WALTER Magazine WINnovation 2026

FREE Family Fest in Raleigh — Saturday, September 12! Looking for a full day of family fun, creativity, connection, and outdoor adventure? Join us for the 3rd Annual Family Fest at Lakeside Retreats! Optional overnight Camping 📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026 ⏰ 8:00 AM–9:00 PM 📍 4521 Mial Plantation Road, Raleigh, NC 27610 🎟️ FREE admission Enjoy a day filled with: 🔥 Fire show 🎨 Art activities 🥋 Martial arts class 🫧 Bubbles 🧘 Yoga and sound bath 🌲 Forest bathing 🏕️ S’mores and optional overnight camping 🍴 Food trucks and vendors 💛 Sensory yurt 🎤 Guest speakers 🏆 Tug of war …and so much more!

The third annual Plants and Pollinators Market invites you to celebrate local biodiversity in partnership with Atlantic Gardening. This community event focuses on the vital role of pollinators while showcasing regional craftsmanship and horticultural expertise. It serves as a hub for enthusiasts to discover local goods and learn about preservation efforts. Attendees can shop from over twenty local artists offering nature-themed work. The market features gardening supplies, fresh plants, and a variety of artisanal food products including honey, jams, and baked goods. Visitors may enjoy refreshments at the Atlantic Garden Bar or grab snacks from food trucks and dessert vendors. Educational workshops led by Look What Grows provide hands-on insights into pollinator preservation, alongside scheduled activities for children. This event is perfect for families, gardening enthusiasts, and supporters of local small businesses. The atmosphere is casual, educational, and focused on sustainable living. Whether you are looking for unique gifts, expert gardening advice, or a fun day outdoors, this market offers something for everyone. Join us to support local makers and contribute to a healthier ecosystem. We look forward to welcoming you to this seasonal celebration of nature and community.

Experience a unique community gathering at the Raleigh Really Really Free Market. Held on the second Sunday of each month, this vibrant event fosters a culture of generosity and sustainable living by operating entirely without money. Participants are invited to bring items they no longer need to give away, while others are welcome to browse and take home items they can use. It is a fantastic way to recycle goods, declutter your home, and support neighbors within the local community. Beyond the exchange of physical goods, the market often serves as a space for sharing valuable skills, services, and engaging activities. Whether you are looking to donate gently used items or find something special, this event encourages connection and mutual support. The market takes place at Eliza Pool Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To ensure the safety of all attendees, especially the immunocompromised and disabled, masking is strongly encouraged and supplies are provided on site. Visit the official Raleigh Really Really Free Market website before heading out to verify details and confirm the schedule. Join us this month to participate in this wonderful community resource.

Indulge in a sweet treat this August as Freddy Frozen Custard and Steakburgers celebrates National Frozen Custard Day. From August 7 to 9, 2026, guests can enjoy exclusive discounts on their famous custard cones. Whether you are a long time fan or a new customer, this three day event offers the perfect opportunity to satisfy your cravings with special pricing at participating locations throughout the Triangle area. To participate in this delicious promotion, you must be a member of the Freddy Rewards program. The deals feature tiered pricing options of two, three, and four dollars for cones, providing an affordable way to enjoy a premium dessert. Each offer is valid for a one time use, and you can redeem your rewards through dine in, drive thru, or mobile app orders. It is a fantastic way to beat the summer heat with friends and family. Make sure to sign up for Freddy Rewards today to unlock these savings and experience the signature creaminess of their custard. Visit the official website to find a location near you and learn more about the program requirements. We look forward to serving you a refreshing cone during this exciting celebration.

The third annual Plants and Pollinators Market invites you to celebrate local biodiversity in partnership with Atlantic Gardening. This community event focuses on the vital role of pollinators while showcasing regional craftsmanship and horticultural expertise. It serves as a hub for enthusiasts to discover local goods and learn about preservation efforts. Attendees can shop from over twenty local artists offering nature-themed work. The market features gardening supplies, fresh plants, and a variety of artisanal food products including honey, jams, and baked goods. Visitors may enjoy refreshments at the Atlantic Garden Bar or grab snacks from food trucks and dessert vendors. Educational workshops led by Look What Grows provide hands-on insights into pollinator preservation, alongside scheduled activities for children. This event is perfect for families, gardening enthusiasts, and supporters of local small businesses. The atmosphere is casual, educational, and focused on sustainable living. Whether you are looking for unique gifts, expert gardening advice, or a fun day outdoors, this market offers something for everyone. Join us to support local makers and contribute to a healthier ecosystem. We look forward to welcoming you to this seasonal celebration of nature and community.

