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, October 23, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day at NC State Fair: Donate 6 cans of food and get in for free | All Day | FREE | NC State Fairgrounds |
| North Carolina State Fair | All Day | $5.00-13.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Día de los Muertos Ofrenda | FREE | Duke University Chapel | |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Stroll Through History: Free Cemetery Tours at Historic Oakwood Cemetery | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Bricks & Brews | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Parktown Food Hub Open Distribution Day | 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Parkwood United Methodist Church |
| Durham Night Market | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | American Tobacco Campus |
| Clayton Harvest Festival | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Horne Square (Clayton) |
| Live music on rooftop of Westin Raleigh-Durham | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Westin Raleigh-Durham |
| Southern Peak Halloween Costume Fun Run | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Live Music: Davis Tucker | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| 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 |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Crossroads Plaza Weekly Fall Music Series: Monica Kennedy | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Crossroads Plaza (Cary) |
| Thursday Night Music: Heads Up Penny | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Angier Depot Square |
| Witches Night Out on the roof of The Durham | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| Line Dancing Classes and Open Dance | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery, Durham |
| Spirits of Wake Forest: ghost walks in Downtown Wake Forest (multiple start times) | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $20.00 | Wake Forest Town Hall |
| Comics Book Club Meeting | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Ment Beverage Co., Durham |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Level Up and Sip | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Free Square Dance Fun Nights with Cary Cross Trailers | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Cary |
| 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 |
Friday, October 24, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State Fair | All Day | $5.00-13.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Día de los Muertos Ofrenda | FREE | Duke University Chapel | |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Junior League of Raleigh's 41st Annual Shopping SPREE! | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | Raleigh Convention Center |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Trick or Treat Downtown in Fuquay-Varina | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Fuquay-Varina |
| Boo Bash! (costume parade, trick or treat, more) | 3:00 pm | FREE | Lightbridge Academy, Durham |
| Trunk or Treat with Hillsborough Police Department | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Hillsborough Police Station |
| Pumpkin Flotilla at Bond Park | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Fred G. Bond Metro Park |
| Haunted Hill Halloween event in Chapel Hill: trunk or treat, ghost stories, and a movie -- The Addams Family | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Chapel Hill Community Center Park |
| Friday Market & Movie Night: Inside Out 2 | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Clayton Harvest Festival, including Trunk or Treat | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Horne Square (Clayton) |
| Boo 'n' Brew Halloween Train Ride (3 start times) | 5:15 pm to 8:45 pm | $18.61 | New Hope Valley Railway |
| Bike Night | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| Teen Science Cafe at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill |
| 10th Annual Zombiepalooza | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Vinyl Night | 6:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Free Wine Tasting | 6:00 pm | FREE | Local 919, Raleigh |
| Discover India: Costumes of India | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Cary Arts Center |
| Ghostly Spooktacular | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Green Road Community Center, Raleigh |
| Duke Homestead's Halloween Phantasmagoria | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00 | Duke Homestead |
| Chime In Open Mic (poetry, storytelling songwriting) | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Spirits of Wake Forest: ghost walks in Downtown Wake Forest (multiple start times) | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $20.00 | Wake Forest Town Hall |
| Haunted Walk at Bond Park | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Fred G. Bond Metro Park |
| Halloween Party | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lonerider Brewing Company |
| Live Music: The Roosevelt Room Band | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lonerider Brewing Company |
| Free Outdoor Movie Night: Ghostbusters | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Mason Jar Lager Company, Fuquay-Varina |
| Live Music: Heather Rogers | 7:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| 3rd Annual Chelsea Theater Halloween Horror: Film, live music, costume contest, more... | 7:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | Chelsea Theater, Chapel Hill |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Haunted Trolley at Mordecai Park (3 tours) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Mordecai Historic Park, Raleigh |
| Live Band Karaoke (ticket includes one cocktail) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery, Durham |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Growler Grlz, Durham |
| Karaoke Under the Stars | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| 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 |
| A Good Time: Stand-Up Comedy Showcase | 8:00 pm | FREE | Vault Craft Beer, Raleigh |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
Saturday, October 25, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krispy Kreme: Free doughnut if you wear a costume | All Day | FREE | Krispy Kreme — Multiple locations |
| North Carolina State Fair | All Day | $5.00-13.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| African American Walking Tour in Raleigh's Third Ward (3 times) | All Day | $5.00-10.00 | Pope House, Raleigh |
| Día de los Muertos Ofrenda | FREE | Duke University Chapel | |
| Howl-Ween Market at South Durham Farmers' Market: Costume contest for kids and dogs, and more... | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Durham Farmers’ Market at Hub RTP |
| 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 |
| Day of the Dead 5K and street festival (cost is for the 5K; the street festival is free) | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | $40.00-45.00 | Centro Mexican Restaurant, Raleigh |
| Junior League of Raleigh's 41st Annual Shopping SPREE! | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | Raleigh Convention Center |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Spellbound at Mordecai -- family Halloween event at Moore Square | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Mordecai Historic Park, Raleigh |
