The Triangle events calendar features free and cheap things to do every day in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and elsewhere in the Triangle. Think there's nothing to do? Look at this list to get some ideas. You'll find concerts, festivals, fitness events, and much more.
Click each title to see more information about the event or deal. You can also view the whole month (click "By Month") or see a specific date (click By Day).
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Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
You might also be interested in one of these more specific calendars:
- Free things to do this week in the Triangle
- Free and cheap kids' events in the Triangle
- Live music around the Triangle
- Free museum days
- Triangle brewery calendar
Today: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Tomorrow: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Friday, November 28, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Kiln Opening at Mark Hewitt Pottery | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Hewitt Pottery (Pittsboro) |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| The RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| Sheetz: Free coffee with any purchase Thanksgiving Week | All Day | FREE | Sheetz, multiple locations |
| Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Jim Graham Building–NC State Fairgrounds |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Family Fall Tour at Historic Oakwood Cemetery (free, with $10 suggested donation) | 11:00 am | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Family Fall Tour at Historic Oakwood Cemetery (free, with $10 suggested donation) | 1:00 pm | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| SmashFest (admission free; pay for smashables) | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Scrap Exchange, Durham |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Live Music: DJ Al Ski-Love | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Kick Off to Christmas in Smithfield: Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday market | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Smithfield |
| Bazaar Night Market | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| The Little Market: Closing Reception for "Organics" | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Little Market, Hillsborough |
| Vinyl Night | 6:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Final Friday Reception at Cary Gallery of Artists | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Cary Gallery of Artists |
| Last Fridays Art Walk in Hillsborough | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Hillsborough |
| Final Friday Cary Art Loop | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Free Wine Tasting | 6:00 pm | FREE | Local 919, Raleigh |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| Chime In Open Mic (poetry, storytelling songwriting) | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Screening: The Last Waltz | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Live music: Jim DiBattista | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | White Street Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Hoppy Hour Cinema Movie Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Live Band Karaoke (ticket includes one cocktail) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery, Durham |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Stand-up Comedy Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Karaoke with Mega Mike | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
Saturday, November 29, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Kiln Opening at Mark Hewitt Pottery | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Hewitt Pottery (Pittsboro) |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| The RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| Sheetz: Free coffee with any purchase Thanksgiving Week | All Day | FREE | Sheetz, multiple locations |
| Live music: Jim Eastwood Trio | 6:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Teddy Bear Ornament | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Durham Craft Market -- Shop Small Saturday | 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Jim Graham Building–NC State Fairgrounds |
| Hidden Durham History Hike (registration required) | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | $4.50-9.50 | CCB Plaza, Durham |
| Bynum Front Porch Holiday Bazaar | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Bynum Front Porch, Pittsboro |
| Sleigh the Small Biz Saturday Holiday Shopping Event | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Graham (upstairs at The Cotton Company, Wake Forest) |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Santa's Workshop in Smithfield | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield |
| Holidays at Boxyard: The Black Santa Experience (RSVP) | 11:00 am to 3:30 pm | FREE | Boxyard RTP |
| Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours (1-hour long; 4 start times) | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | $6.00-10.00 | Mordecai Historic Park, Raleigh |
| Free Guided Tour of North Carolina State Capitol | 11:00 am | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Family Fall Tour at Historic Oakwood Cemetery (free, with $10 suggested donation) | 11:00 am | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Thankful for Local Vendor Market | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Trophy on Maywood |
| Small Business Saturday Cozy Winter Market | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Boxyard RTP |
| Bright Spirits Holiday Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | MAX JR mini mini mart, Durham |
| Jingle Jammies -- All Day PJ Party | 12:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| College Football Saturdays | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Light Up Main: Garner's Tree Lighting Celebration | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Garner |
| Thanksgiving: History & Legacy Tours | 1:00 pm | $2.00-8.00 | Bennett Place State Historic Site |
| Family Fall Tour at Historic Oakwood Cemetery (free, with $10 suggested donation) | 1:00 pm | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Handcrafted DURM Holiday Market Nov. 29 | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Free Guided Tour of North Carolina State Capitol | 2:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Franklinton Tree Lighting and Christmas Market | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Franklinton |
| Bonfire Nights | 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Sundaes with Santa | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Scoop at Willow Oak Farms, Fuquay-Varina |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| 9th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Dueling Pianos Night with Blazin' Keys Entertainment | 6:00 pm | FREE | The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina |
| Free improv comedy: Funniest Person in the Triangle | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Lune Spark Holly Springs |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| Santa at Lake Myra Christmas Lights | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Live Music: Magic Pipers | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Live music: Cam Cokas | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Williams House Craft Taproom, Cary |
| Live Music: Paige King Johnson | 7:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Art Market and Fire Spinning Jam | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Old North State Food Hall, Selma |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
Sunday, November 30, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Kiln Opening at Mark Hewitt Pottery | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Hewitt Pottery (Pittsboro) |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| The RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| Sheetz: Free coffee with any purchase Thanksgiving Week | All Day | FREE | Sheetz, multiple locations |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Christmas Carousel Holiday Gift Market | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Jim Graham Building–NC State Fairgrounds |
| Live Jazz with Joseph Silvers and Hunter McDermut | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Sunday NFL Football Watch Party | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Pages and Pints with Finn and Ollie | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Artspace Open Studio | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| Beerded Lady Book Club | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Secret Cinema Sundays | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Craft Club & Supply Swap | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Live Music: | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| Sunday Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Drink and Draw: Pirates | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
