The Big List

An open, family-friendly poetry evening at House of Many Porches — come to read, come to listen, nobody's grading you.

DISHOOM returns to Downtown Cary Park with DJ Rang, live percussion, and step-by-step dance instruction -- a free, family-friendly night out.

Bring a drum or just your hands — an open community drum circle at the Stone Houses Visitor Center that welcomes total beginners.

Guitarist Rob Sharer and accordionist David DiGiuseppe mix global folk and cafe music styles in a free all-ages concert at Northeast Regional Library.

Free monthly literary reading at Mettlesome Theater in Golden Belt — poetry and prose paired with improv comedy inspired by the readers, book signing at 5:45.

A 2.5-hour guided photography walk through Dix Park with a local pro, beginner-friendly techniques plus park history, starting and ending at Stone Houses.

Raleigh's Caribbean carnival week wraps in a Saturday parade down a new downtown Fayetteville Street route, with mas bands, soca, and island food; watching the parade itself costs nothing.

Vinyl DJ sets from Oak City Soul on the market patio, with snacks, sandwiches, coffee, wine, and beer for an easy afternoon picnic in the park.

Cary's 50th annual Lazy Daze fills Academy Street with juried arts and crafts vendors, live music, and food for a free day downtown.

Day two of Cary's 50th annual Lazy Daze — juried arts and crafts vendors, live music, and food along Academy Street, free to attend.

Theatre Raleigh's monthly open mic in the Green Room, across from the main building -- singers, comedians, poets, whoever wants the mic, free to just watch too.

Free admission to a legitimately world-class collection — a whole gallery of Rodin bronzes — plus 4.7 miles of park trails threading past giant outdoor sculpture. The rare art museum where half the crowd shows up in running shoes.