Join acclaimed novelist Elaine Neil Orr for an immersive workshop designed to help writers overcome creative blocks and initiate new prose. This session focuses on using multi-disciplinary art forms to stimulate the creative process and find inspiration for your next story. Participants will engage in a hands-on exercise by creating clay sculptures to serve as springboards for their writing. Using provided materials, you will explore how physical art can unlock narrative ideas, a technique that directly inspired Elaine's latest novel, Dancing Woman. Elaine will share insights on her unique approach to writing and discuss how different creative outlets can help you discover a starting point when you feel stuck. Attendees will benefit from her extensive experience as an award-winning author and professor. This workshop is ideal for writers of all levels seeking fresh perspectives and innovative methods to fuel their work. The atmosphere is collaborative and experimental, offering a supportive space to cultivate your voice. Register now to gain practical tools for your creative toolkit and join a community of dedicated writers ready to explore new boundaries in their storytelling.

RipTide Car Wash is thrilled to bring back their highly anticipated appreciation event for the second consecutive year. Throughout the entire month of August 2026, all teachers and school staff are invited to enjoy a complimentary car wash at any RipTide location. This initiative serves as a heartfelt thank you to educators for their hard work and dedication as they prepare for the upcoming academic year. Whether you are teaching in Durham or Raleigh, RipTide wants to ensure your vehicle is sparkling clean as you transition back into the classroom. To take advantage of this special offer, simply present your valid school identification at any of the participating RipTide Car Wash locations. With multiple sites conveniently situated across Durham and the Triangle area, it has never been easier to claim your free service. Do not miss this opportunity to refresh your ride while supporting a local business that values our community educators. Visit the official RipTide website today to find a location near you and learn more about this limited time promotion. We look forward to seeing you there throughout August.

Join us at Welcome Tattoo in Durham on Sunday, August 9, 2026, for an immersive evening dedicated to the rich history of tattooing in North Carolina. From 5 to 8 p.m., attendees will embark on a fascinating journey covering over 100 years of regional ink culture. Renowned tattoo historian C.W. Eldridge will provide a compelling presentation on the artists, shops, and unique personalities that have shaped the industry across the state. Following the lecture, guests will enjoy a special screening of the 25-minute film The Legendary Tattoo Joe. Presented by John Brehm of the Yellow Rose Tattoo Club, this documentary honors the life of Tattoo Joe, a legendary figure known for his work as a sideshow performer, musician, and pioneering North Carolina tattoo artist. Tickets are available for 15 dollars, with all proceeds directly supporting the Freedom German Shepherd Rescue. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about local history while contributing to a worthy cause. We look forward to welcoming you to this unique cultural event. Please purchase your tickets in advance to secure your spot.

Join the Town of Chapel Hill for our consistent food distribution events aimed at supporting our neighbors and fostering a stronger, healthier community. Held on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at the Eubanks Park and Ride lot, these supplemental distributions provide essential resources to anyone in need. We work in close partnership with the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina to ensure that fresh and reliable food options remain accessible to all residents throughout the region. We invite you to participate in this impactful initiative, whether you are looking for assistance or eager to give back to your local area. Please remember to bring one or two boxes or bags to help carry your items. If you are passionate about service, we encourage you to sign up to volunteer and assist our dedicated team in coordinating these efforts. For those requiring more immediate or ongoing support, please visit the Food Bank website to utilize their comprehensive agency locator tool. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our fellow community members by ensuring everyone has access to the nutrition they need to thrive.

Little Fentonians Dino Day is a prehistoric themed community event held in Fenton Square designed for young children. This interactive outdoor gathering celebrates paleontology through education and entertainment to provide an engaging afternoon for families in the area. Participants will experience Diggery Diggers Dino Adventure which is a featured live performance that combines fossil displays with magic and music. The show incorporates large dinosaur characters to create an immersive environment for the audience. Following the performance children can participate in hands on craft stations and various activities focused on dinosaur exploration. These stations encourage creativity and curiosity in a structured environment. This event is specifically tailored for toddlers and young school age children interested in dinosaurs. The atmosphere is designed to be energetic and welcoming for all junior paleontologists and their caregivers. We invite local families to join us in the square for this unique educational experience. Please plan to arrive early to secure your spot for the main performance and ensure enough time to enjoy all the provided craft activities throughout the afternoon.