By CLTure
March 30, 2025
Dreamville Fest is set for its fifth and final year in Raleigh at the historic Dorothea Dix Park this week. The J. Cole and Dreamville-curated festival, originally launched in 2018 but delayed until 2019 due to Hurricane Florence, has made a substantial social and economic impact on Raleigh over the years. Expanding to two full days after its inaugural edition — following cancellations in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic — the festival’s stages have hosted some of the biggest names in modern hip-hop and R&B, along with nostalgic acts each year.
This year’s lineup will feature performances by Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Tems, 21 Savage, PartyNextDoor, Ludacris, GloRilla, Wale, Coco Jones, Ab-Soul, Chief Keef, J.I.D, and the return of Ari Lennox. The festival also serves as a platform for the label’s artists, including Charlotte’s own Lute, EarthGang, Bas, Cozz, Omen, and Dreamville head honcho J. Cole.
In addition to two full days of music, food trucks (over 75 this year), and art installations at the festival, downtown Raleigh venues and Dreamville artists will host multiple events leading up to the weekend. Lute’s third annual Gold Mouf Garage block party will return, showcasing rare classic cars and local/regional musical talent, along with VisitRaleigh and K97.5’s stage on Commerce Place. Omen will host a Game Night at Boxcar Bar + Arcade, EarthGang’s Doctur Dot will present a comedy night, Bas will make an appearance at the pop-up shop, and Shaw University will host Dreamville University with workshops and panels featuring Dreamville president Ibrahim Hamad.
You’ll also need to be familiar with transportation routes, parking and shuttle information, locker availability, and updated policies for 2025. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about Dreamville Festival, which we’ll continue to update throughout the week.
Dreamville Pop-Up Shop
Wednesday, April 2 – Friday, April 4 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
320 W. Davie St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
Fans can explore Dreamville apparel at the pop-up shop from Wednesday through Friday in downtown Raleigh, including their 2025 festival merch, Dreamville classics, and exclusive releases. Bas is also scheduled to make an appearance at the pop-up shop on Friday.
Dreamville University
Thursday, April 3 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Shaw University
118 E. South St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
Shaw University will host a “Breaking Into the Music Business” workshop taught by Cristela Rodriguez, a music business professional who works at Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free’s pgLang and manages rapper Saba. You can apply for the workshop here. The workshop will be followed by a Q&A with Dreamville leadership, including label president Ibrahim Hamad, Director of Operations & People MK Kasote, Creative Director Felton Brown, and a “special guest.” You can RSVP for the free panel discussion here.
Omen’s Game Night
Thursday, April 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Boxcar Bar + Arcade
330 W. Davie St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
Dreamville’s Omen will host his annual game night at Boxcar Bar + Arcade, featuring a live DJ and fun surprises. The event is free and open to the public.
Punchanella Comedy Clash
Thursday, April 4 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Venue
327 W. Davie St. Suite 102
Raleigh, NC 27601
Doctor Dot (WowGr8) of EarthGang will host an evening of comedy featuring a talented cast of local and national performers, with food and drinks at the private event space, The Venue, in downtown Raleigh. It’s a free event, and seating is first-come, first-served.
JNGL DJ Battle
Thursday, April 3 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The Alchemy
606 Glenwood Ave.
Raleigh, NC 27603
The traveling DJ competition, JNGL, will host a DJ battle at The Alchemy on Glenwood Avenue on Friday night. The event will be hosted by Royal Tea, featuring DJ sets by MOMA and Nitrane, with a special guest performance by North Carolina’s own Rapsody. DJs will compete in high-stakes battles, showcasing their skills in mixing, scratching, and storytelling. Tickets for the event are available here.
Compxss Corner with Johnny Venus
Friday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
John Chavis Memorial Park
505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Raleigh, NC 27601
Johnny Venus (Olu) of EarthGang will lead a workout and yoga session on Friday morning to prepare your mind and body for the long weekend. The health and wellness experience will take place at John Chavis Memorial Park and will also feature a cold plunge, sauna, massages, and more. You can RSVP for the event here.
