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
Friday, September 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Reflections: Virtual Tour | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham |
| Free Wine Tastings | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Fridays on the Front Porch | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill |
| Ackland Art Museum: Extended hours during 2nd Friday ArtWalk | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill |
| Salsa at the Park with live music by West End Mambo | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Knightdale Station Park |
| Pop Up Music at North Hills | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh |
| Friday Night on White: Liquid Pleasure | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | White Street in Wake Forest |
| Live Music in the Beer Garden: The Phoebes | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Chime In Open Mic (poetry, storytelling songwriting) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| 2nd Friday ArtWalk in Chapel Hill and Carrboro | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Front Porch Friday at Haven Farm | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haven Farm, Knightdale |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| Unisong: Guided Song Circle | 6:30 pm | FREE | Radical Healing, Durham |
| Family Feud: House Party Edition | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 7:00 pm to 11:55 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Live music: Body & Soul | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Sonark Farms, Hillsborough |
| Friday Under the Stars -- Skywatching Event | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Three Bears Acres, Creedmoor |
| Karaoke with Harryoke | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs |
| Stand-up Comedy Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Pub Karaoke | 10:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | West 94th Street Pub, Durham |
Saturday, September 12, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-pack for $12 | All Day | Discounted | Carolina Brewery Pittsboro |
| Family Fest at Lakeside Retreats : Free event with outdoor fun, entertainment, yoga, more | 8:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lakeside Retreats, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Lowe's DIY-U Kids' Workshop: Haunted House | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Fall Festival and Plant Sale at Briggs Avenue Community Garden in Durham | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Briggs Avenue Community Garden |
| Black History Walking Tour | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $6.00-10.00 | Pope House, Raleigh |
| Free Pickleball Class | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | NetSports, Morrisville |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Visit Raleigh Fire Museum 2nd Saturday of month (for free) | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Fire Museum |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| International Cultural Festival in Fuquay-Varina | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fuquay-Varina Arts Center |
| Family Saturday Series: Pepito and the Trash Cans | 11:00 am | $5.00 | The Carolina Theatre, Durham |
| Notes on View: Salomé Sandoval | 11:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| 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 |
| Apex Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Sweetwater Apex |
| Free Guided Tour of N.C. State Capitol (three start times: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m.) | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina State Capitol, Raleigh |
| The Market at Raleigh Iron Works | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Iron Works |
| Hispanic Heritage Fiesta | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Shakori Hills Community Arts Center, Pittsboro |
| 12th-Anniversary Oktoberfest | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Come Out and Play sculpture show | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | JimGin Farm |
| Second Saturday Plant Swap | 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| 16th Annual Durham Oktoberfest at Motorco -- session 1 (price varies) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $0-19.00 | Motorco Music Hall |
| Notes on View: Salomé Sandoval | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Free: Oktoberfest at Bull McCabes in Durham | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bull McCabe’s |
| The Irish Session | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Concerts on the Creek: Rissi Palmer | 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Hub RTP |
| Carolina Circus Festival -- free event in Cary with performances, workshops and more | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Live Music | 3:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Hillsborough Gallery of Arts: Artist Talk | 4:00 pm | FREE | Hillsborough Gallery of Arts |
| Live Music | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Beer Garden Concert Series | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Festival Latino in Garner | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Garner Recreation Center |
| 16th Annual Durham Oktoberfest at Motorco -- session 2 (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-19.00 | Motorco Music Hall |
| Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| A Stand-Up Comedy Game Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Live Music Saturdays | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs |
| Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Free NC Symphony Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
| Live music: The Danny Grewen Band (pay what you choose) | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Sonark Farms, Hillsborough | |
| Open Mic/Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
Sunday, September 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Sunday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Farmers Market | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale |
| Bull City Treasure Hunt | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham Bottling Company |
| Raleigh Really Really Free Market | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Eliza Pool Park, 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 |
| Raleigh Underground Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Triangle Vegfest (pay what you can option is available) | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Durham Central Park |
| 19th annual Pepperfest | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Morgan Street Sessions | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh |
| Bazaar Craft & Art Market in Carrboro | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Black Farmers' Market in Raleigh | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Southeast Raleigh YMCA |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh |
| D's Oktoberfest | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | D’s Bottle Shop and Craft Beer College |
| Open Mic | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| 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 |
| Jazz'd Up Sundays: Niki Haris, featuring the Christian Tamburr Band | 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Sundays at Sundown Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
Monday, September 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coloring Vinyl Night | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Silent Reading Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| 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 |
| Smut Book Club | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| 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, September 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes: Free Confetti Bundtlet to first 300 guests | 9:00 am | FREE | Nothing Bundt Cakes, 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 |
| Durham Chess Enthusiasts | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| 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 |
| Chess Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Pints & Pups | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus, Durham |
| Beer & Banjos in Raleigh | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Live Music: Ally J | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| Views from the Durham | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
