North Carolina Symphony: Halloween at Hogwarts

The North Carolina Symphony is bringing the music of Harry Potter to the Meymandi Concert Hall at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, October 31. It's a Halloween day double-header, with performances at 11 AM and 2 PM, so you can pick the time that fits your plans.

This is part of the symphony's Young People's Concert Series, and it's built as a family-friendly Halloween outing. The music comes straight from the wizarding world of Harry Potter, and the whole thing is framed as a day to dress up and step into that world. If you've got kids, that's a big part of the appeal: the lobby opens an hour before each performance with activities for them, including an Instrument Zoo where they can get a closer look at the orchestra and a costume contest with prizes.

Sophie Mok conducts the symphony, and for the 2 PM show, there's an extra layer: the Alamance Strings play pre-concert ovations starting at 1:15 PM. If you're planning to make a day of it, that's a good reason to get there early and let the kids run through the lobby activities before the music starts.

Tickets are $28 each. The venue is at 2 E. South St. in downtown Raleigh, and with two showtimes on the same day, you've got a couple of options for how to spend your Halloween morning or afternoon.