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, November 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| The Little Engine That Could (two start times) | 9:00 am to 11:15 am | $8.00 | Vault Theatre, Durham |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Holly Springs Small Business Network | 9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs |
| Military Appreciation Week at North Carolina Zoo - free admission for military member plus a guest | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Zoo |
| Apex Veterans Day Ceremony | 9:30 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Apex Service Memorial |
| Chapel Hill Food Distribution Event | 9:30 am | FREE | Eubanks Road Park and Ride Lot, 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 |
| Veterans Day Observance in Garner | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Aversboro Road Baptist Church, Garner |
| Triangle’s Train: New Hope Valley Railway offering free rides for veterans and military service members | 10:30 am | FREE | New Hope Valley Railway |
| Veterans Day Observance in Cary | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Freedom Park, Cary |
| U.S. Citizenship Prep Series: Free 6-part class (registration required) | 11:30 am to 12:45 pm | FREE | Peach Road Cultural Center, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Golden Corral: Free meal for anyone who has served in U.S. Military | 4:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Acro Yoga at Pullen Park | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Poetry at The Plant | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro |
| Crokinole | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| 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 |
| Bluegrass Jam (pay what you can) | 7:00 pm to 11:00 am | Sonark Farms, Hillsborough | |
| 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 |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Growler Grlz, Durham |
| 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, November 12, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| 12-pack for $12 | All Day | Discounted | Carolina Brewery Pittsboro |
| 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 |
| Military Appreciation Week at North Carolina Zoo - free admission for military member plus a guest | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Zoo |
| 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 |
| high.low: high taste, low pressure after-work kickback | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Sips & Sounds at 1619, Durham |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| The Hidden Village: Exclusive After Hours Adventure with Triangle Third Place | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| 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 |
| Unisong: Guided Song Circle | 7:45 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Current Wellness, 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 |
Friday, November 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| The Little Engine That Could (two start times) | 9:00 am to 11:15 am | $8.00 | Vault Theatre, Durham |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Military Appreciation Week at North Carolina Zoo - free admission for military member plus a guest | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Zoo |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Scented Storytime | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Durham County Library – Stanford L. Warren |
| CARI Food Pantry Free Food Giveaway | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Church of the Apostolic Revival International, Durham |
| Reflections: Virtual Tour | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham |
| Live Music: Bobby Frith (On the Patio) | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Oak City Brewing Company, Knightdale |
| Free Wine Tasting with Michael Bostick of 3 Keys Dist. | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Taylor’s Wine Shop |
| Ackland Art Museum: Extended hours during 2nd Friday ArtWalk | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill |
| Live Music: Too Much Fun | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Sonark Farms, Hillsborough |
| 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 |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| Family Feud: House Party Edition | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | The Common Market, Durham |
| Pub Karaoke | 10:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | West 94th Street Pub, Durham |
Saturday, November 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| The Little Engine That Could (four start times) | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | $8.00 | Vault Theatre, Durham |
| Mistletoe Market Holiday Fair at Wakefield High School | 9:00 am to 4:30 pm | $6.00 | Wakefield High School |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Durham Craft Market | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Lowe's DIY-U Kids' Workshop: Holiday Engine | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Quail Hollow Neighborhoods Art Walk & Sale | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Quail Hollow Neighborhood |
| Durham Pottery Tour | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Multiple Locations, Durham |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| Orange County Artists Guild 32nd Annual Open Studio Tour | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Fall Family Fun Day | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | City of Raleigh Museum |
| 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 |
| Fool's Faire 2026 Renaissance Festival | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Second Saturday Plant Swap | 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Durham Beer Garden |
| "The Comeback of Blue-Throated Macaws" talk | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Repair Café in Hillsborough | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Whitted Building, Hillsborough |
| Hymns for Salted Bones: A Re-membering of Hayti Walking Tour (space is limited and registration is required) | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | 1201 Fayetteville Street, Durham |
| The Irish Session | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Sparkle Night at Parkside Town Commons in Cary: train rides, Santa, snow, more... | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Parkside Town Commons, Cary |
| Liberty Arts Iron Pour at Durham Central Park | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| 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 |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Live Music Saturdays | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs |
| A Stand-Up Comedy Game Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
Sunday, November 15, 2026
| 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 |
| Sunday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Durham Pottery Tour | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Multiple Locations, Durham |
| Chestnut Carnival | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Plant, Pittsboro |
| Hillsborough Really Really Free Market | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Gold Park, Hillsborough |
| Morgan Street Sessions | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Street Food Hall & Market, Raleigh |
| Orange County Artists Guild 32nd Annual Open Studio Tour | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| MUM's Kitchen: Free Meal, Bingo and more | 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| The Little Engine That Could (two start times) | 12:45 pm to 3:00 pm | $8.00 | Vault Theatre, Durham |
| 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 |
| Panthers Watch Party | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh |
| The Sound of Giving: Musical Variety Show Fundraiser (free, but donations collected) | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Woman’s Club of Raleigh |
| 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 |
