Free in High Point: HPU's gardens, the High Point Museum, library story times, 11 miles of paved greenway, Winter WonderPark and free summer concerts.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Every item is free according to the organizer’s own page, linked below. Parks and Recreation: 336-883-3469.
A lot of what High Point offers costs nothing: a university garden of 30 gardens, a city history museum, two long greenways, library programs and a calendar of free city events. Here is the list, with dates where they are set.
What this means for you
- Any day: HPU’s gardens (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and the greenways (sunrise to sunset).
- Tuesday to Saturday: the free High Point Museum.
- Coming up: Ghost Stories in the Historical Park on Oct. 17, Día de los Muertos on Oct. 31, Winter WonderPark from Dec. 5.
Gardens, parks and trails
- Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, High Point University: 30 gardens with more than 350 kinds of trees and 2,500 kinds of plants, according to HPU. Free and open to the public seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; plan with the gardens map or sign up for a free guided tour on Wednesdays at 9 a.m.
- Greenways: the 4.9-mile High Point Greenway and 6.2 miles of the Bicentennial Greenway, paved and open sunrise to sunset; see our trails guide.
- Piedmont Environmental Center, 1220 Penny Road: 6.6 miles of natural trails, a 70-by-30-foot walk-on map of North Carolina and small animal exhibits. The building is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
- Hedgecock Dog Park, 300 W. Parris Ave., open sunrise to sunset; dogs need a dog park tag from Parks and Recreation. See our dog-friendly guide.
- Playgrounds in about 30 city parks, listed on the city’s playgrounds page.
Museums and the library
- High Point Museum, 1859 E. Lexington Ave.: free admission, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday; the Historical Park with its four historic buildings opens Saturdays, often with a blacksmith at work.
- High Point Public Library, 901 N. Main St.: free story times for young children Monday to Thursday mornings, plus clubs, classes and author talks on the city calendar.
- The Art Gallery at Congdon Yards: gallery exhibitions downtown, open weekdays from noon and Saturdays from 10 a.m.
Free events on the calendar
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Oct. 17 | Halloween Spooky Hoopla trunk-or-treat, 5 to 8 p.m. | High Point Athletic Complex |
| Saturday, Oct. 17 | Ghost Stories in the Historical Park, 6 to 7:30 p.m. | High Point Museum |
| Saturday, Oct. 31 | Día de los Muertos, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | High Point Museum |
| Dec. 5-19 (six nights) | Winter WonderPark, 4 to 8 p.m. (walk-through free) | High Point City Lake Park |
| Sunday, Nov. 22 | High Point Holiday Festival Parade, 3 p.m. | Main Street |
Sources: the city’s October events page, the museum’s listings, the Winter WonderPark page and the parade. More detail on our Halloween, holiday lights and Christmas parade pages.
Free in summer
- SummerSounds, the High Point Arts Council’s free outdoor concert series, Friday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in parks around High Point; bring a chair or blanket, according to the Arts Council.
- Lawn Jam, the city’s free Friday concerts on the lawn at City Lake Park, 6 to 9 p.m.; in 2026 they were June 12 and July 17, according to Parks and Recreation.
Free in December
High Point University has opened its campus for a free drive-through Christmas lights display in recent seasons, according to its Christmas lights page; 2026 dates were not posted as of Oct. 11.
Related: kids’ activities, parks and trails, things to do this weekend and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
Are the High Point University gardens open to the public?
Yes. The Mariana H. Qubein Arboretum and Botanical Gardens are free and open to the public seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with free guided tours Wednesdays at 9 a.m.
Is the High Point Museum free?
Yes. Admission is free. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and its Historical Park opens on Saturdays.
Is Winter WonderPark free?
Walking through Winter WonderPark at High Point City Lake Park is free and needs no registration. Rides and mini golf cost $5 a person.
Are there free concerts in High Point?
Yes. The High Point Arts Council’s SummerSounds series is free on Friday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. in summer, and the city’s Lawn Jam nights at City Lake Park are free.
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