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, April 30, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Music: Blackbird Brewery | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Public Domain Movie Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Jazz: The Session | 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 |
| 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, May 1, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| QDOBA Offers Free Chips & Queso for Every Full Moon | All Day | FREE | Qdoba (multiple locations) |
| First Friday Bird Walk | 8:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Lake Benson Park, Garner |
| Spring 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 |
| Wake Forest HerbFest | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Loading Dock, Wake Forest |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Artspace First Friday: Live Art-Making and more | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| A Talk with the Authors: Miracle Road | 6:00 pm | FREE | Museum of Durham History |
| 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 |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Cary Town Band Concert: The Big Band Sound | 7:30 pm | Cary Arts Center | |
| Stand-up Comedy Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Karaoke with Mega Mike | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
Saturday, May 2, 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 |
| Cars and Coffee Morrisville | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Imperial Center, Durham |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Keepsake Box | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| PeakFest | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Apex Town Hall |
| Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival | 9:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Smithfield |
| Durham Craft Market | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Spring 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 |
| Wake Forest HerbFest | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Loading Dock, Wake Forest |
| 8th Annual Spring Chicken Festival | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Siler City |
| Free Yoga for Durham Residents | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham |
| 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 |
| Apex Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Sweetwater Apex |
| 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 |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Catalog Cupping -- Taste Counter Culture's menu | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Carrboro Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Irish Music Jam | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Wands and Wonder: Celebrating Worlds of Wizardry | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Live Music | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
Sunday, May 3, 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 |
| Spring 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 |
| Wake Forest HerbFest | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Loading Dock, Wake Forest |
| Cary Underground Market: Bands and Vendors | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh |
| Artspace Open Studio | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| Hillsborough Classic Film Society: Gospel According to St. Matthew | 2:00 pm | FREE | Jerry M. Passmore Senior Center, Hillsborough |
| Open Mic Jam | 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 |
| The Sunday Set | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| Sunday Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
Monday, May 4, 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 |
| Free Food Distribution at Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church | 2:00 pm | FREE | Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church, Durham |
| Free yoga at Dix Park (registration required) | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Harvey Hill at Dix Park |
| Monthly Plant Swap | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| Early Karaoke | 6:00 pm | FREE | The Northside District |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Tap Yard Yoga -- pay what you can | 6:30 pm | Tap Yard, Raleigh | |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| Monthly Puzzle Challenge | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| 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 | 7:30 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
