Media requests can be directed to:
Martin Armes, (919) 645-2654 or marmes@visitraleigh.com
Ryan Smith, (919) 645-2676 or rsmith@visitraleigh.com
GREATER RALEIGH
– Home of the Free
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 2007) -- With gas prices at record highs and family travel budgets being cut, the Greater Raleigh area offers the greatest deal of all...more than 25 FREE attractions, events and even gas! Dubbed the "Smithsonian of the South" for its unique concentration of museums and the quality of attractions, including the North Carolina Museum of Art, North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - it's an affordable escape for parents and children alike! Area hotels are also throwing in free gas – all in the name of saving money! For a full list of free attractions and events visit www.VisitRaleigh.com
FREE GAS
Fairfield Inn & Suites Crabtree
The Fairfield Inn & Suites Crabtree is offering a Gas Package as an offer in conjunction with the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau's new Weekend Getaway Experiences.. The package includes a two night stay, a $25 gas card and a complimentary breakfast with prices starting at $84 per night. www.VisitRaleigh.com/weekends
Residence Inn North
Come to Raleigh and enjoy a show, visit a museum or concert and then stroll the downtown district to see all the sights. This package includes complimentary breakfast and evening social, complimentary newspaper and a $25 gas card with prices starting at $79 per night. www.VisitRaleigh.com/weekends
FREE ATTRACTIONS
North CarolinaMuseum of Art
This museum houses 5,000 years of artistic heritage, from ancient Egypt to the present. This summer, feature exhibits include: Temples and Tombs: Treasures of Egyptian Art from the British Museum, a collection of 85 masterworks and lesser-known treasures of ancient Egyptian art (through July 8, 2007) and The Big Picture a selection of 2323 large-scale photographs by a diverse group of thirteen contemporary photographers (through September 2). Admission to the museum and the permanent collection is free. There is a charge for select special exhibitions. www.ncartmuseum.org
North Carolina Museum of History & North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
The North Carolina Museum of History's collection contains more than 250,000 artifacts representing the state's rich heritage, with exhibits on agriculture, politics, folk life and more. The exhibit What We Wore in North Carolina is an exhibit that runs through September 16 and traces North Carolina's history through clothing.
Located within the North Carolina Museum of History, the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame displays personal items donated by many of the 200 inductees. From Richard Petty's #43 racecar to Charlie "Choo Choo"" Justice's #22 football jersey, this exhibit is a treat for all sports fans. Admission is free. www.ncmuseumofhistory.org
North CarolinaMuseum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences includes 70,000 square feet of walk-through environments. Four floors of exhibits feature four great whales, the world's only Acrocanthosaurus – better known as the "Terror of the South"– and Willo, the dinosaur with a fossilized heart! Several live animals are alsoincluded in exhibits.
Opening in June, Wild Music explores musical instinct and evidence for the biological origins of music through highly interactive exhibits and exceptional sound experiences, and— in the process— expands our understandings of what makes music (June 30-September 23, 2007). Admission to the museum and the permanent exhibits is free. There is a charge for select special exhibitions. www.naturalsciences.org
N.C.State Capitol
Built between 1833 and 1840, this National Historic Landmark is one of the best-preserved examples of a civic building in Greek Revival-style architecture. It originally housed the governor's office, cabinet offices, legislative chambers, state library and state geologist's office. Tours offered daily. www.ncstatecapitol.org
PullenPark
Pullen Park, spans more than 68 beautifully landscaped acres offering a train ride through the amusement park, a kiddie boat ride, pedal boats and a 1912 Dentzel Menagerie Carousel for kids of all ages. Pullen Park is also home of the TV Land's tribute statue of Andy and Opie Taylor honoring the Andy Griffith Show.
FREE EVENTS
N.C. Symphony Summerfest Series: Play with the Pros
Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park (June 2)
The Tenth Annual Play with The Pros concert will feature a full program by the North Carolina Symphony. At the conclusion of the concert, over 40 talented local musicians will take the stage to perform the final three selections of the evening side-by-side with the pros in one magnanimous finale!
Bud Light Downtown Live
Moore Square – Downtown Raleigh (June 2, 16, 30; July 14, 28, 2007)
Bud Light Downtown Live - a , FREE, outdoor concert series in Raleigh, held in Moore Square Park. This concert series will feature eighteight concerts during summer of 2007 and will feature top national recording artists. Acts include Everclear, Weekend Excursion, Firehouse, The Romantics, Will Hoge and many more.
FirstFridayGalleryWalk
City Market-Downtown Raleigh (First Friday of Month)
The streets of historic City Market and celebrate great art, music, and shopping! Retail stores, restaurants and art galleries open their doors for extended hours and the galleries all over the area have receptions for opening works by various artists. Local bands perform free concerts in front of Big Ed's City Market Restaurant.
Flea Market
NC State Fairgrounds (Every Saturday and Sunday through 2007)
Each weekend, the Commercial and Education buildings and the outside grounds are host to hundreds of dealers, craftsmen, and booths.
Movies on the Lawn
Moore Square – Summer Dates TBA
Downtown Raleigh's Moore Square turns into an outdoor theatre showing the latest blockbuster movies for Free! Pack a picnic, grab a blanket and head outdoors to enjoy a night under the stars.
Moore SquareFarmers Market
Moore Square – Every Wednesday through October 2007
Enjoy a huge variety of seasonal fruits, vegetables and plants from local growers, pasture raised meats from local farmers such as Coon Rock Farm, and a range of handmade items from local artisans, including breads, cheeses and ice cream.
Independence Day Celebrations
Venues throughout Greater Raleigh (July 4)
N.C.State Fairgrounds
Carnival rides, games, food, music, entertainment with the largest finale of fireworks in the Greater Raleigh area.
Independence Day Concert & Fireworks– Koka Booth Amphitheatre
The N.C. Symphony gives a patriotic performance with a fireworks finale.
N.C.State Capitol
Enjoy a family-oriented Independence Day celebration with a patriotic concert and picnic. Wander over to the Capitol's "Old Fashioned 4th" area and see how people in North Carolina celebrated the 4th long ago. Musical performances, food and historic demonstrations round out this patriotic day of fun.
Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival
Downtown Cary (August 25)
The tradition continues, as one of North Carolina's premier arts and crafts festival marks its milestone 31st year! This juried show brings over 50,000 people to downtown Cary every year to see the handiwork of over 400 artisans. It's a fun day for the entire family - arts and crafts, food, Kid's World and two huge stages with entertainment all day.
The Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau, as the official destination marketing organization of Raleigh and Wake County, accelerates sustainable economic growth and development by increasing visitor and convention business. For a free visitors guide or more promotional information, call toll-free (800) 849-8499 visit www.visitraleigh.com, or e-mail visit@visitraleigh.com. That's "City Life, Carolina Style."
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