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, December 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stammtisch (German community night) with steins of German beers for pint prices | All Day | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham | |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Durham Beer and Banjos | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Old Mill Farm, Durham |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | |
| Raleigh Uke Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh |
| Science Café | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Opinionation | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Jazz: The Session | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| 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, December 18, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Cary Night Market | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Durham Foodie Fare | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Third Friday Durham -- art receptions, exhibits and performances | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| Third Space Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| 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, December 19, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Craft Market | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| Sensory-Friendly Film Series: Zootopia | 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 |
| Fenton Makers Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fenton, Cary |
| Glow Market | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| The People's Free Market | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Phillip R. Wright Community Park, Clayton |
| Free meal with Food Not Bombs Siler City, plus a Really Really Free Market | 1:00 pm | FREE | Chatham Square, Siler City |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Raleigh Twilight Market | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Smoky Hollow, Raleigh |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | |
| 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, December 20, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| Open Play American Mahjong | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Hops & Flower, Durham |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, 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 |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
Monday, December 21, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill Really Really Free Market | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
| Coloring Vinyl Night | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| 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 |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Koka Booth Amphitheatre | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
