Kirby Derby
About
The Kirby Derby is a Raleigh tradition that dates to 2002 and has run most years since. Aly and Beth Khalifa started it on a whim, as a parade down Kirby Street in the small Pullen Park Terrace neighborhood just west of downtown.
It has outgrown the street. Since 2017 it has been held on Harvey Hill at Dix Park, where there is room for the crowds. Each year gets a new theme, and residents and visitors turn up in costume for the soapbox derby and the offbeat parade.
What to know
- Mini PineCar races give younger kids something to enter.
- The 2026 Kirby Derby took place on August 22.
- Past themes have included Kirby Derby the Sequel and The Bride of Kirby Derby.
- Residents of Pullen Park Terrace have produced the event since the beginning.
- The organizers kept it going because they believe creativity builds community.
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