Plus, Hurricane Beryl's impact in NC.
 
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Today’s Forecast

92º | 20% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:08 a.m. | Sunset 8:32 p.m.
 

💰 Ballin’ on a budget
A gif of free things to do in Raleigh, including a mural, the NC Museum of Art, a street festival, a movie screening, and kayaks.
There are so many things to do in Raleigh free of charge.  | Photos by RALtoday, City of Raleigh, Downtown Raleigh Alliance, and Gabriel Eng-Goetz
The best things in life are free — sometimes because they are literally free. Here are 13 free things to do around Raleigh that don’t require you to spend a dime, both outdoors + inside.

Outdoors

Raleigh’s wide array of year-round street festivals mean live music + window shopping from local vendors. Plus, you can head to Moore Square on First Fridays for a free movie screening.

Rent a kayak for free at Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville — just bring a valid ID. You can also register to borrow fully equipped fishing rods throughout Wake County, but you’ll need to bring your own bait. Plus, check out more of Raleigh’s top tier parks and hiking trails.

For a different kind of outdoor experience, head to RDU’s observation deck to see the airport’s 10,000-foot runway in action and listen in to pilot + tower communications. There’s also a playground for the kids and educational signs to learn more about aviation.

Raleigh has no shortage of public art — make a trail of eye-popping murals throughout the city.

Inside

Raleigh isn’t called the Smithsonian of the South for nothing. See paleontology up close and personal at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ new Dueling Dinosaurs exhibit, marvel at a Picasso at the NC Museum of Art, and experience some of Raleigh’s history at the Joel Lane Museum House.

Learn more about the chocolate-making process by taking a quick self-guided tour at Videri Chocolate Factory and try some free samples.

The library is for more than just books. From storytimes and free movies to crafty meetups and yoga classes, Wake County Public Libraries offers endless free fun.

Do some good in the community by volunteering around the city at a variety of different nonprofits.

Psst... need more ideas? Our events page is constantly updating with even more free events throughout the 919.
 
 
Events
 
Thursday, July 11
  • Ask a Psychologist Panel: My Top Ten Tips About Mental Health | Thursday, July 11 | 6 p.m. | Dorothea Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Dr., Raleigh | Free | Licensed psychologists will share their top tips for managing your mental health + emotional wellbeing.
  • Summer Live Music Series | Thursday, July 11 | 7-10 p.m. | Transfer Co. Ballroom, 500 E. Davie St., Raleigh | Free | Jam to live tunes every Thursday while enjoying a bite or bev at this food hall.
Friday, July 12
Saturday, July 13
  • Yoga + Blueberry Picking at Mini Acres Farm | Saturday, July 13 | 5-7:30 p.m. | Mini Acres Farm, 3328 Mid Pines Rd., Raleigh | $10 | Get in the flow + be one in nature by picking fresh fruit straight from the bush.
  • Nirvani: A Nirvana Tribute Experience | Saturday, July 13 | 8 p.m. | The Pour House Music Hall, 224 S. Blount St., Raleigh | $12-$15 | Come as you are to this tribute night.
  • Outdoor Films: “Barbie” | Saturday, July 13 | NC Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh | $5-$10 | Watch Margot Robbie as Barbie in this intersectional flick.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Real Estate
 

☀️ Summer special sweetens the deal on these luxe condos
Exterior renders of 29 Enterprise during the day. One is overhead, the other is from the left.
Imagine grilling on the rooftop deck with stunning views in all directions.  | Images provided by Grayson Homes
29 Enterprise is nearly here.

Village District’s highly anticipated luxury condo building is celebrating its upcoming Grand Opening with special summer incentives through the end of July.

The limited-time offer includes:
  • Financing incentives on all first-floor condos
  • A free storage unit for added space + convenience
The new build offers maintenance-free living in one of the city’s most popular neighborhoods, with luxury amenities + high-end designer finishes throughout.

Psst: Less than half of the condos are still available.
 
News Notes
 
Coming Soon
  • A new yoga studio will open its doors near Boulted Bread and below Platform Apartments in early 2025. Homebody Yoga is a woman-owned studio that originated as a pop-up biz and will offer hot yoga + other specialized experiences — try a free pop-up yoga class this Saturday, July 13.
Plan Ahead
  • The stage is set for August, September, and October’s First Friday film screenings in Moore Square in addition to a packed vendor’s market. On Friday, Aug. 2, watch “Barbie” on the big screen — followed by “Freaky Friday” and “Twilight” in September + October.
Eat
  • Do wine and burgers pair well together? Find out at High Top Burger’s pop-up at the Raleigh Wine Shop tomorrow from 5 to 8 p.m. alongside Sangiacomo pinot noirs and chardonnay samples.
Edu
  • Wolfpack football head coach Dave Doeren and his family have funded a new student services program at NC State to help neurodivergent students navigate college. Doeren was inspired to start OnePack Empowered from his son with autism, and the program will assist 30 students in the fall semester. (The News & Observer)
Trending
  • A former NC State football player has gone viral as the “Cat Dad of TikTok.” Deylan Buntyn played as a defensive tackle for the Wolfpack over a decade ago and now regularly gets millions of views on TikTok with his cats Forest, Rivers, and Willow. (The News & Observer)
Outdoors
  • Wake County has approved the master plan for Lake Myra County Park in Wendell. With a history of recreation + fun in eastern Wake, the new park will feature fishing, hiking, boating tours, boardwalks, playgrounds, and public art.
Answered
  • Last week, we reintroduced ourselves to you and asked which new restaurant we should try together next, and you told us it’s time to try Biscuit Belly at Seaboard Station. Stay tuned for our Southern breakfast picks.
Try This
  • What kind of coffee drinker are you? See our pro tips for what to order at Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s newly-opened Black & White Coffee Roasters.*
Wellness
Health
  • “The clarity is insane.” That’s what we’re hearing (loud and clear) about this best-selling hearing device. It makes conversation effortless, even in background noise. Join 350,000+ happy customers with a no-risk trial.*
Finance
  • If your last credit card bill sent a chill down your spine — even in this heat — it might be time for a balance transfer. The Ascent recommends these four cards with 0% APR for up to 18 months. (You could have almost two years to avoid interest charges.)*
 
 
Weather
 

🌀 What Beryl means for NC
A graphic showing the path of Hurricane Beryl, which will pass through Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Canada.
Hurricane Beryl has been downgraded to a tropical depression and will not hit NC, but it might cause some extra showers.  | Graphic via NOAA and National Weather Service
Hurricane Beryl was the first of the 2024 hurricane season, and although it was downgraded to a tropical depression and won’t significantly affect Raleigh + NC, it may bring extra precipitation to kick this heatwave.

Meteorologists are saying to expect showers starting today through this Saturday, July 13 while a cold front settles over central NC. We’re hearing that Friday’s forecast may be in the 80s, with temps going back to the 90s over the weekend.

Just because Beryl isn’t hitting NC directly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get prepared for hurricane season: check out our hurricane preparedness guide. Plus, don’t let a potentially rainy weekend be a wash — we’ve got a guide of indoor rainy day activities.
 
The Buy
 
A really soft, breathable men’s performance t-shirt that Nordstrom just marked down. The Vuori shirt is great for everyday wear or working out.
 
 
The Wrap
 
Allie Remhof

Today’s edition by:
Allie
From the editor
I’m enjoying how the West End area is growing up, and I love the new neighborhood moniker. I’m a big Heights House + Boulted Bread fan, so seeing new businesses pop up around them feels so special — maybe a new neighborhood guide is in order.
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