Dreamville Public Access
Friday, April 4 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Cam Raleigh
409 W Martin St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
The Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh (CAM) will be home to the annual, free Dreamville Public Access event, featuring a full day of free panels, workshops, and discussions with creatives, producers, DJs, and executives, culminating with The Gene Brown Beatdown, featuring legendary producer/DJs Easy Mo Bee, Large Professor, Stro Elliot, and Tall Black Guy.
Gold Mouf Garage
Friday, April 4 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
S. Harrington St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
Charlotte’s Lute will host his third annual free Gold Mouf Garage block party on Harrington Street, showcasing classic cars and homegrown musical talent, along with drinks, activations, local vendors, giveaways, and a special guest appearance by DJ Nyla Symone.
EarthGang x H.U.M.A.N.S Community Event
Friday, April 4 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
John Chavis Memorial Park
505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Raleigh, NC 27601
Dreamville, EarthGang, and Winston-Salem nonprofit H.U.M.A.N.S are partnering for a free community event, bringing together local residents for a day filled with music, art, and clothing and essential care giveaways. You can find more details about the event through the H.U.M.A.N.S official Instagram account.
Dreamville Festival Shakeout Run
Friday, April 4 at 5:30 p.m.
Runologie, Mad Miles, and Urban Run Club are teaming up for a 1.5-mile and three-mile run on Friday, starting at The Venue (327 W. Davie St.). Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by a group stretch and run/walk at 6:30 p.m. You can reserve your spot here.
Dreamville Fest Week Nightly Series
April 2-4, 2025
Dreamville will also host nightly parties leading up to the festival including a free social on Wednesday, a Love Jones R&B party on Thursday (at Tobacco Road Brewing), and an invite-only After Dark event on Friday night.
Dreamville Fest Food and Drink Vendors
Parking
Official parking for the festival is available at NC State’s Centennial Campus (883-881 Main Campus Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606), located across the street from Dorothea Dix Park. Parking is first-come, first-served and costs $50 per day. Reservations can be made in advance here.
Entrances
There will be two entrances into Dreamville Festival, a West Entrance (off Barbour Dr./Blair Dr.) and an East Entrance (off Umstead Dr./Hunt Dr.). Gates will open at 12 p.m. on both Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6.
Transportation
Dreamville offers shuttle options, rideshare pick-up locations, and bike parking areas. The downtown shuttle costs $20 for a two-day pass and will pick up from Moore Square in downtown Raleigh, dropping you off right next to the West Entrance at Dreamville Fest — closer than the parking site. Shuttles run continuously from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Designated drop-off zones are located on both sides of Dorothea Dix Park, just a short walk from the Dreamville venue entrances. For pickups, you can catch an Uber or Lyft, or get picked up at any time on Centennial Parkway (accessible via the West Entrance). If you’re exiting from the East Entrance, your best option for requesting a ride is to head towards Downtown Raleigh along South Street.
You can also bike to the park, but be sure to lock your bike up at one of the designated bike parking areas:
- Centennial Pkwy and Blair Dr.
- Western Blvd and Hunt Dr.
- Umstead Dr. and Richardson Dr.
For information on public bus fares and schedules, you can check out GoRaleigh. Travelers by train coming to and from Dreamville Fest will arrive at Union Station, two miles from Dorothea Dix Park. For schedules and more information, visit NCbyTrain.org or call 1-800-BY-TRAIN.
Lockers
There will be lockers (11″ wide, 8″ high, 18″ deep) available on site to safely store belongings. Each locker includes one 3-in-1 USB charging cable (USB-C, lightning, and micro USB connectors). With a multi-day rental, you may leave your items in your locker overnight. You will have unlimited access to your locker during festival hours and can come and go as you wish. You can purchase your locker here.
Bag Policy
All festival attendees and their belongings will be subject to a search upon entry. Small clutch purses and fanny packs (6″ x 9″ or smaller) do not need to be clear but may have no more than one pocket. All other bags larger than 6″ x 9″ must be clear and no bigger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″. Hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear but must be emptied of all liquids and have no more than two total pockets. Check out the full list of allowed and prohibited items for Dreamville Fest 2025.
Re-entry
Festival re-entry will not be permitted. So you won’t be able to enter the festival, exit the security checkpoint, and then re-enter without purchasing another ticket.
For more information about the festival check out the official Dreamville Fest website.
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