Day of the Dead 5K and Street Festival in Raleigh

The Day of the Dead 5K and Street Festival in Raleigh is a community celebration featuring a morning road race and a free cultural street festival on Wilmington Street. Organized by Centro Mexican Restaurant, the event honors tradition and diversity while raising funds for the Fox Road Boys & Girls Club. Runners will follow a course that starts at Centro, winds through Historic Oakwood Cemetery, and finishes back at the restaurant for an afternoon of music, art, and local food. If you plan to run, registration is forty dollars through October 11, 2026, and increases to forty-five dollars after that date. Registered runners who are twenty-one and older receive a complimentary Trophy beer. For those who prefer to skip the run, the street festival is free to attend and includes craft vendors, food trucks, two traditional altars to honor loved ones, and a costume contest with a dance-off. This event makes a great weekend outing because it combines physical activity with a lively cultural experience. Kids can participate in the family activities and enjoy the vibrant costumes, while parents can browse local ceramics and clothing vendors in a festive downtown atmosphere.

Last updated September 27, 2026