Dorothea Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, is hosting a number of diverse activities, for both adults and kids. Many of the events are free. Also, all require pre-registration. Read on to learn all about Dorothea Dix Park, and then to see the upcoming events. Follow the links to register.
All of the events and activities are free! Read on for more information about Dix Park, or jump to the list of special events and programs and classes.
In most cases, registration opens for events two weeks ahead of time, so keep checking back! Many fill up quickly.
Getting to Dix Park
Dix Park is between Western Boulevard, Lake Wheeler Road, Biggs Drive and Barbour Drive. Umstead Drive goes right though the park.
This map shows the different entrances and areas. There are several entrances on Hunt Drive at Western Boulevard, Umstead Drive at Lake Wheeler Road, and Goode Street at Lake Wheeler Road.
The NC Dept. of Health and Human Services is on the Dix Park campus, so parking is limited during the week. On weekend you can park in any of the parking areas that are striped green.
Dorothea Dix Park’s hours are dawn to dusk every day.
Daffodils and Sunflowers at Dorothea Dix Park
In the spring and summer, Dix Park becomes a destination for its big fields of flowers. Please don’t pick the flowers!
Daffodils
Over 40,000 daffodils are planted every year at Dix Park. The daffodils are planted in Flowers Field, off of Umstead Drive, behind the Flower Cottage. They bloom from February to March. They’re great early-spring photo ops.
Sunflowers
The Dix Sunflower Field is located off Hunt Drive, near the old soccer fields and the historic cemetery. The sunflowers start to bloom in July.
Dog Park at Dorothea Dix Park
The Dix Park Dog Park is open. It includes shade structures and a water station, with a separate area for small dogs. The dog park is near the Williams Building.
Special Events at Dorothea Dix Park
Capital City Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 15, 2024
12 to 6 p.m.
Harvey Hill
Free
This event features entertainment, a children’s performance stage, children’s activity zone, exhibitors, vendors and food trucks.
Summer Solstice Sunrise Yoga
Thursday, June 20, 2024
6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Flowers Field
Free
Watch the sun rise over downtown Raleigh on the first day of summer. Please arrive at 5:45 a.m. Yoga is a practice of connection… connecting us to our more authentic selves and connecting people together into community. Join us for an open-level and vinyasa-based practice, with room for agency, reflection, and personal expression of the poses. After the yoga session, the Tenco Coffee Truck will be there from 7 to 8 p.m.
Attun: Public Art Celebration at Dix Park
Friday, June 21, 2024
4 to 9 p.m.
Stone Houses at Dix Park, 800 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, NC
Free
Celebrate Attun, the latest installation of public art at Dix Park, by American sculptor DeWitt Godfrey. The celebration includes art activities, performances and food and beverages.
Raleigh 4th of July Fireworks
Thursday, July 4, 2024
6 to 10 p.m.
Big Field, 101 Blair Drive, Raleigh, NC
Free
Raleigh’s 4th of July fireworks are free to attend and take place at Dix Park. Please note that parking is off-site. Free parking and a free shuttle are provided. The event also includes music, family activities and food trucks. Follow above link for all the details.
Movie on the Lawn: Cars
Saturday, August 3, 2024
7 to 11 p.m.
Flowers Field
Free
This event starts with a Touch-a-Truck and food trucks. The movie starts at 8:45 p.m.
Treasure Hunt
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Start times: 4 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
Explore Dix Park during this fun free treasure hunt through a partnership with Triangle Treasure Hunt! Follow the above link to learn more and to register.
Programs and Classes at Dorothea Dix Park
You need to register for each program. Space is limited. Follow this link to register for any program at
Dix Park.
Yoga in the Park
Mondays, through August August 26, 2024
6 p.m.
Flowers Field
Free
Wake County Public Library Pop-Up
Friday, June 14, 2024
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Outdoor Classroom at the Stone Houses Visitor Center
Free
Join Wake County Public Libraries for a pop-up library at the Dix Park outdoor classroom! You can sign up for a library card, check out items and return borrowed materials. Family story time begins at 10:30am and is an interactive program with books, music, rhymes and movement designed to nurture pre-reading skills for young children.
Birdwatching
June 15, 2024
July 13, 2024
July 27, 2024
August 10, 2024
8 to 10 a.m.
Flowers Cottage
Free
Learn about the resident and migrant birds of Dix Park and sharpen your bird identification skills as we practice birding by sight and by ear to prepare this spring. Get ready to learn tips for identifying sparrows, woodpeckers, hawks and more. Contribute to real science data as we monitor how the diversity of birds changes in the park from month to month.
Little Explorers: Firefly Frenzy
Monday, June 17, 2024
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Outdoor Classroom at the Stone Houses Visitor Center
Free
Children will have great fun learning all about lightning bugs, the amazing lights of summer! Songs, games and a glowing craft are sure to delight our little learners.
This program is for children ages 2-6 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please arrive a few minutes before 11:00 am.
Artist Talk: DeWitt Godfrey
Thursday, June 20, 2024
7:30 to 9 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
Attun, the artist’s latest large-scale work newly installed at Dix Park, revisits an earlier body of work, where the shape of the individual elements (and overall structure) are determined by the combination of gravity, adjacency, size, scale, and material behavior. These linear, fence or wall-like sculptures – stacked between buildings and trees or in the landscape – were intuitive and improvisational, with little formal engineering. This talk will retrace some of that history, how this way of working set the stage for my current work, and thoughts about revisiting the past.
