Kids 5 and under free at the NC State Fair
Free (5 and under)
Thu Oct 15 – Sun Oct 25 · Daily; ticket booths close 9:45 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC State Fair (official)
Free things to do in Raleigh
Today, tonight, this weekend, with kids and for adults · October 2026
Last updated · 27 verified listings · every one links to its source
Everything on this page is free to get into, and every listing links to the organizer's own page with the date we checked it. The sections update from each listing's dates and times: today and tonight first, then picks for the next two weeks with kids and for adults, then the museums and parks that are free most days.
Planning ahead? See free things to do this weekend (Oct 18, 4 picks) or the full free events calendar.
Free in Raleigh today (4)
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 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)
Free tonight (2)
Kids 5 and under free at the NC State Fair
Free (5 and under)
Thu Oct 15 – Sun Oct 25 · Daily; ticket booths close 9:45 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC State Fair (official)
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 things to do with kids (next 2 weeks) (12)
Kids 5 and under free at the NC State Fair
Free (5 and under)
Thu Oct 15 – Sun Oct 25 · Daily; ticket booths close 9:45 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC State Fair (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)
Free Museum of Life and Science days for Durham residents
Free (Durham County residents)
Tue Oct 20 · About twice a month (next: Tue Oct 20; then Nov 8, Nov 17, Dec 2, Dec 13) · Museum hours
Museum of Life and Science, Durham — Durham
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Museum of Life and Science (official)
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)
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)
Free things to do for adults (next 2 weeks) (8)
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 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)
State Fair weekday lunch pass (admission refunded)
Free admission (refundable $20 cash deposit)
Mon Oct 19 – Fri Oct 23 · Weekdays during the fair (Oct 19-23) · Enter after 11:30 a.m.; return card by 1:30 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds, Gate 1 or Gate 9 only — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC State Fair (official)
Free Museum of Life and Science days for Durham residents
Free (Durham County residents)
Tue Oct 20 · About twice a month (next: Tue Oct 20; then Nov 8, Nov 17, Dec 2, Dec 13) · Museum hours
Museum of Life and Science, Durham — Durham
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Museum of Life and Science (official)
Free NC State Fair admission for seniors 65+
Free (65+). Other days seniors pay $5.
Tue Oct 20 · Gates 9 a.m.; ticket booths close 9:45 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC Dept. of Agriculture (official)
Free State Fair admission on Military Appreciation Day
Free with qualifying military ID (+3 guests)
Wed Oct 21 · Gates 9 a.m.; ticket booths close 9:45 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC Dept. of Agriculture (official)
Free State Fair entry for 6 cans of food
Free with 6 nonperishable food items
Thu Oct 22 · Gates 9 a.m.; ticket booths close 9:45 p.m.
NC State Fairgrounds (any gate) — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: NC State Fair (official)
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 most days: museums, gardens & parks (8)
Free admission at Duke's Nasher Museum of Art (Durham)
Free (parking $2/hr)
Tuesday-Sunday · Tue-Sat 10-5 (Thu to 9), Sun 12-5
Nasher Museum of Art, Durham — Durham
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Nasher Museum (official)
Free admission at Sarah P. Duke Gardens (Durham)
Free (parking $2/hr via Blue Spot)
Daily · 8 a.m.-sunset
Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham — Durham
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Duke Gardens (official)
Free admission at the Ackland Art Museum (Chapel Hill)
Free (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
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Ackland Art Museum (official)
Free admission at the Museum of Durham History
Free
Tuesday-Sunday · Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
Museum of Durham History — Durham
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: Museum of Durham History (official)
Free admission at the NC Museum of Art + Museum Park
Free
Galleries Wed-Sun; park daily · Galleries 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; park dawn-dusk
North Carolina Museum of Art — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: NCMA (official)
Free admission at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Free (donations welcome)
Tuesday-Sunday · 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
NC Museum of Natural Sciences — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: NC Museum of Natural Sciences (official)
Free docent tours at NCMA every weekend
Free
Saturdays & Sundays (listed through Nov 22) · 1-2 p.m. tour; 2:30-4:30 p.m. Art on the Dot
NCMA West Building (meet at public tour sign) — Raleigh
✔ Verified Oct 17, 2026 · Source: NCMA (official)
See goats and chickens free at Historic Oak View County Park
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
✔ Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Source: Wake County Parks (official park page, brochure and bond-project page)
Frequently asked questions
What's free to do in Raleigh today?
Today (Sun Oct 18): Kids 5 and under free at the NC State Fair; Free Jazz'd Up Sundays: Kobie Watkins Grouptet (Cary); Free entry to NCMA's Ancient Nubia exhibition (one day); Free trick-or-treat with 50 candy stations on Hillsborough Street.
Are these really free?
Admission is free for everything on this page. Food, parking, rides or extras can cost money, and a few items need registration or have age limits. That fine print is on each listing.
How do you pick and check these?
We read each event or offer on the organizer's own page (the city, the museum, the venue) and record the date we checked. The sections fill themselves from those dates, so past events drop off on their own.
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 events · 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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