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
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Summer Movies at Marquee Cinemas: Despicable Me 4 and Sonic the Hedgehog | 9:30 am | FREE | Marquee Cinemas Wakefield 12 |
| Free Kids' Movies at Triangle Cinemas: Mario | 10:00 am | FREE | Triangle Cinemas @ Six Forks |
| Market Bunch Kids' Activities | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Farmers’ Market |
| "Pay What You Can" Farm Stand at Raleigh City Farm | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh City Farm |
| Board Game Night | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| Play-It-All Sports Camp | 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm | FREE | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Raleigh |
| Free Acro Yoga at Pullen Park | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Wine + Weed (learn about plants and farming) | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh City Farm |
| Wine Down Wednesday -- live music, plus wine specials | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | La Vita Dolce at Southern Village |
| Mosaic Market with Live Music | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Works Yard at Mosaic, Pittsboro |
| Wendell 4th of July Fireworks Show | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Wendell Town Park |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Marvel Trivia Night | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Open Mic | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro |
| Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Ballroom Dancing with Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $8.00 | Pullen Community Center |
| Durham-Chapel Hill International Folk Dancers Weekly Dance | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Carol Woods Retirement Community Fitness Center, Chapel Hill |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Stitch N' Bitch Craft Night | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| The Oak City Salsa Social -- Live Band Music and Dance Series | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Transfer Co. Food Hall, Raleigh |
Thursday, July 3, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free food giveaway with Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Hopkins Chapel Baptist Church, Zebulon |
| Free Kids' Movies at Triangle Cinemas: Mario | 10:00 am | FREE | Triangle Cinemas @ Six Forks |
| Red, White & Brew Fireworks Bash | 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Live Music: Dee Jay Jamie | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Cary Independence Day Celebration at Downtown Cary Park, including the movie Top Gun and airplane-themed activities | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Live music on rooftop of Westin Raleigh-Durham | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Westin Raleigh-Durham |
| Morrisville July 3rd Red, White & Boom! | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Cedar Fork District Park, Morrisville |
| Garner Independence Day Celebration, including NC Symphony, fireworks | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Benson Park, Garner |
| Smithfield's Independence Day Celebration July 3 | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Neuse River Amphitheatre, Smithfield |
| Apex Fireworks Frenzy | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hunter Park, Apex |
| Wake Forest 4th of July Fireworks | 5:30 pm | FREE | Heritage High School, Wake Forest |
| Open Mic (music and poetry) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Vinyl Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Game Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Live Music: Adam Lee Decker | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Live Music: Meredith Davis | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Carolina Mudcats Post-Game Fireworks Show | 6:30 pm | $13.00-17.00 | Five County Stadium, Zebulon |
| 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 |
| Summer Jazz Jam with Butler Knowles | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Missy Lane’s Assembly Room, Durham |
| Level Up & Sip Game Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Ruckus Open Mic with Brian Jones | 7:00 pm | FREE | Ruckus Pizza — Park West Morrisville |
| Karaoke with JV Jams | 7:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| Cary Town Band: On the Homefront | 7:30 pm | FREE | Cary Arts Center |
| 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 |
Friday, July 4, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Responders: Save 10% Every Friday | All Day | Discounted | Old North State Food Hall, Selma |
| Krispy Kreme: free doughnut if you wear red, white and blue | All Day | FREE | Krispy Kreme — Multiple locations |
| 4th of July Food Deals & Freebies | All Day | Various locations | |
| Independence Day Fishing Tournament | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Fred G. Bond Metro Park |
| Free Sensory Friendly Playtime and Movie at Marbles Kids Museum for kids with special needs | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| 4th of July celebration in Knightdale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Knightdale Station Park |
| Apex Olde Fashioned Fourth of July | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Apex |
| Children's Independence Day Parade at Durham Central Park | 9:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Carrboro 4th of July Kickoff and People's Parade | 9:30 am | FREE | Weaver Street Market Carrboro |
| Community Reading of Frederick Douglass' 4th of July Speech | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Historic Stagville – Horton Grove |
| Hands-On History: Toys and Games | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Festival for the Eno | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | $35.00 | West Point on the Eno, Durham |
| Watermelon Weekend (includes all the watermelon you can eat) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | $14.95 | Spring Haven Farm, Chapel Hill |
| Tasting at Ten: Free tasting at Counter Culture Coffee each week | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| 76th Annual Watts-Hillandale Fourth of July parade and Celebration in Durham | 10:00 am | FREE | Oval Drive Park, Durham |
| Wake Forest Independence Day: Children's Parade | 10:00 am | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Independence Day Parade in Roxboro | 10:00 am | FREE | Main Street, Roxboro |
| Wake Forest Independence Day: Art in the Park | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Wake Forest Community House |
| Carrboro 4th of July Celebration | 11:00 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Free historical open house at Joel Lane Museum House on Independence Day | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Joel Lane Museum House, Raleigh |
| Independence Day Celebration at North Carolina State Capitol | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh | |
| July 4th Bash in the Beer Garden | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 11:00 am | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Fourth of July Celebration with Preservation Chapel Hill, including music, free ice cream and lemonade | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Horace Williams House, Chapel Hill |
| Free Hot Dogs on 4th of July | 1:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Free Hot Dogs on 4th of July | 1:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Annual Reading of Frederick Douglass' Essay | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Century Center |
