Parks & Rec

Raleigh Parks is excited to announce the return of Holiday Express in 2023. For 17 nights from November 29 – December 15, Pullen Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland of holiday happenings throughout the park. Mark your calendars for the ticket on-sale date of Wednesday, October 4.

The committee is responsible for the study of issues related to park facilities, features, developments, and modifications. The committee prepares recommendations and proposals for the Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board based on in-depth review and study of park-related issues and concerns. The Parks Committee a standing committee of the Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board will meet in the Raleigh Municipal Building, 222 W. Hargett Street, Conference Room 303 at 6:00 pm.

Join us for our first-ever Signing Day Event! Kick off our winter youth basketball registration on Saturday, Oct. 7 for a drop-in event at Lions Park Community Center from 10 a.m. to noon. Athletes can have their photo taken in front of our banner as they show their intent to play this winter! There will also be a basketball skills competition, games, a raffle and food trucks. Financial assistance will be present to approve and register participants on site, Raleigh Parks will be advertising current job openings and former NBA player and head coach Nate McMillan will come to address participants and parents at 11 a.m. Hope to see you there and in the upcoming season!

Join us for Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day! We will be hosting guided ride(s) for the whole family. The ride will start with a bike inspection and warm-up prior to setting out on the trail. We will also have our skills elements set up in the grassy area for practice. Helmets and closed toe shoes are required. If the trails are closed, the ride is canceled.

Learn how seeds make things grow and dive into a gooey pumpkin to explore its seeds. Participants will decorate and take home a pumpkin of their own Ages: 7 - 10 Cost: $5 Advance registration is required. Adult(s) must accompany participant(s). Adult(s) attend free and do not need to register. Register on RecLink

Please join us for the Halloween edition of Sensory Friendly Sunday! Costumes are welcome for our spooky spectacular and will include arts & crafts, music & movement, choice activities, chill zone, an indoor playground, and much more. This event will offer accessible accommodations for individuals with sensory sensitivities and neurodiverse individuals. The center will provide an accepting and inclusive environment, modifications to sound and lighting, noise-canceling headsets, and a quiet area. The playground will be open during non-operating hours to limit capacity and create a more controlled environment to reduce overstimulation. Pre-registration is encouraged. This is a floating/drop-in event; families can come/leave at any time during the event.

Lake Wheeler Park will be providing a nature-inspired craft for kids at our Magnolia Shelter!

Join fellow community members to relax, play games, socialize, and pick up free produce at Marsh Creek Community Center on October 13! All activities will be free of charge, and participants can feel free to attend for any portion of the scheduled time. Interested in attending solo? Don’t worry – all activities can be self-directed and as interactive as you’d like them to be. We hope to see you there! Age: AllCost: Free

Join fellow community members for a special outdoor screening of The Sandlot at Buffaloe Road Athletic Park. Bring your own snacks, chairs, picnic blankets, etc. – all ages are welcome. Ages: AllCost: Free

Yucky, super gross, slimy, sticky, stinky science! This STEM program will bring out your inner mad scientist with hands-on experiments and fun for all. Costumes are encouraged but not required.

Help the bat conservation effort by painting and taking home your very own bat house! After enjoying time to paint your custom bat house, we will take a short walk around Lake Wheeler Park to listen for bat calls. We may get lucky and see one flying overhead! his event requires pre-registration, so sign-up today to reserve your spot!

Why do leaves change color? Come find out in this fun-filled program. Participants will learn about leaves while participating in leaf-themed activities. We will even perform a science experiment to see what pigments leaves have. Ages: 7 - 10Cost: $4Advance registration is required. Adult(s) must accompany participant(s). Adult(s) attend free and do not need to register.Register on RecLink

Come and join us for an evening of family fun and creativity as we ring in the fall season! We will decorate pumpkins and enjoy tasty treats to inspire the most outrageous designs and creations. Fee of $12 include one pumpkin for decorating. If families want additional pumpkins, please register one person for each pumpkin.

Treats and FUN! Join us at Carolina Pines to celebrate the fall season! Come out in your costumes to enjoy scary scenes, music, and light refreshments!

