Our welcome gift to subscribers: 21 free things you can do any week
No dates to remember: these places and perks are free year-round. Every one is checked against its own official page and shows the date we last confirmed it. Hours and rules change, so check the source before you go.
Free admission
Metered/deck parking nearby
Wednesday-Sunday · Wed-Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5; 2nd Friday until 9 p.m.
Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill
Checked · Source: Ackland Art Museum (official)
Free admission
Tuesday-Sunday · Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
Museum of Durham History · Durham
Free admission
Galleries Wed-Sun; park daily · Galleries 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; park dawn-dusk
North Carolina Museum of Art · Raleigh
Checked · Source: NCMA (official)
Free admission
Donations welcome
Tuesday-Sunday · 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
NC Museum of Natural Sciences · Raleigh
Free admission
Saturdays & Sundays (listed through Nov 29) · 1-2 p.m.
NCMA West Building (meet at public tour sign) · Raleigh
Checked · Source: NCMA (official)
Free admission
Donations welcome
Saturdays (guided tours); open Mon-Sat · Guided tours Sat 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; building open Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 10-5
North Carolina State Capitol · Raleigh
Checked · Source: NC Historic Sites (official)
Kids eat free
Free kids' meal with adult entrée
Every Monday · Restaurant hours
Participating Outback Steakhouse restaurants (national chain with Raleigh-area locations) · Raleigh area
Kids eat free
Free kids' meal with adult entrée
Every Monday night · Monday evening
The Big Easy · Raleigh
Checked · Source: The Big Easy (official)
Kids eat free
Free kids' meal with adult entrée
Every Sunday, open to close · Open-close
Players Retreat · Raleigh
Checked · Source: Players Retreat (official)
Kids eat free
Free kids' meal (under 10)
Every Sunday · 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Nantucket Grill (Falls River) · Raleigh
Checked · Source: Nantucket Grill (official)
Kids eat free
Free kids' meal with entrée (rewards members)
Weekly reward in the Moe Rewards app · Restaurant hours
Participating Moe's Southwest Grill locations (Raleigh-area restaurants) · Raleigh area
Checked · Source: Moe's Southwest Grill (official offers & terms)
Kids eat free
Free kids' entrée with combo purchase
Every Tuesday · 4 p.m.-close
Sassool (Cary and North Raleigh) · Cary
Checked · Source: Sassool (official)
Free
Daily · Grounds 8 a.m.-sunset; buildings Mon-Sat 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 1-5 p.m.
Historic Oak View County Park · Raleigh
Checked · Source: Wake County Parks (official park page, brochure and bond-project page)
Free on your birthday
Rewards members
Yearly, birthday reward · Restaurant hours
Participating Denny's restaurants (Raleigh area) · Raleigh area
Checked · Source: Denny's (official news page) + Denny's Rewards terms
Free on your birthday
Rewards members
Yearly, on your birthday · Café hours
Participating Starbucks cafés in Raleigh · Raleigh area
Free on your birthday
Rewards members
Yearly, birthday reward · Restaurant hours
Participating Moe's Southwest Grill locations (Raleigh-area restaurants) · Raleigh area
Checked · Source: Moe's Southwest Grill (official offers & terms)
Free on your birthday
Free appetizer + birthday treat
Restaurant hours
Red Robin (Raleigh-area restaurants) · Raleigh area
Checked · Source: Red Robin (official)
Free
During market hours (Midtown: Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon through Oct 31) · Market hours
Midtown, Western Wake, Apex and Holly Springs farmers markets · Wake County
Free doughnut
With next purchase
Shop hours
Krispy Kreme (Raleigh-area shops) · Raleigh area
Checked · Source: Krispy Kreme (official)
Free baby cone
Under 40 inches
Every day · Shop hours
Participating Bruster's Real Ice Cream shops (Raleigh-area) · Raleigh area
Free chips and fountain soda
With a handheld or burger
Monday-Friday · 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Element Gastropub · Raleigh
Checked · Source: Element Gastropub (official)
Need help with food, transit or other essentials? Our community resources page lists free services (7 organizations), kept separate from deals.
Also see free museums in Raleigh and free things to do today. How we verify.