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, December 15, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Kiln Opening at Mark Hewitt Pottery | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Hewitt Pottery (Pittsboro) |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Cary's Gingerbread House Competition | All Day | FREE | Downtown Cary |
| The RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| Shake Shack: Get a free Chicken Shack on Sundays with $10 purchase | All Day | Shake Shack, participating locations | |
| Christmas Cantata | 8:30 am | FREE | North Raleigh United Methodist Church |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Santa's Reindeer Roundup Express at New Hope Valley Railway | 9:30 am to 4:00 pm | $16.00 | New Hope Valley Railway |
| Woodlake Handmade Holiday Craft Show | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Woodlake Clubhouse |
| The Durham Craft Market Annual Holiday Show | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Sunday Yoga | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Christmas Cantata | 11:00 am | FREE | North Raleigh United Methodist Church |
| NC Air Hockey Tournament | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| Holiday Patchwork Market | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Armory |
| 32nd Annual Chatham Artists Guild Open Studio Tour | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| 7th Annual Chocolatada de Luisito -- Luisito’s Chocolatada -- for Three Kings Day | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | City of Raleigh Museum |
| Santa Paws -- free picture of your pet with Santa | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Ment Beverage Co., Durham |
| Free Ice Skating at Downtown Cary Park | 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| TeenSpace at Dix Park: Crafternoon -- Winter Gifts | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Chapel at Dix Park |
| Santa at The Fall Line | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Fall Line, Zebulon |
| Paws with Claus: Photos of your dog with Santa at Downtown Cary Park | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Pets get free picture with Santa at PetSmart (reservations required) | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | PetSmart (multiple locations) |
| Christmas at Oak View --reservations required | 2:00 pm | FREE | Historic Oak View County Park |
| Durham City of Medicine Walking Tour (pay what you want) | 2:00 pm | FREE | Major the Bull |
| Open-Mic Night | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Open Mic | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Free concert by Durham Medical Orchestra | 3:00 pm | FREE | Duke University–Baldwin Auditorium |
| Free concert by Triangle Jewish Chorale: A Place to Call Home | 3:00 pm | FREE | Levin JCC, Durham |
| Cary Christmas Celebration Concert | 3:00 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Cary |
| Live Music: Ray Martin | 3:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Taproom, Fuquay-Varina |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Live Irish Music | 4:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| Santa's HoHoHos Drag Show | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| Hill Ridge Farms' Festival of Lights (hayride, train ride, Christmas lights, farm activities) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $19.95 | Hill Ridge Farms, Youngsville |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Christmas Plugged -- Synchronized Light Show | 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Durham |
| Music Bingo at D's Bottle Shop | 5:00 pm | FREE | D’s Bottle Shop and Craft Beer College |
| Santa at Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $12.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| Free drive-thru nativity at Penny Road Church of the Nazarene | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Penny Road Church of the Nazarene |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00-26.00 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Triadic Vocals Holiday Concert, featuring Catch 22 & Theory | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
Monday, December 16, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Discount Monday at Fenton Skate the Square -- get $3 off (check for times) | All Day | $15.00 | Fenton, Cary |
| Sonic Drive-In: Half price shakes | All Day | Discounted | Sonic Drive-In (multiple locations) |
| Military Monday: Save 10% Every Monday | 7:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Old North State Food Hall, Selma |
| Free Ice Skating at Downtown Cary Park | 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Christmas at Oak View --reservations required | 2:00 pm | FREE | Historic Oak View County Park |
| Sip & Spin Mondays | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Christmas Plugged -- Synchronized Light Show | 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Durham |
| Santa at Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $12.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| Euchre | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00-26.00 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Live Drive-Through Nativity | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Soapstone United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Mondays Are For the Dogs | 6:30 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| PineCone Beginner's Bluegrass Jam | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harry’s Guitar Shop, Raleigh |
| Karaoke on the roof at Raleigh Beer Garden | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Beer Garden |
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Movie tickets at Alamo Drafthouse: $7 | All Day | Discounted | Alamo Drafthouse Cinema |
| Topgolf: Half-price bays on Tuesdays | All Day | $15.00-30.00 | Topgolf Durham |
| Toddler Tuesday at Downtown Cary Park Ice Skating Rink (kids 6 and under) | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Free Yoga at Frontier RTP | 12:00 pm | FREE | The Frontier, RTP |
| Christmas at Oak View --reservations required | 2:00 pm | FREE | Historic Oak View County Park |
| Family Game Night | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Christmas Plugged -- Synchronized Light Show | 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Durham |
| Live Nativity, with live music, live animals, and refreshments | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Saint Francis United Methodist Church, Cary |
| Santa at Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Durham Chess Enthusiasts | 5:30 pm | FREE | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $12.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| Santa at Ruckus Pizza Park West Morrisville (no cost, just pay for food) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Ruckus Pizza — Park West Morrisville |
