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: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Tomorrow: Friday, September 11, 2026
Saturday, September 12, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Hewitt Pottery LocoPops & Pottery Pop-Up Event | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Hewitt Pottery (Pittsboro) |
| 12-pack for $12 | All Day | Discounted | Carolina Brewery Pittsboro |
| Hopscotch Day Parties | All Day | Various locations | |
| Tunnel to Towers Climb (price varies; this is a fundraiser) | 8:00 am | Former Wells Fargo Tower, Raleigh | |
| Family Fest at Lakeside Retreats : Free event with outdoor fun, entertainment, yoga, more | 8:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lakeside Retreats, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Durham Craft Market | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Thomas in the Garden at New Hope Valley Railway (free event; pay for train rides) | 9:30 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | New Hope Valley Railway |
| Ruby Bridges Literary Day Celebration with Book Harvest | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Book Harvest, Durham |
| Lowe's DIY-U Kids' Workshop: Haunted House | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Fall Festival and Plant Sale at Briggs Avenue Community Garden in Durham | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Briggs Avenue Community Garden |
| 20th Annual North Carolina Hot Sauce Contest in Oxford, NC | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Oxford, NC |
| Black History Walking Tour | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $6.00-10.00 | Pope House, Raleigh |
| Free Pickleball Class | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | NetSports, Morrisville |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Visit Raleigh Fire Museum 2nd Saturday of month (for free) | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Fire Museum |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| International Cultural Festival in Fuquay-Varina | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fuquay-Varina Arts Center |
| Roots, Rhythm & Renewal Fest | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Thistledown Farm, Graham |
| Family Saturday Series: Pepito and the Trash Cans | 11:00 am | $5.00 | The Carolina Theatre, Durham |
| Notes on View: Salomé Sandoval | 11:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| 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 |
| Apex Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Sweetwater Apex |
| 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 |
| The Market at Raleigh Iron Works | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Iron Works |
| Field and Factory Tour at Duke Homestead | 11:15 am | FREE | Duke Homestead |
| Summer Send-Off Market | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Crooked Hammock Brewery, Raleigh |
| Free Groceries, Health Screenings, Haircuts, School Supplies | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Lakeview Missionary Baptist Church, Durham |
| Hispanic Heritage Fiesta | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, Pittsboro |
| Lager Daze Beer Fest 2026 | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Hopscotch Day Party | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Come Out and Play sculpture show | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | JimGin Farm |
| Second Saturday Plant Swap | 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| 16th Annual Durham Oktoberfest at Motorco -- session 1 (price varies) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $0-19.00 | Motorco Music Hall |
| Buskers Day in NCMA Museum Park | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Eno River Association's 60th Anniversary Celebration: Performances, square dance, crafting, more... | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | DPlex Plaza, Durham |
| Notes on View: Salomé Sandoval | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Free: Oktoberfest at Bull McCabes in Durham | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bull McCabe’s |
| The Irish Session | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Field and Factory Tour at Duke Homestead | 2:15 pm | FREE | Duke Homestead |
| Cause for Paws Adoptable Dogs | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Concerts on the Creek: Rissi Palmer | 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Hub RTP |
| Carolina Circus Festival -- free event in Cary with performances, workshops and more | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Live Music | 3:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Free Mariachi Concert | 3:30 pm | FREE | Peach Road Cultural Center, Raleigh |
| Saturday Afternoon Ecstatic Dance | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Durham Friends Meeting |
| Interfaith Peace Vigil in Remembrance of 9/11 | 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center, Cary |
| Big Band Bash in the Park | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Lake Benson Park, Garner |
| Live Music: Steve Holcomb | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Crooked Hammock Brewery, Raleigh |
| Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tournament at Weaver Street Market Raleigh | 5:00 pm | FREE | Weaver Street Market Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Festival Latino in Garner | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Garner Recreation Center |
| Live Music: Southpaw Soul | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| Classical Music in the Park | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| 16th Annual Durham Oktoberfest at Motorco -- session 2 (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-19.00 | Motorco Music Hall |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| A Stand-Up Comedy Game Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Live Music Saturdays | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs |
| Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Texas Exes College Football Watch Party: Texas vs. Ohio State | 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Edit Beer Co., Raleigh |
| Free NC Symphony Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
| Live music: The Danny Grewen Band (pay what you choose) | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Sonark Farms, Hillsborough | |
| Open Mic/Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
Sunday, September 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Hewitt Pottery LocoPops & Pottery Pop-Up Event | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Hewitt Pottery (Pittsboro) |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Thomas in the Garden at New Hope Valley Railway (free event; pay for train rides) | 9:30 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | New Hope Valley Railway |
| Sunday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Bull City Treasure Hunt | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham Bottling Company |
| Raleigh Really Really Free Market | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Eliza Pool Park, Raleigh |
| Sunday Brunch Music on the lawn of Weaver Street Market in Carrboro | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Weaver Street Market Carrboro |
| Raleigh Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Triangle Vegfest (pay what you can option is available) | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Durham Central Park |
| 19th annual Pepperfest | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Morgan Street Sessions | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh |
| Bazaar Craft & Art Market in Carrboro | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Second Sundays: Open Studio | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham |
| Open Play American Mahjong | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Hops & Flower, Durham |
| Black Farmers' Market in Raleigh | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Southeast Raleigh YMCA |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh |
| D's Oktoberfest | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | D’s Bottle Shop and Craft Beer College |
| Hillsborough Classic Film Society: His Girl Friday | 2:00 pm | FREE | Jerry M. Passmore Senior Center, Hillsborough |
| Open Mic | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Honduran Civic Festival | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | 1515 N Pointe Drive, Durham |
| Open Mic Night | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| DYNAMIC DUOS: Spirits of the Soundboard: Goblins, Trolls, and Grooves (suggested $15 donation) | 5:00 pm | The Blue Note Grill, Durham | |
| Jazz'd Up Sundays: Niki Haris, featuring the Christian Tamburr Band | 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Concerts in the Park in Wake Forest: The Band Next Door | 5:30 pm | FREE | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clouds Brewing Taproom, Raleigh |
| Sunday Garner Community Drum Circle | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Lake Benson Park, Garner |
| Sundays at Sundown Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
Monday, September 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open House with Fit4Mom Hillsborough-Mebane -- free fitness classes and more | All Day | FREE | Multiple locations, Hillsborough |
| Total Tot Time: free play program for kids up to age 5 | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Durham |
| Free Food Distribution at Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church | 2:00 pm | FREE | Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church, Durham |
| Coloring Vinyl Night | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Silent Reading Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Democracy Unfiltered: A Voter Education Series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Board Game Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Early Karaoke | 6:00 pm | FREE | The Northside District |
| Smut Book Club | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Carrboro Open Mic | 7:30 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
