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Top 10 free things to do in Raleigh: Oct 24–25

Top 10 Free This Weekend · October 24–25, 2026

Ten free picks for the weekend in Raleigh and nearby towns, chosen from our verified listings. Each one links to the organizer's own page and shows the date we last checked it. Things can change, so check the source before you go.

This is the web edition of Top 10 Free This Weekend, our free email every Thursday. How we verify.

1. Corn-grinding tours at Historic Yates Mill: watch the 1760s mill run (free)

   Free

   Sat Oct 24 – Sun Oct 25 · Sat-Sun Oct 24-25, 1-4 p.m. (drop-in)

   Historic Yates Mill County Park — Raleigh

   Checked Oct 23, 2026 · Source: Wake County Parks (official)

2. Free Honky Tonk concert by Meredith College music faculty

   Free

   Sat Oct 24 · 7-8 p.m.

   Carswell Concert Hall, Wainwright Music Building, Meredith College — Raleigh

   Checked Oct 21, 2026 · Source: Meredith College (official)

3. Raleigh Arbor Day: free tree to take home

   Free (free tree for participants)

   Sat Oct 24 · 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

   Carolina Pines Park — Raleigh

   Checked Oct 21, 2026 · Source: City of Raleigh Parks (official)

4. Free Day of the Dead festival in downtown Raleigh

   Free admission

   Sun Oct 25 · 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

   City Plaza, Fayetteville Street — Raleigh

   Checked Oct 20, 2026 · Source: Downtown Raleigh Alliance event page

5. Free sensory-friendly trunk-or-treat in North Raleigh (Bloomwell)

   Free

   Sat Oct 24 · 2-4 p.m.

   Bloomwell Autism Therapy, North Raleigh — Raleigh

   Checked Oct 21, 2026 · Source: Bloomwell (organizer's Eventbrite page)

6. Raleigh Retro Gamers Halloween market: free entry + free play

   Free admission

   Sat Oct 24 · Noon-5 p.m.

   Triangle Town Center — Raleigh

   Checked Oct 21, 2026 · Source: Raleigh Retro Gamers (organizer)

7. All Saints UMC Trunk or Treat in Morrisville, with free nachos

   Free (including food)

   Sun Oct 25 · 4:30-6 p.m.

   All Saints United Methodist Church — Morrisville

   Checked Oct 21, 2026 · Source: All Saints UMC (official)

8. Sensory-friendly Encanto screening at the Carolina Theatre: free tickets

   Free (reserve tickets)

   Sat Oct 24 · 11 a.m. (102 min, rated PG)

   Carolina Theatre, Cinema One — Durham

   Checked Oct 23, 2026 · Source: Carolina Theatre of Durham (official)

9. Raleigh Zombie Walk: free downtown Halloween walk

   Free

   Sat Oct 24 · Annual, the Saturday before Halloween · Gather 6:45 p.m.; ends about 9:30 p.m.

   Moore Square — Raleigh

   Checked Oct 21, 2026 · Source: Raleigh Zombie Walk (organizer's Eventbrite page)

10. Cary Really Really Free Market: take or give away stuff, no money involved

    Free

    Sat Oct 24 · 2-4 p.m.

    Walnut Street Park — Cary

    Checked Oct 23, 2026 · Source: Cary Free Market organizer (Eventbrite)

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