Wake County traditional-calendar students are off March 26 to April 5, 2027. Raleigh camps, free museums and what is open on Good Friday.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. School dates come from the Wake County Public School System’s own calendar; camp and event details from the City of Raleigh and the venues.

Wake County’s traditional-calendar students are off from Friday, March 26, through Monday, April 5, 2027, and go back Tuesday, April 6. That is the district’s 2026-27 traditional calendar:

Date What the calendar shows
Friday, March 26 Holiday (Good Friday)
Monday, March 29, to Friday, April 2 Vacation days
Monday, April 5 Teacher workday, no school for students

Easter Sunday 2027 is March 28, inside the break. Our Easter page has egg hunts.

Year-round schools are different. Raleigh students in the Wake County Public School System may be on a traditional, year-round, modified or early college calendar. Check your school’s calendar on the district’s calendars page. More on the district is in our schools guide.

Who to call

  • Raleigh Parks registration: 919-996-4800
  • Track Out X-Press program office: 919-996-6165
  • Wake County Public School System: your school’s front office
  • Emergency: 911

Camps

Track Out X-Press, Raleigh Parks. The city’s day camp for children who are tracked out of year-round or modified schools, and for home-school students, runs 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for ages 5 to 12. Days mix games and sports, field trips, arts and crafts, and science and nature activities. Campers bring a lunch, drinks and two snacks. The 2026-27 cost is $190 a week for city residents and $205 for nonresidents. Camps run at Abbotts Creek, Barwell Road, Brier Creek and Lake Lynn, and registration is on RecLink. Call 919-996-6165 to check the program in bad weather, according to the city’s Track Out X-Press page.

Summer camp sign-ups start during the spring. In 2025, Raleigh Parks opened summer camp registration in mid-February, by location; see our summer camps and pools page.

Teens: in 2025 the city ran an American Red Cross lifeguard course over spring break at the Pullen Aquatic Center, 410 Ashe Ave., for ages 15 and older, at $250 (2025 course page). The 2027 schedule was not out when we checked.

Things to do

  • N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 W. Jones St., with the Nature Research Center at 121 W. Jones St.: free general admission, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, according to the museum. Call 919-707-9800.
  • Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St.: hands-on play and an IMAX theater; see Marbles for hours and admission, or call 919-834-4040.
  • Pullen Park, 520 Ashe Ave.: in 2026 the rides, carousel and train reopened April 1 while shoreline work continued at Lake Howell, with the lake paths and pedal boats closed (city update). Check the park’s page for 2027 opening dates before you go.

More ideas: our kids’ activities guide, free things to do and parks and trails guide.

What is open on Good Friday

Good Friday is a City of Raleigh holiday. On Good Friday 2026, the city’s holiday alert said:

  • City administrative offices were closed.
  • Trash and recycling pickup was not affected.
  • The Yard Waste Center was open Friday but closed Saturday and Sunday.
  • GoRaleigh ran its Sunday schedule.

The 2027 notice was not posted when we checked.

What this means for you

  • Plan for 11 days off on the traditional calendar, counting both weekends.
  • Year-round families: Track Out X-Press is booked by the week on RecLink.
  • The natural sciences museum is free and indoors, a good pick for a rainy day of the break.

Frequently asked questions

When is spring break 2027 for Wake County schools?

On the Wake County Public School System’s traditional calendar, Good Friday, March 26, is a holiday, March 29 to April 2 are vacation days and Monday, April 5, is a teacher workday. Students return Tuesday, April 6.

Do year-round Wake County schools have the same spring break?

No. Year-round, modified and early college calendars differ. Check your school’s calendar on the district’s calendars page.

Are there spring break camps in Raleigh?

Raleigh Parks runs Track Out X-Press day camps, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for ages 5 to 12, for students on year-round and modified calendars and home-school students. The 2026-27 cost is $190 a week for city residents and $205 for nonresidents.

Is the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences free?

Yes. General admission is free. The downtown museum, 11 W. Jones St., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.

Is trash picked up on Good Friday in Raleigh?

On Good Friday 2026, city offices closed but trash and recycling were not affected, according to the city. Check the 2027 notice before the holiday.