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: Monday, December 15, 2025
Tomorrow: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King: Whopper Wednesday -- $3.99 Whopper | All Day | $3.99 | Burger King, participating locations |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Holiday Food Distribution in Rolesville | 10:00 am | FREE | 203 E Young Street, Rolesville |
| 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 |
| Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| Duke Chapel by Candlelight: Christmas Open House | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Duke University Chapel |
| Ben & Jerry’s gives away new ice cream bars for free | 12:00 pm | FREE | Ben & Jerry’s, multiple locations |
| Board Game Night | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show | 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| Window on Animal Health | 1:30 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Board Game Night | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| Menorah Lighting at Fenton | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Fenton, Cary |
| Holiday Lights Open House & Supply Drive at Saving Grace | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Saving Grace |
| Menorah lit each night of Hanukkah at Cary Arts Center | 5:00 pm | FREE | Cary Arts Center |
| Cookies & Cocoa with Sensory-Friendly Santa | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Bloomwell Autism Therapy, Raleigh |
| Live Nativity, with live music, live animals, and refreshments | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Saint Francis United Methodist Church, Cary |
| Free Acro Yoga at Method Road Park (indoors) | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Community Menorah Lighting with Beth El Synagogue | 6:00 pm | FREE | Beth El Synagogue, Durham |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Chanukah Party | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Open Mic | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro |
| Bring Your Own Craft Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Holiday Music with Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| "Adultish" Spelling Bee | 7:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Method Road Park, Raleigh |
| Stitch N' Bitch Craft Night | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Karaoke Night at The Backyard Bar | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Backyard Bar, Apex |
| Weekly Skee Ball Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery | 8:00 pm to 11:45 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Open Mic Week | 8:00 pm | FREE | Abbey Road Cary |
| Beer Pong Tournament | 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
Thursday, December 18, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King: Free Croissan'wich with $5 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, participating locations |
| 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 |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Free food giveaway with Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Central Carolina Community Campus — Center for Workforce Innovation, Sanford |
| Durham Community Day at Museum of Life + Science: free admission for Durham County residents | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Museum of Life+Science, Durham |
| Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show | 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| Chanukah Celebration at 1870 Farm | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $13.00 | 1870 Farm, Chapel Hill |
| Bricks & Brews | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| Toy giveaway at Dorothy N. Johnson Community Center in Hillsborough | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Dorothy N. Johnson Community Center, Hillsborough |
| Phillips Farms of Cary's Walk-Through Christmas Light Show | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00 | Phillips Farms of Cary |
| Menorah lit each night of Hanukkah at Cary Arts Center | 5:00 pm | FREE | Cary Arts Center |
| Get free technology help with a Raleigh Digital Ambassador | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Marsh Creek Community Center, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Live Music: Sterling Scott | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| Irish Music at the Plant | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro |
| Game Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Five Points Christmas Concert at Emmanuel Baptist Church | 6:30 pm | FREE | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Raleigh |
| Free Santa Selfies | 6:30 pm | FREE | West 94th Street Pub, Durham |
| Bell Durham Concert at First Cary United Methodist Church | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Cary |
| Raleigh Uke Jam | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Comedy Night | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Jazz Jam Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Thursday Karaoke | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh |
| Skee Ball Tournament | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
Friday, December 19, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King: Free French Toast Sticks with $5 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, participating locations |
| 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 |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Park Tales: Time to Sleep | 10:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| Free cookies and cider at Museum of Durham History | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Museum of Durham History |
| Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show | 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| Winter Market -- Le Marché de Noël at L'école French International School of Raleigh | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | L’école- French International School of Raleigh |
| Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| Festive Fridays: Silent Disco Night | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Gipson Play Plaza, Dix Park, Raleigh |
| Photos with Santa at Downtown Cary Park | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Santa's Workshop in Smithfield | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield |
| Cary Night Market -- Holiday Market | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Phillips Farms of Cary's Walk-Through Christmas Light Show | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00 | Phillips Farms of Cary |
| Menorah lit each night of Hanukkah at Cary Arts Center | 5:00 pm | FREE | Cary Arts Center |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Durham Foodie Fare | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| 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 |
| The Live Nativity at The Reality Center | 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | The Reality Center, Durham |
| Teen Science Cafe at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill |
| Third Friday Durham -- art receptions, exhibits and performances | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| Third Friday Art Event at Loose Leaf Gallery | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Loose Leaf Gallery, Durham Food Hall |
| 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 |
| Live Music: Paige King Johnson | 6:30 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Taproom, Fuquay-Varina |
| Live Music: Aaron Pelsue | 6:30 pm | FREE | The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $15.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| The Live Nativity at The Reality Center | 6:45 pm to 7:15 pm | FREE | The Reality Center, Durham |
| Live Music: Mind the Gap | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Santa Social, including free Santa Selfies | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| Aching Back Sunday: A Pop-Punk Holiday Party | 7:00 pm to 11:55 pm | FREE | Kings |
| Third Space Music Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Hoppy Hour Cinema Movie Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Black Nativity Durham | 8:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Hillside High School, 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 |
| A Good Time: Stand-Up Comedy Showcase | 8:00 pm | FREE | Vault Craft Beer, Raleigh |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
