By Daniel
3 min Read
Family Events with Great Food Around the Triangle (2025)
The Triangle's family events calendar is packed with reasons to get outside - and plenty of good food to go with it. From Raleigh food truck festivals and Durham farm days to Cary kids' fairs and downtown celebrations, these gatherings make it easy to spend the day together and enjoy something delicious along the way.
One of the best parts about living in the Raleigh-Durham area is how often food and community come together. You can take the kids to a fall farm day, let them run off energy at a live music event, and grab tacos or ice cream from a local food truck before heading home. Whether you're in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, Holly Springs, Wake Forest, or Garner - there's always something tasty happening nearby.
View the Triangle Family Events Calendar
1. Food Truck Rodeos & Outdoor Family Festivals
From Durham Central Park's Food Truck Rodeo to Raleigh's Downtown Street Eats, these events are family favorites for a reason. Kids can sample bites from dozens of local trucks, while parents enjoy live music and local brews. Afterward, stroll to nearby restaurants like Village Tavern or STIR for a sit-down meal with a Triangle twist.
2. Farm Events with Local Eats
Local farms host some of the most fun (and delicious) family days in the Triangle. The Raleigh metro offer seasonal festivals with hayrides, animals, and farm-fresh snacks. Many events feature local vendors or food trucks, making it easy to grab lemonade, BBQ, or homemade ice cream before exploring nearby cafés like Crema Coffee Roaster or Lucky Tree.
3. Holiday Celebrations & Sweet Treat Stops
The holidays bring twinkling lights and great bites. Families can enjoy Raleigh's Christmas Parade, Cary's Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, or Chapel Hill's Tree Lighting Ceremony - each filled with local food vendors and bakeries offering festive snacks. After the fun, cozy up for dinner at Second Empire, Pizzeria Toro, or grab dessert at Two Roosters Ice Cream.
4. Farmers Markets Turned Family Events
The State Farmers Market in Raleigh or Durham, Cary, Holly Springs Farmers Market often host kid-friendly weekends with live music, crafts, and seasonal tastings. It's an easy way to introduce kids to local food and support Triangle growers - and you can always walk over to The State Farmers Market Restaurant for one of the best Southern breakfasts around.
Family events in the Triangle are more than just activities - they're full-day experiences where good food and good memories meet. Whether you're planning your weekend around a kids' festival, parade, or farm event, there's always a great restaurant or food truck nearby to make it even better.