| HollyFest | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Jefferson L. Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park |
| Day of the Dead Festival at Whirligig Park | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, Wilson |
| Pittsboro Street Fair | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Pittsboro |
| Clayton Harvest Festival | 10:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Horne Square (Clayton) |
| Bluegrass Jam at Bynum Front Porch | 10:00 am | FREE | Bynum Front Porch, Pittsboro |
| Sensory-Friendly Film Series: Monsters, Inc. | 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 North Carolina State Capitol | 11:00 am | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Morehead Planetarium: Scare-o-lina Skies (Family Edition) | 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | $13.95-15.95 | Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill |
| Git Along Vintage Market | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Lonerider Brewing Company |
| Bourbon BBQ & Bluegrass Festival (ticket includes bourbon tasting) | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $10.00-12.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery, Durham |
| Repair Café in Cary | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Kirk of Kildaire Church, Cary |
| Saturday Comedy Improv Jam Meetup | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Free open house at Duke Lemur Center Museum of Natural History | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Duke Lemur Center, Museum of Natural History, Durham |
| Cary Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Walnut Street Park, Cary |
| Barks and Brews | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Downtown Scary Park | 2:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Free Guided Tour of North Carolina State Capitol | 2:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Incredible Science | 2:00 pm | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh | |
| Track 'n' Treat Halloween Train Ride (5 start times) | 2:16 pm to 8:45 pm | $18.61 | New Hope Valley Railway |
| Market on Tap: No Tricks, All Treats Night Market | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Raleigh Halloween Bar Crawl (price varies) | 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm | Downtown Raleigh | |
| Incredible Science | 3:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Barktoberfest in Durham Central Park | 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Night Market at North Hills | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Morrisville Diwali Festival | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Cedar Fork District Park, Morrisville |
| Downtown Cary Park Movie series: Hotel Transylvania & 1408 | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Southern Peak Brewery Annual Halloween Costume Party | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Halloween at the Old Hotel | 6:30 pm | $10.00 | Page-Walker Arts & History Center, Cary |
| Spirits of Wake Forest: ghost walks in Downtown Wake Forest (multiple start times) | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $20.00 | Wake Forest Town Hall |
| Live Music: RAAD O.G. | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Haunted Trolley at Mordecai Park (3 tours) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Mordecai Historic Park, Raleigh |
| Haunted Walk at Bond Park | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Fred G. Bond Metro Park |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Art Market and Fire Spinning Jam | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Old North State Food Hall, Selma |
| Live music: Retro Cats (donations welcome) | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Halloween at the Old Hotel | 8:30 pm | $10.00 | Page-Walker Arts & History Center, Cary |
Sunday, October 26, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State Fair | All Day | $5.00-13.00 | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Día de los Muertos Ofrenda | FREE | Duke University Chapel | |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Junior League of Raleigh's 41st Annual Shopping SPREE! | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | Raleigh Convention Center |
| Live Jazz with Joseph Silvers and Hunter McDermut | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Durham Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Walking With Wisdom -- A Mindful Journey at Maverado Gardens in Chapel Hill (donation-based) | 11:00 am | Maverick Center, Chapel Hill | |
| Day of the Dead celebration with Revista Latina | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | City Plaza, Raleigh |
| Clayton Latin American Festival | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Clayton Town Square |
| Clayton Harvest Festival | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Horne Square (Clayton) |
| Sunday NFL Football Watch Party | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Black Farmers' Market | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Southeast Raleigh YMCA |
| Artspace Open Studio | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| Songwriter Open Mic w/ Michael Brennan | 2:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| Beerded Lady Book Club | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Secret Cinema Sundays | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Walking With Wisdom -- A Mindful Journey at Maverado Gardens in Chapel Hill (donation-based) | 2:00 pm | Maverick Center, Chapel Hill | |
| African American Walking Tour in Raleigh's Third Ward | 2:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Pope House, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Tony Jonez | 3:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Taproom, Fuquay-Varina |
| Trunk or Treat at Saint Francis United Methodist Church | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Saint Francis United Methodist Church, Cary |
| Ray Road Community Trunk or Treat and Car Show | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Calvary Presbyterian Church, Raleigh |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Trunk or Treat at Soapstone UMC | 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Soapstone United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Tricks-n-Treats at Brier Creek Commons | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Brier Creek Commons |
| Sunday Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
Monday, October 27, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Día de los Muertos Ofrenda | FREE | Duke University Chapel | |
| 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 |
| Monday Night NFL Football Watch Party | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Durham Beer Garden: 75¢ wings (dine-in only) | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0.75 | Durham Beer Garden |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| Adult Coloring Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Game Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| 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 at Speakeasy | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
