Parks & Rec

In partnership with the City of Raleigh Museum and as part of Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s First Friday events for May, we’re hosting a one-night preview of select items from the Archive’s collection, ahead of a bigger project on Raleigh’s skate history. Starting at 7 p.m.,  we’ll hear the stories behind some of the new and old photos from photographers Pete Thompson, Chris Facey, and Chris Seward.  Due to limited space, this will be a free but ticketed event. Location: City of Raleigh Museum Ages: All Cost: Free Register for Tickets

Want to learn more about City services without the hassle of traveling downtown? Now you can! Raleigh's Community Engagement Team is visiting neighborhoods across the city, bringing resources directly to residents. Residents will have the opportunity to: Learn about projects impacting your community; Sign up for activities and classes, including our FREE English Language programs; Get assistance navigating our website and services; and, Much more!

Join Let’s Get Social Raleigh and Raleigh Parks for the Third Annual Adult Recess Festival at Fletcher Park! Have a great time making new friends, welcoming newcomers to Raleigh, and supporting local, small Black-owned businesses! We know how hard adulting is, and we've made it easy to relieve that stress, even if for a few hours. Play outdoor games like dodgeball and tug-o-war or relax and play a board game or a round of trivia. Adult Recess has something for everyone! This event is free and open to the public. Go to the Let’s Get Social Raleigh website to register to receive event updates! Cost: Free Age: 21+ RSVP for the Adult Recess Festival

Join Us for a Special First Friday Market and Movie—on the Second Friday This May! Mark your calendars for an evening of family fun at Moore Square on Friday, May 9, from 5 – 9 p.m. This month’s First Friday Market and Movie is shifting to the second Friday and promises a lively evening of live music, movie-themed programming, yard games, food trucks, and market vendors. At 7:30 p.m., settle in under the stars for a free screening of Disney’s Tangled (2010). Details Date: Friday, May 9 Vendor Market: 5 - 9 p.m. Movie: 7:30 p.m., Tangled (2010) Food Trucks and Kids Programming Presented in partnership with Get 2 Know Raleigh. Movie sponsored by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

Join us for a very special Family Fun Day! We will explore the mighty oak tree and learn about our city's connection to it. Come prepared for dirt and gardening activities, and don’t forget to take home your own tree to plant! This event is sponsored by the Raleigh Garden Club. Location: City of Raleigh Museum Date: Saturday, May 10 Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ages: 0 - 10 years old Cost: Free No Registration Required 

Join artist, Jim Gallucci, for a scratch block workshop at Sertoma Arts Center. Participants will carve their own design into a sand mold that will be cast with molten iron during an iron pour event later this year. Jim will incorporate the completed iron blocks into his design for new art that will be a part of the Sertoma expansion. All materials will be provided. The activity involves scratching into sand, so be prepared to get a little sandy.   Register for the Scratch Block Workshop. Learn more about Public Art at Sertoma Arts Center.

Feed your belly and your brain! Bring your lunch to the City of Raleigh Museum and listen to a captivating lecture every third Thursday of the month. Join us for a Lunch Box Lecture by Madison Phillips, Assistant Director at Chavis Park. This will be a presentation on the Red-light district in Raleigh during the early 1900s. You will be led through time and space to uncover some of the most sensational stories of this city’s red-light district and how government officials of the Progressive Era worked to end this industry. Still, the women you will hear about were clever and resilient forces to be reckoned with! Date: Thursday, May 15 Time: noon - 1 p.m. Ages: All Cost: Free

The Five Points Center for Active Adults invites the community to its Spring Fling on Friday, May 16, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This free, family-friendly event celebrates community, creativity, and connection. Guests can look forward to live music from the Raleigh Parks Band, festival-style games, program demonstrations, and a variety of delicious local food trucks. Kids 12 and under eat free with pizza from Timber Pizza, and additional food will be available from Party in a Pita, Lee’s Kitchen, and Jones Lemonade Slushy. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for an evening on the lawn filled with fun activities, cornhole, and dancing. Inside, enjoy interactive demos of popular center programs like yoga, soul line dancing, art classes, and drumming. The Spring Fling is a great opportunity for neighbors to reconnect and explore all that the Five Points Center has to offer. Location: Five Points Center for Active Adults Date: Friday, May 16 Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Ages: All Cost: Free

ACA (American Canoe Association) of North Carolina and the North Carolina State Parks are once again joining together to host their annual Kayaking 101 event on May 17 to kick off National Safe Boating Week. Learn more about Introduction to Kayaking at Lake Johnson Location: Lake Johnson Date: Saturday, May 17 Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Ages: 18 and older Cost: Free Learn more and Register Today

Join us at Walnut Creek Wetland Park for an open house where you can: See our program in action through hands-on activities Meet current NEC students and hear their experiences Get to know our instructors Learn more about our curriculum Details Location: Walnut Creek Wetland Park Date: Saturday, May 17 Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: Middle and High School Students Cost: Free

The Rootle Roadster Tour is back and rolling into Moore Square on Saturday, May 17, for a free, fun-filled morning designed especially for young children and their families! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Square will transform into a vibrant hub of hands-on learning, creativity, and play. This unique, on-the-go event supports early childhood education through joyful activities that foster curiosity and discovery. Families can look forward to: Interactive crafts and sensory play stations Music and movement activities that get everyone grooving Literacy and learning games to spark little imaginations Community resources from local partners and educators Meet-and-greets with favorite Rootle characters (while supplies last!) Designed with children ages 2–8 in mind, the Rootle Roadster Tour brings the trusted, educational programming of PBS Kids off the screen and into your community. Join us at Moore Square for a joyful celebration of learning, family, and fun—right in the heart of Downtown Raleigh! Presented by PBS North Carolina in partnership with Raleigh Parks and Marbles Kids Museum. Details Date: Saturday, May 17 Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ages: All/Family-friendly Cost: Free Does not include admission to the Marbles Kids Museum.

Attention foodies and music lovers alike... Join us for our first night of a series of evenings featuring curated pairings of music genres and delicious cuisines. Dance the night away while savoring yummy bites! Location: John Chavis Memorial Park Ages: All Cost: Free