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11 RAINY Day Activities in Winston-Salem (in 2024)

Outside of the Stevens Center, one of the best rainy day activities in Winston-Salem
Stevens Center, one of the best rainy day activities in Winston-Salem – Nolichuckyjake / Shutterstock.com

As there are many great rainy day activities in Winston-Salem, you can have a lot of fun even though it’s raining outside.

Are your outdoor plans canceled because of the weather? No worries, I got you covered with this list of incredible indoor activities. There are many kinds of activities you can do indoors so I’m sure there will be something for your liking.

Whether you want to see a performance, play a game, or learn something, the city has lots to offer when it’s raining. I made this Winston-Salem rainy day activities guide to help you decide what to do.

Rainy Day Activities in Winston-Salem

See a Performance at the Stevens Center

Stevens Center from the outside
Outside of the Stevens Center – Nolichuckyjake / Shutterstock.com

When it is raining outside, you can see a performance at the Stevens Center.

This is a beautiful historic theater that you can find in downtown Winston-Salem.

This performing arts venue dates back to the year 1929, when it started as a silent movie theatre.

The interior features beautiful details and magnificent colors.

The theater was restored in the year 1983 and. since then many different types of shows can be seen here.

For example, you could go here to see opera performances, classical music events, dance shows, and much more.

Because of this variety, I’m sure there’s a type of show that you would like to attend at the Stevens Center! Seeing a show there is also one of the most fun date ideas in Winston-Salem.

Address: 405 4th St NW, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Bowl at Creekside Lanes

You can also go bowling when it is pouring rain outside.

There are several bowling alleys in and near Winston-Salem and one of the best is Creekside Lanes.

This is a fun bowling center that can be great to visit with the whole family.

The bowling alley is open every day of the week and almost the whole day you can go here to bowl.

Moreover, the bowling alley has a very cozy atmosphere, which makes an experience here very enjoyable.

Also, what’s great is that you can do more than bowling at Creekside Lanes. That’s because there are pool tables as well and you can also go here to play arcade games.

Address: 1450 Trade Mart Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27127

See Art at the Reynolda House Museum of American Art

Reynolda House Museum of American Art from the outside
Exterior of the Reynolda House Museum of American Art

Want to see art when it is raining in Winston-Salem? Then, you can go to the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

Reynolda is a beautiful estate that dates back to the year 1917.

At this place, you can see great exhibitions of American art. This is one of the best things to do in Winston-Salem. The collection spans a period of 250 years and you can see works by many famous artists here.

For example, you can go here to see works by Gilbert Stuart, Georgia O’Keeffe, and many others.

What’s great is that the paintings are displayed in the beautiful historic Reynolda House. This house provides a beautiful ambiance!

Address: 2250 Reynolda Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

See a Movie at A/perture Cinema

Seeing a movie is one of the best indoor things to do in Winston-Salem on a rainy day.

You can go to a/perture cinema for this.

This is a local art house movie theater where you can see many different types of movies. You can go here to see indie, foreign, and classic films that are very interesting to see!

Also, what’s great is that you can get delicious local concessions here and there are unique drinks too.

This combined with a wonderful atmosphere makes going to the movie theater a great experience.

You can also sometimes attend film-related events at the a/perture cinema.

Address: 311 W 4th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Have Mexican Food at Xcaret Mexican Grill and Cantina

Outside of Xcaret Mexican Grill and Cantina
Front of Xcaret Mexican Grill and Cantina – Nolichuckyjake / Shutterstock.com

Another great indoor activity is going to the Xcaret Mexican Grill and Cantina.

This is a restaurant that was founded in the year 2017.

At this restaurant, you can get delicious fresh, and authentic Mexican food.

There are many delicious dips, great salads, amazing soups, and high-quality tacos in all kinds of flavors. Besides that, there are many other Mexican dishes that are great to try!

If you want to have very delicious Mexican food when it is raining outside in the city, you should check out this restaurant for sure!

Also, what’s nice is that this restaurant has a good brunch menu.

And the drinks that you can get here are very unique and good as well!

Address: 202 4th St NW, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Play an Escape Game at Total Escape

An escape game is another fun activity that you can do indoors.

This is a type of game during which you are locked in a room and during which you have to find clues and solve puzzles. When you successfully solve all puzzles and find all clues within a certain period of time, you can escape from the room and win.

