Kids' activities in Cary: playgrounds, story times, rainy days

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Hours and programs come from the Town of Cary, Downtown Cary Park, Wake County Public Libraries and each venue’s own site, linked below. Programs change by season; check before you go.

Who to call

• Downtown Cary Park Guest Services: 919-653-7180
• Cary Regional Library: 919-460-3350
• West Regional Library: 919-463-8500
• Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs: 919-387-5980
• Town programs: Cary 311, or 919-469-4000 from outside town limits

Playgrounds

The Nest, Downtown Cary Park. Two giant wooden cardinals anchor the play area, with slides, a toddler area and, in summer, a splash pad. The park says USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards named it the No. 1 public playground in America. Children must be supervised by an adult (The Nest page).

Bond Park, 801 High House Road. The Lazy Daze Playground sits in Cary’s biggest park, alongside the lake, the boathouse (which sells snacks, ice cream and snow cones), trails and a basic orienteering course you can print from the town’s Bond Park page.

North Cary Park, 1100 Norwell Blvd. A playground plus a climbing boulder, trails and courts (town page).

Jack Smith Park, 9725 Penny Road. A playground for ages 2 to 12, a climbing boulder, a flock of nine sculpted sheep on the playfield and Cary’s first sprayground (town page).

Lake Crabtree County Park, Wake County’s park near Cary’s northern edge, has a playground and more than 16 miles of trails, open 8 a.m. to sunset daily (county visitor page).

Town park hours are dawn to dusk unless posted, and pets must be on a leash.

Splash pads

The Sprayground at Jack Smith Park and the Sprayground and Splash Pad at Downtown Cary Park run 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. from mid-May to September, weather permitting. In 2026 the season ended Sept. 21. Details: our summer camps and pools guide.

Story times

Wake County Public Libraries run free story times at both Cary libraries. In the week of Oct. 13, 2026, the county’s events calendar listed:

Both libraries also run after-school programs for kindergarten to fifth grade. Check the Cary Regional and West Regional calendars for the current week. Both libraries are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Free fun at Downtown Cary Park

• Art Cart: free crafts several days a week at the Nest or Academy pavilions.
• Children’s BINGO: some Monday afternoons, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Movie nights on the Great Lawn, and seasonal kids’ days: Spring BreakOUT, Summer BreakOUT and the Halloween Downtown Scary Park.

Dates are on the park calendar.

Rainy-day picks

• Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Road: indoor nature and history exhibits, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, with a children’s nature trail outside (town page).
• Triangle Aquatic Center, 275 Convention Drive: indoor pools with open swim, no membership needed; 919-459-4045 (Swim in Cary).
• The Cary Theater, 122 E. Chatham St.: family films and kids’ shows; see its calendar.
• The libraries: story times, craft programs and the children’s collections.

Camps and school breaks

Town day camps for school breaks and summer are on our spring break page and summer guide. Seasonal family events are on our things to do this month page.

What this means for you

• Library story times are free; check each listing on the county calendar for registration.
• Splash pads are seasonal; from late September to May, head indoors or to a playground.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best playground in Cary?

The Nest at Downtown Cary Park, with two giant cardinal play structures, slides, a toddler area and a splash pad, was named the No. 1 public playground in America in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, the park says.

When is story time at the Cary library?

Cary Regional Library, 315 Kildaire Farm Road, and West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Drive, both run several free family story times a week, plus baby, toddler and sensory story times. Times are on Wake County’s library events calendar.

What can kids do in Cary on a rainy day?

Try a library program, the nature exhibits at the Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs, open swim at the Triangle Aquatic Center or a family film at The Cary Theater.

Are there free kids’ activities at Downtown Cary Park?

Yes. The park runs a free Art Cart several days a week and Children’s BINGO on some Monday afternoons, plus seasonal events such as Spring BreakOUT and Summer BreakOUT.