NCMA After Hours is a monthly event at North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, North Carolina. It is FREE to attend. No registration is required. NCMA After Hours is designed for adults, but all ages are welcome. Enjoy an evening of art, music, and creative energy. Explore the galleries after dark, experience live music or a DJ set, and take part in hands-on art activities … [Read more...] about NCMA After Hours at North Carolina Museum of Art Oct. 15
Museums and attractions
Haunted Trails and Houses in Raleigh and the Triangle — updated for 2026
Plan Spooky Season with this list of haunted trails near Raleigh, NC, and the rest of the Triangle! All of the attractions listed below are within driving distance of parts of the Triangle -- some closer than others, of course. We've listed the basic info for each attraction, but make sure to follow the links to get the latest info, and to buy tickets in advance if required. Some or most of … [Read more...] about Haunted Trails and Houses in Raleigh and the Triangle — updated for 2026
Second Sunday Open Studios at Nasher Museum of Art, and more!
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 2001 Campus Drive, Durham, is free for everyone every day that it's open. Reservations are not required. You might be interested in our list of museums in the Triangle with free admission (all the time or certain days.) Upcoming Events at Nasher Museum of Art Find a full list of events at Nasher Museum of Art at nasher.duke.edu/events/. … [Read more...] about Second Sunday Open Studios at Nasher Museum of Art, and more!
Visit Raleigh Fire Museum 2nd Saturday of month (for free)
Raleigh Fire Museum, 105 Keeter Center Drive in Raleigh, is open just one day a month to the public, although tours can be scheduled other times. If you'd like to just walk in, though, come by the second Saturday of the month, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It's free to visit. See photos and artifacts that tell the story of the history of firefighting. This is a small museum but it has hundreds of … [Read more...] about Visit Raleigh Fire Museum 2nd Saturday of month (for free)
2nd Friday ArtWalk: Extended Ackland Art Museum Hours
Ackland Art Museum, on the University of North Carolina campus at 101 S Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, opens for extended hours, 5 to 9 p.m., on the 2nd Friday of every month. Stroll through the galleries featuring highlights from a collection of over 21,000 works of art, browse the Museum Store, and sketch in the galleries using art supplies from the lobby’s art … [Read more...] about 2nd Friday ArtWalk: Extended Ackland Art Museum Hours
Museum of Life and Science free for Durham residents Oct. 8 and 20
Museum of Life and Science, 433 W Murray Avenue, Durham, is one of the most popular attractions in Durham. It features indoor and outdoor exhibits that encourage children to learn about the world around them. The exhibits explore a wide range of scientific fields -- physics, zoology, aerospace, weather, sound, and more -- all in a fun, hands-on way. Read on to learn all about the museum, or … [Read more...] about Museum of Life and Science free for Durham residents Oct. 8 and 20
The Market at NCMA Oct. 3
On the first Saturday of the month, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh, North Carolina, hosts art markets, with Triangle Pop-Up. Please note that in July, 2026, the market takes place Sunday, July 5, instead of on July 4. The Market at NCMA is a chance to browse and shop for gifts from local artists and artisans while you also enjoy the museum … [Read more...] about The Market at NCMA Oct. 3
First Friday at City of Raleigh Museum: Interviews with Raleigh Wide Open Artists Oct. 2
City of Raleigh Museum's mission is to "Preserve Raleigh's Past for the Future." It's supported by the nonprofit Friends of the COR Museum. The museum is at 220 Fayetteville Street, in the 1874 Briggs Building in historic downtown Raleigh. Admission is free, although a $5 donation is suggested and can be placed in the donation box in the gift shop. Hours: Learn about more free museums to … [Read more...] about First Friday at City of Raleigh Museum: Interviews with Raleigh Wide Open Artists Oct. 2
Free Field and Factory Tour at Duke Homestead Saturdays in September
Duke Homestead, at 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham, North Carolina, is presenting a special guided tour, "Field & Factory: Tobacco's Laborers" every Saturday in September, 2026. The tour is free and leaves from the visitor's center lobby at 11:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. To learn a fuller story of the people who worked in tobacco, join Duke Homestead staff on site for a special program, “Field … [Read more...] about Free Field and Factory Tour at Duke Homestead Saturdays in September
Free open house at Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History Sept. 26
The Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History, at 1013 Broad Street, Durham, North Carolina, houses a research collection that helps us to understand our evolutionary journey as primates. The collection includes 55 million year-old, lemur-like primate fossils from Wyoming; 37 to 28 million year-old anthropoid fossils from Egypt; 19 to 7 million year-old ape fossils from Egypt and India; 13 … [Read more...] about Free open house at Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History Sept. 26
