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
Thursday, October 1, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Bilingual Storytime | 10:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham |
| Wendell Market | 5:30 pm | FREE | Bearded Bee Brewing Company, Wendell |
| Jazz in the Square: NCCU Jazz Collective | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Raleigh Wide Open Kickoff Celebration | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Corner, NC State Centennial Campus |
| Unisong: Guided Song Circle | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | North Carolina Arts Incubator |
| Durham Beer and Banjos | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Old Mill Farm, Durham |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| NC Run Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Raleigh Uke Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Church of the Nativity, Raleigh |
| Live in the District Concert Series | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | B&B Theatres, Park West 14, Morrisville |
| Science Trivia | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Nature Research Center (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences), Raleigh |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Opinionation | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| 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 |
| 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, October 2, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sculpture in the Garden (free with $5 suggested donation) | 9:00 am to 5:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Catalog Cupping -- Taste Counter Culture's menu | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival | 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | 100 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh |
| Free Wine Tastings | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Bottle Theory, Apex |
| Bands, Bites and Boats Concert Series: Amanda Peach Duo | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Fred G. Bond Metro Park |
| First Friday Market & Movie: Ghostbusters | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| Triangle Oktoberfest at Booth Amphitheatre (free if you bring a wiener dog) | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-37.57 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Fridays on the Front Porch | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Inn, Chapel Hill |
| First Friday in Downtown Fuquay-Varina | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Fuquay-Varina |
| Artspace First Friday: Live Art-Making and more | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| One Tribe Drum Circle | 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Stone Houses at Dix Park, Raleigh |
| Movie Night: Frankenweenie | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| PLAYlist concert series at Durham Central Park: Natural Wonder (Stevie Wonder tribute) | 6:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| First Friday Gallery Walk in Raleigh | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Pop Up Music at North Hills | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh |
| First Friday at Eno Arts Mill -- studio tours, live music, kids' activities, more... | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eno Arts Mill, Hillsborough |
| Front Porch Friday at Haven Farm | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haven Farm, Knightdale |
| First Friday Cemetery Tours | 6:00 pm | $10.00 | Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh |
| Dance with Raleigh International Folk Dancers | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Glen Eden Pilot Park, Raleigh |
| First Friday Under the Stars -- Skywatching Event | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Three Bears Acres, Creedmoor |
| 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, October 3, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museums on Us: Free admission to Marbles Kids Museum first weekend of month for Bank of America customers and employees | All Day | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| Cars and Coffee Morrisville | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Imperial Center, Durham |
| 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 |
| Home Depot Kids Workshop: Witch Candy Box | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Wendell Harvest Festival | 9:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | J. Ashley Wall Towne Square, Wendell |
| Dance Gumbo: Free outdoor dance fitness at NCMA Museum Park | 9:00 am | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| 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 Diwali | 9:30 am to 9:30 pm | FREE | Bass Lake Park, Holly Springs |
| Youth Aviation Academy Program (registration required) | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | $10.00 | John Chavis Memorial Park (Raleigh) |
| Celebrate Fuquay-Varina Festival | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Fuquay-Varina |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Saturday Slowdown Market and Open Farm Day | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | RambleRill Farm, Hillsborough |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| Falling for Local at Dix Park: live music, free hayrides, free pumpkins, more... | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Dorothea Dix Park |
| Taste of Asia | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Moore Square, Raleigh |
| The Witch's Haunted Barn | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | $13.00 | Firefly Farm, Hillsborough |
| Family Saturday Series: Heartland Marimba | 11:00 am | $5.00 | The Carolina Theatre, Durham |
| 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 |
| The Market at NCMA | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh |
| Duke Regional Cares Community Day | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham County Memorial Stadium |
| Triangle Oktoberfest at Booth Amphitheatre (free if you bring a wiener dog) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $0-37.57 | Koka Booth Amphitheatre |
| Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival | 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | 100 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh |
| Oktoberfest | 12:30 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | PourWorks Beer and Wine Shop, Raleigh |
| Oktoberfest at Lafayette Village in Raleigh, including the Annual Wiener Dog Races | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Lafayette Village Raleigh |
| Carrboro Really Really Free Market | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| 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 |
| Beer Garden Concert Series | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex |
| Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Fall Film Series: Beetlejuice | 7:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Open Mic/Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Compass Rose Brewery, Raleigh |
Sunday, October 4, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museums on Us: Free admission to Marbles Kids Museum first weekend of month for Bank of America customers and employees | All Day | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| 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 |
| Pop Up ARTernative Market | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chapel of Bones Coffee, 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 |
| Move-A-Bull City Open Streets Event | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Locations throughout Downtown Durham |
| Cary Underground Market: Bands and Vendors | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Beer Company |
| 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 |
| Free air hockey tournament | 1:00 pm | FREE | Super Rad Retro Lounge Arcade Bar, Raleigh |
| Pop Up Music at Midtown Park | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, 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 |
| Jazz'd up Sundays: Tia Fuller | 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
Monday, October 5, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coloring Vinyl Night | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| Free Food Distribution at Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church | 2:00 pm | FREE | Elizabeth Street United Methodist Church, Durham |
| Wake Forest National Night Out | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest |
| Free Self-Defense with Krav Maga Raleigh | 5:30 pm | FREE | Pullen Park, Raleigh |
| Mahjong Socials at Apex Senior Center | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Apex Senior Center |
| 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 |
| 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 |