| Taco Tuesday Bike Ride | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00-26.00 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Adult Coloring Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| Bond Brothers Run Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| Bell Durham Christmas Concert | 6:00 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| Live Drive-Through Nativity | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Soapstone United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Beer & Banjos in Raleigh | 6:30 pm | FREE | Transfer Co. Food Hall, Raleigh |
| Bingo Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| King Trivia Tuesdays | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Ruckus Open Mic with Brian Jones | 7:00 pm | FREE | Ruckus Pizza — Mission Valley Raleigh |
| International Jazz Open Jam | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Neptune’s Parlour, Raleigh |
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Free Fitness Demo Class: Barre | 8:30 am to 9:30 am | FREE | Abbotts Creek Community Center, Raleigh |
| Free Fitness Demo Class: WARRIOR Rhythm ROOTS | 9:45 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Abbotts Creek Community Center, Raleigh |
| Wilson Ukulele Band meetup -- all are welcome | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Wilson County Senior Activities Center |
| Mindfulness in the Museum: Yoga in the Gardens | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Gregg Museum, Raleigh |
| Holiday Cookie Decorating | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | W.D. Hill Recreation Center, Durham |
| Sounds of Christmas Concert | 12:00 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Cary |
| Free Ice Skating at Downtown Cary Park | 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Christmas at Oak View --reservations required | 2:00 pm | FREE | Historic Oak View County Park |
| Free wine tasting at Bailey's Fine Jewelry, Fenton | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bailey’s Fine Jewelry, Fenton (Cary) |
| Hill Ridge Farms' Festival of Lights (hayride, train ride, Christmas lights, farm activities) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $19.95 | Hill Ridge Farms, Youngsville |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Christmas Plugged -- Synchronized Light Show | 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Durham |
| Sensory-Friendly Night at Kidzu Children's Museum | 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Kidzu Children’s Museum, Chapel Hill |
| Live Nativity, with live music, live animals, and refreshments | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Saint Francis United Methodist Church, Cary |
| Santa at Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Game Night at Boxyard RTP | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Boxyard RTP |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Free Acro Yoga at Method Park | 5:45 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Method Road Park |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $12.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| RBC Cary/Arb Umstead Gravel Bike Ride | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Arboretum, Cary |
| The Grinch and Buffet at Ruckus Pizza -- Park West Morrisville | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $25.00 | Ruckus Pizza — Park West Morrisville |
| Poker Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00-26.00 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Beer & Banjos Carrboro | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | 401 Main, Carrboro |
| Live Jazz with Grewen & Griffanzo | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Imbibe, Chapel Hill |
| Cornhole Tournament | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
| Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Method Road Park |
| Trivia at the Airstream at Raleigh Beer Garden | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Beer Garden |
| Ballroom Dancing with Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $8.00 | Pullen Community Center |
| Durham-Chapel Hill International Folk Dancers Weekly Dance | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Carol Woods Retirement Community Fitness Center, Chapel Hill |
| Stitch 'N Bitch | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Singer/Songwriter Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Holiday Music on the Roof: Triangle Gay Men's Chorus | 7:30 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| Stargazing from the Willard Rooftop | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Willard Rooftop Lounge, Raleigh |
| Comedy on Tap Open-Mic | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh |
Thursday, December 19, 2024
| 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 RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| Ugly Sweater Party for Seniors | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham |
| Free Ice Skating at Downtown Cary Park | 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Christmas at Oak View --reservations required | 2:00 pm | FREE | Historic Oak View County Park |
| $5 Pint Night and After Work Social | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Raleigh Brewing, Arboretum, Cary |
| Santa's Workshop in Smithfield -- free pictures with Santa | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Johnston County Courthouse, Smithfield |
| Game Night | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Hill Ridge Farms' Festival of Lights (hayride, train ride, Christmas lights, farm activities) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $19.95 | Hill Ridge Farms, Youngsville |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Christmas Plugged -- Synchronized Light Show | 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Durham |
| Santa at Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Christmas Story Time and Craft | 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm | $1.25-6.25 | Walltown Park Recreation Center |
| Christmas Lights on the Farm | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $12.00 | Big Daddy’s Farms, Middlesex |
| Weekly Mini Pop-Up | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| A Frosty Family Affair | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham |
| Vinyl Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Open Mic at OSB | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00-26.00 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Live Music: Ari Pappalardo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Five Points Christmas Concert at Emmanuel Baptist Church | 6:00 pm | FREE | Emmanuel Baptist Church, Raleigh |
| Raleigh Uke Jam | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh |
| Poker Nights | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Ruckus Open Mic with Brian Jones | 7:00 pm | FREE | Ruckus Pizza — Park West Morrisville |
| Karaoke with JV Jams | 7:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| Jazz Jam Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Weekly Single Mingle | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| Weekly Single Mingle | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Jingle Single Mingle | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh | |
| Karaoke | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh |
