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Since its first festival in April 1980, Artsplosure has presented scores of outdoor programs and large-scale festivals featuring thousands of established and emerging visual, performing, and interdisciplinary artists in numerous traditional and non-traditional indoor venues and outdoor settings. Past and present Artsplosure-produced events include the Jazz & Blues Music Festival, the African American Cultural Festival, First Night Raleigh, Live & Local Hillsborough Street , and its namesake event, Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival .
Artsplosure also offers programming and production support for other events seeking artistic components, such as J. Cole’s Dreamville Music Festival, IBMA’s Wide Open Bluegrass, Raleigh 4th of July Fireworks Event at Dix Park, and more.
Through our work, we strive to produce quality events that make the creativity of the most imaginative and celebrated artists accessible to the public – all in an effort to enrich our community and inspire greater love for the visual and performing arts.

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Applications are OPEN NOW! Artist applications for Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival are live. Apply now through February 12 for the chance to be part of one of North Carolina’s most celebrated arts festivals, welcoming 85,000+ attendees each year. Featuring 175+ juried artists across ceramics, glass, painting, jewelry, fiber art, wood, digital art, and more! Head to https://www.artsplosure.org/artsplosuretheraleighartsfestival-1 to apply today!

That’s a wrap on Raleigh Wide Open 2026! We are so proud to bring this fantastic event to life alongside our friends at @pineconenc! Creating a space for the community to come together and enjoy music, sing, dance, experience local art and shop great vendors is special and we are grateful to be able to celebrate with you Raleigh! Until next year 💚🐿️🪕🎶 #RaleighWideOpen2026 #DowntownRaleigh

What a way to kick off Raleigh Wide Open! Downtown Raleigh was buzzing today with incredible music, dancing, art, and so much community spirit. Here’s a look at a few of our favorite moments from Day 1. Tomorrow, Saturday, October 3, the celebration continues as we fill downtown Raleigh with music, square dancing, local art, jam sessions, great food vendors, and more. And it’s all FREE to attend! Artsplosure is proud to be a partner of Raleigh Wide Open Bluegrass, and it is an honor to help bring live music to the heart of downtown Raleigh alongside our incredible community partners. Join us tomorrow from 12 PM to 11 PM for another full day of music, art, and celebration. Visit RaleighWideOpen.com for the full schedule and all the details!

Thank you @visitraleigh for the feature on JLF North Carolina! The Artsplosure team is excited and honored to help bring JLF North Carolina back to Raleigh from September 11 - 13th. Read the full article & see all festival information & get your tickets at the link in our bio ~

Today is the final day to apply! Applications for food vendors, artists, makers, and small businesses to join the 2026 Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival close TODAY, August 5, at 5 PM. On October 2 & 3, more than 150,000 attendees are expected to fill downtown Raleigh for a weekend of live music, community, and celebration. This is your chance to showcase your products, connect with new customers, and be part of one of the city's biggest annual events. Don’t miss your opportunity to join us this fall — submit your application before 5 PM today through the link in our bio!

Last chance! Applications for food vendors, artists, makers, and small businesses to join the 2026 Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival are due tomorrow, August 5. On October 2 & 3, more than 150,000 people are expected to fill downtown Raleigh, giving vendors the opportunity to showcase their products and be part of one of the city's biggest annual celebrations. Don't miss your chance to join us this fall. Submit your application today through the link in our bio before applications close tomorrow!

Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival is now accepting applications for food vendors, artists, makers, and small businesses for this year's festival on October 2 & 3, 2026! With more than 150,000 people expected in downtown Raleigh throughout the weekend, you'll have the opportunity to showcase your products, connect with new customers, and be part of one of the city's biggest annual celebrations. Applications close THIS WEDNESDAY August 5, 2026, so don't wait! Apply today through the link in our bio.

Today is your last chance to vote Artsplosure as Raleigh's Best Festival / Event! Each year, Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival transforms downtown into a vibrant celebration of creativity, showcasing hundreds of visual artists, live music, interactive art experiences, and performances that are free and accessible for everyone to enjoy. Voting for the Raleigh's Best contest closes TODAY at 5:00 PM EST. If Artsplosure has been part of your favorite Raleigh memories, we'd be incredibly grateful for your vote in the Best Festival / Event category. Head to the link in our bio to cast your final vote before time runs out!

We are in the final 48 hours of voting for Raleigh's Best festival! For more than 45 years, Artsplosure has brought artists, musicians, performers, and our community together in downtown Raleigh. As one of North Carolina's longest-running arts festivals, we're proud to keep our mission simple: Art for All. If you've discovered a favorite artist, made memories with your family, or found inspiration at Artsplosure, we'd be honored to have your vote. Cast your vote for Artsplosure in the Best Festival / Event category of the News & Observer's Raleigh's Best contest. You can vote once a day through July 24 using the link in our bio Aerial vid by @potsbybrian / @capturedbybrian_8624

Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival is looking for food vendors, artists, makers, and small businesses to join us in downtown Raleigh on October 2 & 3, 2026! With more than 150,000 attendees expected throughout the weekend, it's a chance to connect with thousands of people as they explore the festival, discover local vendors, and shop between performances. Applications for 2026 are open now, with a deadline of August 5, 2026. Apply today through the link in our bio!

