Day of the Dead 5K and Street Festival

The Day of the Dead 5K and Street Festival returns to downtown Raleigh on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 9 AM to 12 PM. It's a family-friendly morning that raises money for the Fox Road Boys & Girls Club, so if you're looking for a way to spend Halloween morning that does some good for the community, this is a solid bet.

The race starts at Centro Mexican Restaurant, 106 S Wilmington St, and takes you through the historic Oakwood neighborhood and Oakwood Cemetery. The cemetery was founded in 1869 and is known for its shaded walking paths, ornate Victorian monuments, and the resting places of some of North Carolina's most prominent figures. Oakwood itself is a compact, walkable neighborhood of Victorian and early 20th-century homes, with independent shops, coffeehouses, and eateries clustered around Person Street Plaza. It's a pretty distinct part of the city to run through, especially on a Halloween morning.

Once the race is over, the morning shifts into a free street festival on Wilmington Street, between Hargett and Morgan Streets. You'll find local vendors, food trucks, live music, and traditional dancers, along with Día de los Muertos altars and a dance-off costume contest. The whole thing runs from 9 AM to 12 PM, starting at Centro Mexican Restaurant in downtown Raleigh.