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).
Have you subscribed to Triangle on the Cheap yet? Subscribers get (at most) one email a day. It's free to subscribe.
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
Friday, October 2, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papa Johns: 51% off menu-priced pizzas | All Day | Discounted | Papa Johns (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 |
| Día de Muertos Ofrenda at Duke Chapel | 10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Duke University Chapel |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Perry's Steakhouse & Grille Offering 79-Cent Pork Chop Lunch or Caramelized Prime Rib Steak Sandwich | 10:30 am | $0.79 | Perry’s Steakhouse, Raleigh |
| Mill History Tour | 1:00 pm | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Catalog Cupping -- Taste Counter Culture's menu | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Mill History Tour | 2:30 pm | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival | 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | 100 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh |
| First Friday: Artist Interviews with Raleigh Wide Open | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | City of Raleigh Museum |
| Free Wine Tastings | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Bands, Bites and Boats Concert Series: Amanda Peach Duo | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Fred G. Bond Metro Park |
| Spooky Hollow First Friday | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Smoky Hollow, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Shady Groove (Bluegrass) | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| First Friday Market & Movie: Ghostbusters | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Triangle Oktoberfest at Booth Amphitheatre (free if you bring a wiener dog) | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-37.57 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| 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 |
| First Friday in Downtown Fuquay-Varina | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Fuquay-Varina |
| Artspace First Friday: Live Art-Making and more | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| First Friday: Pumpkin Patch | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale |
| One Tribe Drum Circle | 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Stone Houses at Dix Park, Raleigh |
| Fall Fundraiser for West End Community Foundation | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Community Family Life & Recreation Center, Lyon Park, Durham |
| Movie Night: Frankenweenie | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| PLAYlist concert series at Durham Central Park: Natural Wonder (Stevie Wonder tribute) | 6:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| First Friday Gallery Walk in Raleigh | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| 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 |
| First Friday at Eno Arts Mill -- studio tours, live music, kids' activities, more... | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eno Arts Mill, Hillsborough |
| Front Porch Friday at Haven Farm | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haven Farm, Knightdale |
| First Friday Cemetery Tours | 6:00 pm | $10.00 | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| First Friday Under the Stars -- Skywatching Event | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Three Bears Acres, Creedmoor |
| Friday Fright Movie Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| Karaoke Under the Stars | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Stand-up Comedy Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Pub Karaoke | 10:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | West 94th Street Pub, Durham |
Saturday, October 3, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taste of Asia | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Museums on Us: Free admission to Marbles Kids Museum first weekend of month for Bank of America customers and employees | All Day | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| Papa Johns: 51% off menu-priced pizzas | All Day | Discounted | Papa Johns (multiple locations) |
| Cars and Coffee Morrisville | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Imperial Center, Durham |
| Durham Craft Market | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Home Depot Kids Workshop: Witch Candy Box | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Wendell Harvest Festival | 9:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | J. Ashley Wall Towne Square, Wendell |
| Dance Gumbo: Free outdoor dance fitness at NCMA Museum Park | 9:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Holly Springs Diwali | 9:30 am to 9:30 pm | FREE | Bass Lake Park, Holly Springs |
| Youth Aviation Academy Program (registration required) | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | $10.00 | John Chavis Memorial Park (Raleigh) |
| Celebrate Fuquay-Varina Festival | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Fuquay-Varina |
| Lowe's gives away FREE Halloween Trick-or-Treat tote bags (must be rewards member) | 10:00 am | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| 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 |
| Saturday Slowdown Market and Open Farm Day | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | RambleRill Farm, Hillsborough |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| Blessing of the Animals at Christus Victor Lutheran Church | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Durham |
| Animal Festival | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Durham |
| Drive Electric! Free event to learn about electric vehicles | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Orange County Board of Elections, Hillsborough |
| Falling for Local at Dix Park: live music, free hayrides, free pumpkins, more... | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Dorothea Dix Park |
| The Witch's Haunted Barn | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | $13.00 | Firefly Farm, Hillsborough |
| Duke Homestead Vintage Base Ball Game, featuring historic uniforms, equipment and rules | 11:00 am | $10.00 | Durham Athletic Park |
| Family Saturday Series: Heartland Marimba | 11:00 am | $5.00 | The Carolina Theatre, Durham |
| 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 |
| The Market at NCMA | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Pride Community Protest and Parade | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Duke University–East Campus Main Quad |
| Wake Forest Diwali Festival | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest |
| Duke Regional Cares Community Day | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham County Memorial Stadium |
| Oktoberfest at The Plant in Pittsboro | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Morelia Gourmet Paletas: Free Paletas for 10th Anniversary | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Morelia Gourmet Paletas, Raleigh |
| Oktoberfest | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| Triangle Oktoberfest at Booth Amphitheatre (free if you bring a wiener dog) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $0-37.57 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Oktoberfest | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival | 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | 100 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh |
| Oktoberfest | 12:30 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| Oktoberfest at Lafayette Village in Raleigh, including the Annual Wiener Dog Races | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Lafayette Village Raleigh |
