Summer in Cary 2027: camps, pools and splash pads

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the Town of Cary, Downtown Cary Park, Wake County and the Triangle Aquatic Center. Dates marked 2026 are last season’s; we will update them as 2027 dates are posted.

Wake County’s traditional-calendar schools let out Wednesday, June 9, 2027, the last day on the district’s 2026-27 traditional calendar. Year-round students track out on their own schedules. Here is how Cary keeps kids busy and cool.

Who to call

• Bond Park camps: call or text 984-336-8200, TrackOutCamp@CaryNC.gov
• Mills Park camps: 919-621-3929
• Triangle Aquatic Center: 919-459-4045
• Town programs: Cary 311, or 919-469-4000 from outside town limits

Town of Cary summer camps

From the town’s camp information page:

• Who: Summer Day Camp is for kindergarten to fifth grade, with grades set by the school system’s Aug. 31 cutoff.
• Registration: by the full week on RecTrac. In 2026 the town opened summer camp registration in February (February 2026 newsletter); the camps are listed in the town’s program guide.
• Activities: arts and crafts, nature study, games, sports and weekly field trips. Recent trips have included bowling, a trampoline park, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Marbles Kids Museum and Morehead Planetarium. Field trip admission is included in the fee.
• Every day: a bag lunch, two snacks and a drink, and closed-toe athletic shoes.
• Cost help: need-based discounts of up to 95% through the town’s Play It Forward fund.
• Withdrawals: at least 14 days before the camp week for a full refund or credit.
• Camp is closed on town holidays, including Juneteenth and the Fourth of July.

Pools

The Town of Cary sends swimmers to the Triangle Aquatic Center, 275 Convention Drive, on its Swim in Cary page. The center has four pools, including an Olympic-size outdoor pool that opened in July 2022, and open swim for the public with no membership required. It also runs swim lessons from age 6 months, the TAC TITANS swim team and water fitness classes. Call 919-459-4045 for open swim times and summer hours, or see triangleaquatics.org.

Splash pads and spraygrounds

From the town’s water play page:

• Jack Smith Park Sprayground, 9725 Penny Road: Cary’s first splash pad, seven water features, for ages 12 and under. Typically open mid-May to September, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., weather permitting, and closed one day a month for maintenance.
• Downtown Cary Park: the Sprayground on Academy Plaza and the Splash Pad in The Nest play area, open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily in season (park water play page).
• Misting stations at the Neighborhood Park on Carpenter Fire Station Road and Marla Dorrel Park.

In 2026 the spraygrounds opened May 13 and closed Sept. 21. They reopen in May 2027. Check the town’s weather delays page for closures before you go. No lifeguards; swim diapers for children not potty trained; no pets, food or wheeled toys.

Lake Crabtree boat rentals

Wake County’s Lake Crabtree County Park rents boats Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from mid-May; in 2026 rentals ran May 15 to Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last rental at 5 p.m. (county boat rental page). The park is open 8 a.m. to sunset daily.

Free summer evenings

• Summer Vibes Music Series, the town’s free concerts in neighborhood parks. In 2026: June 17 at the Neighborhood Park on Carpenter Fire Station Road, July 15 at Jack Smith Park and Aug. 19 at North Cary Park, all 6 to 8 p.m. (series page).
• Movie nights and CaryLIVE! concerts at Downtown Cary Park’s Great Lawn Pavilion through the summer; see the park calendar.
• Summer BreakOUT at Downtown Cary Park, a free kickoff to summer for families; in 2026 it ran 4 to 8 p.m. June 15 (2026 event page).

The Fourth of July has its own page: Fourth of July fireworks.

What this means for you

• Camp is sold by the full week; in 2026 registration opened in February.
• Splash pads close for thunder and lightning and one maintenance day a month; check status first.
• For lap swimming or lessons, the town’s Swim in Cary page points to the Triangle Aquatic Center.

Frequently asked questions

Does Cary have a public pool?

The town points residents to the Triangle Aquatic Center, 275 Convention Drive, which has four pools, including an Olympic-size outdoor pool, and open swim with no membership required. Call 919-459-4045.

When do Cary’s splash pads open?

In 2026 the town’s spraygrounds opened May 13 and closed Sept. 21. They run 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in season, weather permitting, and reopen in May 2027.

Where are the splash pads in Cary?

The Sprayground at Jack Smith Park, 9725 Penny Road, for ages 12 and under, and the Sprayground on Academy Plaza and the Splash Pad in The Nest at Downtown Cary Park.

What summer camps does the Town of Cary run?

Summer Day Camp at Bond Park (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and Mills Park (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for kindergarten to fifth grade, plus track-out camps, registered by the week on RecTrac. Registration opened in February in 2026.