Family guides for North Carolina
Hand-checked family events and always-open places in North Carolina, city by city, with dates, costs and official links. All times are local Eastern Time.
Coming up: holiday & seasonal highlights
- Winter Lights at The North Carolina ArboretumAsheville · Nov 13 – Dec 27 · Timed tickets (see site)
- Winter Wonderlights at the Greensboro Science CenterGreensboro · Nov 18 – Dec 27 · Separate ticket (see site)
- Speedway ChristmasConcord · Nov 20 – Dec 26 · Per-vehicle tickets
- Raleigh Christmas ParadeRaleigh · Sat, Nov 21
- Asheville Holiday ParadeAsheville · Sat, Nov 21
- Downtown Durham Holiday Tree LightingDurham · Sat, Nov 21
Seasonal guides
Charlotte area
- Things to do with kids in Charlotte, NC11 listings
Raleigh–Durham area
- Things to do with kids in Raleigh, NC9 listings
- Things to do with kids in Durham, NC12 listings
Greensboro area
- Things to do with kids in Greensboro, NC13 listings
Asheville area
- Things to do with kids in Asheville, NC11 listings
Wilmington area
- Things to do with kids in Wilmington, NC10 listings
Frequently asked questions
Which North Carolina cities have Little Outings family guides?
Our 6 city guides in North Carolina cover Greensboro, Asheville, Charlotte, Wilmington, Raleigh and Durham. All times are local Eastern Time.
Where can I take my kids to see Christmas lights in North Carolina?
We list 6 holiday light events across 5 cities in North Carolina, including Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum (Asheville), Winter Wonderlights at the Greensboro Science Center (Greensboro), Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting (Durham) and WinterFest at Carowinds (Charlotte).
Where can kids see Santa in North Carolina?
We list 5 events with Santa across 3 cities in North Carolina, including Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting (Durham), WinterFest at Carowinds (Charlotte), Festival of Lights (Greensboro), Holiday Parade Fun at the Greensboro History Museum (Greensboro) and Durham Holiday Parade (Durham).
What Thanksgiving events can families go to in North Carolina?
We list 7 Thanksgiving events across 6 cities in North Carolina, including Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade (Charlotte), Greensboro Gobbler 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk (Greensboro) and Cape Fear Habitat Turkey Trot (Wilmington). See our Charlotte and Wilmington Thanksgiving guides.
What are the big kids' attractions in North Carolina?
Zoos, aquariums and children's museums on our North Carolina guides include WNC Nature Center (Asheville), Duke Lemur Center (Durham) and Marbles Kids Museum (Raleigh).
What is free for families in North Carolina?
6 places on our North Carolina guides have free admission according to the official site, including Greensboro History Museum (Greensboro), North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Raleigh), North Carolina Museum of Art (Raleigh) and Dorothea Dix Park (Raleigh). See all 6 in the city guides.
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