Raleigh Civic Ventures

Raleigh Civic Ventures (RCV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 to enhance downtown Raleigh with beautification, art, events, and lighting projects in public spaces. Since then, RCV has been instrumental in the addition of downtown public art projects, events, holiday lighting and other public realm activations that help make downtown Raleigh a more engaging place to work, live and visit.

Get to Know RCV...

DTR Tree Lighting

Beautification & Public Art

Fayetteville St. Snowflakes

Flag & Banners Program

Main Street Program (Coming Soon)

Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting

Each year before Thanksgiving, the holiday season is kicked off throughout the city with the Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting. The event itself is a festive affair with thousands of community members coming together to enjoy local vendors, live performances, free photos with Santa Clause, and more. Its impact on downtown goes beyond the in-person event itself as the thousands watching live from home see downtown transform for the holiday season. The Christmas tree stands tall in front of the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and shines holiday cheer down Raleigh's Main Street until New Years.

Previous Gold Sponsors include Publix

and Sheraton Raleigh

Fayetteville Street

Snowflakes

During the winter, RCV decorates Downtown Raleigh with snowflake lights on banner poles lining Fayetteville Street. The Fayetteville Street Snowflakes get people excited to visit downtown and make for the perfect backdrop during winter activations including DRA's Illuminate Art Walk and RCV's Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting.

Flags & Banners Program

Downtown Raleigh Street Pole Banner Program

The Banner Program visually activates Downtown Raleigh’s public space and adds color and vitality to the streetscape. Street pole banners are a unique way of promoting a diverse range of cultural and civic events, festivals and other activities that draw people to Downtown Raleigh. The intent of the Banner Program is to display banners on available light poles throughout the year. The poles are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Light poles which can be used for banners are located on: Wilmington and Salisbury Streets, Blount Street, and Fayetteville Street

Fayetteville Street Stars and Stripes

Program

Throughout the year, 50 U.S. flags are displayed on Fayetteville Street, Raleigh’s main street with its inspiring vista from the North Carolina State Capitol to the Performing Arts Center, in celebration of our patriotic spirit. Recently, we have included North Carolina state flags into the rotation as well. The Stars & Stripes Program benefits our community by enhancing and strengthening our national sense of patriotism and pride. The program is sponsored by CBRE | Raleigh.

U.S. flags are displayed for these national holidays: Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Constitution Day, and Veterans Day