You can go to Total Escape to play an escape game in Winston-Salem.

At this place, there’s a variety of escape games that you can play.

Each escape game has a different theme. For example, there is one with a “prison break” theme that can be fun to play.

What’s nice about Total Escape as well is that there are family-friendly rooms. So these rooms can be great to play with the whole family!

Address: 280 Charlois Blvd #200, Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Go To the Frank L. Horton Museum Center

Front of the Frank L. Horton Museum Center
Entrance of the Frank L. Horton Museum Center – Serenethos / Shutterstock.com

If you want to learn new things going to the Frank L. Horton Museum Center is one of the best rainy day activities in Winston-Salem.

This is a place where you can find several places.

One of the places that you can check out here is The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, or MESDA.

This is an interesting decorative arts museum where you can see temporary exhibitions with all sorts of objects.

For example, you might find an exhibition here with ceramics. Or you could see an exhibition with manuscripts.

Each exhibition is very interesting and perfect when looking for indoor activities.

Address: 924 South Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Have Fun at BATL Axe Throwing Winston-Salem

If you want to experience a very unique activity you can go to BATL Axe Throwing in Winston-Salem.

This is a venue where you can experience the fun activity of axe throwing.

During this activity, you throw axes on a wooden target, which can be a lot of fun.

You can do this activity with friends and have a fun time. Or you can come to this place by yourself and join a tournament and compete against others!

What’s great about this activity is that anyone can do it. It is a great place for all ages, skill levels, and genders!

Furthermore, you can have a drink at this place as well, which makes going here even more fun!

Address: 109 W 9th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Visit Kaleideum and Learn About Science

Kaleideum from the outside
Entrance of Kaleideum – Nolichuckyjake / Shutterstock.com

This is a great indoor activity in Winston-Salem for families. You can go to Kaleideum.

This is a science museum with all kinds of interactive exhibits that are very fun and interesting.

For example, there is an exhibit about dinosaurs. There are three dinosaur models and there are both real and replica fossils.

There is also an exhibit that focuses on tropical rainforests in South America. Here, you and your children can learn about many species of animals.

You can also find a hurricane simulator at the museum. In this simulator, you can feel what a hurricane is like.

Another interesting exhibit at the museum is the “Foucault pendulum”. This is a pendulum that moves back and forth in the same direction. However, the rotation of the earth lets it move and you can see this change.

This museum is also great if you’re looking for fun things to do in Winston-Salem with kids.

Address: 400 W Hanes Mill Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

Go to the Hanesbrands Theatre and See a Show

You can see a show at the Hanesbrands Theatre.

This is a black-box theater that is operated by the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County.

Several theater groups perform at this place and seeing a performance by these groups can be a lot of fun.

For example, you can see a show of the Winston-Salem Festival Ballet or the North Carolina Black Repertory Company.

Besides that, there are other types of shows that take place here.

Address: 209 N Spruce St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Go to the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art and See Art

At the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, you can see great works of contemporary art.

This is a multimedia contemporary art gallery without a permanent collection. Instead, you can go here to see temporary exhibitions that are very diverse.

The temporary exhibitions show works by artists from all around the world, but also by regional and local artists.

So this art gallery is also a great place to get to know the local art scene of Winston-Salem.

Besides exhibitions, many events take place at the center that also make for great things to do when it rains in Winston-Salem.

For example, you can go to the center to attend talks, see films, enjoy performances, and do much more.

There’s no admission fee, so the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art is also great if you’re looking for free things to do in Winston-Salem.

Address: 750 Marguerite Dr, Winston-Salem, NC 27106

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Winston-Salem Things To Do When It Rains Tips

Want to have a day full of activities? Then, you can also combine some of the things to do on a rainy day in Winston-Salem on this list.

For example, you can see a show at a theater and go axe throwing on the same day!

Also, you could choose a coffee shop in the city to also visit when doing these activities.

Furthermore, I recommend always bringing an umbrella with you. This makes for a much more comfortable experience when getting to each place from your car.

Buildings and trees in Winston-Salem
View of Winston-Salem

Indoor Things To Do On a Rainy Day in Winston-Salem Map


As you see, there are many great rainy day activities in Winston-Salem. I hope you found some great ones for you on this list!

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