Celebrate 'Oaktober' in the City of Oaks

Oaktober is coming to Dix Park on Saturday, October 10, from 11 AM to 6 PM. It's a community celebration put on by the Rotary Club of Raleigh, and it's meant to kick off the city's fall tree-planting season. The day is split into two distinct halves, so you can come for one or hang out for both.

The morning and early afternoon are for families and nature lovers. There's urban forest education, information on the benefits of oak trees and pollinators, children's reading, and hands-on activities. They're also giving away oak tree saplings, so you can take one home and plant it yourself. Once the afternoon rolls around, the vibe shifts: live local music takes over, and a beer garden opens up on the hill. If you're coming with kids, the first half is where you'll want to spend your time; if you're just looking for a drink and some music in the park, the second half is your spot.

There's a bigger picture behind the day. Oaktober supports the Raleigh 240 Tree Campaign, the city's goal of planting 24,000 trees by 2032. It also ties into the Rotary Club's America 250 Oak City Tree Campaign, which has raised nearly $80,000 and is planting hundreds of new oak trees across the city. The organizers intend for this to become an annual celebration of Raleigh's trees and of the people who plant, protect, and enjoy them.

Everything happens at Harvey Hill in Dix Park, and it's free to attend. The whole thing runs from 11 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, October 10.