| Blessing of the Animals at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, plus pet costume contest | 1:00 pm | FREE | St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Durham |
| 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 | |
| Mini Market | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, 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 |
| Carrboro Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Live Music: Relay Relay | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Incendiary Brewing Raleigh |
| Stein-Holding Competition | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Crooked Hammock Brewery, 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 |
| Beer Garden Concert Series | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Live Music | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Brewery Pittsboro |
| Music on Mangum: The Ellis Band | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Deadford Manor -- animatronic singing skeleton show in a Raleigh front yard | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Deadford Manor, Raleigh |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Fall Film Series: Beetlejuice | 7:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Open Mic/Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
Sunday, October 4, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museums on Us: Free admission to Marbles Kids Museum first weekend of month for Bank of America customers and employees | All Day | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| Papa Johns: 51% off menu-priced pizzas | All Day | Discounted | Papa Johns (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 |
| Sunday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Pop Up ARTernative Market | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chapel of Bones Coffee, Raleigh |
| Live Jazz by the Tritone Subs | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Sunday Brunch Music on the lawn of Weaver Street Market in Carrboro | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Weaver Street Market Carrboro |
| Move-A-Bull City Open Streets Event | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Locations throughout Downtown Durham |
| Bull City Blues Ramble | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Multiple Locations, Durham |
| Cary Underground Market: Bands and Vendors | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Morgan Street Sessions | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh |
| Oktoberfest at The Plant in Pittsboro | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Oktoberfest | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| Kanikapila Ukulele Meetup | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Open Play American Mahjong | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Hops & Flower, Durham |
| Black Farmers' Market in Durham | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Technical Community College, main campus |
| 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 air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh |
| Instrument Petting Zoo | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gipson Play Plaza, Dix Park, Raleigh |
| St. Francis Blessing of the Animals at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church | 2:00 pm | FREE | St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Raleigh |
| Pop Up Music at Midtown Park | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Open Mic | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Blessing of the Animals at Duke University Chapel Quad | 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Duke University Chapel |
| Blessing of the Animals at Saint Andrews United Methodist Church | 3:00 pm | FREE | Saint Andrews United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Blessing of the Animals at White Memorial Presbyterian Church | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh |
| Blessing of the Animals | 5:30 pm | FREE | Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Raleigh |
| Jazz'd up Sundays: Tia Fuller | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Holy Trinity Concert Series: Daniel Ayers | 7:00 pm | FREE | Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Raleigh |
| Deadford Manor -- animatronic singing skeleton show in a Raleigh front yard | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Deadford Manor, Raleigh |
| Panthers Watch Party | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh |
Monday, October 5, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Coloring Vinyl Night | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Free Food Distribution at Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church | 2:00 pm | FREE | Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church, Durham |
| Wake Forest National Night Out | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest |
| Free Self-Defense with Krav Maga Raleigh | 5:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Mahjong Socials at Apex Senior Center | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Apex Senior Center |
| 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 |
| Monday Movie Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| 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 |
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreens Senior Day: 20% off for rewards members age 55+ | All Day | Walgreens (multiple locations) | |
| The Lumina Theater in Southern Village: All Tuesday tickets are $6.25 | All Day | $6.25 | The Lumina Theater, Chapel Hill |
| Tuesday Toss: Roll the dice to decide your $5 draft fate | All Day | Discounted | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| North Hills Kids: Tuts & Trucks | 9:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh |
| Computer Refresher for Mature Adults -- free course (registration is required and space is limited) | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Durham |
| Horn-free hour of Apex Night Out's Touch-a-Truck | 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Apex Town Hall |
| Apex Night Out, featuring Touch-a-Truck | 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Apex Town Hall |
| Durham Chess Enthusiasts | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| PBS North Carolina's A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story Screening | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Outdoor movie at Pullen Park: Toy Story 5 | 6:00 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Free line dancing class | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Snow Approach, Hillsborough |
| Run, Sweat, Beers RUN CLUB | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Growler Grlz, Durham |
| Adult Coloring Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| Poker Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Bond Brothers Run Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Artist in Residence Series at JB Duke Hotel: Live artmaking | 6:00 pm | FREE | JB Duke Hotel, Durham |
| Chess Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Pints and Pups Adoption Event with Hope Animal Shelter | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus Brewing Co., Raleigh |
| Craft and Draft Tuesdays | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Beer & Banjos in Raleigh | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, Raleigh |
| Square Dance Party with Capital Squares | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | St. James United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Astronomy on Tap | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fullsteam Brewery ATC, Durham |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Jeopardy! Bar League Trivia | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Edit Beer Co., Raleigh |
| Beer & Banjos Carrboro | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
