Our picks for low- to no-cost things to do in Wake, Durham, Orange and Chatham counties
Wake County
Outdoor Movie Nights at Downtown Cary Park
327 S. Academy St., Cary – March 7-Nov. 7
Admission: Free
Grab a blanket or chairs for movies under the stars at Downtown Cary Park. Upcoming movies this summer include “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Wicked” and “Inside Out 2.”
Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival
316 N. Academy St., Cary – Aug. 23-24
Admission: Free
Enjoy this annual two-day arts and crafts festival featuring nearly 300 artists, a beer garden, live music, children’s activities and various food and drink vendors at Cary Town Hall Campus.
Pullen Park
520 Ashe Ave., Raleigh
Admission: Free
Pullen Park has great historical significance, as it was the first public park in North Carolina and is one of the oldest operating amusement parks in the United States. Attractions include carnival games, a carousel, kiddie boats and a train, and tickets for each ride are $2 per person. Guests can also play on the playground or tennis courts, or visit the Pullen Place Cafe.
RDU Observation Park
W. International Dr., Morrisville
Admission: Free
Experience the excitement of flight with extraordinary views of Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s 10,000-foot runway. Soak in the sights and sounds of aircraft takeoffs and landings from 9 a.m. until sunset every day from the elevated observation platform, all while listening to pilot-tower communication dialogue from audio speakers. There’s also a picnic area, play zone and grassy lawn.
Wake Forest Historical Museum
414 N. Main St., Wake Forest
Admission: Free
This downtown destination offers a journey through the town’s rich history, showcasing artifacts and exhibits that illuminate its past. Visitors can explore the museum’s diverse collections, which chronicle the evolution from its humble beginnings to its lively present-day community.
State Farmers Market
1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh
Admission: Free; Produce must be purchased
Shop locally-grown summer produce at the State Farmers Market. The market also features a garden center with plants and other garden supplies, as well as specialty shops and three restaurants.
Durham County
An Afternoon in the Park
5101 N. Roxboro St., Durham – Sept. 13
Admission: Free
Experience the history of recreation at West Point on the Eno Park with historic field games, old-fashioned fishing and a park tour. Beer and cider will be available for purchase, with the proceeds going toward the Durham Parks Foundation and future projects at the park.
Durham Central Park
501 Foster St., Durham
Admission: Free
Create a design together at DCP’s interactive Pixel Wall, catch some tricks at the skate park, explore its gardens, take a roller skating class or just bring a picnic blanket and relax. DCP is also home to regular free-to-attend events like food truck rodeos, markets and concerts, which are announced on the park’s website and Instagram. The Durham Farmers Market can also be found here every Saturday year-round and every Wednesday from April 15 – Oct. 15.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
420 Anderson St., Durham
Admission: Free
Stroll around this 55-acre botanic garden and take in the summer blooms, including lilies, lotuses, hydrangeas and more. The garden also features terraces and smaller gardens with historic bridges and gazebos, as well as an arboretum showcasing plants from eastern Asia.
Boxyard RTP
900 Park Offices Dr., Research Triangle Park
Admission: Free
The BeatBox stage at Boxyard RTP – a hub for dining, shopping and entertainment built from repurposed shipping containers – hosts music four days a week. The rotating slate of live local talent from diverse genres, curated by Tess Mangum of Sonic Pie Productions.
CenterFest
Downtown Durham – Sept. 20-21
Admission: Free
Presented by the Durham Arts Council, this is the longest-running street arts festival in North Carolina and the largest arts and community festival in Durham. The two-day event showcases paintings, photography, sculptures, jewelry, crafts and more by juried artists as well as entertainment, food and fun for the whole family in downtown’s City Center.
Orange County
Summer Farm Days at Spring Haven Farm
5306 Homer Ruffin Rd., Chapel Hill – May 14-Sept. 9
Admission: $14.95 per person; Free for children younger than three
Get up close and personal with farm animals that love a good snuggle. Guests can interact with Scottish Highland cows, goats, horses, emus, pigs and more. A tractor train ride is included in the ticket, and guests can also mine for gems for an extra fee.
