Free Jazz'd Up Sundays: Kobie Watkins Grouptet (Cary)
Free
Sun Oct 18 · 6:30-8 p.m.
Downtown Cary Park, Great Lawn Pavilion — Cary
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Downtown Cary Park (official event page)
Free events in Raleigh, NC
Free festivals, concerts, markets, family programs and more, soonest first
Last updated · 23 verified listings · every one links to its source
These are free-to-attend events with a set date, taken from the organizer's own page: city parks, libraries, museums, venues and community groups. Discounts and free-admission deals are on their own page, and always-free museums are in our free museums guide.
Free events today (3)
Free entry to NCMA's Ancient Nubia exhibition (one day)
Free
Sun Oct 18 · 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (sensory-friendly hour 9-10 a.m., registration recommended)
NCMA East Building — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NCMA (official)
Free trick-or-treat with 50 candy stations on Hillsborough Street
Free
Sun Oct 18 · 2-5 p.m.
Hillsborough Street (check-in near Horne St or Logan Ct) — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Hillsborough Street Community Service Corp. (official)
This week (6)
Free chicken storytime + coop visit at Historic Oak View
Free
Wed Oct 21 – Sat Oct 24 · Two sessions: Wed Oct 21 and Sat Oct 24 · 10:30 a.m.
Historic Oak View County Park — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Wake County Parks (official program page)
Free Haunted Mushroom Terrarium workshop (teens)
Free (supplies included)
Thu Oct 22 · 6-7 p.m.
North Regional Library — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Wake County Government (official)
Free Vampire Slime craft for kids
Free
Sat Oct 24 · 3-4 p.m.
Duraleigh Road Community Library — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Wake County Government (official)
Free hands-on chemistry fest at Moore Square
Free
Sat Oct 24 · Noon-3 p.m.
Moore Square — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: City of Raleigh Parks (official)
Raleigh Retro Gamers Halloween market: free entry + free play
Free admission
Sat Oct 24 · Noon-5 p.m.
Triangle Town Center — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Raleigh Retro Gamers (organizer)
Trunk-or-Treat + free clothing pop-up at Sanderford Road Park
Free
Sat Oct 24 · 3-5 p.m. (clothing pop-up 2-4 p.m.)
Sanderford Road Park — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: City of Raleigh Parks (official)
Later (14)
Halloween Hoot storytimes with library trick-or-treating
Free
Mon Oct 26 – Sat Oct 31 · Varies by branch (Southgate: 10:30-11 a.m. Oct 27)
Multiple Wake County Public Libraries (e.g. Southgate Community Library) — Wake County
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Wake County Government (official)
Wake County Sheriff's Office trunk-or-treat at Triangle Town Center
Free to attend (no ticket or fee listed)
Tue Oct 27 · 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Triangle Town Center, parking lot between Sears and Dillard's — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Triangle Town Center (official event page)
Lake Lynn Trunk-or-Treat (free, City of Raleigh)
Free
Thu Oct 29 · 6-7:30 p.m.
Lake Lynn Community Center / Lake Lynn Park — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: City of Raleigh Parks (official)
Lions Park Trunk-or-Treat (free, City of Raleigh)
Free
Thu Oct 29 · 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Lions Park — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: City of Raleigh Parks (official)
FoodeesFest: free admission + daily free-meal drawing
Free admission; food costs extra
Fri Oct 30 – Sun Nov 1 · Fri 1-9 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Triangle Town Center — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: FoodeesFest organizer listing (Eventbrite)
Free hunter/jumper horse show: Triangle Farms Indoors 'C' Finale
Free for spectators
Fri Oct 30 – Sun Nov 1 · All day (schedule in the prize list)
Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. Horse Complex, NC State Fairgrounds — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Triangle Farms (organizer) event page + spectator policy
Free trick-or-treat at 50+ stores: Triangle Town Center Halloween Harvest Festival
Free to attend (no ticket or fee listed)
Sat Oct 31 · Noon-7 p.m.
Triangle Town Center (Center Court and stores throughout the mall) — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Triangle Town Center (official event page)
Halloween Trunk-or-Treat & Pumpkin Parlor
Free
Sat Oct 31 · 3-6 p.m.
John P. "Top" Greene African American Cultural Center — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: City of Raleigh Parks (official)
First Friday Market & free outdoor movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Free
Fri Nov 6 · Market 5-9 p.m.; music 5:30; movie 6:30 p.m.
Moore Square — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: City of Raleigh Parks (official)
Free sensory-friendly Dueling Dinosaurs mornings
Free ($0 tickets; registration encouraged, not required)
Sun Nov 8 – Sun Dec 13 · Second Sunday monthly; remaining 2026 dates Nov 8 and Dec 13 · 10 a.m.-noon
NC Museum of Natural Sciences — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC Museum of Natural Sciences ticketing (official)
Raleigh Really Really Free Market: take what you need, free
Free
Sun Nov 8 · Second Sunday monthly (next Nov 8, then Dec 13) · 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (rain date: following Sunday, Nov 15)
Eliza Pool Park — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Raleigh Really Really Free Market (organizer page)
Free winter-break horse show: Raleigh Indoors Holiday Classic 'A'
Free for spectators
Mon Dec 28 – Thu Dec 31 · All day (see the revised December schedule)
Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. Horse Complex, NC State Fairgrounds — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Triangle Farms (organizer) event page + spectator policy
Southern Farm Show: free lumberjack and bluegrass shows
Free (admission and parking)
Wed Feb 3 – Fri Feb 5 · Wed-Thu 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Southern Shows (organizer): admission, hours and 2027 schedule
NC State Vet School Open House: milk a cow, free
Free (no tickets, free parking)
Sat Mar 6 · 9 a.m.-3 p.m., rain or shine
NC State College of Veterinary Medicine — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC State College of Veterinary Medicine (official)
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find free events in Raleigh this week?
This week: Free Jazz'd Up Sundays: Kobie Watkins Grouptet (Cary) (Sun Oct 18 · 6:30-8 p.m.); Free entry to NCMA's Ancient Nubia exhibition (one day) (Sun Oct 18 · 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (sensory-friendly hour 9-10 a.m., registration recommended)); Free trick-or-treat with 50 candy stations on Hillsborough Street (Sun Oct 18 · 2-5 p.m.); Free chicken storytime + coop visit at Historic Oak View (Wed Oct 21 – Sat Oct 24 · Two sessions: Wed Oct 21 and Sat Oct 24 · 10:30 a.m.); Free Haunted Mushroom Terrarium workshop (teens) (Thu Oct 22 · 6-7 p.m.); Free Vampire Slime craft for kids (Sat Oct 24 · 3-4 p.m.); Free hands-on chemistry fest at Moore Square (Sat Oct 24 · Noon-3 p.m.); Raleigh Retro Gamers Halloween market: free entry + free play (Sat Oct 24 · Noon-5 p.m.)
Do free events in Raleigh need tickets?
Most are walk-in. A few ask you to register for free (library programs, some park programs), and we note that in each listing's fine print.
Are free events listed here for Cary and Durham too?
A few, and they're labeled with the town. Most are in Raleigh.
How we verify: we read each offer on the business, museum or organizer's own website (or an official post) and record the date. Offers change, so please confirm before you go. Spot something wrong? Tell us.
More Raleigh guides
Free things to do · NC State Fair deals · Free this weekend · Free museums · Birthday freebies · Kids eat free · Happy hours · Halloween 2026 · Horse shows & rodeos · Veterans Day 2026 · All listings
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