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, November 4, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Fringe Festival (multiple free and ticketed performances, art installations, and more, around Durham) | All Day | Various Locations, Durham | |
| World Market Golden Santa Scavenger Hunt -- find hidden Santa, win up to $100 reward | FREE | World Market, participating locations | |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| U.S. Citizenship Prep Series: Free 6-part class (registration required) | 11:30 am to 12:45 pm | FREE | Peach Road Cultural Center, Raleigh |
| Board Game Night | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Lasagna Planter Class | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Market Bunch Kids' Activities | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Farmers’ Market |
| Line Dancing Classes | 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Free Community Dinner | 5:30 pm | FREE | The Church of Reconciliation (The Rec), Chapel Hill |
| Free Acro Yoga | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Sanderford Road Park, Raleigh |
| Play chess with Durham Chess Club (all ages and levels) | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Durham Food Hall |
| Bring Your Own Craft Night | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Crank Arm Durham Wednesday Night Ride | 6:30 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Ballroom Dancing Social with Pullen Dance | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Pullen Community Center |
| Wednesday Singer/Songwriter Sessions | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Stitch N' Bitch Craft Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| DSSOLVR Durham Bingo Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | DSSOLVR Durham |
| Trivia Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Beer Garden |
| Salsa Night: Dance Lessons and Social | 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm | $10.00 | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Weekly Skee Ball Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| City Soul Cafe Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $10.00 | Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge, Raleigh |
| Open Mic Night | 8:00 pm | FREE | Abbey Road Cary |
| Beer Pong Tournament | 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
Thursday, November 5, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stammtisch (German community night) with steins of German beers for pint prices | All Day | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham | |
| Durham Fringe Festival (multiple free and ticketed performances, art installations, and more, around Durham) | All Day | Various Locations, Durham | |
| World Market Golden Santa Scavenger Hunt -- find hidden Santa, win up to $100 reward | FREE | World Market, participating locations | |
| Morrisville's Veterans Day Breakfast | 8:00 am to 9:30 am | FREE | Cedar Fork Community Center, Morrisville |
| Visions of Sugarplums 52nd Annual Holiday Art & Gift Show | 9:00 am to 6:30 pm | FREE | Quail Hollow Swim Club |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Bilingual Storytime | 10:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham |
| NCMA After Hours | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Wendell Market | 5:30 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Raleigh Uke Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh |
| Japanese Calligraphy in Performance with Kuniharu Yoshida | 7:00 pm | FREE | Current ArtSpace + Studio |
| Science Trivia | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Jazz: The Session | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Cosmic Cantina Karaoke | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Cosmic Cantina, Chapel Hill |
| Skee Ball Tournament | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| Karaoke hosted by Empress | 9:00 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
Friday, November 6, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Fringe Festival (multiple free and ticketed performances, art installations, and more, around Durham) | All Day | Various Locations, Durham | |
| World Market Golden Santa Scavenger Hunt -- find hidden Santa, win up to $100 reward | FREE | World Market, participating locations | |
| Birds & Breakfast: Birdwatching | 8:30 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Hub RTP |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Visions of Sugarplums 52nd Annual Holiday Art & Gift Show | 9:00 am to 6:30 pm | FREE | Quail Hollow Swim Club |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| CARI Food Pantry Free Food Giveaway | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Church of the Apostolic Revival International, Durham |
| Lunch for the Brave -- free lunch for veterans in Cary (registration required) | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Prestonwood Country Club |
| Festival of Fabulous Mums | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens |
| EgyptFest | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Cathedral |
| First Friday Market & Movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| A Celebration of Diwali | 5:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Free Wine Tasting with Michael Bostick of 3 Keys Dist. | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Taylor’s Wine Shop |
| 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 |
| One Tribe Drum Circle | 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Stone Houses at Dix Park, Raleigh |
| First Friday Under the Stars -- Skywatching Event | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Three Bears Acres, Creedmoor |
| Movie Night: Minions | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| First Friday at CoLab: Camp! | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | CoLab, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Annual Day of the Dead Celebration at City of Raleigh Museum | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | City of Raleigh Museum |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| Movies on the Bloc: Zootopia 2 | 7:00 pm | FREE | 321 Coffee, Downtown Raleigh |
| UNC Music: “To BEethoven Rather Than To Seem”: Part II | Gut Instinct Chamber Music Project | 7:30 pm | FREE | Person Recital Hall at UNC Chapel Hill |
| Pub Karaoke | 10:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | West 94th Street Pub, Durham |
Saturday, November 7, 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 |
| Durham Fringe Festival (multiple free and ticketed performances, art installations, and more, around Durham) | All Day | Various Locations, Durham | |
| World Market Golden Santa Scavenger Hunt -- find hidden Santa, win up to $100 reward | FREE | World Market, participating locations | |
| Cars and Coffee Morrisville | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Imperial Center, Durham |
