Totscotch 2026 and more for families at Raleigh’s best festival

September is one of the best and busiest months in Raleigh: We’re back to school, but there are also a ton of events and festivals, and literally multiple things happening every weekend. One of the highlights for music aficionados is the annual Hopscotch Music Festival. Started in 2010 as “The Independents’ Hopscotch Music Festival”, the event has from the beginning been a blend of different genres, putting global stars on the same stage as brand-new bands, and that with a heavy slant towards music from North Carolina. It has been nice to see the event grow, adapt, struggle, reinvent itself, but always been a convincing format, and a music event with a reach far beyond Raleigh.
And then we had kids.
Seeing the Hopscotch posters on a walk with the stroller reminded us of time BC (before children), and by the time the headliners got on stage, we were fast asleep. Then one year we tried Lazy Daze, and it was nice, but, eh. The kids grew up, not on Kids Bop and Baby Mozart, but on real music, again, transfusing all the genres, many influences, that’s how you find yourself. We took them to see music, at the amphitheater, at Raleigh Wide Open.
And now, they are ready for Hopscotch.

Totscotch is just the start

For a few years now (started in 2023), Hopscotch and Marbles Kids Museum have been putting on Totscotch, and while the combination sounds as cringe as the name, don’t dismiss it just yet. The entire Moore Square part of Hopscotch has been revamped as “Moore Square Commons”, and Totscotch is part of that. It takes place from around 10am-1pm on Saturday 9/12 (some sources say 10a-1p, some 10a-2p, some 11a-2p, oh well), and like the Hopscotch Day Parties it is free. And with food trucks and a small market (I don’t know, tie-dye t-shirts and bracelets and stuff, I assume), it should be entertaining enough for a relaxing Saturday afternoon.

The music: I got a bit nervous when I saw them call it “Music for Kids”, because we all know what this could sound like. So I checked out the billed bands: Ricochet Chicken (11:45a) does not seem to exist on the internet except for their band page on the hopscotch website (correct me). They are a group of 17-year-olds out of Durham with original music and a couple gigs in Durham. Go support them at Hopscotch! Horse Deniers (12:45p) has played a few gigs in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. No music to be heard online, but described as alt/hard/jam rock. I was ready to give up on the hard-to-Google name of “No One Mind”, but they do exist, have been around for over a decade and released several albums. Self-declared psychedelic art pop, your kids will like them, and so will you. (They go on at 2:15p, so technically after Totscotch ends.) Additional bands billed that day are Bass Battery and Mellow Swells, also out of Durham. Full disclaimer: I haven’t gone to Totscotch in previous years, but I’m planning to check it out this year, take in the whole “Moore Square Commons” vibe as well as probably a few day parties.

Hopscotch Day Parties

The list of day parties is not out yet, but these are free, meaning generally all ages (but in the end, depends on the venue). They are traditionally hosted at various clubs, bars and other locations around downtown. I will update when I hear more.

Kids at the evening concerts and clubs

If you do have a festival pass to see bands at the ticketed concerts (starting at 4p Thu/Fri and 2:30p on Sat), the good news is that kids under the age of 12 are free to enter the general admission area of the main stage. For the club concerts, it again depends on the venue, with Lincoln Theater typically all ages, but Neptunes and Slims 21+. (I don’t know about the rest.)

Hearing Protection

You are a good parent for taking your kids to Hopscotch. Now be a good parent and protect their ears. If they are little, they will not mind the big over-ear capsules, and that is what they need. If they’re teenagers, they may accept the same ear plugs that you are wearing. And if they are adults, well, you had your chance at raising them right 🙂.

And while I had my dad hat on, bring water and sunscreen, and good shoes if you’re planning to go to different venues (Moores Square to City Plaza is about a 10-15min walk).

Summary

Address: around Moore Square and Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh
Date and Hours: Hopscotch: 9/10-12 Totscotch: 9/12, 10a-1p (on Moore Square)
Cost: Totscotch and Day Parties are free, the festival is now $159 (adults) and free under 12.
Website: Hopscotch Music Festival , especially Totscotch and Moore Square Commons
Getting there: We will of course walk, but any city bus would drop you off right at Moore Square. For my North Raleigh friends and out-of-towners, try to park in the Wilmington St Deck (use 114 S Blount for directions) and plan to arrive early; once this one is full, getting to other parking decks might be a hassle with the closed roads.

Lastly, Hopscotch is a big event, and downtown will be crowded. Do some additional research for your specific needs before going. I hope I got you interested, but reading this article alone is not enough preparation.

Let’s get muddy…

This just popped up on my calendar, and I wouldn’t want you to miss it! Tomorrow Saturday is Mud Fest, a great opportunity to get wet and muddy at my favorite wetland center.

About Walnut Creek Wetland Center

Walnut Creek Wetland Center is one of my favorite park spaces in Raleigh. It is educational and practical, but also just a beautiful place to be: Grab one of the rocking chairs on the large platform out back, and enjoy the views of the Walnut Creek floodplain, a natural area with a rich ecosystem.

