Spend more time together this year with these new ideas for family-friendly activities to try in the Bull City!
By Leah Berry | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Ready, Set, Go!
Jump, spin and flip with the fam for hours at Sky Zone. Hit up the sky tower and foam zone, or play ultimate dodgeball. Sky Zone transforms into a jumping dance club with lasers, music and blacklights on Fridays and Saturdays from 7-10 p.m., ideal for older kids, while the Little Leapers program from 9-10 a.m. on Saturdays allows kids ages 6 and younger to bounce, climb, explore and interact in a safe environment. Plus, parents jump free with a purchase of a ticket for their “little leaper.”
Triangle Rock Club – with its top rope and lead rock climbing, bouldering terrain and a full suite of fitness and yoga classes – is suited for all adventure seekers, young and old. Buy a day pass, or get a membership to receive all the perks. The First Ascents after-school program is helpful for kids new to rock climbing, allowing them time and space to begin climbing or improve their skills. TRC also offers several different levels of noncompetitive and competitive climbing teams, which are designed for experienced climbers who want to showcase their strength in a team setting. Teen Climb Nights, Parents’ Night Out and group climbing, which is facilitated by staff and is recommended for groups of six or more climbers, are also available.
Indoor adventure park OC Aerial promises an epic, action-packed experience with 16,000 square feet of attractions awaiting daredevils of all ages. Founder John Coates says the giant 18- and 21-foot slides are the No. 1 activity among children 15 and younger followed by the ninja course, the 34-element rope course and the 160-foot zip line. If you’ve got a college student home on break, invite them out on Mondays and Thursdays from 3-9 p.m. for 20% off. John recommends bringing the family out to conquer their fears on Fridays from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. While Saturdays are the busiest – the park often sells out between noon and 4 p.m. – these days also offer the best community of thrill-seekers. The free snacks, popcorn, ice cream (and toppings!), coffee, hot chocolate and more keep those who opt out of the attractions happy and satiated.
Unify Athletics offers gymnastics classes for kids 18 months and older as well as adults. Its Hatchlings class caters to 1½- to 3-year-olds, where they can follow simple circuits to play, explore and develop spatial awareness. Parents accompany their tots in these instances, learning simple spotting techniques along the way. Unify introduces 3- to 5-year-olds in its Chickadees class to some of the basic elements of gymnastics, allowing participants to develop eye-hand and eye-foot coordination along with a sense of balance. Ages 6 and older progress by skill level through Hummingbirds, Cardinals and Eagles for girls – Sparrows and Hawks for boys – building strength, confidence and discipline. Unify also has opportunities to participate in competitive gymnastics with its team program and hosts adult classes for all experience levels – learn anything from gymnastics fundamentals to bucket list backflips!
Triangle Curling Club is the place to try your hand (and broom!) at curling, providing everything from learn-to-curl sessions to pick-up curling and curling leagues. The club’s junior program, available to those younger than 21 years old, runs on most Sundays, September through April. The program introduces youth to the sport and allows them to develop their skills and techniques and play short games. Participants can take part in either the advanced commitment program, which is focused on juniors interested in enhancing curling skills and attending tournaments, or the recreational curling program, which includes instruction followed by a recreational game. Many advanced commitment juniors curl with family members or other adults in regular leagues, so start with some lessons, then get everyone on the ice!
Sign your kids up for a class or camp with USA Ninja Challenge, an obstacle course training program for kids ages 2-17. The sport of ninja combines skill sets from gymnastics, climbing, cross-training, and track and field. With six levels to master, the training helps kids build confidence through fitness. Jump, climb and swing on a variety of obstacles, including climb ropes, ladders and warped walls.
Fresh Takes
Step into a new world (literally) at Augmentality Labs. The virtual reality video arcade has an array of single and multiplayer games for ages 6 and older. Players can choose from an inventory of 70 games, immersing themselves in an experience casting spells, blasting zombies or exploring new realms at one of the 12 VR stations. Owner Michael Melton says he has a couple projects he hopes to initiate within the next couple of months – two racing simulation stations and an old-school console corner that features PlayStation, Nintendo and Sega consoles set up for play. “We are always adding games and experiences that are popular and are good for an arcade environment,” Michael says of the existing VR stations. “Augmentality is a great option for family gatherings, parties … we can set the available games by age or genre, if requested, or give full access.” Augmentality’s current special is a Weekday Play Pass on Tuesdays and Wednesdays: $40 per station for two hours of play. Michael recommends booking online to guarantee space, and if you come as a group, be sure to select one station for each participant to ensure the best VR adventure!
Book Harvest hosts a bilingual storytime on Thursday mornings in its Family Space. “Stories from the Start,” an experience tailored for infants to 2-year-olds, takes place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and features music, a movement activity and nursery rhymes in English and Spanish. Families have the option to use the Family Space before and after storytime, and children may choose books to take home and keep.