| Durham Craft Market | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Root Fest at Carrboro Farmers' Market | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Farmers’ Market |
| Home Depot Kids Workshop: Dump Truck | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Visions of Sugarplums 52nd Annual Holiday Art & Gift Show | 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Quail Hollow Swim Club |
| Military Appreciation Week at North Carolina Zoo - free admission for military member plus a guest | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Zoo |
| NC Collector's Roadshow | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Jim Graham Building–NC State Fairgrounds |
| 42nd Annual Raleigh Fall Train Show | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | $10.00 | Jim Graham Building–NC State Fairgrounds |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Youth Aviation Academy Program (registration required) | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | $10.00 | John Chavis Memorial Park (Raleigh) |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Day | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Fall Arts Fair at Fred Fletcher Park | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fred Fletcher Park, Raleigh |
| Orange County Artists Guild 32nd Annual Open Studio Tour | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Whirligig Festival | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Wilson |
| Christmas Open House at Collected Treasures | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Collected Treasures, Garner |
| Raleigh's International Wine & Beer Festival | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Love Raleigh Festival & Market | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Kickball for Kids (registration required) | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Piney Wood Park, Durham |
| 10th Annual Autism Acceptance Day in Holly Springs | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park |
| First Grateful Harvest Festival at Beech Bluff County Park | 11:00 am to 2:30 pm | FREE | Beech Bluff County Park, Willow Spring |
| Festival of Fabulous Mums | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens |
| Taste of China Festival | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary |
| 10th Annual Chestnut Festival | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Strouds Creek Farm, Hillsborough |
| Family Saturday Series: North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble | 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 |
| EgyptFest | 11:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Cathedral |
| Festifall Arts Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Parking lot at Rosemary and Columbia, Chapel Hill |
| The Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh |
| Eco Kids Tree Planting at Crowder Park | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Crowder County Park, Apex |
| Wanted: Forever Homes PIPs Adoption Event | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Lonerider Wake Forest Hideout & Distillery |
| Fall Harvest Festival | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Epworth United Methodist Church, Durham |
| 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 |
| More Than War: Staged Reading and Community Conversation | 2:30 pm | FREE | Burning Coal Theater Company, Raleigh |
| Concerts on the Creek: Rissi Palmer | 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Hub RTP |
| Carolina Roller Derby Match: Fall Double Header | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $8.00-20.00 | SoFive Soccer and Sports Center, Apex |
| Glow Market | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| Santa Arrival Parade and Tree Lighting | 5:00 pm | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| 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 |
| Sufi Roots & Rhythms: Free concert at Boxyard RTP with Diali Cissokho Trio | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Boxyard RTP |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Fall Film Series: Best in Show | 7:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| UNC Opera presents Fall Scenes Program | 8:00 pm | FREE | Hill Hall at UNC Chapel Hill |
Sunday, November 8, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| 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 |
| Durham Fringe Festival (multiple free and ticketed performances, art installations, and more, around Durham) | All Day | Various Locations, Durham | |
| World Market Golden Santa Scavenger Hunt -- find hidden Santa, win up to $100 reward | FREE | World Market, participating locations | |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Military Appreciation Week at North Carolina Zoo - free admission for military member plus a guest | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Zoo |
| NC Collector's Roadshow | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Jim Graham Building–NC State Fairgrounds |
| 42nd Annual Raleigh Fall Train Show | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $10.00 | Jim Graham Building–NC State Fairgrounds |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| EgyptFest | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Cathedral |
| Raleigh Really Really Free Market | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Eliza Pool Park, Raleigh |
| Raleigh Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Festival of Fabulous Mums | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens |
| Bull City Treasure Hunt | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham Bottling Company |
| Diwali Mela at Brier Creek | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Brier Creek Commons |
| Orange County Artists Guild 32nd Annual Open Studio Tour | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Whirligig Festival | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Wilson |
| Bazaar Craft & Art Market in Carrboro | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Morgan Street Sessions | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh |
| Oak & Ink Bookish Boutique | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Botanist and Barrel, Cedar Grove |
| 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 Magnet High School |
| Panthers Watch Party | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Knightdale Veterans Day Tribute | 2:00 pm | FREE | Knightdale Station Park |
| Veterans Day Celebration Concert with Durham Community Concert Band | 2:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
| Paws and Pints Group Dog Walk | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Open Mic | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| UNC Opera presents Fall Scenes Program | 3:00 pm | FREE | Hill Hall at UNC Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
