Free things to do this weekend in and around Research Triangle
Research Triangle's Top Picks for FREE family-friendly fun Friday, August 7, 2026 to Sunday, August 9, 2026
(Scroll down for full, detailed list of free weekend activities.)
First Friday Market & Movie Night - Zootopia 2 (2025) - Moore Square, Raleigh, NC, USA - 08/07/2026, 5pm - 9pm
Movie Night Series at Downtown Cary Park - Downtown Cary Park, 327 S Academy St, Cary, NC 27511, United States - 08/07/2026, See website for details
Movie at the Middle - Town of Rolesville, NC - Rolesville Middle School, Burlington Mills Road, Rolesville, NC, USA - 08/07/2026, See website for details
Artspace First Fridays - Artspace, 201 East Davie Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, United States - 08/07/2026, See website for details
Movies on Madison: “The Iron Giant” - NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville - 415 South Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, USA - 08/07/2026, 7:00pm
Story Time at the Museum - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC, USA - 08/07/2026, Fridays at 10:30am & 11:30am
Live Animal Feeding: Ocean Habitat - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, United States - 08/07/2026, 10:45am - 11:00am
One Tribe drum circle at Dix Park - 830 Umstead Dr., Raleigh, NC 27603, USA - 08/07/2026, 6:30 - 8pm
Splash Party - Family Fun Nights - Love Chapel Hill, Sunrise Road, Chapel Hill, NC, USA - 08/07/2026, 6-8 p.m.
Garden Story Walk - JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC - 08/07/2026 - 08/09/2026, During garden open hours (9 am - 4:30 pm Monday-Thursday, Friday 9 am - 7 pm, Weekends 8 am - 7 pm)
Free summer mini photo session with Shoott! - Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area - Shoott, Broadway, New York, NY, USA - 08/08/2026 - 08/09/2026, See link for times
Rhythm & Reels at Apex Nature Park Amphitheatre - 2600 Evans Road, Apex, NC, USA - 08/08/2026, Concerts start at 7 pm & Movies start at dusk!
Apex Farmers Market - 220 Salem Street, Apex, NC, USA - 08/08/2026, 8 am - 12 pm
Holly Springs Farmers Market - 300 West Ballentine Street, Holly Springs, NC, USA - 08/08/2026, 8 am - 12 pm
Summer Concert Series at Rock Quarry Park - Duke Park, Durham, NC - 08/08/2026, 6-8 PM
Playdate with Nature - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville, South Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, USA - 08/08/2026, 11:30am - 12:00pm
Nature Storytime - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville, South Madison Street, Whiteville, NC, USA - 08/08/2026, 10:30am - 11:00am
Gift of Knowledge Academy - 10th Year Celebration - 2722 East Main Street, Durham, NC, USA - 08/08/2026, 10:00am
Second Sundays: Open Studio - Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University - Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 2001 Campus Dr, Durham, NC 27705, United States - 08/09/2026, 1 pm - 3 pm
2026 Summer Concert Series at Fred Fletcher Park - Fred Fletcher Park, Clay Street, Raleigh, NC, USA - 08/09/2026, 6 - 8 p.m.
Raleigh Black Farmers' Market - Rock Quarry Rd, Raleigh, NC, USA - 08/09/2026, 1 pm - 4 pm