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).
Have you subscribed to Triangle on the Cheap yet? Subscribers get (at most) one email a day. It's free to subscribe.
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, November 30, 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 |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| 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 |
Monday, December 1, 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 |
| Cheapskate Day at Skate the Square at Fenton: $3 off (check website for hours) | All Day | Discounted | Fenton, Cary |
| 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 |
| Free Food Distribution at Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church | 2:00 pm | FREE | Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church, Durham |
| Monday Night NFL Football Watch Party | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Durham Beer Garden: 75¢ wings (dine-in only) | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0.75 | Durham Beer Garden |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| Adult Coloring Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Monthly Puzzle Challenge | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt, Durham |
| Game Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Air Hockey Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
| Carrboro Open Mic at Speakeasy | 8:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
Tuesday, December 2, 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 |
| Walgreens Senior Day: 20% off for rewards members age 55+ | All Day | Walgreens (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 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 |
| 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 |
| Physics From the Ground Up | 6:00 pm to 8:00 am | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Pints and Pups | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus Brewing Co., Raleigh |
| Tartar Sauce: Working Artist Drop-In | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | 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 |
| Beer & Banjos in Raleigh | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, Raleigh |
| Free Square Dance Open House with Capital Squares | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | St. James United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Beer & Banjos Carrboro | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| Open Mic with a Live Band | 9:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Slims, Raleigh |
Wednesday, December 3, 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 |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, 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 |
| 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 |
| Board Game Night | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| Free Acro Yoga at Method Road Park (indoors) | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Raleigh Drum Circle and Hoop Jam | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Method Road Park, Raleigh |
| Astronomy on Tap | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham |
| 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 |
| Beer Pong Tournament | 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
Thursday, December 4, 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 |
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Plein Air Drawing and Painting at Historic Oakwood Cemetery | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Bilingual Storytime | 10:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham |
| Incredible Science | 1:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh |
| Clayton Christmas Village and Tree Lighting | 5:00 pm to 7:45 pm | FREE | Clayton Town Square |
| Fuquay-Varina Town Tree Lighting | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Main/Vance Street Public Parking Lot Fuquay-Varina |
| Calls From Santa in Wake Forest (advance registration required) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Virtual |
| 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 |
| North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival (price varies) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $16.74-30.64 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Raleigh Uke Jam | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Karaoke with JV Jams | 7:00 pm | FREE | Red Moose Brewing Company, Pittsboro |
| 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 |
| Thursday Karaoke | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Tap Yard, Raleigh |
| Skee Ball Tournament | 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
