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
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Halloween Storytime on the Roof with Durham County Library | 10:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| Storytime in the Pumpkin Patch | 10:30 am | FREE | Highland United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Board Game Night | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Window on Animal Health | 1:30 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Market Bunch Kids' Activities | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Farmers’ Market |
| "Pay What You Can" Farm Stand at Raleigh City Farm | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh City Farm |
| Board Game Night | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| Spooky Tails: Halloween event for dogs in Apex | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Apex Nature Park |
| Trunk or Treat and free hot dog dinner | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Highland United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Trunk or Treat at Holton Center | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham |
| Wine + Weed (learn about plants and farming) | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh City Farm |
| Ballroom Dancing with Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $8.00 | Pullen Community Center |
| Hammered Trivia | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Stitch N' Bitch Craft Night | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Karaoke Night at The Backyard Bar | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Backyard Bar, Apex |
| Weekly Skee Ball Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery | 8:00 pm to 11:45 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
Thursday, October 30, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Live at Lunch: Chris Overstreet | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Fall Festival: trick or treating, hay rides, outdoor movie, more | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Park West Village |
| Cary Police Department's Trunk or Treat at Cary Downtown Park | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Live music on rooftop of Westin Raleigh-Durham | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Westin Raleigh-Durham |
| Historical Ghost Walk in Smithfield's Riverside Cemetery | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $3.00-5.00 | Riverside Cemetery, Smithfield |
| Magick Makers Pop-Up | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| 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 |
| Pluck Farm Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Lake Lynn First Tee Trunk or Treat | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lake Lynn Park |
| Crossroads Plaza Weekly Fall Music Series: Kai Wilson | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Crossroads Plaza (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 |
| 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 |
| Spooky Halloween Party | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Clouds Brewing Taproom, Raleigh |
| 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 31, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baskin Robbins: 31% off scoops | All Day | Discounted | Baskin-Robbins, multiple locations |
| Krispy Kreme: Free doughnut if you wear a costume | All Day | FREE | Krispy Kreme — Multiple locations |
| 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 |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Trick-or-Treat the Trail at White Deer Park in Garner | 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | White Deer Park, Garner |
| Book or Treat with Book Harvest: free books and Halloween fun | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Book Harvest, Durham |
| Step Into Halloween Village | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Lafayette Village Raleigh |
| Halloween At The Plant in Pittsboro: Costume contest, Bazaar Night Market, parade, live music, more... | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Boxyard Halloween Party | 4:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Morehead Planetarium: Scare-o-lina Skies | 4:30 pm | $13.95-15.95 | Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill |
| Artist Talk: Peter Schmid at Hamilton Hill Jewelry | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Hamilton Hill Jewelry (Brightleaf Square, Durham) |
| Halloween Pet Costume Party | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Ment Beverage Co., Durham |
| Halloween Double Feature at Dix Park, trick or treating and more... | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dorothea Dix Park |
| Sneaky Penguin Halloween Party | 5:00 pm | FREE | Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Halloween Carnival in Carrboro | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Bike Night | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| Morehead Planetarium: Scare-o-lina Skies | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $13.95-15.95 | Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill |
| Halloween Costume Contest and Beer Brat Grill Out | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus, Durham |
| The Little Market: Opening Reception for "Organics" | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Little Market, Hillsborough |
| Raleigh Halloween Bar Crawl (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 11:59 pm | Downtown Raleigh | |
| A Mystic Halloween Costume Party & Haunted Trail | 6:00 pm to 11:59 pm | $10.00-12.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery, Durham |
| Halloween Party | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Final Friday Reception at Cary Gallery of Artists | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Cary Gallery of Artists |
| Last Fridays Art Walk in Hillsborough | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Hillsborough |
| Final Friday Cary Art Loop | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| Last Friday: Art show, music, hands-on art, more... | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Margaret Lane Gallery, Hillsborough |
| Free Wine Tasting | 6:00 pm | FREE | Local 919, Raleigh |
| Halloween and Drag Murder Mystery | 6:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| The Get Down on the Roof: Halloween Edition | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| Drive-in movie night at MOSAIC and Trunk or Treat: Hocus Pocus 2 | 7:00 pm | FREE | Philip H. Kohn MOSAIC Family Commons, Pittsboro |
| One Tribe Final Friday drum circle with fire spinning by Caroleena & Friends | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Old Cary Library Site |
| 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 |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Growler Grlz, Durham |
| Discover Dance: Learn the Thriller Choreography at Downtown Cary Park | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Halloween Party at PourWorks Beer & Wine Shop -- free pizza with drink purchase | 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Halloween Killer Karaoke Party | 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
Saturday, November 1, 2025
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| Cars and Coffee Morrisville | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Imperial Center, Durham |
| 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 |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Excavator | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Grand Diwali Festival in Holly Springs | 9:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bass Lake Park, Holly Springs |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Youth Aviation Academy Program at John Chavis Memorial Park | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | John Chavis Memorial Park (Raleigh) |
| Saturday Slowdown Market and Open Farm Day | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | RambleRill Farm, Hillsborough |
| North Carolina Whirligig Festival | 10:00 am to 7:30 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Wilson |
| Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge: Halloween Tour & Explore | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | $5.00-40.00 | Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, Pittsboro |
| Taste of China Festival | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary |
| Thanksgiving: History & Legacy Tours | 11:00 am | $1.00-2.00 | Bennett Place State Historic Site |
| 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 |
| The Market at NCMA | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Free Guided Tour of North Carolina State Capitol | 11:00 am | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| Wake Forest Diwali Festival | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest |
| Mystic's Harvest Festival (ticket includes a drink) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery, Durham |
| Festifall Arts Market: Día de los Muertos | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | 140 West Franklin Street Plaza, Chapel Hill |
| Pumpkin Smash Party at Steel String Brewery Pluck Farm | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Get free technology help with a Raleigh Digital Ambassador | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Pathways Center |
| Carrboro Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| 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 | |
| Raleigh Halloween Bar Crawl (price varies) | 3:00 pm to 11:00 am | Downtown Raleigh | |
| Thanksgiving: History & Legacy Tours | 3:00 pm | $1.00-2.00 | Bennett Place State Historic Site |
| Irish Music Jam | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Incredible Science | 3:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Día de Oakwood -- Free Screening of Disney's Coco | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Durham Twilight -- market, music, performances | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Golden Belt Campus, Durham |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Live Music: The Live Oaks | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Music in the Garden: Southpaw Soul | 6:30 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| Live Music: 2DIGH4 | 7:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Live Comedy | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| 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: Old 86 (donations welcome) | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Fall Film Series: Drumline | 8:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Boots & Brewz: Country Night | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | The Fall Line, Zebulon |
Sunday, November 2, 2025
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Pop Up ARTernative Market | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Chapel of Bones Coffee, Raleigh |
| Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| North Carolina Whirligig Festival | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Wilson |
| Sunday NFL Football Watch Party | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Cary Underground Market: Bands and Vendors | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Pumpkin Smash Party at Steel String Brewery Pluck Farm | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Kanikapila: FREE Ukulele Lessons | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Black Farmers' Market | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Technical Community College, main campus |
| Artspace Open Studio | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| Hillsborough Classic Film Society: M | 2:00 pm | FREE | Jerry M. Passmore Senior Center, Hillsborough |
| 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 |
| Día de Muertos at Historic Oakwood Cemetery -- Closing Ceremony and Catrina Parade | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Sunday Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
