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, October 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| West End Poetry Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations, Carrboro |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| The Witch's Haunted Barn (No actor version) | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $13.00 | Firefly Farm, Hillsborough |
| Free Wine Tastings | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Cary Night Market | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Town of Garner Diwali Celebration | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Garner Recreation Center |
| Fridays on the Front Porch | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill |
| Durham Foodie Fare | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Poetry in the Park | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | House of Many Porches in Dix Park, Raleigh |
| Third Friday Durham -- art receptions, exhibits and performances | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center |
| 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 |
| Front Porch Friday at Haven Farm | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haven Farm, Knightdale |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| 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 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| West End Poetry Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations, Carrboro |
| 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 |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Fenton Makers Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fenton, Cary |
| The Witch's Haunted Barn | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | $13.00 | Firefly Farm, Hillsborough |
| Durham Really Really Free Market | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Orchard Park, Durham |
| Pop-Up Raleigh Art & Vintage Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Trophy on Maywood |
| Free meal with Food Not Bombs Siler City, plus a Really Really Free Market | 1:00 pm | FREE | Chatham Square, Siler City |
| Bull City BOOs Fest | 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $16.11-12.51 | Durham Central Park |
| 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 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Open Mic/Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
Sunday, October 18, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Live Music by Dr. Scott | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Hillsborough Really Really Free Market | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Gold Park, Hillsborough |
| Morgan Street Sessions | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh |
| Kanikapila Ukulele Meetup | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Black Farmers' Market in Durham | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Technical Community College, main campus |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, 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 |
| 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 |
| Jazz'd Up Sundays: Kobie Watkins | 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
Monday, October 19, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coloring Vinyl Night | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Free Mother/Daughter Fitness with GLOW Fitness | 5:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Silent Reading Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| 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 |
| PineCone Beginner's Bluegrass Jam | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harry’s Guitar Shop, 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 20, 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 |
| North Hills Kids: Twirls & Tunes | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| Durham Chess Enthusiasts | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| 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 |
| Chess Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| 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 |
