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
Sunday, October 4, 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 |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Sunday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Pop Up ARTernative Market | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chapel of Bones Coffee, Raleigh |
| Sunday Brunch Music on the lawn of Weaver Street Market in Carrboro | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Weaver Street Market Carrboro |
| Move-A-Bull City Open Streets Event | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Locations throughout Downtown Durham |
| Cary Underground Market: Bands and Vendors | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Morgan Street Sessions | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh |
| Oktoberfest at The Plant in Pittsboro | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Oktoberfest | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| 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 |
| Black Farmers' Market in Durham | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Technical Community College, main campus |
| Free pumpkin painting (with purchase of pumpkin) | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | For Garden’s Sake, Durham | |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh |
| Instrument Petting Zoo | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gipson Play Plaza, Dix Park, Raleigh |
| Pop Up Music at Midtown Park | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Open Mic | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Blessing of the Animals at Duke University Chapel Quad | 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Duke University Chapel |
| 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 |
| Blessing of the Animals | 5:30 pm | FREE | Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Raleigh |
| Jazz'd up Sundays: Tia Fuller | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Deadford Manor -- animatronic singing skeleton show in a Raleigh front yard | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Deadford Manor, Raleigh |
| Panthers Watch Party | 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh |
Monday, October 5, 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 |
| Coloring Vinyl Night | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Free Food Distribution at Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church | 2:00 pm | FREE | Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church, Durham |
| Wake Forest National Night Out | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest |
| Free Self-Defense with Krav Maga Raleigh | 5:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Mahjong Socials at Apex Senior Center | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Apex Senior Center |
| Silent Reading Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Democracy Unfiltered: A Voter Education Series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Board Game Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreens Senior Day: 20% off for rewards members age 55+ | All Day | Walgreens (multiple locations) | |
| The Lumina Theater in Southern Village: All Tuesday tickets are $6.25 | All Day | $6.25 | The Lumina Theater, Chapel Hill |
| Tuesday Toss: Roll the dice to decide your $5 draft fate | All Day | Discounted | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| North Hills Kids: Tuts & Trucks | 9:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh |
| Computer Refresher for Mature Adults -- free course (registration is required and space is limited) | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Durham |
| Horn-free hour of Apex Night Out's Touch-a-Truck | 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Apex Town Hall |
| Apex Night Out, featuring Touch-a-Truck | 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Apex Town Hall |
| Durham Chess Enthusiasts | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| PBS North Carolina's A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story Screening | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Outdoor movie at Pullen Park: Toy Story 5 | 6:00 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Free line dancing class | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Snow Approach, Hillsborough |
| Run, Sweat, Beers RUN CLUB | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Growler Grlz, Durham |
| Adult Coloring Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| Poker Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Bond Brothers Run Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Artist in Residence Series at JB Duke Hotel: Live artmaking | 6:00 pm | FREE | JB Duke Hotel, Durham |
| Chess Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Craft and Draft Tuesdays | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Beer & Banjos in Raleigh | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, Raleigh |
| Square Dance Party with Capital Squares | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | St. James United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Astronomy on Tap | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fullsteam Brewery ATC, Durham |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Jeopardy! Bar League Trivia | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Edit Beer Co., Raleigh |
| Beer & Banjos Carrboro | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| Centennial SoundBites | 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | 321 Coffee, NC State Centennial Campus |
| Board Game Night | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Market Bunch Kids' Activities | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Farmers’ Market |
| Line Dancing Classes | 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| "Pay What You Can" Farm Stand at Raleigh City Farm | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh City Farm |
| Wine Down Wednesday -- live music, plus wine specials | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | La Vita Dolce at Southern Village |
| Free Acro Yoga at Pullen Park | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Free Community Dinner | 6:00 pm | FREE | The Church of Reconciliation (The Rec), Chapel Hill |
| Wine + Weed (learn about plants and farming) | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh City Farm |
| Play chess with Durham Chess Club (all ages and levels) | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Durham Food Hall |
| Bring Your Own Craft Night | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Crank Arm Durham Wednesday Night Ride | 6:30 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Ballroom Dancing Social with Pullen Dance | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Pullen Community Center |
| Wednesday Singer/Songwriter Sessions | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Stitch N' Bitch Craft Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| DSSOLVR Durham Bingo Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | DSSOLVR Durham |
| Trivia Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Beer Garden |
| Salsa Night: Dance Lessons and Social | 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm | $10.00 | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Weekly Skee Ball Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| City Soul Cafe Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $10.00 | Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge, Raleigh |
| Open Mic Night | 8:00 pm | FREE | Abbey Road Cary |
| Beer Pong Tournament | 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
Thursday, October 8, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stammtisch (German community night) with steins of German beers for pint prices | All Day | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham | |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Durham Community Day at Museum of Life + Science: free admission for Durham County residents | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Museum of Life+Science, Durham |
| Stroll Through History: Free Cemetery Tours at Historic Oakwood Cemetery | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Parktown Food Hub Open Distribution Day | 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Parktown Food Hub, Durham |
| Celebrating 50 Years of Raleigh Greenways: Past, Present, and Future | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | City of Raleigh Museum |
| Storytelling Open Mic at Common Market Durham | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Jazz in the Square: Enloe Jazz Ambassadors & Moore Square Middle School Jazz Band | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Movie in the Garden: Hocus Pocus | 6:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Raleigh Little Theatre |
| 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 |
| NC Run Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| PineCone Old-Time Music Jam at Riparian Provision Company | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Riparian Provision Co., Raleigh |
| Opinionation | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Thursday Jazz | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew (Hillsborough) |
| 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 |
| Cosmic Cantina Karaoke | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Cosmic Cantina, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
