Things to do with kids in Raleigh, NC
Checked · All times are local Eastern Time (Raleigh time)
Coming up in Raleigh: Raleigh Turkey Trot 8K & Kids Dash (Nov 26), Raleigh Christmas Parade (Nov 21) and Family Storytime at Oberlin Regional Library (from Oct 28). 6 always-open places, led by Marbles Kids Museum and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Prices and hours come from each official site.
Thanksgiving events in Raleigh
Raleigh Turkey Trot 8K & Kids Dash
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · 8K 8:30am; Kids Dash about 9:35am
- Cost
- 8K $37 Nov 1–17, $40 from Nov 18; Kids Dash (7 and under) $7
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
A Thanksgiving-morning 8K run/walk with a Kids Dash for ages 7 and under (a few hundred feet in the shopping-center lot, with medals) after the 8K finishes. Strollers OK at the back. Park at Meredith College (Faircloth Rd entrance).
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Christmas & holiday events: holiday fun
Raleigh Christmas Parade
- When
- Sat, Nov 21 · Starts 9:30am
- Cost
- Not stated
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association’s parade (organized since 1944) travels about 1.4 miles through Downtown Raleigh from Hillsborough and St. Mary’s streets.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Storytimes
Family Storytime at Oberlin Regional Library
- When
- Wed, Oct 28 – Wed, Nov 25 (Most weekdays and Saturdays through Nov 25) · 10–10:30am (some days also 11am)
- Cost
- Free (pick up a free ticket at the Youth Services desk 30 minutes before)
- Ages
- All ages · Indoor
An interactive program with books, music, rhymes and movement to nurture pre-reading skills. Space is limited.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Always-open family places
Most popular first: zoos, aquariums and museums, then nature spots, parks and libraries. Prices come from each official site; "Not stated" means the site doesn't list one.
Marbles Kids Museum
- Price
- $9.50 per person in advance, $12.50 day-of (adult, child and senior); under age 1 free
- Best for
- Ages 0–10 (our guidance)
Downtown children’s museum with an IMAX theatre; open daily 10am–5pm, Thursdays until 7pm
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
- Price
- Free general admission (donations appreciated)
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Big downtown museum with dinosaurs, live animals and the Nature Research Center; closed Thanksgiving, Dec 24 and Dec 25
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
North Carolina Museum of Art
- Price
- Free admission to the People’s Collection and the Museum Park
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Galleries Wed–Sun 10am–5pm; the 4.7-mile Museum Park with trails and outdoor art is open daily dawn to dusk
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
Dorothea Dix Park
- Price
- Free to visit seven days a week
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Large city park with skyline views and the Gipson Play Plaza; open dawn to dusk (facility hours vary)
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
Pullen Park
- Price
- Ride tickets $2 per person (carousel, train, pedal boats); call 919-996-6472 for ride hours
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
North Carolina’s first public park (1887), with a carousel, train, pedal boats and fenced preschool playground; open 7am–9pm
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
Oberlin Regional Library
- Price
- $ (estimated price level)
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Wake County regional library with family storytimes on weekday mornings; storytime tickets at the Youth Services desk
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do with kids in Raleigh this weekend?
This weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1) we list 1 family event in Raleigh: Family Storytime at Oberlin Regional Library (Fri & Sat, free).
What time is trick-or-treating in Raleigh?
Sunset on Halloween in Raleigh is at 6:20 p.m. Raleigh doesn't list official trick-or-treat hours, so plan around dusk.
What are free things to do with kids in Raleigh?
These are free according to their official sites: 3 places and 1 upcoming event in Raleigh, including North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, North Carolina Museum of Art, Dorothea Dix Park and Family Storytime at Oberlin Regional Library (Oct 28 – Nov 25).
Where can kids play indoors in Raleigh when it's too hot or rainy?
We list 3 indoor places in Raleigh: Marbles Kids Museum (kids 1 and up $9.5), North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Free general admission, donations appreciated) and Oberlin Regional Library.
What Thanksgiving events can I take my kids to in Raleigh?
We list 1 Thanksgiving event in Raleigh: Raleigh Turkey Trot 8K & Kids Dash (Thu, Nov 26).
Are there storytimes or regular kids' programs in Raleigh?
We list 1 everyday program in Raleigh: Family Storytime at Oberlin Regional Library (Most weekdays and Saturdays through Nov 25).
What is there to do with toddlers in Raleigh?
We list 4 places in Raleigh that welcome kids under 2, including Marbles Kids Museum, Dorothea Dix Park and Pullen Park. See all 4 above. Age ranges for places are our own guidance.
What are the big family attractions in Raleigh?
The best-known family attractions we list in Raleigh are Marbles Kids Museum (kids 1 and up $9.5) and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (Free general admission, donations appreciated). They're listed first under always-open places.
How much do Raleigh family attractions cost?
Prices from the official sites for 2 places in Raleigh: Marbles Kids Museum (adult $9.5, kids 1 and up $9.5) and Pullen Park (Ride tickets $2 per person, carousel, train, pedal boats). Confirm before you go; prices change.
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How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website and shows the date we checked it. Prices marked verified were copied from the venue's official site; others show an estimated price level or "Not stated". A place is called free only when its official site says so. Read how we verify listings · Arizona weekend search.
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