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: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Tomorrow: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Thursday, October 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State Fair | All Day | $5.00-13.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| West End Poetry Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations, Carrboro |
| College Day: NC College Students get into NC State Fair for $8 | All Day | $8.00-13.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Stammtisch (German community night) with steins of German beers for pint prices | All Day | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham | |
| Tickets on sale for Pullen Park's Holiday Express | 9:00 am | $21.00 | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Free Wine Tasting on the Rooftop | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | 10th & Terrace at Residence In Raleigh Downtown |
| high.low: high taste, low pressure after-work kickback | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Sips & Sounds at 1619, Durham |
| Live Music: Grant Paxton | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Cirque Kikasse: SANTÉ! -- circus performance...on a food truck! | 6:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Durham Beer and Banjos | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Old Mill Farm, Durham |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| NC Run Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Spirits of Wake Forest: ghost walks in Downtown Wake Forest (multiple start times) | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $20.00 | Wake Forest Town Hall |
| Monthly Soup Swap | 6:30 pm | FREE | The Daily Beer Bar, Durham |
| Raleigh Uke Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh |
| Science Café | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Opinionation | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| NCMA After Hours: Ancient Nubia | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Unisong: Guided Song Circle | 7:45 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Current Wellness, Raleigh |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Jazz: The Session | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Cosmic Cantina Karaoke | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Cosmic Cantina, Chapel Hill |
| Skee Ball Tournament | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| Karaoke hosted by Empress | 9:00 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
Friday, October 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State Fair | All Day | $5.00-13.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| West End Poetry Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations, Carrboro |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Registration opens for skate night at Dix Park | 12:00 pm | FREE | The Chapel at Dix Park |
| The Witch's Haunted Barn (No actor version) | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $13.00 | Firefly Farm, Hillsborough |
| Carrboro Songwriters Festival | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Multiple locations, Carrboro |
| Free Wine Tastings | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Fright Night with Durham Parks and Recreation | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Edison Johnson Recreation Center (Durham) |
| Love Local -- Fall Into Downtown Apex: Fall Harvest Night | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Apex Historic Depot |
| Live Music: Jeffrey Kriz (On the Patio) | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale |
| Cary Night Market | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Town of Garner Diwali Celebration | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Garner Recreation Center |
| Fridays on the Front Porch | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill |
| For Friday's Sake -- live music and food truck | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | For Garden’s Sake, Durham |
| Durham Foodie Fare | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Poetry in the Park | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | House of Many Porches in Dix Park, Raleigh |
| Trunk or Treat at Lightbridge Academy in Apex | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | LIghtbridge Academy, Apex |
| Glass & Fiber Art Exhibit: Kaylee DeMay, Jon Richey, Sinclair Lewis | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Arts, Durham |
| 10th Anniversary Tile Show | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Arts, Durham |
| Live Music: DJ Al-Ski Love | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Third Friday: Artist mixer, artist talks and live jazz | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar, Durham |
| Cirque Kikasse: SANTÉ! -- circus performance...on a food truck! | 6:00 pm | FREE | The Scrap Exchange, Durham |
| Third Friday Durham -- art receptions, exhibits and performances | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Pop Up Music at North Hills | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh |
| Front Porch Friday at Haven Farm | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haven Farm, Knightdale |
| Civic Social hosted by The Student Coalition for Civic Engagement | 6:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Spooky Movie Night: Hotel Transylvania | 6:30 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Spirits of Wake Forest: ghost walks in Downtown Wake Forest (multiple start times) | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $20.00 | Wake Forest Town Hall |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Thomas Rucker | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Third Space Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Haunted Trolley at Mordecai Park (3 tours) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Mordecai Historic Park, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Heather Rogers | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina |
