36 verified listings for families: restaurants where kids eat free, free museums, story times and fall festivals. Every one is checked against its source; tap a card for details and the original link.
$0.99 kids' meal
With entrée purchase
Every Tuesday · 5-9 p.m.
Carolina Ale House (multiple Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Wake Forest locations) · Raleigh area
Checked · Source: Carolina Ale House (official)
Free baby cone
Under 40 inches
Every day · Shop hours
Participating Bruster's Real Ice Cream shops (Raleigh-area) · Raleigh area
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 admission
Thu Nov 5 · 5:30-9 p.m.
NC Museum of Art, East Building · Raleigh
Checked · Source: NC Museum of Art (official)
Free
Cardholder only
Sat Nov 7 – Sun Nov 8 · First full weekend monthly · Museum hours
Marbles Kids Museum · Raleigh
Checked · Source: Marbles Kids Museum (official)
Free admission
Sat Nov 21 · Sat 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
North Carolina Museum of Art (East Building and Gipson Plaza) · Raleigh
Checked · Source: NC Museum of History (official)
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)
Free admission
Mon Nov 9 · Mon 10:30-11:15 a.m.
North Carolina Museum of Art (meet near the Welcome Center) · Raleigh
Free admission
Parking fees apply
Fri Nov 6 – Sun Nov 8 · Fri Nov 6, 12-4 p.m.; Sat-Sun Nov 7-8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens (Doris Duke Center and Japanese Garden) · Durham
Checked · Source: Duke Gardens (official)
Free admission
Fri Nov 13 · Fri 3:30-8 p.m.
Hi-Wire Brewing (Durham) · Durham
Checked · Source: StepUp Durham (organizer)
Free admission
Sat Nov 14 · 4-9 p.m.
Durham Central Park · Durham
Checked · Source: Liberty Arts (official)
Free admission
Mon Nov 2 – Mon Dec 14 · Select Mondays · Mon 1-7 p.m. (Nov 2 and Dec 14)
Downtown Cary Park, Academy Pavilion · Cary
Checked · Source: Downtown Cary Park (official)
Free
For expectant families
Sat Nov 7 · 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Apex Friendship High School · Apex
Checked · Source: Apex First Baptist Church et al. (organizer's Luma page)
Free admission
Sat Nov 7 – Sat Dec 5 · Select Saturdays · 9 a.m.-noon
Participating Home Depot stores (Raleigh-area) · Raleigh area
Checked · Source: The Home Depot (official)
Free admission
Registration required
Sat Nov 7 · Sat 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Piney Wood Park · Durham
Checked · Source: Major Minors (organizer)
Free admission
Sat Nov 7 – Thu Dec 24 · Arrival Sat Nov 7, 5 p.m.; Santa photos daily Nov 8-Dec 24 during store hours
Bass Pro Shops Cary and Bass Pro Shops Garner · Cary
Free admission
Sat Nov 14 · 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
City of Raleigh Museum · Raleigh
Checked · Source: City of Raleigh (official)
Free admission
Sat Nov 14 · Sat 4-5 p.m.
Nelson Music Room (East Duke 201), Duke East Campus · Durham
Checked · Source: Duke Arts (organizer calendar)
Free admission
Sat Nov 14 · Sat 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Green Road Community Library · Raleigh
Free admission
Sat Nov 14 · 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Eva Perry Regional Library · Apex
Free admission
Wed Nov 18 – Wed Dec 9 · Monthly (Nov 18, Dec 9) · Playtime 5:30-7:30 p.m.; free IMAX movie beforehand (5 p.m. Nov 18, 4:30 p.m. Dec 9)
Marbles Kids Museum · Raleigh
Checked · Source: Marbles Kids Museum (official)
Free admission
Sat Nov 21 · Sat 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Sweetwater Town Center · Apex
Free admission
Fri Dec 4 – Sun Dec 13 · Daily, Dec 4-13 · Business hours
Downtown Apex (Salem St) · Apex
Checked · Source: Town of Apex Economic Development (official)
Free admission
No tickets, free parking
Sat Mar 6 · 9 a.m.-3 p.m., rain or shine
NC State College of Veterinary Medicine · Raleigh
Checked · Source: NC State College of Veterinary Medicine (official)
$4.75 advance
$6.25 day-of
Monday-Thursday after 3 p.m. (weekdays the museum is open) · After 3 p.m.
Marbles Kids Museum · Raleigh
Checked · Source: Marbles Kids Museum (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)