Discover events and programs for the whole family at the newly renovated Durham County Main Library. Check out The MakerLab, a space with 3D printing and modeling, coding, robotics and more, for kids interested in science and technology. Reserve the Multi-Sensory Environment room, a specialized area for kids to manipulate light, sound, smell and touch. Participate in crafting events tailored to your child’s age range. Check out the library’s calendar to see the wide variety of events offered, from book clubs to computer classes. Save the date for the fourth annual Library Fest on April 8-13, too!
STEM-themed play space and event center The Wonder Lab caters specifically to children ages 6 months to 6 years old. Sign up for a 90-minute session of open play that features kid-friendly tech like an interactive touchscreen panel to make bubbles and sort objects, and robots designed for ages 3 to 5, all in a gated space. Adults can enjoy free coffee, tea and Wi-Fi while the kids play.
Get out your stress at the Wreck It Rage Room. This experience allows you to completely wreck everything in the room using a bat, sledgehammer, golf clubs or your own two hands. Choose to bring your own breakables (or Wreck It will provide them for you), then spend anywhere from 10 to 35 minutes unleashing your fury. If you’d prefer not to break things, the Splash Room allows you and your family to splatter paint all over the room using water balloons, paint brushes and squirters.
Game On
Guildhall Games is a board game and toy store that is specifically designed with neurodivergent, disabled and queer communities – populations that owners Jacob Guild and his wife, Nicole Frascino, see as underserved – in mind. “We are basically just a ‘cool stuff ’ store,” Jacob says. “We sell board games, stuffed animals, enamel pins, tabletop dice, puzzles and much more!” The two signed their permanent lease at Boxyard RTP in December 2023 and hosted a grand opening party at the end of January. Nicole and Jacob plan to offer a monthly speed puzzling event starting in February and March as well as a “paint and take,” where participants are provided paints and a selection of miniatures to choose from, and follow a professional Dungeons & Dragons miniature painter’s directions to complete their own miniature and then take it home at the end of the event.
From classic to modern arcade games, air hockey, pinball and more, Boxcar Bar + Arcade will keep you and your kid entertained for hours. Challenge each other to your pick of more than 70 games, then grab a bite to eat at the Neapolitan-style pizza kitchen. Take your food outside to enjoy some fresh air on their outdoor patio and gaming area. Minors are permitted with a parent before 7 p.m. daily.
Atomic Empire hosts a variety of card and board game nights, as well as gaming tournaments. If you’re a hobby or gaming enthusiast, check out its monthly community days – every other month is a “Learn to Play” day devoted to volunteers teaching and learning new games. While there, browse through its collection of games, comics and toys, while adults can enjoy a beer on tap.
Exit Strategy
Put your code-cracking skills to the test at Bull City Escape, which offers a variety of games ranging in levels of difficulty. Bull City Escape is an hourlong activity fit for the whole family, but probably better suited to older kids and teens.
Give back to our community every time you book your escape room experience at Escape on Purpose. During the checkout process, you will be prompted to choose one of three charities to donate a portion of your booking price. You can choose to support the Wounded Warrior Project, Independent Animal Rescue or StepUp Durham, which provides free support services to unemployed and underemployed people in the area. Perfect for groups of three to 10, escape in fewer than 60 minutes from Mission: Submarine Attack!, the (Un)Common Room, (T)Error in the Sky or Starship Mission.
Located at Boxyard RTP, Game On Escapes & More offers mini escape room challenges and VR experiences. Grab a meal at one of Boxyard’s several restaurants before or after your reservation at the Cat Burglar escape room, or book later this year for the soon-to-open Container 51 room! Boxyard also hosts game nights on Wednesdays and features live music through the weekend.
Challenge yourself with brainteasers and a thrilling experience at Mission X Escape. Each game features unique sensing technologies and different rooms that correlate to the theme. Mission X Escape currently offers four escape room games: A Hero’s Story, Candyland, Vampire Manor and Hurricane.
NC Escape Room is an immersive escape room experience in downtown. You can choose to help Claire find her lost toys in The Attic escape room, experience a cryogenic chamber in Alien Escape or find your way back home in the Kidnapped! escape experience.
