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, January 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free food giveaway with Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Central Carolina Community Campus — Center for Workforce Innovation, Sanford |
| Teen Science Cafe at the Museum of Life and Science | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Museum of Life+Science, Durham |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| North Carolina Chamber Music Institute's IMPACT Series: Chamber Music Treasures -- Music by Black Composers | 7:00 pm | FREE | Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Third Thursday Comedy Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Raleigh Uke Jam | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh |
| 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 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park Tales: Little Owl's Snow | 10:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Make Your Own Vision Board at Rumors Chapel Hill | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Rumors Chapel Hill |
| Third Friday Durham at the Visitor Info Center: Artist reception with Jordan Abdur-Ra'off | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Durham Visitor Info Center |
| Third Friday Art Opening - Anthony Garza Photography | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Ment Beverage Co., Durham |
| Third Friday Durham -- art receptions, exhibits and performances | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center |
| MLK Weekend in Apex: Black Authors Exhibit | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Apex Senior Center |
| Bellydance Show and Open Dance Floor | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Sophie’s Grill & Bar, Cary |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Third Space Music Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| 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 |
| Hoppy Hour Cinema Movie Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| MLK Dreamfest: Film screening of John Lewis: Good Trouble | 7:30 pm | FREE | The Cary Theater |
| A Good Time: Stand-Up Comedy Night | 7:30 pm | FREE | Beer Study, Carrboro |
| 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, January 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLK Unity March and Breakfast Reception | 8:00 am | FREE | Apex First Baptist Church |
| National Day of Racial Healing | 8:30 am to 10:00 am | FREE | First Chronicles Community Church, Durham |
| Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Kickoff Event -- 46th Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony | 9:00 am to 9:30 am | FREE | Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens, Raleigh |
| Durham Craft Market | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| MLK Dreamfest: Children's Program | 10:00 am | FREE | Page-Walker Arts & History Center, Cary |
| Plant Swap at City of Raleigh Museum | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | City of Raleigh Museum |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| North Carolina Vintage Bazaar | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $10.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Durham Really Really Free Market | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Orchard Park, Durham |
| New tour at NC State Capitol -- learn about the ancient Greek & Roman symbols | 12:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Yates Mill Ponderings: Water Animation | 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm | FREE | Historic Yates Mill County Park |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day event in Carrboro | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Century Center |
| Alley Cats and Angels Adoption Event | 1:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Winter Chili Cook-Off | 2:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Finn and Goldie Wedding: Cows Get Hitched | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina |
| Irish Music Jam | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Christmas Tree Burning Parties | 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| MLK Dreamfest: Cultural Arts Celebration | 5:00 pm | FREE | Cary Arts Center |
| Trop Hop: Tropical Getaway Party | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Live music: Cole Spade | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Williams House Craft Taproom, Cary |
| Mill Town Yarns: Chatham County Stories and Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bynum Front Porch, Pittsboro |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Old North State Food Hall, Selma |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Live music: Don Smith and Eric Thomas | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Jazz Night: The Jake Richter Trio | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
Sunday, January 18, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Popcorn Day at Cinemark: BYO Bucket and fill it for $5 | All Day | $5.00 | Cinemark, participating locations |
| Tet Vietnamese New Year Festival | 10:00 am to 6:30 pm | $0-10.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| MLK Day Worship Service | 11:00 am | FREE | Apex First Baptist Church |
| Pay-What-You-Can Yoga | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | $1.00-10.00 | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| North Carolina Vintage Bazaar | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $10.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Free yoga at City of Raleigh Museum | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | City of Raleigh Museum |
| Kanikapila: FREE Ukulele Lessons | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| 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 |
| When Community Gathers: MLK Day celebration | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | John P “Top” Greene Park |
| Open Mic hosted by Adam Lee Decker | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| MLK Commemoration at Duke University | 3:00 pm | FREE | Duke University Chapel |
| Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Musical in Zebulon | 3:00 pm | FREE | Zebulon Community Center |
| Sounds on Oberlin: MLK Concert -- songs of love and justice | 3:00 pm | FREE | White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh |
| MLK Dreamfest: Interfaith Service | 3:00 pm | FREE | Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cary |
| Craft Club & Supply Swap | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Open Mic Night | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Josh Lovett | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| 11th Annual MLK Jr. Speech Reenactment at Millbrook United Methodist Church | 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| MLK Dreamfest: Dining and Discussion Community Dinner | 5:30 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Cary |
| The Classical Concert -- family-friendly concert (suggested donation of $15 per person or $30 per family) | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | Saint Francis United Methodist Church, Cary | |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clouds Brewing Taproom, Raleigh |
| Sunday Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
Monday, January 19, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Popcorn Day at Cinemark: BYO Bucket and fill it for $5 | All Day | $5.00 | Cinemark, participating locations |
| 46th MLK, Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast with Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee | 6:00 am to 9:00 am | FREE | Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Research Triangle Park |
| MLK Day National Day of Service in Apex | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | John M. Brown Community Center, Apex |
| Fuquay-Varina MLK Day March and Celebration | 9:00 am | FREE | First Baptist Church Fuquay-Varina |
| MLK Outdoor Day of Service | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Nature Center at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, Cary |
| MLK Outdoor Day of Service | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Good Hope Farm, Cary |
| MLK 5K Walk for Hope | 10:00 am | FREE | Mt. Zion Church, Cary |
| The 46th Annual Martin Luther King Memorial March | 11:00 am | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| 46th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Noon Ecumenical Service | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Martin Marietta Center, Raleigh |
| King Day: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday at Chavis Park | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | John Chavis Memorial Park (Raleigh) |
| Dream Big MLK Day Book Drive and Community Celebration | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Boxyard RTP |
| EagleFest Photography Workshop | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Jordan Lake Dam |
| Silent Reading Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Early Karaoke | 6:00 pm | FREE | The Northside District |
| College Football Championship Watch Party -- Sound On | 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Williams House Craft Taproom, Cary |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| 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 |
