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
Thursday, August 21, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uproar Festival of Public Art in Orange County | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Circle K Fuel Day: Save 40¢ per gallon | 6:00 am to 11:59 pm | Discounted | Various locations |
| Free food giveaway with Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Central Carolina Community Campus — Center for Workforce Innovation, Sanford |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Bricks & Brews | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Get free technology help with a Raleigh Digital Ambassador | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Marsh Creek Community Center, Raleigh |
| Live music on rooftop of Westin Raleigh-Durham | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Westin Raleigh-Durham |
| Gouda Giggles: Stand-up Comedy Night (free sampling event, followed by comedy) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Artisan Beer and Cheese, Rolesville |
| Live Music: John Ford | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Live Music: Van Meter | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Open Mic (music and poetry) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Irish Music at the Plant | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro |
| 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 |
| Jazz on the Roof with Al Strong and friends | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| 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 |
| Triangle Trivia Tournament | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Level Up and Sip | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, 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 |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| FREE Comedy Show | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Free Comedy Show | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Clouds Brewing Taproom, Raleigh |
| Jazz Jam Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
Friday, August 22, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uproar Festival of Public Art in Orange County | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Tasting at Ten: Free tasting at Counter Culture Coffee each week | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 11:00 am | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Cinnabon celebrates 40th birthday with $1.25 cinnamon rolls for one day only | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $1.25 | Cinnabon — participating locations |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Big Book Sale at Chapel Hill Public Library (members only) | 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Chapel Hill Public Library |
| Summer Fridays at Wedgewood: Free wine and cheese tastings | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Wedgewood Cheese Bar, Carrboro |
| Bike Night | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| Opening Event: “Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero” | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Museum of Durham History |
| Live Music: Jake Potter | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Demo Daze at Downtown Cary Park: live art demos all evening | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Tropical Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Ment Beverage Co., Durham |
| NCMA Outdoor Films at Moore Square: Wicked | 6:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Free Wine Tasting | 6:00 pm | FREE | Local 919, Raleigh |
| Single Track Social Series | 6:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Morrisville's Music in the Park: Sterling Scott | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Indian Creek Park in Morrisville |
| Chime In Open Mic (poetry, storytelling songwriting) | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Weekly dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $3.00 | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| Summer Jam Music Series: Back to School Bash: The Chairmen of the Board | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Philip H. Kohn MOSAIC Family Commons, Pittsboro | |
| Live Music: Grace Lucia | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | White Street Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Bynum Porch Summer Music Series: The Old Ceremony | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bynum Front Porch, Pittsboro |
| Live Music: Heather Rogers | 7:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Taproom, Fuquay-Varina |
| Decades Night with DJ Skylan | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Free Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Friday Co-Working Social | 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 |
| A Good Time: Stand-Up Comedy Showcase | 8:00 pm | FREE | Vault Craft Beer, Raleigh |
| Stand-up Comedy Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Karaoke Fridays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Bull Beer Company, Durham |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
Saturday, August 23, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krispy Kreme: Free Original Glazed doughnut if you wear Harry Potter gear | All Day | FREE | Krispy Kreme — Multiple locations |
| Uproar Festival of Public Art in Orange County | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| 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 |
| Intro to Gardening in the South | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JC Raulston Arboretum |
| Cary's Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary |
| Marbles Museum's Kick-Off to Kindergarten -- registration required | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Grand Opening of Simmer Coffee House in West Cary | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Simmer Coffee House, Cary |
| Geer Cemetery Pop-Up Event at Museum of Durham History | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Museum of Durham History |
| Wake Forest Comic-Con | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Flaherty Park (Wake Forest) |
| Big Book Sale at Chapel Hill Public Library | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Chapel Hill Public Library |
| Black History Walking Tour | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | City of Raleigh Museum |
| Open Farm Visit to Sunrise Community Farm | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| Bluegrass Jam at Bynum Front Porch | 10:00 am | FREE | Bynum Front Porch, Pittsboro |
| Free Coffee Tasting at The Can Opener | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | The Can Opener, Durham |
| Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge Tour and Explore (sliding scale admission) | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | $5.00-40.00 | Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, Pittsboro |
| We're So Back: A Moore Square Back to School Fusion Fest | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Sensory-Friendly Film Series: Rio | 11:00 am | FREE | 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 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 |
| Children with Disabilities Resource Fair | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Wendell Community Center |
| Come Out and Play sculpture show | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | JimGin Farm |
| Tuxedo at a Pool Party | 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Saturday Comedy Improv Jam Meetup | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| African Diaspora Garden Celebration at North Carolina Botanical Garden | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Live Music: Dee Jay Jamie | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Packapalooza: Free festival at NC State | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Packapalooza |
| Live Music: Relay Relay | 2:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Taproom, Fuquay-Varina |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Cary Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Walnut Street Park, Cary |
| Free Guided Tour of North Carolina State Capitol | 2:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Incredible Science | 2:00 pm | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh | |
| 23rd Annual Kirby Derby | 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Dorothea Dix Park |
| Raleigh Brewing Summer Music Series | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Incredible Science | 3:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Night Market at North Hills | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Summer Party with live music and DJ | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Local 919, Raleigh |
| Doggie Talent Show | 5:00 pm | FREE | Ment Beverage Co., Durham |
| 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 Music: Ashley LaRue | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Adult Spelling Beer Competition | 6:00 pm | FREE | The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina |
| Live Music: Peak City Band | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Live Music: Shelby Merchant | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs |
| Live Music: 2Digh4 | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Williams House Craft Taproom, Cary |
| Live Music: Dead Rusty, Nine Mile Road | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Hot Bucket Comedy Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Old North State Food Hall, Selma |
| CaryLive! Concert Series: Squirrel Nut Zippers | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Live music: Little Windows (donations welcome) | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Moth Night at Crowder County Park | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crowder County Park, Apex |
| Live DJ | 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Beer Garden |
Sunday, August 24, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars and Coffee Raleigh -- Summer Cruise-in | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina (Raleigh) |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Cary's Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary |
| Big Book Sale at Chapel Hill Public Library | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chapel Hill Public Library |
| Walking With Wisdom -- A Mindful Journey at Maverado Gardens in Chapel Hill (donation-based) | 11:00 am | Maverick Center, Chapel Hill | |
| Sunday Brunch Music on the lawn of Weaver Street Market in Carrboro | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Weaver Street Market Carrboro |
| Calvin Jones House Guided Tour | 11:00 am | FREE | Wake Forest Historical Museum |
| Durham Geek & Grub Market — Cottagecore Edition | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham Armory |
| Fiestas en la Calle: Festival LatinoAmericano | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | El Centro Hispano, Carrboro |
| The Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh |
| NC Throwdown Presents Back to School Bash | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ashley Furniture, Capital Blvd, Raleigh |
| Come Out and Play sculpture show | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | JimGin Farm |
| Family Features: Wonderful Wetlands | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Crowder County Park, Apex |
| Walking With Wisdom -- A Mindful Journey at Maverado Gardens in Chapel Hill (donation-based) | 2:00 pm | Maverick Center, Chapel Hill | |
| 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 |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clouds Brewing Taproom, Raleigh |
| Sunday Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Sundays at Sundown Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
| Drink & Draw | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
Monday, August 25, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free yoga at Dix Park (registration required) | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Harvey Hill at Dix Park |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Disc Golf Putting League | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $6.00 | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Adult Coloring Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Carrboro Open Mic at Speakeasy | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Monday Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Beer Garden |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