Cool Classics
The Carolina Theatre presents films once a month as part of its Sensory Friendly Film Series, which provides a welcoming environment for individuals with autism and others in need of sensory accommodations. Lights will remain slightly up, sound will be turned down, and calming activities, booster seats, earplugs and closed captioning devices will be available for the experience. Catch “Moana” March 16, “The Land Before Time” April 13, 1971’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” May 18 and “School of Rock” June 1. Tickets are free and can be reserved online, by phone or at the box office. Carolina Theatre also hosts its Family Saturday Series, which provides high-quality, live art experiences to children and families for just $5. Integrity Strings performs arrangements from Bach to Beyoncé Feb. 17, magician Josh Lozoff wows with magic, mind-reading and mystery March 9, and The Magic of African Rhythm and Bailes Afro Latinos take to the stage April 20 and May 11, respectively. The theater also launched its new Studio Ghibli Film Series, which showcases the Japanese animation studio’s masterful storytelling and inspiring visuals on select Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings, on Feb. 7; it runs through June 15.
Along with its free exhibits to visit year-round, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University offers Family Days on the second Sunday of each month that feature themed activities and art. Stop by with the fam March 10 to celebrate Latinx heritage and culture with art, local fare – including Mexican ice pops by La Monarca Michoacana – live music and dancing with Mambo Dinamico Dance Group.
The 84-acre Museum of Life and Science provides countless educational experiences for all ages, no matter the season. Learn about the heart and its functions within the body during the museum’s “Heartthrob” programming on Valentine’s Day; celebrate engineers and their work toward sustainable development to commemorate UNESCO’s World Engineering Day on March 4; bring your junior paleontologist on an excavation adventure as they hunt for colorful dinosaur eggs at the Dino Egg Hunt in April; join the monarch solar eclipse celebration on April 8; and gain insight from experts and programs on birds and other pollinators at the “Bird Bonanza” on May 4. As spring turns to summer, take part in International Compost Awareness Week activities from May 5-11 or Bear Awareness Week from May 12-18; celebrate Pride month with an event celebrating LGBTQ+ scientists and local organizations in June; bring a watermelon to donate on Watermelon Day Aug. 5 and learn how animals stay cool and hydrated in the hot weather; and round out the season with Red Wolf Day, a conservation event exploring the changes animals go through to survive and how we can support them, in September. In the fall and winter, celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with daily programs offered with Spanish interpretation or facilitators from Sept. 4 through Oct. 15; take a ride on the Pumpkin Patch Express; celebrate Halloween at “Boofest;” commemorate the commitment to sustainable development by science centers around the world on International Science Center and Science Museum Day Nov. 10; ring in the season with Holidays in the Park on select nights in December; and welcome the new year with Noon Year’s Eve, a countdown at noon to celebrate the year past and the year to come. These events barely scratch the surface of the museum’s offerings, so Director of Marketing and Communications Ro Rode suggests following the museum’s social media and checking its website to keep up with events, plus any date and time changes!
Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a must-visit for Durham families, especially during the spring (cherry blossoms!) and early summer. The gardens’ vast lineup of programs for young learners, ensures that everyone in the family has a great time. Its four-class Tot and Me Botany series held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on Mondays in March offers an opportunity to connect with your child and other families during hands-on, multisensory, immersive activities among the plants. Designed for children ages 3-6 years old and their adult companion, each session will focus on learning about a different plant part. Sign your family up for a membership to receive a discount on the classes! Head to the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden in springtime for Discovery Drop-In and Storytime, a free, no registration, informal opportunity for adults and kids to listen to stories and engage in self-guided activities every Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon, with stories at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., from March 7 to May 23. Little learners can also take part in a Spanish storytime, “Hora de cuentos en Español,” a program designed for children who speak Spanish to learn and explore the gardens in their native language. This free, no registration program runs from 10-11 a.m. on Mondays from March 4 until May 20.
Get crafty at the Scrap Exchange with its vast collection of donated materials, including foam, paper, fabric, zippers and more – whatever you need to make the most interesting projects. Its design studio is also open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is equipped with machines and supplies for all kinds of creative magic.
Durham Arts Council features four exhibition galleries to explore as well as classes catered to specific age ranges across a wide variety of mediums. Does your teen want to learn guitar? Sign them up for beginner lessons with Josh Zaslow. Perhaps your preschool- or elementary-aged kid is interested in ballet. Register them for a creative movement class with Triangle Youth Ballet in the Rollins Dance Studio. Or get creative with your child and design a ceramic artwork together during a Caregiver/Child Clay Workshop. Other classes include drawing, calligraphy, photography, theater and more.
The Museum of Durham History is an ideal spot to teach your kids, little or big, about the origins of the Bull City. Its current kids display, “F is for First Responders,” celebrates Durham’s first responders and educates children about the vehicles they use. Museum staff plan to host a fire truck, a police vehicle and an ambulance on the premises every Friday morning in May to align with the exhibit in honor of First Responders Appreciation Month. MoDH also provides an I-spy activity, scavenger hunt and coloring pages that can be printed from its website beforehand to accompany the learning adventure during any family visit, and activities can be customized according to the child’s grade level. The museum also has toys, puppets and puzzles for especially small tots to enjoy as well.
