Parks & Rec

Celebrate Earth Day at Mordecai Historic Park and get your herb, vegetable, and flower gardens started for the season! Heirloom varieties of plants will be on sale at great prices. All plants are started from seed by the Mordecai Historic Park gardeners. Plants will include tomatoes, peppers, squash, herbs, and much more. Gardeners will be on hand to answer questions and provide more information about the garden and grounds at Mordecai Historic Park! For questions or more information, please call 919-996-4364. Location: Mordecai Historic Park Ages: All ages Cost: $3 - $5 per plant

Receive a free, hands-on experience with vehicles of all kinds at Sanderford Road's annual Touch-A-Truck event. This interactive, family-friendly event allows children and adults to see, touch, and safely explore their favorite trucks and heavy machinery. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the individuals who operate these vehicles while protecting, serving, and improving the Raleigh community. This event will also include a "No Horn Hour" to ensure that guests with sensitive hearing can comfortably experience the vehicles. Details Location: Sanderford Road Park Time: 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. (No Horn Hour, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.) Ages: All Cost: Free

Raleigh Parks’ Moore Square, in partnership with @Get2KnowRaleigh, welcomes back the First Friday Market & Movie Night series for the 2026 season. This free monthly event brings the community together for local vendors, food trucks, live music, and a featured outdoor movie in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Join us on the first Friday of each month from May through November, with the market and food trucks beginning at 5 p.m., live music at 5:30 p.m., and the movie starting around 7:15 p.m. 2026 First Friday Movie Lineup May 1 - The Incredibles (2004) June 5 - Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) July 3 - Hamilton (2020)* "Celebrate America 250!" (movie will begin at 6 p.m.) Aug. 7 - Zootopia 2 (2025) Sept. 4 - Remember the Titans (2000) Oct. 2 - Ghostbusters (1984) Nov. 6 - Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)* (movie will begin at 6:30 p.m.) Details Market & Food Trucks: 5 - 9 p.m. Live Music: 5:30 p.m. Movie: 7:15 p.m. Ages: All Cost: Free Presented in partnership with Get 2 Know Raleigh. Movie sponsored by the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

Swing by and get creative! We’ll have free crafting and collaging supplies ready for you to play, experiment, and make something uniquely yours. Plus, the City of Raleigh Museum is joining the First Friday fun with extended hours! Details Location: City of Raleigh Museum Date: Friday, May 1 Time: 6 - 9 p.m. Ages: All Cost: Free

Mark your calendars for a fun-filled family sneaker ball! This family-friendly event is sure to knock your socks off! Come dressed in semi-formal attire and your coolest kicks. This event will have an awesome DJ, games, arts and crafts, and food trucks. Let us see your sneaker game while you dance the night away. Location: Green Road Community Center Ages: All Cost: Free Register on RecLink

Get ready to ride, roll, and have a blast! Join Oaks & Spokes, Wake County Safe Routes to School, and John Chavis Memorial Park for an exciting Community Bike Rodeo and Traffic Garden Event. This fun-filled afterschool celebration brings together active movement, safe streets, Bike Month, and Bike & Roll to School Day. At the Kids Bike Rodeo, children will build confidence on two wheels while learning important bike safety skills. They’ll zoom through an obstacle course and explore a Traffic Garden, a child-sized streetscape where kids can practice road safety through hands-on play and imagination. Details Location: John Chavis Memorial Park Ages: All Cost: Free No Registration is Required

Don't miss an unforgettable evening with the authors of Lost Raleigh: Exploring the Oak City's Architectural History, Ian F. G Dunn and Mary Ruffin Hanbury! This book is a comprehensive look at the city’s cultural and architectural past and a plea to protect and preserve the landmarks that make our cities unique, connecting us to our shared history. Grab your copy, get it personally signed, and walk away with an exclusive, limited edition bookmark absolutely free. Details Location: City of Raleigh Museum Ages: All Cost: Free

Music played a central role in American family life during the 19th and early 20th centuries, long before the advent of television and cellphones. African American households embraced music as a powerful means of self-expression.  Through gospel, jazz, blues, and classical music, African Americans found a way to share their stories, joys, and sorrows. 'Black Joy in the Springtime' beautifully highlights this rich musical heritage at one of Raleigh's historic African American homes. Enjoy a delightful musical performance by Shenette Swann. Details Location: Pope House Museum Date: Saturday, May 9 Time: 2 - 3 p.m. Ages: All Cost: Free

Join us for a screening of the 2023 documentary REFUGE. The film follows a former white nationalist leader as he begins to confront his beliefs after connecting with a Muslim refugee doctor and the community in Clarkston, Georgia. Through their experiences, REFUGE looks at the roots of hate and what it can take to move past it. The screening will be followed by a discussion with local and national experts on how people and communities work through division, build trust, and find common ground. Learn more about the REFUGE Film Screening and Panel Details Location: City of Raleigh Museum Date: Thursday, May 7 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Ages: All Cost: Free Register for Tickets via Eventbrite

Come out and show off your best hat at Top Greene. This special Hat Show honors and celebrates Black culture and the rich tradition of hat-wearing through style, creativity, and self-expression. Please join us for The Hat Show Contest, a celebratory event honoring creativity, style, and cultural expression on Sunday, May 17, from 3 – 6 p.m. We will feature a special guest, Dr. Donna Corbett, and The Mary Corbett Hat Collection will showcase a timeless collection of her mother’s vintage hats, highlighting the enduring elegance and cultural influence of classic millinery. From refined silhouettes to bold statements, this presentation honors the legacy of style passed from one generation to the next, and Erica Kendrick, a ceramic artist, sculptor, and educator Best Hat Contest Everyone who attends will be entered into the contest and have the opportunity to showcase their hat for a chance to win a FREE 3-hour rental at Top Greene. Bring your confidence, your culture, and your crown — because the hat makes the statement. Come out, show love, and help us make this a night to remember! Details Location: John P. Top Greene African American Cultural Center Ages: All Cost: $15 (All attendees are automatically entered […]

Calling all plant lovers! Join us for an exciting plant swap event. Bring your favorite house and garden plants or homegrown vegetables to trade with fellow plant enthusiasts. We ask that you bring only healthy, pest-free plants to ensure everyone’s enjoyment. This event is free and open to the public! Details Location: City of Raleigh Museum Date: Saturday, May 23 Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Ages: All Cost: Free