24th Annual Kirby Derby August 22
Date: Sat, Aug 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue: Various Locations in Raleigh, Raleigh
Price:
Category: Community
Kirby Derby has been a Raleigh tradition since 2002. It started when two residents of the tiny Pullen Park Terrace neighborhood (just 32 houses!) put together a neighborhood parade. On year five, the "derby" part of the event was added, with a soapbox derby race. An annual theme, a pinebox car competition for kids, costumes and silliness are all part of the tradition. In 2017 the residents of Pullen Park Terrace embraced the growth of Kirby Derby and the development of the the park that the neighborhood borders, and moved the event to Dorothea Dix Park. The neighborhood group partners with the Dix Conservancy to bring the event to the public. This year, 2026, Kirby Derby will take place at Dix Park and it's open to all! The theme this year is "Road Trip." It takes place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The specific location at Dix Park is Harvey Hill, on Cranmer Drive, Raleigh, NC. The best entrances are: Hunt Drive off Western (across from prison) Blair or Bilyeu to Umstead (from Centennial Blvd) It's free for all, but you do need to register for all the events (except cheering.) Registration is open now. Pinecar Races 3 p.m. check-in; race starts at 3:30 p.m. Register to participate. If you ever participated in the Pinewood Derby in Boy Scouts, you'll remember that there are some important specifications. The Kirby Derby also has a set of rules, but they're not exactly the same, so please read the rules. Kirby Derby Parade 4 p.m.: Line up 4:30 p.m.