| 4th of July at The Plant: Wagon parade, sprinklers, music, more... | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| 4th of July party, with seed-spitting contest | 2:00 pm | FREE | The Fall Line, Zebulon |
| Independence Day Celebration at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery | 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | ZincHouse Winery & Brewery, Durham |
| Town of Cary Independence Day Celebration -- NC Symphony, Fireworks | 3:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| July 4th Food Truck Rodeo and Celebration at State Farmers Market | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | State Farmers Market |
| Live music on rooftop of Westin Raleigh-Durham | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Westin Raleigh-Durham |
| First Friday in Downtown Fuquay-Varina | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Fuquay-Varina |
| First Friday Market & Movie Night: Top Gun: Maverick | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Rolesville Fourth: 4th of July celebration with live music and fireworks | 5:00 pm | FREE | Redford Place Park, Rolesville |
| Bike Night | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| First Fridays at Eno Arts Mill -- studio tours, live music, kids' activities, more... | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eno Arts Mill, Hillsborough |
| First Friday Gallery Walk in Raleigh | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Clayton's Square to Square Independence Day Street Festival and Fireworks | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clayton Town Square |
| City of Raleigh's 4th of July Fireworks | 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Carter-Finley Stadium |
| First Friday at CoLab: Mimicry | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | CoLab, Raleigh |
| Weekly dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $3.00 | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| Free Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Live Music: 3WB | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Watch Durham Fireworks from Rooftop of Fizzwerks | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Fizzwerks, Durham |
| Chapel Hill's 4th of July fireworks | 7:00 pm | FREE | Southern Community Park |
| Brier Creek Commons Star Spangled Block Party and Fireworks Show | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Brier Creek Commons |
| Stand-up Comedy Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Movie Night | 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Karaoke Fridays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Bull Beer Company, Durham |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Durham 4th of July Fireworks at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (after baseball game) | 9:15 pm | FREE | Durham Bulls Athletic Park |
Saturday, July 5, 2025
| 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 |
| Cars and Coffee Morrisville | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Imperial Center, Durham |
| 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 |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Toucan Mobile | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Saturday Slowdown Market and Open Farm Day -- FREE beef sliders | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | |
| Open Farm Visit to Sunrise Community Farm | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| Community work days with Paperhand Puppet Intervention | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Paperhand Puppet Intervention, Saxapahaw |
| Festival for the Eno | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | $35.00 | West Point on the Eno, Durham |
| Watermelon Weekend (includes all the watermelon you can eat) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | $14.95 | Spring Haven Farm, 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 |
| The Market at NCMA | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Retro Family Series: The Wild Robot | 11:00 am | FREE | The Carolina Theatre, Durham |
| Free Guided Tour of North Carolina State Capitol | 11:00 am | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 11:00 am | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| The Get Down at The Plant | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Carrboro Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Free Guided Tour of North Carolina State Capitol | 2:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Raleigh Brewing Summer Music Series | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Family Fun Day at Archer Lodge Community Center | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Archer Lodge Community Center, (Johnston County) |
| Saturdays in Saxapahaw Outdoor Concert Series | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Saxapahaw Post Office |
| Music on Main | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Streets at Southpoint |
| Live & Local July Patio Series | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale |
| Durham Nights -- market, music, performances | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Golden Belt Campus, Durham |
| Live Music: Maverick Rose | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Holly Springs' July 5th Fireworks | 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park |
| Live Comedy | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Ivey & Rose | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Karaoke Night with DJ Ones | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina |
| Boots & Brewz: Country Night | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | The Fall Line, Zebulon |
| Movie Night | 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Fireworks Display in Roxboro | 8:30 pm | FREE | Person High School, Roxboro |
| Live DJ | 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Beer Garden |
Sunday, July 6, 2025
| 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 |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Watermelon Weekend (includes all the watermelon you can eat) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | $14.95 | Spring Haven Farm, Chapel Hill |
| Pop Up ARTernative Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Chapel of Bones Coffee, Raleigh |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 11:00 am | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Sunday Jazz Brunch curated by Al Strong (free event; pay for food and drink) | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Missy Lane’s Assembly Room, Durham |
| Cary Underground Market: Bands and Vendors | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Kanikapila: FREE Ukulele Lessons | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Black Farmers' Market | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Technical Community College, main campus |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Open-Mic Night | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Ravary | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Pittsboro Summer Fest | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Pittsboro |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clouds Brewing Taproom, Raleigh |
| Freeman Round House Summer Event Series: SSML Band | 6:00 pm | FREE | Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and African-American Museum, Wilson |
| Sundays at Sundown Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
