Free things to do in Holly Springs

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts come from Holly Springs Parks and Recreation and the pages linked below; “free” means the town or organizer lists no admission charge. Parks and Recreation: 919-557-2939.

A lot of Holly Springs costs nothing: the lake trail, the greenways, the dog park, the nature play area, the indoor track at the Hunt Center, Wednesday movies at the Cultural Center and most of the town’s big festivals. Here is the list, with the catch where there is one.

At a glance

• Outdoors: Bass Lake’s 1.9-mile Lake Trail, Mims Park’s springs, the Sugg Farm dog park and nature play area.
• Indoors: Wednesday morning children’s movies; the Hunt Center track and game room.
• Next free festival: HollyFest, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, at Sugg Farm.

Parks and trails

• Bass Lake Park, 900 Bass Lake Road, 8 a.m. to sunset: the 1.9-mile Lake Trail, birdwatching for osprey and eagles, and free fishing for anglers with a North Carolina license (16 and older need one). Boat rentals are the only paid extra.
• Discovery Backpacks: borrow one free at the Bass Lake visitor center, with binoculars, bug jars, dip nets or tree guides, according to the Discovery Backpacks page. The visitor center also shows live ambassador animals.
• Geocaching: two park-owned geocaches in and around Bass Lake, with coordinates on the town’s geocaching page.
• Sugg Farm, 2401 Grigsby Ave., 7 a.m. to sunset: the fenced off-leash dog park, which has no fee, and the nature play area and quarter-mile sensory trail for ages 2 to 10.
• Mims Park, downtown: natural springs and a 0.8-mile wooded loop a block from Main Street.
• Greenways: paved paths including the 1.3-mile Carl Dean Greenway with six workout stations. See walking and biking trails.
• Courts: pickleball courts at the North Main Athletic Complex are free, first come, first served, and so are its two outdoor basketball courts, according to the complex page.

Indoors

• Free children’s movies: family-friendly films in the Cultural Center theater, 300 W. Ballentine St., at 10 a.m. on many Wednesdays; the town calendar lists each date, including Oct. 14, 21 and 28, 2026.
• Hunt Recreation Center track and game room, 301 Stinson Ave.: free with a free Community Pass. Twelve laps of the indoor track equal a mile. Seniors can join the free Senior Walking Club there at 9 a.m. Thursdays, no registration needed, according to the track page.
• Art exhibits hang in the Cultural Center’s lobby and hallways, the town says.

Free festivals and events

Free events held earlier in 2026, with dates for 2027 still to come: Wild About Nature in May, the Juneteenth Celebration kids zone in June, Summer at the Springs Friday concerts from May to August and the July 5 Independence Day Celebration with fireworks. Canine-Con in September included a free rabies and microchip clinic.

Holly Springs Community Band: its 20th anniversary concert, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at the Cultural Center, is free, though tickets must be reserved; the band asks for a donation of canned food for the Holly Springs Food Cupboard, according to its page.

Downtown

• The downtown mural on Rogers Street, between The Block on Main and Town Hall Commons, with a free “I Spy” activity guide from the town’s mural page.
• Holly Springs Farmers Market, Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon on Ballentine Street: free to browse, with live music on many Saturdays, the town says.

More: kids’ activities, downtown Holly Springs and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

What can you do for free in Holly Springs?

Walk the 1.9-mile Lake Trail at Bass Lake Park, borrow a free Discovery Backpack at its visitor center, take a dog to the Sugg Farm dog park, see a free children’s movie at the Cultural Center or use the Hunt Center’s track and game room with a free Community Pass.

Is HollyFest free?

Yes. HollyFest, the town’s fall festival at Sugg Farm, is free. In 2026 it is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

Is the Hunt Center free?

The indoor walking track and game room are free with a Community Pass, which is free to residents and nonresidents. The fitness center and open gym need a membership or day pass.

Are the pickleball courts in Holly Springs free?

Yes. The outdoor pickleball courts at the North Main Athletic Complex are free, first come, first served, and so are its two outdoor basketball courts.