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Raleigh Mom Club — Raleigh, NC
JUL 10–12, 2026 · Issue No. 29

This Weekend in the Triangle

Your weekend planning starts here. Every Thursday we curate the family-friendly events worth your Saturday and Sunday across Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill — sorted by day, with the free options flagged and a rainy-day filter for when the forecast turns. Skim the picks, then build the rest of your weekend below.

Curated by Nina, a Triangle mom of 15 years · every event verified against the venue's own page

Big weekend ahead — 119 things to do across the Triangle, 59 of them free.

If you only do one thing

Nina's picks.

The handful we'd actually put on our own calendar.

Today · RaleighFree

Family Storytime

“Arrive 15 minutes early to grab your entry tickets at the desk.”

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Today · RaleighFree

July Market on the Videri Patio

“Go early to grab the best street parking and beat the midday July heat.”

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Today · RaleighFree

Paint a Shelter Animal

“Dress your kids in old clothes because acrylic paint will stain.”

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Today · PittsboroFree

Free Tours of Pollinator Paradise Garden in Pittsboro

“Bring binoculars so your kids can spot the butterflies high up in the trees.”

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Today · RaleighFree

Car Showcase at Dix Park July 11

“Park at the Blair Drive lot and bring a stroller for tired toddlers.”

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119 events

Friday.

July 10 · 5 events
Fri., 1-3pm
Friday Reset for the Weekend
$10-$20
Through Jul 30
Little Hahas and Baby Otterjets at Golden Belt Artist Studios
Free
Through Jul 25
American Dance Festival Performance Season
Through Oct 11
History Exhibit: To Love and Live Free
Free
Through Jul 19
Art Exhibit — Dis/orient: Contemporary Art of the Asian Diaspora
Free

Saturday.

July 11 · 75 events
4 AM - 8 AM
Durham Farmers’ Market
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunflower Celebration at Dix Park on July 11
Free
6 AM - 3 PM
Walk-In Saturday at Welcome Tattoo
7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Big Sweep Spring 2026- N. Raleigh Blvd Paddle (NEW DATE)
Free
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Melon Day at Western Wake Farmers Market
Free
8:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Family Fest at Lakeside Retreats: Free event Sept. 12 with outdoor fun, entertainment, yoga, more
Free
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Second Saturday Plant Swap at Durham Beer Garden
9:00 am
NC Museum of Art's Sk8rday Mornings
Free
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Voter Outreach with Wake County Board of Elections
Free
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Lawyers in Your Library
Free
9 AM - 11:30 AM
Drafts of the Bull: Craft Beer and Food Tour
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Family Storytime
Free
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Family Storytime
Free
10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Dix Park's Sunflower Celebration
Free
10:00 AM
Lowe’s gives away lots of free gifts for two days — including MyLowe’s Money!
Free
10am to 2pm
July Market on the Videri Patio
Free
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Durham's CenterFest Sept. 19-20
Free
10:00 AM
10:00 AM Zumba
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Youth Basketball Open Play-Saturday
Free
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Family Open Play Basketball
Free

Sunday.

July 12 · 38 events
6:15 am - 8:30 pm
Dix Park's Sunflower Field
Free
6:30 AM - 7:30 AM
Storytime on the Roof with Durham County Library
Free
8:00 am
July StoryWalks® of Wake County Parks
Free
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Poet's Walk at Historic Oak View Park
Free
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
JC Raulston Arboretum's Garden Story Walk
Free
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
NC Museum of Natural Sciences' Dueling Dinosaurs Sensory Friendly Mornings
Free
10 AM - 12 PM
Hot Wax on Tap, Drop-In Candle Making
10 AM - 12 PM
Crank Arm Durham Sunday Dog Walk
Free
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Family-Friendly Shark Brunch Party at Crooked Hammock Brewery, July 12
11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Guest Star: Fitness
11am to Noon
Trophy Sunday Yoga
$25.31
11am to 3pm
Raleigh Underground Market
Free
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Raleigh Really Really Free Market
Free
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Science Solvers
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Voter Outreach with Wake County Board of Elections
Free
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
ABC Craft & Learn
Free
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Mini Birthday Party
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Teen Craft: Weaving!
Free
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Oberlin Writers' Group: Summer Vacation
Free
2:00 PM - 3:50 PM
Summer Movie Matinee: Night at the Museum
Free

Also this weekend.

1 event
All day
SoulCollage with Bridget
$50

That's 119 events — refresh Thursday for next week's list.

Don't do this every week

Get the weekend list before you need it.

Every Thursday at noon — three picks, the weather call, and the parking intel. The list you just scrolled, but curated and in your inbox before you even start wondering.

While you're planning —

Shortcuts to the kind of weekends we specialize in.

Free StuffTodayThis MonthRainy-Day SpotsOutdoorsAll Guides
New to the Triangle? Start with the Club

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best free thing to do this weekend in Raleigh?
It depends on the weather, but the dependable free picks are the Downtown Cary or Raleigh farmers markets on Saturday, library storytimes, and the NCMA's grounds and Family Studio. Our Free Stuff page pulls every no-cost event for the current weekend.
Are there indoor options if it rains?
Always. Marbles Kids Museum, the Museum of Natural Sciences, and every Wake, Durham and Orange county library branch run weekend programs. Use the rainy-day filter above to see only the indoor events.
How often is this weekend list updated?
We curate it every Thursday for the upcoming Friday–Sunday, then keep pulling in new events and removing cancellations through the weekend itself. So a Saturday-morning check is still worth it.
What's the difference between this page and the This Week page?
This page is the editor-curated Friday–Sunday plan with hand-picked highlights. This Week is the broader rolling seven-day list, including weeknights, with lighter curation.