Experiences Inside and Out of the Museum
Explore North Carolina history through engaging programs and events for all ages. From expert-led lectures and hands-on experiences to community festivals, pop-up events, and family activities, our offerings connect the state’s past, present, and future. Learn more about upcoming programs and events below.
July 04, 2026—Raleigh
Capitol 250: NC Freedom Fest
Saturday, July 04, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
1 E Edenton St, Raleigh, NC 27601
Description: Celebrate Independence Day and America’s Semiquincentennial with us at the Capitol 250: NC Freedom Fest! Visit a case of Revolutionary War–era artifacts from the museum’s collection in the House chamber and view North Carolina’s recently conserved Liberty Bell replica on the Capitol grounds. Come visit our information table to learn more about our state’s revolutionary history and our museum building renovation project.
July 18, 2026—Raleigh
Paint, Sip, and Ponder: Quilts
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 2:30–4:30 p.m.
Location: Wine & Design, 7365 Six Forks Rd., Raleigh, NC 27615
Speaker: NC Museum of History Curator of Textiles and Clothing Diana Bell-Kite and Wine & Design staff
Description: Join the NC Museum of History for the next installment of our new paint and sip program. This time we’re featuring colorful and traditional textiles: quilt squares! No artistic talent needed, just the desire to have fun. Wine & Design staff will guide you step by step to complete your very own take-home masterpiece. You’ll also have the chance to learn about this historic art form with the MOH’s own Curator Diana Bell-Kite!
This event is BYOB. Liquor is not permitted, but beer and wine are allowed. The activity is recommended for ages 18 and up. Anyone under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult!
To register, visit HERE. Tickets are $50 per person, and space is limited. Registration ends after July 14.
August 20, 2026—Garner
Crafting at the Cinema: Night at the Museum
Thursday, August 20, 2026, 5:30–8:30 p.m.
Location: Garner Performing Arts Center, 742 W. Garner Rd., Garner, NC 27529
The North Carolina Museum of History, in partnership with the Garner Performing Arts Center, invites you and your family to bring your craft supplies to a showing of Night at the Museum! The theater lights will stay slightly up during the movie, allowing you to color, crochet, or work on any other lap-friendly craft. Be sure to check out pieces of the museum’s collection in the lobby and ask our security guards what really happens at night!
Disclaimer: Attendees are encouraged to bring their own materials for crafting. Lap-friendly crafts are art projects that can be contained to a single theater seat and do not include the use of glue, paint, or glitter.
August 26, 2026—Virtual
History at High Noon: Operation Bumblebee
Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 3–4 p.m.
Location: Zoom
History at High Noon is back! Join us as we relaunch this series by examining the incredible story of Operation Bumblebee.
Speaker: Lorraine Makey, Manager of the Missiles and More Museum on Topsail Island
Your favorite virtual lunchtime lecture series is back! Join us as we kick off the latest installment of History at High Noon by hearing about Operation Bumblebee. On a barrier island off the coast of North Carolina stand seven concrete towers, a lonely testament to a top secret project. In the late 1940s, US Navy secret experiments created a new type of propulsion that revolutionized how we protected our Navy ships. Additionally, these barrier-breaking discoveries enabled jets’ flights into the supersonic reaches of outer space. This is the incredible story of Operation Bumblebee.
September 17, 2026—Raleigh
Stitched in Tradition
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 6:30–8 p.m.
Location: The North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607
Experience an evening of Indigenous fashion, creativity, and storytelling at the North Carolina Museum of Art. Stitched in Tradition features designers from across North Carolina whose work blends cultural knowledge, contemporary design, and personal expression. Through traditional regalia and runway collections, this showcase celebrates Indigenous identity, visibility, and the power of fashion as living tradition.
September 26, 2026—Raleigh
History on Tap: The Wolfpack Brewing Lab
Saturday, September 26, 2026, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Location: Main Foyer, Schaub Hall, 400 Dan Allen Dr., NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27606
Speaker: Sebastian Wolfrum, Lecturer and Brewing Laboratory Manager, Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, NC State University
Location: Main Foyer, Schaub Hall, 400 Dan Allen Dr., NC State University, Raleigh, NC 27606
Description: Curious about how beer is made, how it all got started, and how the next generation of brewers are learning the craft that is the basis of modern bioprocessing? Join us for a special behind-the-scenes tour of the Wolfpack Brewing Lab at NC State and learn how the grain-to-glass magic happens! Whether you’re a microbrew enthusiast or just curious about the history and science of fermentation, you won’t want to miss this.
Spots are limited, so grab a ticket and come see what the Wolfpack Brewing Lab is all about!