Vote for Artsplosure as Raleigh's Best Festival! For more than 45 years, Artsplosure has helped shape Raleigh's creative identity. What began as a citywide celebration of the arts has grown into one of North Carolina's longest-running arts festivals. Our festival creates opportunities for thousands of visual artists, musicians, performers, makers, and creatives to share their work with our community each year and is always 100% free to attend. Artsplosure has always believed that art should be for everyone, and that mission continues to make Raleigh a more vibrant, connected, and inspiring place to call home. If Artsplosure has introduced you to a favorite artist, inspired your creativity, or simply given you a memorable day downtown, we'd be honored to have your vote. Vote for Artsplosure in the Best Festival / Event category of the News & Observer's Raleigh's Best contest! Every vote helps celebrate the artists, performers, volunteers, and community members who make this festival possible. You can cast one vote per day at the link in our bio until July 24th! Thank you for helping keep the arts thriving in Raleigh.

Our team is gearing up for the 2026 edition of JLF North Carolina! We are honored to be partnering with @jlfinternational and @teamworkarts this year. This September, JLF North Carolina explores the many ideas that define who we are through conversations on poetry and fiction, diaspora and memory, food and culture, identity, and belonging. Find yourself in every conversation at JLF North Carolina! Dates: September 11-13, 2026 Purchase your festival tickets at the link in our bio! #JLFInternational #JLFNorthCarolina #JaipurLiteratureFestival

We are excited to announce that Artsplosure will be partnering with JLF NC this year! The spirit of the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival, called “the world’s greatest literary festival,” returns to the Triangle. This year, it’s coming to Meredith College and NC State Centennial Campus in Raleigh from September 11 to 13, and JLF NC is partnering with Artsplosure to produce an even bigger and better festival. The festival travels across countries and continents with a caravan of thinkers, poets, influencers, balladeers, and raconteurs. In the last two years, the Triangle has hosted such blockbuster writers as Pulitzer Prize winners Jhumpa Lahiri and Kathleen Duvall, Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai, actor and writer Kal Penn, writer and thinker Shashi Tharoor and historian and podcaster William Dalrymple. DATES: September 11 - 13, 2026 LOCATIONS: Jones Auditorium at Meredith College - September 11th & 12th and North Carolina State University - September 13th Tickets are officially on sale at https://www.artsplosure.org/jaipurliteraturefestival

2026 Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival merch is now available online for a limited time! Didn’t get the chance to grab a T Shirt or a poster this weekend? Order your merch at the link in our bio, or the link below - https://www.artsplosure.org/artsplosuretheraleighartsfestival We have a limited stock left, and shirts and T shirts will be up for order while supplies last

Your guide to Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival all in once place! Swipe for details & we will see you on Fayetteville Street this weekend! 🎨

Catch some amazing music this weekend on our Emerging Artists Stage at Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival! Saturday, May 16 Clover-Lynn 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm Featherpocket 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm Housecat! 4:30 pm - 5:15 pm Lua Flora 6:00pm - 6:40 pm Sunday, May 17 M. Roomie 11:00 pm - 11:45 am Kenny Wavinson 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm Leon Rosewater 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm Pretty Crimes 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm Bedroom Division 5:00pm - 5:40 pm See all details at RaleighArtsFestival.com

Don't forget to visit Kidsplosure this weekend during our festival! Artists of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join. We will have art projects, interactive activities, and performances running from 11 AM - 6 PM on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th. Swipe to see our full schedule or visit RaleighArtsFestival.com! 🎨

Final call for tickets to Artsplosure’s Cocktail Party & Fundraiser! Join us this Wednesday, May 13 from 6–9 PM for an evening of art, live music, and community, all in support of Artsplosure! Enjoy a curated silent auction, live art experiences, and a special auction featuring standout local artists. Your $100 ticket includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets. Cocktail attire encouraged. We’ll be celebrating at Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen—grab your ticket at the link in bio before they’re gone! Thank you to our sponsors: All Squared Up Glenwood Agency @glenwoodagency Jodi Schwartz Laura Huber & Birdie's Barroom & Kitchen @birdies_raleigh

Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival is delighted to welcome @carolinashakespeare! See them performing Shakespeare's greatest works throughout May 16th and 17th! All performances will take place on the green next to Birdie's on Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh. Schedule Saturday - May 16th 1:45 - 2:15 PM Midsummer Night's Dream & As You Like It Monologue 3:00 - 3:40 PM Falstaff Monologue 4:30 - 5:15 PM Taming of the Shrew & Sonnets 6:00 - 6:45 PM Macbeth & Hamlet Monologue Sunday - May 17th 12:45 - 1:30 PM 12th Night & As You Like It Monologue 12:15 - 2:45 PM Midsummer Night's Dream & Sonnets 3:15 - 3:45 PM Taming of the Shrew & Hamlet Monologue 4:30 - 5:00 PM Macbeth See all details at RaleighArtsFestival.com

