JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, at 4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, aims to introduce, display, and promote plants that diversify the American landscape, as well as educate visitors and provide a living laboratory for research.
The Arboretum is free to visit. Its hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Arboretum hosts many events and activities. Some are free and some have a cost associated with them. The cost for many events is low, $5, and free for Arboretum members. You can see all of the events on the calendar.
Upcoming Events
Please make sure to follow the links for more information, and to register if required.
Winter Storytime
Friday, February 28, 2025
10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
$5 per child
Suggested for ages 3 to 5
The program starts at the Bobby G. Wilder Visitor Center. Then, the group will take a stroll through the winter gardens to see all that is happening in the gardens, read a book and stop by the Education Yurt for a fun craft.
Please come dressed for the weather as this program will be primarily outdoors. In the case of severe cold or wet weather, the program may be rescheduled if it can’t be moved indoors. Parents/caregivers stay with children during the program.
Garden Story Walk
Saturday, March 1 – Sunday, March 9, 2025
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Free
Come out to the gardens for a Garden Story Walk. Enjoy a walk through the beautiful gardens and read a good story at the same time!
This story will be out in the gardens from Saturday, March 1 until Sunday, March 9 during garden open hours.
Not familiar with Story Walks? Story Walks are self-guided experiences where pages of a book are displayed in the garden. Information about where to find the title page is posted at the Visitor Center. Once you find the first page of the story in the garden, you’ll see the next page and be able to follow the story as you stroll through the gardens. There is no set time to start this experience and can be done at your own pace. Most stories can be experienced in about half an hour to an hour.
The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.
Plant-lover’s Tour: “Precocious Bloomers”
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
1 to 2 p.m.
Free for garden members, $5 for non-members
Love plants? So do we! Late winter and early spring are always exciting times in a garden—between the warm weather rushing us on into spring and the cold clinging fiercely to the winter that was, you never know what flowers you might find in bloom. Join us for this Plant-lover’s Tour where our Research Technician and Horticulturist Extraordinaire, Tim Alderton, will take us around the garden to explore the precocious bloomers putting on their show at the beginning of March. Whether we’re gasping at the grandeur and magnanimity of magnolias, or quietly appreciating the subtle charms of spring ephemeral bulbs, this is one Plant-lover’s tour you don’t want to miss!
The Midweek Program
Wednesdays from February 26 to December 17, 2025 (except November 26)
3 to 4 p.m.
Online
Free (register at above link)
Find topic of each week here.
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.
More Events
Check out our list of free and cheap events in Raleigh and the rest of the Triangle this weekend, or our full event calendar in the Triangle, or just look at few upcoming events here:
Virtual
