Family events in Wake Forest, NC

This free program is reserved for children with disabilities and their families, offering a more peaceful, quieter way to experience Marbles. Offered each month, it creates time and space to explore in a relaxed setting. This session also features an IMAX screening with lights on and sound lowered, presenting Flight of the Butterflies. Attendees must register to participate.

Now in its third year, this installment of the Triangle Ranch Horse Series is a ranch-focused horse show featuring live cattle. The event includes a variety of classes suited to different interests and experience levels, offering options for a wide range of participants. As part of a continuing series, it highlights ranch-style competition and cattle work, with something for everyone.

William & Mary meets Duke on the gridiron at Wallace Wade Stadium for an early-season showdown. The matchup features distinct approaches on both sides, setting up momentum swings and opportunities for standout individual performances. Experience how the strategies unfold across four quarters as these teams compete for control.

The Town of Wake Forest, together with community partners, presents the fourth annual Wake Forest Mental Wellness Fair at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre. This community event highlights mental well-being and connects attendees with local programs, services, and resources for individuals living with untreated or undertreated mental illness, as well as the people who support them. Activities are planned for children and teens, and guidance will be available for families, older adults, and veterans. A featured session, Plugged in: Conversation about Kids, Technology, and Mental Health, explores the pressures young people face with social media, video games, and constant phone use. Parents will learn practical ways to recognize warning signs and offer support. Everyone is welcome, whether seeking help or looking for tools to assist others. Preregistration is encouraged but not required.

Celebrate summer car cruises in a spacious, shaded lot where music sets a relaxed vibe. A 50/50 option adds to the fun, and there is a chicken restaurant just across the street for convenient refreshments.

The Durham Armory sets the scene for a Cottagecore take on the Durham Geek and Grub Market, a free, woodland-themed marketplace with more than 40 whimsical geeky vendors, food trucks, special guests, and storybook-inspired activities surrounded by mushroom motifs, meadow vibes, and cozy cottage aesthetics. Guests can start at the main entrance check-in, where kids receive a complimentary treat and details for a no-cost scavenger hunt. Track down eight cottagecore Gambits, then stop by the HQ desk to claim a prize. The indoor Geek Tavern serves non-alcoholic themed mocktails and other beverages. No tickets are required. The event is fully accessible. Street parking is plentiful with weekend free options, and nearby garages offer paid parking. Only service dogs are allowed. A vendor list and map will be posted online ten days in advance, and a detailed schedule will follow soon.

At United Skates of America Raleigh, a lively SpongeBob themed skate brings cheerful energy and plenty of rink action for kids, families, and fans of all ages. Roll with the theme on the floor or cheer from the sidelines, and enjoy cartoon worthy excitement throughout the session. Admission is $13 online or $15 at the door. Regular skate rental is $6, rollerblade rental is $7, and Skatemate rental is $6. Non-skating spectator admission is $4. A waiver is required for all guests entering the facility, and adults must include the names of all children they are bringing on their waiver.

Explore the Raleigh edition of the Black Farmers Market, a family friendly, community supported marketplace that runs weekly and welcomes the public. Browse goods from Black-owned farmers, food producers, and small businesses across the Triangle. Angelica Wellness Shop, a Raleigh herbal tea brand, will offer wellness focused beverages for shoppers, including herbal tea blends in tea bags and sachets, premium bottled spring water, and canned sweet tea, with an unsweetened canned option planned. Suitable for a family visit, a casual stop, or a weekend outing, this rotating market highlights local vendors and fresh finds.

A historian leads a guided tour through downtown Raleigh, visiting several nationally recognized historic sites that trace the city’s journey from a modest rural settlement to the center of state politics. Along the way, hear about the roles that hotels, plantations, skyscrapers, and mansions played in shaping Raleigh’s past.

Finley Day Camp is marking four decades with a celebration that honors the people and memories that shaped it. Friends connected to FDC from 1986 to today are invited to reconnect and share stories. With so many years behind it, contact lists may be out of date, so spreading the word to fellow FDC friends is helpful. For details and ways to contribute your memories, including if you are not able to attend in person, email Jordan.Black@YMCATriangle.org.