Think Outside
Durham Parks and Recreation hosts a diverse array of attractions that cater to all ages and interests, including many family- friendly activities, numerous playgrounds and community programs, classes and more. The organization celebrates its centennial anniversary this year, and exciting events surrounding that milestone are in the works. Be sure to also check out the first public dedicated pickleball facility in Durham – featuring 12 dedicated pickleball courts with lights available until 9 p.m. – at Piney Wood Park, which just opened in December 2023!
Avery Family Farm centers its mission on sharing its farm animals as a source of healing and stress relief. Known for its therapeutic goat yoga and goat and horse snuggle sessions, the farm offers classes on most weekends where you and your family can enjoy the animals and relax your bodies and minds.
“We encourage families to come out to any game they can to experience all of the fun: baseball, entertainment and, of course, Wool E. Bull,” says Durham Bulls Director of Promotions Leslie Martin. The minor league baseball organization keeps things lively at the park with different promotions each week: spectacular fireworks displays after every Friday Night home game (Saturdays, too, beginning in late May); a victory lap around the bases for kids 12 and younger after Sunday games; and a whole slew of exciting theme nights lined up throughout the 2024 season. Keep an eye on the Bulls’ website for announcements, and don’t miss the upcoming Spring Fan Fest in March.
You’re sure to find an extremely fun time at Xtreme Park Adventures, which features 16 different attractions. Play a round of paintball, airsoft, laser tag or gel blaster. Go rock climbing or zip lining. Challenge yourself on the outdoor, high-ropes course or crack the code in an escape room. Xtreme Park Adventures also offers educational activities like its Xtreme Reptiles Lab, a History and Math Outdoor Quest Adventure and a Gem Mining Earth Science Program.
Experience the charm of Old Mill Farm through its family-friendly educational workshops and farm events including its signature Fridays at the Farm, now in its fourth year of featuring a delightful blend of local live music and food trucks among the farm’s other attractions every Friday from mid-March through mid-November. This upcoming season also brings an exciting opportunity for one-on-one time with adorable newborn goats and lambs, providing the perfect snuggle fix. Snuggle sessions are available in spring and fall, with spring sessions selling out quickly – owner Alec Moore recommends staying in the loop by subscribing to the farm’s newsletter for timely updates on booking availability. Themed and holiday events, like the St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt, Easter Eggstravaganza, Mother’s Day Celebration, Father’s Day Fishing Derby, Fourth of July Celebration, Trick or Treat on the Farm, Christmas Celebration and more also make for a festive and memorable family outing.
Just across the street, My Little Farmer offers more than 40 different farm classes with hands-on animal experiences for kids ages 1-9.
The Duke Lemur Center is home to the world’s largest and most diverse population of lemurs outside their native home of Madagascar. With more than 200 animals across 14 species, the Duke Lemur Center offers seasonally dependent tours, with reservations required. Pre-purchase tickets for a general tour, which provides an overview of the center, or a behind-the-scenes tour that allows visitors to see the center through the eyes of its staff. Tours book up quickly and are family-friendly, available seasonally and led by trained educators.
Durham Central Park is a major destination for family fun and community engagement, playing host to year-round programming catered to Durhamites young and old alike. Join in the free storytimes for preschoolers and their families from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday mornings April 16 to Oct. 29, where engaging instructors read favorite children’s stories, sing a song or two and bring the story to life through play and craft making.
Mark your calendar for DCP’s Food Truck Rodeos on April 14, June 9, Sept. 8 and Nov. 3, from noon to 4 p.m. It’s a delicious way to support the 5-acre park, raising much-needed funds that help to operate, beautify, program and improve DCP, with many diverse food trucks and drink vendors participating. Don’t miss the Children’s Independence Day Parade on the Fourth of July at 9:30 a.m. – the park’s longest-running event and a cherished tradition where kids decorate bikes, trikes, wagons and strollers and parade through the park. Stick around for free popsicles, fire truck tours and tunes from DJ Piddipat. For music lovers, bring your blankets and lawn chairs to DCP’s PLAYlist Concert Series on the first Friday of every month from May to October. DJ Travis Gales kicks off the evening spinning his live Friday Night Mix followed by an eclectic blend of genres by local, regional and national artists.
Bring the family to view the annual Iron Pour – planned this year for Nov. 16 from 4-9 p.m. – a fiery spectacle where 4,000 pounds of molten iron are poured into molds, creating tiles designed by the public and sculptures by North Carolina artists. Enjoy performances from Batalá Durham, fire breathers, local food trucks and craft beer while you peruse Liberty Arts artists’ work for sale. And if you’re into free exercise, check out DCP’s yoga sessions on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings (spring sessions soon to be announced!).
Discover more family-friendly fun and events on our community calendar.