Please join us for the “Glow it Forward” charity Pound Fitness event. We will 'pound' our way through this glow-themed class with black lights, glow paint, and other festive décor with half the registration fees going towards the Play it Forward Financial Assistance Fund. Participants are welcome to dress in their neon attire for superior glow and play. Play it Forward is a financial assistance fund offered by the City of Raleigh providing assistance to families and individuals who desire to participate in departmental programs but for financial reasons cannot always afford to. We hope you will join us for this special event that helps ensure individuals' participation in recreation programs that encourage healthy lifestyles, promote self-confidence, and teach life-long lessons. Ages: 15 +Cost: $15Register on Reclink

The Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum brings to life the stories of the Capital City’s tortured souls in Dark Raleigh – an “after-hours” interactive walking tour. Why do you need ghosts when you have the real stories? Get ready for Halloween on this true death, true crime tour. The tour is recommended for 16+ due to the mature/adult nature of the stories told.

You're Invited! Roberts Park is excited to invite you to a Family Fall Festival, a fun-filled event that promises to be a memorable day for youth and families alike. Join us for an unforgettable autumn experience. Event Highlights Crafts Games Food Trunk or Treat Costume Contest & more Ages: All Cost: Free

Dress up in your favorite fall colors or a school-approved costume. There will be arts and crafts stations, games to play, face painting, trick-or-treat stations, and much more! Ages: AllCost: Free

Looking for somewhere to bring your ghouls and goblins? Well, look no further! Bring them to Green Road Community Center. We will have a fun-packed evening with activities including a ghostly dance party, spooky crafts, monstrous games, and more! Kids will leave with a smile and a treat. Costumes are encouraged. Ages: AllCost: Free

The Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum brings to life the stories of the Capital City’s tortured souls in Dark Raleigh – an “after-hours” interactive walking tour. Why do you need ghosts when you have the real stories? Get ready for Halloween on this true death, true crime tour. The tour is recommended for 16+ due to the mature/adult nature of the stories told.

Magic and mayhem abound at Spellbound at Mordecai! Encounter mysterious characters and amazing magicians, have your fortune told, and decorate a pumpkin to take home for All Hallows' Eve.

Curious about spiders? Join us for some hands-on crafts and activities to learn more about what makes these tiny, eight-legged creatures so special! We will also spend some time exploring Lake Johnson Park looking for spiders in their native habitat. Ages: 4–6 yearsCost: $4Advance registration is required. Adult(s) must accompany participant(s). Adult(s) attend free and do not need to register.Register on RecLink

Neighbors of Marsh Creek Community Center are invited to our 2nd Annual Fall Health and Wellness Fair, a partnership event with The Produce Project!

Bring your kids and their candy buckets to Sanderford Road and see all the decorated trunks! We will be passing out candy at each car! Get ready to have a howling good time!

Come out, if you dare, for a haunted night at the Pines. Each ghoul-themed room will be complete with frightful music for the perfect Halloween thrill! Enter at your own risk! All event proceeds will go to Raleigh Parks' Play it Forward Financial Assistance Fund. Ages: 10+Cost: $5 per personRegister on RecLinkAttendees will travel through the haunted house in groups of four.

Learn Raleigh's grim history and explore vibrant downtown bars with the Director of the City of Raleigh Museum, Ernest Dollar. Ages: 21 +Cost: $15$10 for Members of the MuseumRegister for Sips and Scandals

Learn Raleigh's grim history and explore vibrant downtown bars with the Director of the City of Raleigh Museum, Ernest Dollar. Ages: 21 +Cost: $15$10 for Members of the MuseumRegister for Sips and Scandals

Do you want to learn more about how to create and deliver a social impact story that will inspire change in your school and community? Are you between the ages of 10 and 19 and interested in co-organizing, speaking, or performing at TEDxYouth@ChavisWay? Join us for our first of a three-part Amplifying Youth Voices workshop series. You’ll be introduced to storytelling tips and tricks for conveying a message effectively. You’ll also learn more about the TEDxYouth@ChavisWay event, scheduled for the spring, and explore ways to get involved! Ages: 10 -19Cost: FreeRegistration is not required but is highly encouraged.

Bizarre, eccentric, odd... anyway you put it — you have not seen anything like this. Join us at JCMP for the ultimate unusual experience! Arts, entertainment, games, costumes and the strange combined. Enter the world of weird and explore the unbelievable at our Bizarre Bazaar.