| Deadford Manor -- animatronic singing skeleton show in a Raleigh front yard | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Deadford Manor, Raleigh |
| Friday Fright Movie Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| 18th Annual Ghost Dance in Downtown Raleigh | 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Pub Karaoke | 10:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | West 94th Street Pub, Durham |
Saturday, October 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State Fair | All Day | $5.00-13.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| West End Poetry Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations, Carrboro |
| Durham Craft Market | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Raleigh Little Theatre Costume Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Little Theatre |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| SARDUC x RDUAE Fall Fest -- Asian Festival | 9:30 am to 2:30 pm | FREE | The Corner, NC State Centennial Campus |
| Halloween Boo Bash in Downtown Wake Forest | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Wake Forest |
| Free petting zoo at Pittsboro Feed | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Pittsboro Feed |
| Wake Forest Garden Club's Autumn Art & Plant Festival | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Neuse River Valley Model Railroad Club Open House | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Neuse River Valley Model RR Clubhouse, Raleigh |
| Tricks for Treats at PetSmart | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | PetSmart (multiple locations) |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| 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 N.C. State Capitol (three start times: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.) | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Fenton Makers Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fenton, Cary |
| The Witch's Haunted Barn | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | $13.00 | Firefly Farm, Hillsborough |
| Gather at Grace: Fall Festival with Free Cookout | 11:30 am to 2:30 pm | FREE | Grace Lutheran Church, Durham |
| Texas Exes College Football Watch Party: Texas vs. Florida | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Edit Beer Co., Raleigh |
| 4-Year Anniversary Party | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Raleigh's International Wine & Beer Festival | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | City Plaza, Raleigh |
| Carrboro Songwriters Festival | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Multiple locations, Carrboro |
| Durham Really Really Free Market | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Orchard Park, Durham |
| Pop-Up Raleigh Art & Vintage Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Trophy on Maywood |
| Sixth Annual Bullhorn Fest music festival in Durham (suggested donation: $15-25) | 12:30 pm to 9:30 pm | Shadowbox Studio | |
| NatureFest | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Pages and Pints Pop-Up Book Shop and Swap | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina |
| Mill Open House | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Free pumpkin painting (with purchase of pumpkin) | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | For Garden’s Sake, Durham | |
| Free meal with Food Not Bombs Siler City, plus a Really Really Free Market | 1:00 pm | FREE | Chatham Square, Siler City |
| Book Shop Pop-up and Author Showcase | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Cirque Kikasse: SANTÉ! -- circus performance...on a food truck! | 2:00 pm | FREE | Claymakers Gallery, Durham |
| Hymns for Salted Bones: A Re-membering of Hayti Walking Tour (space is limited and registration is required) | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | 1201 Fayetteville Street, Durham |
| Track 'n' Treat Halloween Train Ride (5 start times) | 2:15 pm to 8:45 pm | $18.61 | New Hope Valley Railway |
| Cozy Cryptid Market | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Bloom Collective, Raleigh |
| Patio Pumpkin Painting Party | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| Bull City BOOs Fest | 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $16.11-12.51 | Durham Central Park |
| Morrisville Diwali Festival | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Morrisville Community Park |
| Live Music | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Live Music | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Brewery Pittsboro |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Beer Garden Concert Series | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Spirits of Wake Forest: ghost walks in Downtown Wake Forest (multiple start times) | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $20.00 | Wake Forest Town Hall |
| Aloreing Destinations: talk about haunted performance venues | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fullsteam Theatre, American Tobacco Campus, Durham |
| Free film screening and artist talk about Francesca Talenti | 7:00 pm | FREE | Eno Arts Mill, Hillsborough |
| Raleigh Concert Band's Fall Concert: Ghosts, Gods & Rubber Chickens | 7:00 pm | FREE | Garner Performing Arts Center |
| Deadford Manor -- animatronic singing skeleton show in a Raleigh front yard | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Deadford Manor, Raleigh |
| Haunted Trolley at Mordecai Park (3 tours) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Mordecai Historic Park, Raleigh |
| Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| CaryLive! Concert Series: Harvey Street | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Live Music in the Garden: Near the Cul de Sac | 8:00 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus, Durham |
| Open Mic/Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