Only 10 days left until this year's Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival! Catch amazing musical performances across multiple stages, shop our award winning Art Market, see live theatre performed by Carolina Shakespeare, experience hands-on creativity for young artists at Kidsplosure, and so much more. Our festival runs 11 - 7 on May 16th and 10 - 6 on May 17th, is located in beautiful downtown Raleigh along Fayetteville Street, and best of all it is free to attend! See all details at RaleighArtsFestival.com

Throwback to last year’s Cocktail Party & Silent Auction 🎨 Want to join in on the fun this year? Get your to ticket at the link in our bio! We will be celebrating next Wednesday, May 13th from 6-9 at Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen in Downtown Raleigh. The night will include a silent auction of art from amazing artists, live art experiences, music and more. Your ticket includes food and two drink tickets. Best of all, you’ll be supporting Artsplosure and our mission to bring accessible art to our community all year round!

Tickets are on sale for Artsplosure’s annual Cocktail Party & Fundraiser! Join us May 13 from 6–9 PM for a night that brings together art, live music, and community in support of Art for All. The evening will include a curated silent auction, live art experiences, and a special auction featuring works from standout local artists. Your $100 ticket includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets. Cocktail attire recommended. We’ll be celebrating at Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen—get your tickets at the link in bio.

Our second wave of Main Stage artists has arrived! Joining us on Sunday, May 17th will be Luke & The Cool Hands, Dreamroot, Slow Funeral, Frail Talk, and Tashi Dorji - see RaleighArtsFestival.com for all details

A look back at last year's Cocktail Party & Fundraiser… ✨ We’re bringing the magic back for Artsplosure’s second annual Cocktail Party & Fundraiser—and tickets are on sale! Join us Wednesday, May 13, 2026 from 6–9 PM for an evening of art, music, and community, all in support of our mission of Art for All. Your $100 ticket includes heavy appetizers, two drink tickets, and access to a full night of experiences: • Silent auction featuring 50+ items • Live painting throughout the evening • Art auction with incredible local artists • Live music, food, and drinks • Photo ops with Shakespearean actors Cocktail attire encouraged Hosted at Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen Grab your tickets at the link in our bio.

Tickets are now available for Artsplosure's second annual Cocktail Party & Fundraiser! Join us Wednesday, May 13, 2026 from 6–9 PM as this special evening returns with art, music, and community—plus a live auction—all in support of Artsplosure’s mission of Art for All. Tickets are $100 and include heavy appetizers and two drink tickets. Cocktail attire encouraged. The event will feature: - Silent auction with over 50 items - Live painting during fundraiser - Art auction with incredible renowned local artists - Food, drinks & live music - Photo ops with Shakespearean Actors Hosted at Birdie’s Barroom & Kitchen Tickets available at the link in our bio!

We are so excited to announce the first wave of artists that will be performing at Artsplosure - The Raleigh Arts Festival. Joining our Main Stage on Saturday, May 16th will be T. Gold, Joseph Terrell & Sunny War - stay tuned for more artist announcements dropping soon!

The official poster for Artsplosure 2026 is here! Join us May 16–17 in Raleigh as Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival returns for a weekend of art, music, and community — free and open to all. From 175+ visual artists, two stages of musical artists, performances by Carolina Shakespeare, and hands-on creativity for young artists at Kidsplosure, this year’s festival brings our mission of “Art for All” to life across downtown - and we’re just getting started. Full musical lineup drops Monday, April 6 🎶 Stay tuned!

Last Call: Food & Novelty Vendor Applications Due Tomorrow! Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival is making a final call for Food & Novelty Vendors. Festival Information Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival is a free, two-day event held on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. Dates & Times Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 11 AM – 7 PM Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 10 AM – 6 PM Join thousands of attendees for a vibrant weekend featuring: - Live musical performances - A juried Art Market with 170+ fine artists - Family-friendly activities & more in the heart of downtown Raleigh Don’t miss out — submit your application before the deadline tomorrow. Find more details and the application link in our bio. We hope to see you at Artsplosure 2026!

Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival is now seeking Food & Novelty Vendors for our 2026 event! ~ Festival Information ~ Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival is a two-day, free, outdoor event held on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. ~ Dates & Times ~ Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 11 AM – 7 PM Sunday, May 17, 2026 | 10 AM – 6 PM ***Application Due*** - March 20th at 5 PM EST Each year, Artsplosure brings over 80,000 attendees together to experience: - Live musical performances - A juried Art Market featuring 170+ fine artists - Family-friendly activities & much more throughout the weekend This is a great opportunity to showcase your offerings to a large, engaged audience in the heart of Raleigh. Interested in participating? Apply via the link in our bio! Questions? Email nathan@artsplosure.org

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