Falling for Local
Celebrate autumn in with a spectacular local-centric festival and market at Dix Park! Falling for Local is Saturday, October 7 from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. 100+ local makers and vendors. 50+ food trucks and tents. NC craft beer and cider. Kids zone, games and a free pumpkin patch! Admission and activities are free. Get more information below.
Fall Programs + Events
Enjoy a seasonal twist on your favorite classes and activities - or try something new. For a list of all programs and community events, check out our fall guide below. Mark your calendars for signup dates as spots fill up quickly!
Food Truck Pop-Ups
Enjoy a rotating variety of local street food and desserts each week at the Magnolia Room. Saturdays, September 2 – October 28 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Check out the food tuck line up at the link below.
This free, 2-hour, 3.5 mile walking tour will cover the history of the buildings, land, and legacy of Dorothea Dix; the current use as both Raleigh’s largest urban park and as the headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services; and the next steps the City is taking to plan the future
Enjoy the nature and tranquility of Dix Park with a yoga class to increase strength and flexibility. All fitness levels welcome!
This program is free to the public thanks to Dix Park Conservancy donors.
Dig into some clay and learn how to create your very own pinch pot monsters! This program is geared for all ages however, due to the materials and processes used in this class, we recommend participants are 5 years of age or older.
Visit the Park
Getting to Dix Park
There are multiple entrances to Dorothea Dix Park. The most widely used entrances are Hunt Drive at Western Boulevard, South Boylan Avenue at Western Boulevard, Umstead Drive at Lake Wheeler Road, and Goode Street at Lake Wheeler Road. Because this is an active staff campus for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for the next few years, parking at Dorothea Dix Park is limited during business hours. On weekends, visitors may park in any of the parking areas striped green.
Hours

At the Dog Park dogs can run and play off-leash. Dogs must be on-leash in all other areas of Dix Park.
Find directions and parking info at the link below.