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, August 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Free Kids' Movie at Triangle Cinemas: The Wild Robot | 10:00 am | FREE | Triangle Cinemas @ Six Forks |
| Scented Storytime | 10:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Durham County Library–South Regional Library |
| Free Wine Tastings | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| 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 Latin Swing | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Knightdale Station Park |
| Friday Night on White: The Amazing Lounge Lizards | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | White Street in Wake Forest |
| Peel Gallery: Opening reception for Deere John | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Peel, Carrboro | |
| 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 |
| Live @ ATC: The Husbandos | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | American Tobacco Campus |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| Bynum Front Porch Friday Night Music Series | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Bynum Front Porch, Pittsboro |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 7:00 pm to 11:55 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Movie Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| 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, August 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Shotwell Environmental Park's Summer Splash Bash, with waterslides, free lunch and more... | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Meridian Waste’s Shotwell Environmental Park, Wendell |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Back to School Book Bag Giveaway at Hope House in Wake Forest | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Hope House, Wake Forest |
| 8th Annual Mud Day | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Walnut Creek Wetland Center, Raleigh |
| Knightdale Arts and Education Festival: Free backpacks, haircuts, more... | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Knightdale Station Park |
| Community Book Bag Giveaway in Chapel Hill, plus free haircuts and more... | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Hargraves Community Center, Chapel Hill |
| Black History Walking Tour | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $6.00-10.00 | Pope House, Raleigh |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge: Tour and Explore | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | $5.00-40.00 | Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, Pittsboro |
| The Shop RDU's 2nd Annual Back to School Backpack Bash | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Vision Church RDU |
| CaribMask Caribbean Parade and Festival | 11:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | City Plaza, Raleigh |
| 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 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 |
| Fenton Makers Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fenton, Cary |
| The Market at NCMA | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Durham Really Really Free Market | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Orchard Park, Durham |
| Pop-Up Raleigh Art & Vintage Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Trophy on Maywood |
| The People's Free Market | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Phillip R. Wright Community Park, Clayton |
| The Dog Days of Summer | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Daily Beer Bar, Durham |
| Hillsborough Gallery of Arts: Artist Talk | 4:00 pm | FREE | Hillsborough Gallery of Arts |
| Saturdays in Saxapahaw Outdoor Concert Series | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw |
| 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 |
| Raleigh Twilight Market | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Smoky Hollow, Raleigh |
| Movie Night: How to Train Your Dragon | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Wake Forest |
| Rhythm & Reels Concert: Emma Rae | 7:00 pm | FREE | Apex Nature Park |
| Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Durham |
| Open Mic/Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
Sunday, August 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| The Raleigh Market | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh Market (at N.C. State Fairgrounds) |
| Yoga Flow & Chill -- pay what you can | 10:00 am to 10:45 am | Weaver Street Market Raleigh | |
| Sunday Morning Yoga | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, 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 |
| Live Music by Dr. Scott | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| 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 |
| Kanikapila Ukulele Meetup | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Black Farmers' Market in Durham | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Technical Community College, main campus |
| Sunday Board Games at Guildhall Games | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Boxyard RTP |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh |
| Craft Club & Supply Swap | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom |
| 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 |
| Raleigh Concert Series: Bull City Trio | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Sundays at Sundown Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
Monday, August 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andia's Ice Cream: Buy one get one free sundae | All Day | Discounted | Andia’s Ice Cream, multiple locations |
| Chapel Hill Really Really Free Market | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Southern Village, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| Cosmic Chuckles: Weekly Comedy Show | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Flying Saucer Raleigh |
| PineCone Beginner's Bluegrass Jam | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harry’s Guitar Shop, Raleigh |
| Game Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, 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, August 18, 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 | Discounted | Der Nachbar Bottleshop & Taps, Durham | |
| North Hills Kids: Kidchella | 9:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Free Kids' Movie at Triangle Cinemas: Trolls | 10:00 am | FREE | Triangle Cinemas @ Six Forks |
| Book Club: Book Lovers by Emily Henry | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| 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 |
| Free Yoga in Durham Central Park | 6:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Chess Club | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Pints & Pups | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus, Durham |
| Craft and Draft | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing Company, Raleigh |
| Beer & Banjos in Raleigh | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard, Raleigh |
| Triangle Taps and Tables Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Trophy on Maywood |
| Oak City Voices Meet & Greet / Open Rehearsal for 10th Anniversary Season | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cary |
| 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 |
| Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
