Whether you like art, history, music, chocolate, or something else, there are many great free things to do in Raleigh, NC.
As there are a lot of great activities you can do in the city without spending a dime, you can have a lot of fun in Raleigh if you’re on a budget. There are free tours, many great museums that have no admission fee, amazing free events you can attend, historic buildings you can see, and there’s much more.
To help you find the most fun activities that you can do without spending anything, I made this Raleigh free things to do guide!
Free Things To Do in Raleigh
See Contemporary Art at CAM Raleigh
CAM Raleigh is a contemporary art museum in Raleigh that is solely dedicated to contemporary art.
You can visit the museum for free as it has no admission fee.
At the museum, there’s no permanent collection, but, instead, you can see temporary exhibitions fo contemporary works at the museum that were made by artists from all across the world.
Each exhibition displays unique works, and CAM Raleigh is a great way to discover new types of works, artists, and art styles. Going to this museum is also one of the best things to do in Raleigh.
There are also free events that take place at CAM Raleigh. For example, you can attend the First Friday event for free. During this event, you can listen to live music, and you can get, albeit not free, delicious food from local food trucks and vendors.
Address: 409 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27603
Do a Free Tour of the Videri Chocolate Factory
You can do a tour of the Videri Chocolate Factory for free in Raleigh.
Videri Chocolate Factory is a chocolate shop and chocolate factory, and it is located in downtown Raleigh at 327 West Davie Street.
During a free self-guided tour of the facility, which you can do every day of the week, you can learn about the chocolate-making process of the factory by yourself. You can read about the different production steps and watch videos.
In addition to that, you can sample free chocolate bars during the tour. This tour is also very fun if you’re looking for date ideas in Raleigh.
A self-guided tour of the Videri Chocolate Factory lasts about 15 minutes in total.
Address: 327 W Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
See Free Art Exhibitions at Artspace
Artspace is a non-profit visual arts center that you can find in downtown Raleigh. The center is situated on East Davie Street in the city of Raleigh.
At Artspace, you can see free art exhibitions that showcase art by both national and regional artists.
These temporary art exhibitions are at Artspace for a limited time only, which can range from several weeks to several months.
Artspace is also home to 35 working artists and their studios, and it is possible to do art classes at Artspace. People of all ages and abilities can do these classes and during the classes, you can learn a variety of art disciplines, such as pottery, from local artists.
Address: 201 E Davie St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
You can visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for free. This museum is one of the oldest museums in the state and you can find it in downtown Raleigh. At the museum, you can learn about science and nature for free. Going to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is also one of the most fun things to do with kids in Raleigh.
The museum has permanent exhibits through which you can learn about a variety of science disciplines. For example, one of the exhibits at the museum is about gemstones that were found in North Carolina.
Another exhibit at the museum is about the rare nature of North Carolina.
There’s also an interesting exhibit about North Carolina during the prehistory.
There are also temporary exhibits and events that you can see and attend for free.
Address: 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Attend a Free Event at Moore Square
Moore Square, a historic gathering place in the city of Raleigh, is host to various free events during the year that can be great to check out if you’re looking for free things to do in Raleigh.
You can attend an event here on many days of the week.
From playing free giant games to playing chess during a chess tournament to seeing a free movie, there’s much to do at Moore Square and there’s an event for everyone’s liking!
Also, because of Moore Square’s central location, it is easy to go here and to other places in Raleigh’s downtown.
Learn About History at the City of Raleigh Museum
The City of Raleigh Museum is a museum that you can find on Fayetteville Street in Raleigh’s downtown. The museum is located inside a historic hardware store and you can visit the museum for free.
You can learn about Raleigh’s history through various exhibits at the City of Raleigh Museum. There are both permanent exhibits and temporary exhibits.
One of the permanent exhibits of the museum is about the flag of the city.
Another interesting exhibit that you can see at the museum is the “Hello! We are Raleigh” exhibit. This is a permanent exhibit that doesn’t focus on one specific part of Raleigh’s history, instead, you can learn about the city’s general history through photos, stories, and all kinds of artifacts.
Address: 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Do a Free Tour of the North Carolina Executive Mansion
The North Carolina Executive Mansion is the official residence of the governor of North Carolina.
You can do a free tour of the building.
