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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Make sure to check with the venue before heading out, because details sometimes change and events sometimes get canceled.
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, December 19, 2018
Tomorrow: Thursday, December 20, 2018
Friday, December 21, 2018
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours) | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops |
| Free Santa photos and more at Cabela's Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours) | All Day | FREE | Cabela’s |
| Discovery Tables: The Shortest Day | 8:30 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Tasting at Ten: Free tasting and tour at Counter Culture Coffee HQ | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center |
| Food Truck Rodeo at The Frontier | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | The Frontier |
| Black Santa at Hayti Heritage Center | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $30.00 | Hayti Heritage Center |
| Christmas at Oak View Farm--reservations required | 2:00 pm | FREE | Historic Oak View County Park |
| Ugly Christmas Sweater Party | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Brice’s Brewing Company |
| Fridays Uncorked--wine tasting | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Southern Season |
| Santa Train at Museum of Life + Science | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $22.00 | Museum of Life+Science |
| Broken Plow Farm Lights of Christmas Hayride and Santa Visit (Sanford) | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $9.00 | Broken Plow Farm |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights |
| Solstice Celebration Lantern Walk | 5:45 pm | FREE | Eno River Farmers Market |
| Live Music: Dave Binanay | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Neuse River Brewing Company |
| Third Friday Durham: explore art and music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center |
| NC Chinese Lantern Festival | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-18.00 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Santa at Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights |
| Bynum Front Porch House Show: Bobby Gales and New Direction Bluegrass | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bynum Front Porch |
| Friday Night Movies at Barley Labs | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Barley Labs |
| Durty Bull Open-Mic Standup Comedy | 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company |
| Live Music: Canaan James | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | White Street Brewing |
| Triangle Game Night Friday Night Game Night at Aloft Durham | 8:00 pm | Discounted | Aloft Durham |
| Too Much Fun's Xmas Extravaganza | 8:00 pm | FREE | The Kraken |
| Merry Litmas: Ugly Sweater Toy Drive (free with toy donation; $5 without donation) | 9:00 pm | FREE | Proof Five Points |
Saturday, December 22, 2018
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours) | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops |
| Free Santa photos and more at Cabela's Santa's Wonderland (Click for hours) | All Day | FREE | Cabela’s |
| Discovery Tables: The Shortest Day | 8:30 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| The Art Market at Vega Metals | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Vega Metals |
| Bynum Front Porch Pickin' | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Bynum Front Porch |
| Durham Craft Market | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Black Santa at Hayti Heritage Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $30.00 | Hayti Heritage Center |
| North Raleigh Model Railroad Display at Raleigh Union Station | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Union Station |
| Christmas at Oak View Farm--reserve spots now | 10:00 am | FREE | Historic Oak View County Park |
| Festive Flicks: Miracle on 34th Street (1994) | 10:00 am | $1.00 | The Lumina Theater |
| Holiday Hayrides at 1870 Farm in Chapel Hill | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | $10.00-12.00 | 1870 Farm |
| Guided Tour of NC State Capitol | 11:00 am | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol |
| Natural Explorations: Winter Wonders Walk | 11:00 am | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Winterfest: Santa with Goats at Spring Haven Farm in Chapel Hill | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $13.50 | Spring Haven Farm |
| Pop Up Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Big Boss Brewing |
| Free distillery tours and sampling every Saturday at Pinetop Distillery in Raleigh | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Pinetop Distillery |
| Winter Solstice Oyster Roast | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery |
| Guided Tour of NC State Capitol | 2:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol |
| Christmas at Oak View Farm--reservations required | 2:00 pm | FREE | Historic Oak View County Park |
| White Elephant Gift Exchange | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery |
| Free Zumba class | 4:00 pm | FREE | Seymour Center |
| NC Pride Songwriters Showcase | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company |
| Santa Train at Museum of Life + Science | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $22.00 | Museum of Life+Science |
| Broken Plow Farm Lights of Christmas Hayride and Santa Visit (Sanford) | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $9.00 | Broken Plow Farm |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights |
| NC Chinese Lantern Festival | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-18.00 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights (Santa visits from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.) | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Persona Bell Holiday Concert (R&B Vocals/Soul) | 7:00 pm | $14.00 | Beyu Caffe |
| Santa at Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights |
| Live Music: Maverick Rose | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Brice’s Brewing Company |
| Persona Bell Holiday Concert (R&B Vocals/Soul) | 9:00 pm | $14.00 | Beyu Caffe |
| Cajammers Cajun and Zydeco Dance Party | 9:00 pm | FREE | The Kraken |
