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, December 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 |
| The RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| 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 |
| Board Game Night | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Window on Animal Health | 1:30 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Improv Theatre | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Bring Your Own Craft Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Stitch N' Bitch Craft Night | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Open Mic Week | 8:00 pm | FREE | Abbey Road Cary |
Thursday, December 25, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
Friday, December 26, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| 9th Annual Re-Gifting Party | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Final Friday Reception at Cary Gallery of Artists | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Cary Gallery of Artists |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| Final Friday Cary Art Loop | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Chime In Open Mic (poetry, storytelling songwriting) | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Live Band Karaoke (ticket includes one cocktail) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery, Durham |
| Hoppy Hour Cinema Movie Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| 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 |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
Saturday, December 27, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| Durham Craft Market | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| 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 |
| Town of Carrboro Kwanzaa Celebration | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Drakeford Library Complex, Carrboro |
| 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 |
| Saturday Comedy Improv Jam Meetup | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show | 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Durham County Main Library |
| 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 |
| Live Music: Tony Jonez | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Blackbird Brewery, Wake Forest |
| Bonfire Nights | 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Pluck Farm (Mebane) |
| Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Lights on the Neuse -- take hayride to see Christmas lights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $11.00 | Boyette Family Farms, Clayton |
| 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 |
| Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Smart Cookie Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Art Market and Fire Spinning Jam | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Old North State Food Hall, Selma |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
Sunday, December 28, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The RINK: Outdoor skating at Red Hat Amphitheater (click for times) | All Day | $6.00-15.00 | Red Hat Amphitheater |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Kwanzaa celebration at Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship | 11:00 am | FREE | Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Durham |
| Live Jazz with Joseph Silvers and Hunter McDermut | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Sunday NFL Football Watch Party | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Sun Daze with Josh Rhyne | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Fainting Goat Brewing Company (Fuquay-Varina) |
| Artspace Open Studio | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| Beerded Lady Book Club | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| Secret Cinema Sundays | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Craft Club & Supply Swap | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| Sunday Chill Open Mic | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Fainting Goat Brewing Company (Fuquay-Varina) |
| Live Music: | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| Illuminate Art Walk in Downtown Raleigh | 4:45 pm | FREE | Downtown Raleigh |
| Piper Lights in Wake Forest | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piper Lights, Wake Forest |
| Contentnea Fire Department's Christmas Light Display | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Contentnea Fire Department, Wilson |
| Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lake Myra Christmas Lights in Wendell |
| 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 |