Guided Walking Tour
Saturday, June 22, 2024
12 to 2 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
This free, 2-hour, 3.5 mile walking tour will cover the history of the buildings, land, and legacy of Dorothea Dix; the current use as both Raleigh’s largest urban park and as the headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services; and the next steps the City is taking to plan the future of Dix Park.
Plant Pals: Mini Succulent Garden
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
In this workshop participants will build a mini garden featuring succulents. The workshop includes instruction, a plastic pot, premium house-mixed succulent soil, and decor items.
Forest Bathing
Sunday, June 30, 2024
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Flowers Cottach
Free
In Japan, forest walks, known as shinrin-yoku , ‘bathing in the forest atmosphere’, are a key aspect of preventative health care. Join us for a talk and walk exploring the history and research behind forest bathing and benefits for human health while experiencing a guided forest bathing walk along Dix Park’s Pine Loop Trail. The actual walking portion is less than .3 miles and will start and end at the Flower Cottage.
Discovering the Magic of Pollinators
Saturday, July 13, 2024
10 to 11:30 a.m.
Magnolia Room
Free
Join Nomadic Roots Herbals to unravel the mystery of pollinators! This is an interactive class designed for both kids and adults to learn about the mutual relationship between plants and pollinating insects and animals. From butterflies and bees to bats and birds, learn about their crucial role in our ecosystem and how they help plants reproduce. Through engaging activities, games and hands-on experiences, participants will gain a deeper appreciation for pollinators and the importance of conserving their habitats. Get ready to explore nature’s busy workers, all while surrounded by the whimsical ambiance of Dix’s signature field of sunflowers.
Self Care Sunday: Sound Bath
Sunday, July 14, 2024
2 to 3:30 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
Join us for an afternoon of deep relaxation and inner peace, as ethereal tones and harmonious vibrations envelop your senses, soothing the mind, body, and soul. Led by Sound Bath Facilitator Jana Campbell of Sound Sanctuary, this unique experience promises to transport you to a state of profound serenity, releasing tensions and restoring balance. Be prepared to embark on a transformative sonic odyssey that will leave you refreshed and revitalized, ready to embrace life with renewed vigor and clarity.
Arts on the Hill — Photography Workshop
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
6 to 8 p.m.
Outdoor Classroom at the Stone Houses Visitor Center
Free
Attendees will learn all about basic composition techniques, capturing light and shadow, and camera settings to create impactful images. You will experiment with different lighting scenarios and discover the storytelling potential of photography. This workshop is perfect for beginners or those looking to refine their techniques.
Guided Walking Tour
Saturday, July 20, 2024
12 to 2 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
This free, 2-hour, 3.5 mile walking tour will cover the history of the buildings, land, and legacy of Dorothea Dix; the current use as both Raleigh’s largest urban park and as the headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services; and the next steps the City is taking to plan the future of Dix Park.
Little Explorers: Paws + Claws
Monday, July 22, 2024
11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Outdoor Classroom at the Stone Houses Visitor Center
Free
Children will have fun learning all about animal feet with this engaging program. Games, songs plus live creatures with interesting feet will bring this program to life! This program is for children ages 2-6 years old. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please arrive a few minutes before 11:00 am.
Self Care Sunday: Yoga
Sunday, July 28, 2024
3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
Join yoga instructor, Carrington Razook-Jackson with Blue Lotus for a practice that uses movement, breath, and stillness to re-center and replenish ourselves, and to remember that we are better together. This is an open-level and vinyasa-based class, with room for agency, reflection, personal expression of the poses and discernment.
Plant Pals: Air Plant Terrarium
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
In this workshop participants will create the perfect habitat in which to display a beautiful air plant. The workshop includes instruction, a glass vessel, materials for creating the habitat including sand and other natural elements, 1 air plant of their choice plus all tools and materials to complete the project.
Self Care Sunday: Sound Bath
Sunday, August 4, 2024
2 to 3:30 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
Join us for an afternoon of deep relaxation and inner peace, as ethereal tones and harmonious vibrations envelop your senses, soothing the mind, body, and soul. Led by Sound Bath Facilitator Jana Campbell of Sound Sanctuary, this unique experience promises to transport you to a state of profound serenity, releasing tensions and restoring balance. Be prepared to embark on a transformative sonic odyssey that will leave you refreshed and revitalized, ready to embrace life with renewed vigor and clarity.
Connect & Create: Intro to Animation
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
Learn the basics to animation from Artspace’s NC Emergency Artist in Resident Anna Lee! Participants will get hands-on experience and learn how to create a simple animation using an old school Flipbook technique.
Plant Pals: Crystal Intentions Terrarium
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
6 p.m.
The Chapel
Free
In this workshop participants will create a mini living environment where crystals are the centerpiece. The workshop includes instruction, a glass vessel for the terrarium, all materials for the various layers, 1 plant of their choice, moss for decoration, and up to 2 crystals of their choice. We will also lead participants through an intention setting ritual in order to charge their crystals before placing them in their terrariums.
Find all upcoming events at dorotheadixpark.org/calendar.
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.