About Mud Fest

I’m surprised to see that Mud Fest is already in its 8th year, and the photos sure look like a lot of fun. There are not a lot of details available for what will be new this year, but you can expect food trucks, info booths from local environmental groups, table activities like crafts, and of course, most importantly, a lot of mud. (Let’s hope the fire departments is back this year as well to hose off all that mud at the end.)
Also, even though the website does not have much detail, I feel comfortable recommending to just go. Even if the event itself is not what you expect, the permanent exhibits as well as the nature path will be a worthwhile visit anyway. (And it is centrally located, walkable from downtown and around 10 minutes from most central Raleigh neighborhoods.)

For older kids: Volunteering opportunity

Feeling to old to roll around in the mud? They are still looking for volunteers (16+) to help with the event – get a headstart on volunteering hours for school. Details here.

Details

When: Saturday, August-15, 2026, 10am-1pm
Where: Walnut Creek Wetland Center, 950 Peterson St., Raleigh NC 27610
Cost: FREE
Website: https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/events/mud-day

It is now a year since the last issue of the Daddy Weekly occurred. To my surprise and delight, I’m still getting a lot of visitors to the website – many of them just a regular mom or dad thinking about how to bring some joy to their kids and themselves.

While the Daddy Weekly has ceased publication in a weekly format, I still carry the thought to invest some time and make it useful for a few more years – many of the topics and events featured happen every year (like the Christmas Parade) or are permanent features (like Marbles).

For now, please feel free to use the site as is – and if it happened in 2013, there is good chance it will also take place in 2015 and beyond at around the same time.

If you have specific question, don’t hesitate to reach out – I’m still around at daddy@daddyweekly.me.

Saturday afternoon will be cold and rainy for sure, and Marbles has a cute event for all those who want to become a Veterinarian – aptly named FutureVet. Offered in collaboration with Banfield Vet Hospital and led by a veterinarian, kids find out about being a vet, meet a therapy dog, and even get a certificate. This is from 2-3p, and included in regular Marbles admission.

A vet at work (during the Vet School Open House)

If you can still get tickets (but many train rides were sold out at the time of this writing), the Haunted Train at New Hope Valley Railroad looks really cool.

In addition to riding the train (and seeing some spooky installations along the way), you can visit an old witch and have your future told, or a mad scientist blowing smoke-filled bubbles. (I hope in a kids-appropriate way, and not the way we did it when we were young!)

There will be spooky photo ops and even a take-home gift for visitor. As of this writing, tickets were only available for the 2:45p train and the (scarier) 7:45p train.

Haunted Steam Locomotive (c) New Hope valley Railroad

This post is from 2013 and maintained for historic purposes.

Mordecai Historic Park has its Haunted Mordecai Free Festival this Saturday, 10/26 from 5p-10p. In addition to games, crafts, food, etc., there will be a “paranormal investigation group” presenting what they found out about Mordecai’s ghosts, and also costume contests for different age groups (under 3 at 6pm, 4-6 yrs at 7pm, 7-12 at 8pm, 13-16 yrs at 9pm). To do the Lantern Tour of of the Mordecai House, you need tickets.

Mordecai Historic Park is just North of Downtown at 1 Mimosa St.

Update 2026: Mordecai House continues to be open for tours; I have not found a specific announcement for a Halloween-themed event for 2026.

Marbles is hosting its annual Halloween party also this Saturday evening, from 6p-9p. Note that tickets are required, even for members, and that Marbles closes at 4p that day in order to prepare for the event, so you can’t go early and just stay.

Marbles as always puts a science/museum twist on the event, which includes among other things a Mad Scientist Lab and Spinning Spider Science. Showing up in costume is highly encouraged!

Purchase tickets ahead of time if you can, they are $8 in advance, but $13 on the day of the event ($10/$15 for non-members).

Living on a street that is primarily known for its block party is certainly special, and Cooke Street Carnival keeps going strong in its fifth year. “The Cookeout” is this year’s theme, and in addition to art vendors, kids activities and bands, there are of course food trucks and beer tents. Particular mention goes to the “Art Boards”, 2D-art with cutouts for your head, all created by local artists, and excellent photo-ops.

Cooke Street Carnival is this Saturday from 1-6p – on Cooke Street, of course!

So, what new can we say about the State Fair? After all it’s been taking place (except for brief interruptions during war) continuously since 1853.

Well, new is the pork barbeque filled egg roll, for example, or the Sloppy Joe Doughnut burger. Enjoy! Another newer development is the local wine and micro-brew beer tasting that has been added a few years ago.

For kids there is Kiddieland, and then of course the livestock. And the drag racing. And the music. And the food. In short, all that makes the state fair, the state fair.

It is that time of the year again. The leaves are turning, the pumpkins are patching and the corn is a-mazing.

I won’t disguise it, I take the simple path and will just refer you to my last year’s article. Both corn mazes are good options that we’ve visited personally. One addition to the list this year is Vollmer farm, where we went a few weeks ago for the Farm Tour. It has a large kids activity area and the usual farm stuff. No corn maze, but a giant jumping pillow and even movies on Saturday night.

Ken’s Korn Maze and Ganyard Farm were covered in last year’s article.