The North Carolina Executive Mansion is a historic mansion with a Queen Anne-style architectural style that was built in the year 1883, and the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
During a public tour of the mansion, you can see the mansion’s interior and get information about the mansion.
Keep in mind that you need to make an advance reservation if you want to do the tour, and you should also see when it is possible to do the tour as the tours are only available during some months of the year.
If you’re looking for free activities in Raleigh, you can also check out the events of the mansion, as there are free events as well. One of these events is the “Holiday Open Hosue” event during which you can do a tour of the house, listen to local music, and see great decorations.
Address: 200 N Blount St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Check Out the Memorial Belltower
One of Raleigh’s best landmarks is the Memorial Belltower.
This is a tower that dates back to the year 1937 and that you can find on the campus of North Carolina State University at Henry Square.
The Memorial Belltower serves as a memorial to the students of the university who gave their lives during World War I and the tower is also central to many of the university’s events.
Go to a Free Event at the JC Raulston Arboretum
The JC Raulston Arboretum is a botanical garden and arboretum that is part of the North Carolina State University.
The arboretum is home to all sorts of plants and flowers.
Lots of events take place at the arboretum and botanical garden throughout the year and many of these events can be attended for free.
Some of the events at the JC Raulston Arboretum allow you to learn about horticulture. For example, there are classes through which you can learn about plants, so if you’re interested in nature, this is a great free thing to do in Raleigh for you.
There are also great events that are family-friendly. For example, there are fun guided events during which you can explore the garden in a fun way.
See the North Carolina State Capitol
The North Carolina State Capitol is North Carolina’s capitol building and it has been in use as the state’s capitol building since 1840.
It is a beautiful historic building that has the Greek Revival style and it is a National Historic Landmark.
The North Carolina State Capitol is being renovated, and during renovations tours of the building are not possible, but you can see the exterior of the building.
In addition to that, when there are no renovation works, it is possible to do a tour of the building for free.
You can find the North Carolina State Capitol at 1 East Edenton Street in Raleigh.
Address: 1 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Visit the North Carolina Sports Hall Of Fame
The North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame that you can find on the third floor of the NC Museum of History.
At the NC Sports Hall of Fame, which you can visit for free, you can find more than 200 items that are related to sports in the state, and through these items, you can learn about North Carolina’s sports legends.
In addition to that, the hall dates back to the year 1962 and has over 400 inductees.
Address: 5 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Explore the State Farmers Market
The State Farmers Market is a 7-day-a-week farmers market that you can find at 1201 Agriculture Street in Raleigh.
The market takes place all year round and is home to many local vendors selling all kinds of goods, such as fruit, gifts, and much more.
You can stroll the market for free and see the offerings of the vendors.
There are both indoor and outdoor shopping areas. One of the buildings of the market is the “Farmers Building”, which is home to vendors selling fresh produce, specialty items, and plants.
Seeing the goods at the market is an activity that you can do for free, and for a small price you could buy something if you like it.
Address: 1201 Agriculture St, Raleigh, NC 27603
See the Historic City Market
The historic City Market of Raleigh is an interesting attraction that you can find in downtown Raleigh.
The City Market dates back to the year 1914 and was a popular place until the 1940s.
In the 1990s, the market was renovated, and nowadays it is home to specialty shops, local restaurants, and other venues.
You can explore the historic City Market for free.
See the Collection of the Gregg Museum of Art & Design for Free
The Gregg Museum of Art & Design is a museum that is part of the North Carolina State University.
At the museum, you can find a collection of objects from all around the world and objects that are very diverse. In total, the collection includes more than 50,000 different items.
You can also find objects from many periods in time at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design, and the types of objects at the museum include sculptures, ceramics, paintings, and a variety of other items.
There are about 6 new exhibitions each year, so you can often see something new at the museum.
In addition to that, there are free events that also make for great free things to do in Raleigh. For example, there are film screenings.
Address: 1903 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27607
Go to Packapalooza
Packapalooza is an annual event of North Carolina State University that takes place in summer.
The event can be attended by the local community for free and takes place on Hillsborough Street.
During the event, you can listen to great live music, enjoy fun family-friendly activities, and do much more. There’s also a fireworks and laser light show that is incredible to attend.
There are also more than 300 vendors at the event.
