OCT 9–11, 2026 · Issue No. 41
This Weekend with Kids in Raleigh & the Triangle
Oct 9–11, 2026 · Updated Thu, Oct 8
Family outings for Friday through Sunday. Find your day, check the details, and save a few favorites.
Big weekend ahead — 734 things to do across the Triangle, 323 of them free.
Weekend weather
Fri 82°/61° · 1% rainSat 68°/60° · 61% rainSun 78°/65° · 82% rainForecast from Open-Meteo, checked hourly.
Rain plan: indoor picks
Rain looks likely on Saturday and Sunday. These are all indoors.
SINGamajig: Musical Improv for Kids
Have your kids prepare some drawing ideas before you arrive at the theater.
Arts
Friday Family Flicks - Toy Story 5
Pack your own lawn chairs or blankets to stay comfortable during the movie.
Arts
A place to start
This weekend's top picks.
Fewer on purpose: only what's clearly for kids, or too big to miss. Everything else is in the full list below.
All weekend
Goatober Fest at Spring Haven Farm
Be sure to secure your tickets online in advance through SimpleTix.
Ponder Parade of Homes 2026
Plan your visit for early October to see the homes before the grand opening.
Friday
Community
Hidwell Family Farm's Pumpkin Patch and Barrell Train Rides
Arrive ready to choose between a fresh pumpkin or a mum with your entry.
Family
Community
The Witch's Haunted Barn | Not So Scary (No-Actor Days)
Bring the kids in their Halloween costumes for some extra festive fun.
Saturday
Trick-or-Eat Food Truck Rodeo/Garner Night Out/ Touch-a-Truck
Grab a drink from Shady's Bar or Zin Yoga Studio to enjoy while you shop.
Family
Sunday
Jazz'd Up Sundays: Free concert series at Downtown Cary Park
Bring your own chairs and blankets to stay comfy on the lawn.
Fall Festival at Highland United Methodist Church
Bring along some canned food donations for the Interfaith Food Shuttle.
Make your own list
Filter all 734 events this weekend, then tap the heart on anything you like to save it.
Your saved events are in Saved.
When would you like to go?
734 events
Showing 30 of 734 events
Friday, October 9
All Day
All Day
All Day
Survive & Thrive Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Main Library – Main Library - Café area - 2nd floor · Durham
Free
All Day
Trick or Pickle Scavenger Hunt @ Southwest Regional
Southwest Regional Library – Southwest Regional - Children's Area · Durham
Free
All Day
4:30am–6pm
Who Lives in the Pond? at Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve
Annie Louise Wilkerson Nature Preserve · Raleigh
Ages 8-14$4
5:15am
8am–1pm
8am–5pm
8am–7pm
8am–10am
8am
8am
8:30am–4pm
8:30am–9:30am
9am–2pm
9am–4:30pm
9am–6pm
9am–12pm
9am
9am
9am–4pm
The Park with a City in It: Celebrating 50 Years of the Raleigh Greenway System
· Triangle Area
Check price
9am–4pm
Double Double Boil & Bubble | 1 Day Camp - Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios: North Hills - Raleigh, NC
Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios: North Hills · Raleigh
ages 5 - 12Check price
9am–3pm
9am–2pm
9:15am–7pm
9:30am–6:30pm
9:30am–6:30pm
9:30am–6:30pm
9:30am–10am
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best things to do with kids in Raleigh this weekend (Oct 9–11, 2026)?
- Our top picks: Trick-or-Eat Food Truck Rodeo/Garner Night Out/ Touch-a-Truck (on Saturday, Downtown Garner, Garner); Trick-or-Eat on Main Street (on Saturday, Downtown Garner Association, Garner); Raleigh Underground Market (on Sunday, Midtown Park, North Hills, Raleigh); Hidwell Family Farm's Pumpkin Patch and Barrell Train Rides (on Friday, Hidwell Family Farm, Apex). The full list below has 734 family events across the Triangle.
- What's free for kids this weekend?
- Trick-or-Eat Food Truck Rodeo/Garner Night Out/ Touch-a-Truck on Saturday at Downtown Garner, Garner; Trick-or-Eat on Main Street on Saturday at Downtown Garner Association, Garner; Raleigh Underground Market on Sunday at Midtown Park, North Hills, Raleigh. There are 323 free family events this weekend in all — the Free Stuff page lists every one.
- What's happening Saturday?
- The biggest Saturday picks are Trick-or-Eat Food Truck Rodeo/Garner Night Out/ Touch-a-Truck, Trick-or-Eat on Main Street and Fall Festival at West & Woodall , including Wool E. Bull. Times, places and prices are on each event page.
- Are there indoor options if it rains?
- Yes. This weekend's best indoor picks: Baby & Toddler Item Swap (on Saturday, North Regional Library, Durham); SINGamajig: Musical Improv for Kids (on Saturday, Mettlesome Theater, Durham); Friday Family Flicks - Toy Story 5 (on Friday, Garner Recreation Center, Garner); Teen DIY Faux Stain-Glass (on Saturday, Wendell Community Library, Wendell). Marbles Kids Museum, the Museum of Natural Sciences and the county libraries are good any rainy day.
- How is this list put together?
- It updates every day from more than 20 local calendars. Top picks are ranked by how rare an event is, how many local calendars list it, and how many people on Facebook say they're interested — so a once-a-year festival beats a weekly class. Every event links to its source; check the organizer's page before you go.