Maple View Farm Ice Cream
6900 Rocky Ridge Rd., Hillsborough
Admission: Free; Ice cream must be purchased
Maple View Farm has been producing milk and milk products for over 60 years, and its ice cream shop is one of the more unique stores of its kind in the Triangle. The shop offers 12 regular flavors in addition to seasonal ones. Bring a blanket and sit on the grass or grab a rocking chair on the shop’s porch and enjoy your ice cream with a view, as the shop overlooks acres of picturesque farmland.
Carolina North Forest
Chapel Hill
Admission: Free
Explore this section of UNC‘s North campus, which boasts 750 acres of woodlands. Choose from numerous hiking trails on the property, including one paved walking trail and stay cool beneath the trees’ dense coverage.
Fridays on the Front Porch
211 Pittsboro St., Chapel Hill
Admission: Free
Start your weekend off on the right dancing foot at one of Chapel Hill’s favorite outdoor gatherings hosted at The Carolina Inn every Friday from April to October, 5-8 p.m. Stop by with the whole family for free outdoor music, plus food truck fare, handcrafted cocktails and local beer.
Uproar Festival of Public Art
Aug. 1-23
Admission: Free
Check out this three-week festival featuring 60 works of outdoor art displayed around the downtown areas of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough. Join the community and vote for your favorite pieces. The results of the public voting will be used alongside an expert jury panel to award cash prizes to selected artists.
Ackland Art Museum
101 S. Columbia St., Chapel Hill
Admission: Free
Enjoy a half-hour tour led by the museum’s knowledgeable staff. Gain fresh insights into the artwork from the museum’s newest exhibits during these lively sessions held multiple times a month.
Last Fridays in Hillsborough
Downtown Hillsborough
Admission: Free
Don’t miss out on this monthly celebration of art, culture and community running every last Friday of the month from March to November. Rain or shine, attendees can immerse themselves in a diverse range of free activities from poetry readings and exhibit openings to live music at various venues throughout historic Hillsborough.
Chatham County
Town Lake Park
529 NC Highway 902, Pittsboro
Admission: Free
Visit Pittsboro’s first park – once used for the town’s water supply – featuring a fishing pier, picnic shelter, soccer field and a number of trails. Bring your binoculars if you visit, as it is a particularly good spot for birding.
Old Fashioned Farmers’ Days
4221 Silk Hope Rd., Siler City – Aug. 30-31
Admission: $5 per person; Free for children younger than six
Celebrate this 50th annual event at Silk Hope Farm Heritage Park featuring working farm animals, displays of equipment and tools as well as family-friendly live entertainment, games, food and ice cream.
Carolina Sunshine Alpaca Farm
7084 U.S. Highway 64 W., Pittsboro
Admission: $7 per person in advance; $9 per person day-of; Free for children younger than three
Spend a leisurely day at the farm while petting, feeding or just watching the alpacas. Kids can play yard games, enjoy a bubble machine or draw with sidewalk chalk. Book in advance for discounted tickets.
96.1 BBB Back to School Bash
457 Freedom Parkway, Pittsboro – Aug. 22
Admission: Free
Commemorate the end of summer break at this outdoor concert at Mosaic at Chatham Park featuring Chairmen of the Board. Dance the night away on the new dance floor, or bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit back and enjoy some beach music.
Bynum Front Porch
950 Bynum Rd., Pittsboro
Admission: Free
Stop by for this Friday Night Music Series as bands take the outdoor stage from 7-9 p.m. every Friday from May to August, rain or shine. This event, which began in 2001 to support the Bynum General Store, celebrates the enduring community spirit of the former cotton mill village. Enjoy a variety of musical genres and fare from local vendors under the night sky.
PRO TIP
“One of my favorite things to do is go to Drive Shack in Raleigh before noon. You’ll save $20/hour compared to going in the evening. It’s really a very reasonably priced activity if you bring a bunch of friends!”
– Jessica Stringer, editor, Chapel Hill Magazine
Want more out of your weekends in Raleigh, Durham and beyond? Check out our calendar or follow us on Instagram for fun upcoming events!
