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).
Have you subscribed to Triangle on the Cheap yet? Subscribers get (at most) one email a day. It's free to subscribe.
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
Monday, January 5, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapskate Day at Skate the Square at Fenton: $3 off (check website for hours) | All Day | Discounted | Fenton, Cary |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| 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 |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| Carrboro Open Mic at Speakeasy | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreens Senior Day: 20% off for rewards members age 55+ | All Day | Walgreens (multiple locations) | |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Window on Animal Health | 1:30 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Adult Coloring Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| Bond Brothers Run Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Beer & Banjos in Raleigh | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, Raleigh |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Beer & Banjos Carrboro | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| BEERthoven: Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle with guest artists (pay what you can) | 7:30 pm | Atomic Clock Brewing Co., Durham | |
| Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Open Mic with a Live Band | 9:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Slims, Raleigh |
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Game Night | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Window on Animal Health | 1:30 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Free Acro Yoga at Method Road Park (indoors) | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| First Friday Bourbon and Blues Jam Session | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Method Road Park, Raleigh |
| Karaoke Night at The Backyard Bar | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Backyard Bar, Apex |
| Weekly Skee Ball Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery | 8:00 pm to 11:45 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Open Mic Week | 8:00 pm | FREE | Abbey Road Cary |
| Beer Pong Tournament | 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
Thursday, January 8, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Parktown Food Hub Open Distribution Day | 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Parktown Food Hub, Durham |
| Open Mic (music and poetry) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Game Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Jazz Jam Open Mic | 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 |
Friday, January 9, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Reflections: Virtual Tour | 2:00 pm | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham |
| Bike Night | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| Teen Science Café at Daily Planet | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| 2nd Friday ArtWalk in Chapel Hill and Carrboro | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Comedy Open Mic | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Karaoke with Harryoke | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs |
| 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 |