See Art for Free at the North Carolina Museum of Art
The North Carolina Museum of Art is an art museum that has no admission fee.
The museum dates back to the year 1956 and houses the People’s Collection, which is a collection of all kinds of objects from the state of North Carolina as well as items from outside of the state.
The collection spans a period of more than 5,000 years, and there is a large variety of items on display, from paintings to decorative arts to sculptures.
There are also events at the museum that you can attend for free, such as film screenings.
As this is an indoor activity, this museum can also be great if you’re looking for rainy day activities in Raleigh.
Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
Have Fun With the Whole Family at the Got to Be NC Festival
The Got To Be NC Festival is an annual festival that takes place for one weekend in the year. The festival takes place at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds and you can attend it for free.
The festival is all about celebrating North Carolina agriculture.
There’s much to do and see at the festival making going there a very fun free activity in Raleigh. From listening to music to doing a workshop to seeing a stunt show, there’s much to do at the Got to Be NC Festival, and there’s an activity for everyone’s liking.
Go to a Free Event at the North Carolina Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History is a museum where you can find all kinds of artifacts and other objects related to the culture and history of North Carolina.
There are permanent exhibits at the museum through which you can learn about a specific part of North Carolina’s history.
One of the exhibits that you can find at the museum is the “1920s Drugstore” exhibit. This exhibit shows you objects from the former 1920s J.C. Brantley Drugstore.
You can also attend free events at the North Carolina Museum of History. For example, you can see demonstrations by artists and there are free workshops.
Address: 5 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Listen to Music During the Free Hopscotch Music Festival
The Hopscotch Music Festival is a music festival that takes place in September in the city of Raleigh. The festival is held at City Plaza and Moore Square.
During the festival, most of the day parties are free to attend. You can listen to a large variety of genres of music by more than 100 bands, and there’s likely a performance that you will enjoy going to.
Keep in mind that some of the day parties have a cover charge.
Attend a Free Community Event at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University hosts great free events during the year that the general public can attend for free.
The events vary depending on when you want to attend an event. You can use the university’s calendar to see if there’s an event that you like to attend when you are in Raleigh.
An example of an event that took place at the university was a free yoga class.
Sometimes, there are also lectures that you can attend for free and through which you can learn new things about a specific topic.
Enjoy Free Events during the First Friday Event
First Friday is an event that usually takes place on the first Friday of each month in Raleigh’s downtown.
The event is a great way to explore Raleigh’s art scene for free.
During First Friday, there are many art galleries and art studies that are open late.
At the art galleries and art studies, you can see art, but there’s much more to do and see making it a great free thing to do in Raleigh. For example, you can enjoy live music, there are artist talks, there are all sorts of creative activities, and there are many other types of activities.
Because many art galleries and art studios participate in the event, you can see a lot of different art spots in the city during this one event.
Go to a Free Event at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library
The James B. Hunt Jr. Library is a library that is part of North Carolina State University.
The library opened in 2013 and has an interesting contemporary design which makes it unique. You can see this design both on the outside of the library as well.
There are events at the library that the public can attend for free.
For example, there are author events and film screenings that you can go to without spending a dime.
These events take place throughout the year, and there are many different types of events, so there’s likely an event for everyone’s liking!
Address: 1070 Partners Way, Raleigh, NC 27606
Check Out More than 500 Vendors at The Raleigh Market
The Raleigh Market is the largest flea market in the state of North Carolina.
The market is located at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds and takes place every weekend. The market has free admission.
At the market, you can find more than 500 vendors that sell all sorts of items. From crafts to furniture to jewelry to art, there’s much to see at the flea market.
You can explore The Raleigh Market and see all sorts of unique items without spending a dime. However, you might see an item that you want to buy, and you can find a rotating selection of food trucks and other food vendors at the market where you can buy delicious food.
Address: 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
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Raleigh Free Things To Do Tips
The activities in this Raleigh free things to do guide are a great way to have fun in the city of Raleigh without spending a dime.
However, if you want to have a more fun and relaxing time, you can often find a restaurant, coffee shop, or other venue, near the place that you’ve chosen to go where you can get food or drinks for a small price, so I recommend doing that!
Free Things To Do in Raleigh Map
I hope you liked the activities! As you see, there are a lot of free things to do in Raleigh, NC.