“3 things happening in NC” is Cardinal & Pine’s weekly guide to the people, storylines, and events driving the news this week in North Carolina. Here’s what you’ll find this week:
- Crews prep Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh for demolition
- Charlotte transit system launches Fare Ambassador program amidst public safety concerns
- Salisbury to host the Witches Dance Bizarre Bazaar
It’s the end of an era in Raleigh, as Friday night’s Steve Lacy concert marked the final concert at Red Hat Amphitheater.
I never did have the pleasure of visiting the Red Hat—the only outdoor concert I’ve attended in our state capital was a 2013 Black Keys and Flaming Lips show at whatever they were calling the Walnut Creek amphitheater at that time—but I do know the feeling of losing a beloved venue.
Fortunately, music fans in the Triangle will have a new and improved Red Hat to check out by the time the 2027 concert season rolls around. But first, the original must be removed.
That’s what leads off our 3 things happening in NC column, with details about what to expect at the old site and in the new space.
Crews prep Red Hat Amphitheater for demolition
Steve Lacy’s performance on Friday, Oct. 23, was the very last of nearly 1,000 concerts held at Red Hat Amphitheater since its opening in 2010. Crews will remove equipment and furnishings over the coming week to prepare for an early-November demolition.
The city first announced plans for the relocation of Red Hat Amphitheater in 2023. The space will be needed for the expansion of the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center, formerly the Raleigh Convention Center.
Crews plan to add an additional 298,100 square feet of space to the existing convention center, including divisible flex halls, an 18,000-square-foot ballroom, and 13 new meeting rooms. That project is expected to be completed in 2029, according to WRAL.
But have no fear; the Red Hat Amphitheater is moving just a block south. A press release from the city last week updated us on how far along that project has come, as there are reportedly plans to open in the spring/summer for the 2027 concert season. No scheduled shows have yet been added to the Red Hat website.
WRAL reports the new outdoor venue will hold 6,000 seats compared to 4,500 at the old amphitheater, with added standing-room and lawn admission also available.
According to the city’s release, on Oct. 5, crews buried a time capsule containing memorabilia from the original venue at the new site. The items included signage, artwork, a record player, records from featured artists, apparel, concert posters, a seat, and other mementos.
Raleigh residents should expect continued construction-related noise, closures, and detours in the area along South McDowell Street surrounding the convention center and amphitheater well into 2027.
Charlotte lightrail launches new safety program
The August 2025 murder of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte Blue Line light rail car sent shockwaves through the city and made national headlines, sparking federal and state investigations of the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS).
Though Zarutska’s murder would become a political lightning rod, shaped by a number of bad-faith actors to fit their own agendas, the tragic incident did raise legitimate concerns among many in the city about what officials were doing to keep them safe.
One of the biggest issues brought up by residents and elected leaders during meetings in Charlotte involved the lack of enforcement for fare evasion. This week, CATS answered, launching its long-anticipated “Fare Ambassador” program.
Beginning Friday, riders will see a team of 60 Fare Ambassadors wearing blue shirts and yellow hats present on Blue Line vehicles and platforms to check for valid fares and call for the removal of riders who haven’t paid or aren’t supposed to be on CATS vehicles.
Ambassadors will also provide customer service, including wayfinding and guidance on fare payment, transfers, fare capping, and the CATS-Pass app, according to a release from the agency.
The program is expected to expand in phases to Charlotte buses and the Gold Line, the city’s free trolley system, in the months to come.
Salisbury to host the Witches Dance Bizarre Bazaar
Salisbury hosts one of the Piedmont area’s most eccentric Halloween celebrations this week.
The Witches Dance Bizarre Bazaar brings downtown Salisbury (and a few of the undead) to life on Friday, Oct. 30, with spectacular choreographed dances by costumed dancers with the Witches of Brick Street Broom Dancers and the Blue Rose Belly Dancers.
But it’s not just the “Thriller” of it all; there’s also a market featuring more than 60 vendors, food trucks, and a variety of side acts taking place across Brick Street.
The event is scheduled from 5:30-9:30 p.m., but make sure to get there early as you don’t want to miss the Parade of Witches, with each dancer rocking a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted costume.
