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
Friday, September 25, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benson Mule Days | 9:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Benson |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Fall Open Nursery and Garden Days at Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Plant Delights Nursery |
| Garden Storytime | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | JC Raulston Arboretum |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Free Wine Tastings | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| 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 |
| Last Fridays Makers Market | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Old Courthouse–Hillsborough |
| Hillsborough Arts Council's Live on the Lawn | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | |
| Last Fridays Art Walk in Hillsborough | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Hillsborough |
| Final Friday Reception at Cary Gallery of Artists | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Cary Gallery of Artists |
| Dolly Tribute Skate at Wheels Durham | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | $4.00-8.00 | Wheels Durham |
| Vinyl Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Brent Stimmell | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Crooked Hammock Brewery, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Relay Relay | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Dolly Day: Dolly Parton-themed event with live music, games and more | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | American Tobacco Campus |
| Final Friday Cary Art Loop | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| 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 |
| Chime In Open Mic (poetry, storytelling songwriting) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Front Porch Friday at Haven Farm | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haven Farm, Knightdale |
| Movie on the Lawn at Halifax Park: Toy Story 5 | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Halifax Park and Community Center, Raleigh |
| Movies Under the Stars in Chapel Hill: A Nightmare Before Christmas | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Hargraves Community Center, Chapel Hill |
| Hillsborough Street Makers & Music Series: Relay Relay | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Compiègne Park, Raleigh |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| One Tribe Final Friday drum circle with flow arts performance by Caroleena & Friends | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Old Cary Library Site |
| Closing Reception for Indelible: Tattooed Ceramics at Claymakers Gallery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Claymakers Gallery, Durham |
| Live Music: Police and Thieves | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Storytelling Open Mic | 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Drag Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 7:00 pm to 11:55 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Live Music: Five-Cent Kings | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew (Hillsborough) |
| Stand-up Comedy Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Late Night at the Longleaf: A Comedy Show | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Longleaf Hotel |
| Pub Karaoke | 10:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | West 94th Street Pub, Durham |
Saturday, September 26, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Day at Olde Raleigh Village: FREE food, giveaways, face painting and more... | 11:30 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Olde Raleigh Village |
| QDOBA Offers Free Chips & Queso for Every Full Moon | All Day | FREE | Qdoba (multiple 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 |
| Fall Plant Sale at North Carolina Botanical Garden (free admission; pay for purchases) | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Fall Open Nursery and Garden Days at Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Plant Delights Nursery |
| Benson Mule Days | 9:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Benson |
| Education for All? The Past, Present, and Possibility of NC Schools | 9:30 am to 4:30 pm | FREE | Chapel Hill Public Library |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| AppleFest at Weaver Street Market | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Weaver Street Market Carrboro |
| Raleigh Tamale Festival | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| RTP Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Hub RTP |
| Crooktober Family Fest | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Crooked Hammock Brewery, Raleigh |
| St. Eugene International Food & Music Festival | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | J. Ashley Wall Towne Square, Wendell |
| 10-Year Anniversary Peaktoberfest | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Sensory-Friendly Film Series: Kung Fu Panda | 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 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 |
| Field and Factory Tour at Duke Homestead | 11:15 am | FREE | Duke Homestead |
| Oktoberfest | 11:30 am | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Texas Exes College Football Watch Party: Texas vs. Tennessee | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Edit Beer Co., Raleigh |
| Mead Fest at Starrlight Mead: Like a Free mini-Renaissance Festival | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Starrlight Mead, Pittsboro |
| Oktoberfest Party | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Brewing Company in Holly Springs |
| Oktoberfest | 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Oktoberfest Block Party | 12:00 pm to 11:45 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Oaklyn-Toberfest | 12:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Come Out and Play sculpture show | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | JimGin Farm |
| The People's Free Market | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Phillip R. Wright Community Park, Clayton |
| Free pumpkin painting (with purchase of pumpkin) | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | For Garden’s Sake, Durham | |
| Free open house at Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Duke Lemur Center, Museum of Natural History, Durham |
| Live Music: Sterling Scott | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Crooked Hammock Brewery, Raleigh |
| NC Oktoberfest -- Prost, Y'all | 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh |
| Carrboro Music Festival Kick-Off | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| 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 |
| Cary Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Walnut Street Park, Cary |
| Field and Factory Tour at Duke Homestead | 2:15 pm | FREE | Duke Homestead |
| Apex Latino Arts Festival | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Apex Town Hall |
| The Common Market Durham's 3rd Anniversary Party | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Durham Oktoberfest at Durham Central Park, presented by The Glass Jug Beer Lab | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Live Music: Bull City Trio | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Live Music: Bull City Trio | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Saturday Afternoon Ecstatic Dance | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Durham Friends Meeting |
| 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 |
| Live Music | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Brewery Pittsboro |
| Live Music: Chris Vercauteren | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| 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 |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Free American Dance Festival Performances | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Live Music: Armand & Bluesology with Carter Minor | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew (Hillsborough) |
| Open Mic/Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
Sunday, September 27, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars and Coffee Raleigh | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | 6270 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Fall Open Nursery and Garden Days at Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Plant Delights Nursery |
| Sunday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Sunday Brunch Music on the lawn of Weaver Street Market in Carrboro | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Weaver Street Market Carrboro |
| Pride Vendor and Food Truck Rodeo | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Durham Central Park's Fall Food Truck Rodeo | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Benson Mule Days | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Benson |
| Morgan Street Sessions | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh |
| Inaugural Oaktoberfest | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale |
| Carrboro Music Festival | 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| 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 YMCA |
| Free pumpkin painting (with purchase of pumpkin) | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | For Garden’s Sake, Durham | |
| 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 |
| Beerded Lady Book Club | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| 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 |
| 25th Anniversary of Strowd Roses in Chapel Hill | 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Gene Strowd Community Rose Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Kermes, Community Fiesta | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | El Futuro, Durham |
| 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 |
| Free Concert: An Evening with Mozart | 7:00 pm | FREE | Binkley Baptist Church, Chapel Hill |
Monday, September 28, 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 Yoga with Current Wellness | 6:00 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| 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, September 29, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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: Fall, Fun & Fitness | 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 |
| Durham Chess Enthusiasts | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| Book Club: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRoue | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Free line dancing class | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Snow Approach, Hillsborough |
| Plant-y Hour Plant Swap | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
