beckon with aromas that would tempt even the most stoic of stomachs. Perhaps you long for the familiar embrace of a deep-fried corn dog, a funnel cake pyramid, or a juicy slice of watermelon dripping with the promise of summer. Whatever your palate desires, you’ll find it here here, ready to refuel your treasure-hunting spree.
What are you most excited for in Raleigh in February?
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