The Town of Cary's Pumpkin Flotilla takes place Friday, October 23, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Bond Park, 801 High House Road, Cary. Participation is free. Drop off your carved pumpkin on October 22, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m. Floats are limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Pumpkins will set sail across the Bond Park Lake at twilight (approximately 6:30 p.m.) Enjoy … [Read more...] about Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park Oct 23
Even more free and cheap stuff to do
Free wine tasting at Taylor’s Wine Shop Oct. 23
Taylor's Wine Shop, at 10005 Six Forks Road, in North Raleigh, sells live bait, fine Cabernet, and everything in between. In other words, you'll probably find everything you need there. Taylor's Wine Shop regularly hosts free wine tastings and other events. If you attend, please do not park in the spots in front of Bayleaf Vet Clinic. Extra parking is available at the little white church just … [Read more...] about Free wine tasting at Taylor’s Wine Shop Oct. 23
Annual Zombiepalooza at Downtown Cary Park Oct. 23
Cary's annual Zombiepalooza takes place Friday, October 23, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Downtown Cary Park, 327 S Academy Street, Cary, North Carolina. The event is free to attend, and will take place on the Great Lawn. If the weather is bad, it moves inside to The Cary Theater. Zombiepalooza will feature local filmmakers’ zombie short films. The films are between one and five minutes … [Read more...] about Annual Zombiepalooza at Downtown Cary Park Oct. 23
Fridays on the Front Porch at Carolina Inn
Carolina Inn, at 211 Pittsboro Street, on the UNC campus in Chapel Hill, hosts Fridays on the Front Porch, a free outdoor concert series. The concert series runs from May to to October 30, 2026, with no concerts in July. 5 to 8 p.m. See the schedule below. It's free to attend. Food trucks will be on site. Band Schedule for Fridays on the Front Porch in 2026 … [Read more...] about Fridays on the Front Porch at Carolina Inn
Durham Day at Duke Football Oct. 31 — really cheap tickets for Durham residents, plus free concession voucher!
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Duke Football is celebrating Durham Day and Halloween on Saturday, October 31, 2026! The Blue Devils take on Boston College at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium 110 Frank Bassett Drive, Durham, North Carolina. Kickoff is at 12 p.m. but there are pre-game Halloween festivities, so read on... First things first, though, Durham residents get a great deal on tickets! Non-Durham residents pay … [Read more...] about Durham Day at Duke Football Oct. 31 — really cheap tickets for Durham residents, plus free concession voucher!
Trunk or Treat at Durham Co-op Oct. 24
Durham Co-op, at 1111 W Chapel Hill Street, Durham, North Carolina, is hosting its first Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. This is a free event. Besides collecting treats, enjoy live music and crafts. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. They're looking for trunks! Here's the registration form. All “trunkers” will receive a FREE pumpkin as a thank … [Read more...] about Trunk or Treat at Durham Co-op Oct. 24
Parktown Food Hub — Open Food Distribution Day rescheduled to Oct. 29
Parktown Food Hub is a community-based partnership aimed at reducing hunger and food insecurity in South Durham. Follow them on Facebook for announcements. Please check their website calendar and Facebook page before heading out, to make sure that there haven't been any changes. On their calendar you can find upcoming food distributions, events and volunteer opportunities. Donations are welcome … [Read more...] about Parktown Food Hub — Open Food Distribution Day rescheduled to Oct. 29
PIPs Adoption Event at Lonerider at Wake Forest
Lonerider at Wake Forest -- Hideout and Distillery is at 1839 S Main Street, Wake Forest, North Carolina. Check their website calendar for a list of their upcoming events. They also list them on Facebook. Read about events coming up at Lonerider at Wake Forest below. Upcoming Events Wanted: Forever Homes PIPs Adoption EventSaturday, November 7, 20261 to 3 p.m.Free Come meet and greet … [Read more...] about PIPs Adoption Event at Lonerider at Wake Forest
NC Catalina Wine Mixer Oct. 24
The NC Catalina Wine Mixer is a fun, upscale, and highly social celebration of wine, food, music, and local businesses. Inspired by the iconic Catalina Wine Mixer from the film Step Brothers, the event will bring together wineries, local food vendors, artisans, and small businesses for an engaging afternoon of tastings, live music, entertainment, interactive experiences, and opportunities to shop … [Read more...] about NC Catalina Wine Mixer Oct. 24
Beech Bluff County Park’s First Grateful Harvest Festival Nov. 7
Wake County Parks is hosting its first Grateful Harvest Festival on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Beech Bluff County Park, 3321 NC 42, Willow Spring, North Carolina. This is a free event. Celebrate our community and its rich agricultural history as we plan for and work toward a sustainable future. The festival includes giveaways, live music, storytelling and … [Read more...] about Beech Bluff County Park’s First Grateful Harvest Festival Nov. 7
