# Weekend getaways from Richmond with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/richmond/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Richmond for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on.

Last checked: 2026-10-18.

## Weekend of Oct 23–25

Stay close to home: nothing within a few hours beats what's on in Richmond. Ice Age Invasion (Fri Oct 23, Sat Oct 24, Sun Oct 25, Zoo hours, Metro Richmond Zoo; https://metrorichmondzoo.com/events/)

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1

Stay close to home: nothing within a few hours beats what's on in Richmond. Ice Age Invasion (Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, Zoo hours, Metro Richmond Zoo; https://metrorichmondzoo.com/events/)

## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Charlotte (about 4 hr 45 min)

Pirates' Christmas Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, plus the last day of Tricks and Treats at Carowinds on Saturday, 11 to 5:30.

- **Tricks and Treats at Carowinds**, Sat Nov 7, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Nov. 7 closes at 5:30 p.m., Carowinds. Included with park admission. The park's daytime, no-scares Halloween, with a costume contest, candy and family rides before the evening haunt takes over. Official page: https://www.sixflags.com/carowinds/events/tricks-and-treats
- **Carolina Renaissance Festival**, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville. 4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices. Jousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22. Official page: https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/special-event-weekends/timetravelers

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Charlotte (about 4 hr 45 min)

Time Travelers' Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival: kids 5 to 12 get in free with a school-supply donation, and 4 and under are always free. Parking is free too.

- **Carolina Renaissance Festival**, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville. 4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices. Jousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22. Official page: https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/special-event-weekends/timetravelers

## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Raleigh (about 2 hr 45 min)

The NC Chinese Lantern Festival opens Saturday in Cary. The paths are paved and stroller-friendly, and the 4:30 twilight session is less crowded.

- **NC Chinese Lantern Festival**, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 6–10 p.m.; twilight session gates 4:30 p.m., Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary. See Koka Booth for prices; 2 and under free. Paved, stroller-friendly paths. The 4:30 twilight session has smaller crowds. Most people take 45 to 75 minutes. Official page: https://www.boothamphitheatre.com/chinese-lantern-festival

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Raleigh (about 2 hr 45 min)

The Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary.

- **NC Chinese Lantern Festival**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, 6–10 p.m.; twilight session gates 4:30 p.m., Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary. See Koka Booth for prices; 2 and under free. Paved, stroller-friendly paths. The 4:30 twilight session has smaller crowds. Most people take 45 to 75 minutes. Official page: https://www.boothamphitheatre.com/chinese-lantern-festival

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Richmond with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Richmond are Charlotte, Raleigh. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.

**Which cities are within an easy drive of Richmond?**
Raleigh (about 2 hr 45 min), Charlotte (about 4 hr 45 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

**Why is the same city picked more than once?**
Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.

**Are the times and prices current?**
They're what each official page showed on Oct 18, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.