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, November 20, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Free Wine Tasting on the Rooftop | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | 10th & Terrace at Residence In Raleigh Downtown |
| Get free technology help with a Raleigh Digital Ambassador | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Marsh Creek Community Center, Raleigh |
| Open Mic (music and poetry) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Irish Music at the Plant | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro |
| 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 |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Jazz Vespers: A Service of Thanksgiving | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Duke University Chapel |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Karaoke with JV Jams | 7:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| 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 |
| 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, November 21, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Tree Lighting Celebration at Waverly Place | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Waverly Place, Cary |
| Holiday Gift Basket Tasting at Umbrella Dry Bar | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Self Care Marketplace, Raleigh |
| Cary Night Market -- Holiday Market | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Downtown Durham Tree Lighting Celebration | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | CCB Plaza, Durham |
| Downtown Raleigh Tree Lighting and Holiday Market, including free pictures with Santa | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Winter Wonderland at Park West Village | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Park West Village |
| Bike Night | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| Durham Foodie Fare | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Teen Science Cafe at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill |
| Third Friday Durham -- art receptions, exhibits and performances | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center |
| Third Friday Art Event at Loose Leaf Gallery | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Loose Leaf Gallery, Durham Food Hall |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Free Wine Tasting | 6:00 pm | FREE | Local 919, Raleigh |
| "Pay what you can" screening of film, Afloat | 6:30 pm | Varsity Theatre, Chapel Hill | |
| 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 |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| 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, November 22, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| African American Walking Tour in Raleigh's Third Ward (3 times) | All Day | $5.00-10.00 | Pope House, Raleigh |
| Durham Craft Market | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Holiday Market at Passmore Center | 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Jerry M. Passmore Senior Center, Hillsborough |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Raleigh Christmas Parade | 9:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| A Day at Hogwarts | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Studio, Apex |
| Durham Art Walk Holiday Market | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham Arts Council |
| Family Volunteer Day at Marbles Kids Museum (registration required; space limited) | 10:00 am | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Bluegrass Jam at Bynum Front Porch | 10:00 am | FREE | Bynum Front Porch, Pittsboro |
| Green Road's Vendor Fair | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Green Road Community Center, Raleigh |
| Old Hillsborough Road Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Bennett Place State Historic Site |
| Town of Angier Winter Holiday Market and Food Truck Rodeo | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Jack Marley Park, Angier |
| 30th Annual American Indian Heritage Celebration | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Sensory-Friendly Film Series: Aladdin | 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 |
| Family Volunteer Day at Marbles Kids Museum (registration required; space limited) | 12:30 pm | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| Saturday Comedy Improv Jam Meetup | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Cary Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Walnut Street Park, Cary |
| 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 | |
| Light the Square at Fenton | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Fenton, Cary |
| Common Woman Chorus' Fall Concert | 3:00 pm | $0-30.00 | Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Durham |
| Incredible Science | 3:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Christmas at North Hills -- Tree Lighting | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh |
| Messiah Sing-Along with Choral Society of Durham | 4:00 pm | FREE | Trinity United Methodist Church, Durham |
| Winter Wonderland at Park West Village | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Park West Village |
| Free improv comedy: Funniest Person in the Triangle | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Lune Spark Holly Springs |
| 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 | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Common Woman Chorus' Fall Concert | 7:00 pm | $0-30.00 | Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Durham |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Old North State Food Hall, Selma |
| Live music: City Folk (donations welcome) | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
Sunday, November 23, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Durham Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Arts on Market | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
| Sunday NFL Football Watch Party | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Durham Art Walk Holiday Market | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham Arts Council |
| 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 |
| Winter Wonderland at Park West Village | 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Park West Village |
| Songwriter Open Mic w/ Michael Brennan | 2:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| Friendsgiving Potluck | 2:00 pm | FREE | The Fall Line, Zebulon |
| Secret Cinema Sundays | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| African American Walking Tour in Raleigh's Third Ward | 2:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Pope House, Raleigh |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Sunday Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
Monday, November 24, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Cheapskate Day at Skate the Square at Fenton: $3 off (check website for hours) | All Day | Discounted | Fenton, Cary |
| 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 |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| 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 |
| 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 |
