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
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holly Springs Small Business Network | 9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Bombshell Beer Company, Holly Springs |
| 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 |
| Yoga for Seniors (registration required) | 10:45 am | FREE | USA Baseball National Training Complex, Cary |
| Shuffle: Lunch break music series -- Mellow Swells | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Horseshoe at Hub RTP |
| Board Game Night | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Yoga for Athletic Recovery | 12:00 pm | FREE | USA Baseball National Training Complex, Cary |
| "Pay What You Can" Farm Stand at Raleigh City Farm | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh City Farm |
| Free Sensory Friendly Playtime and Movie at Marbles Kids Museum | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh |
| Wine Down Wednesday -- live music, plus wine specials | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | La Vita Dolce at Southern Village |
| Wine + Weed (learn about plants and farming) | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Raleigh City Farm |
| Poetry at The Plant | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Fair Game Beverage Co., Pittsboro |
| Wellness Wednesday: Pilates | 6:30 pm | FREE | Philip H. Kohn MOSAIC Family Commons, Pittsboro |
| Bring Your Own Craft Night | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Raleigh Brewing, Raleigh |
| Crank Arm Durham Wednesday Night Ride | 6:30 pm | FREE | Crank Arm Brewing, Durham |
| Ballroom Dancing Social with Pullen Dance | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Pullen Community Center |
| Wednesday Local Artist Sessions | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
| DSSOLVR Durham Bingo Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | DSSOLVR Durham |
| Stitch N' Bitch Craft Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Steel String Brewery, Carrboro |
| Weekly Skee Ball Tournament | 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham |
| City Soul Cafe Open Mic | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $10.00 | Terminal 8 Bar & Lounge, Raleigh |
| Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery | 8:00 pm to 11:45 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Open Mic Night | 8:00 pm | FREE | Abbey Road Cary |
| Beer Pong Tournament | 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar and Arcade, Raleigh |
Thursday, May 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parktown Food Hub Open Distribution Day | 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Parktown Food Hub, Durham |
| Mini Med School -- monthly series from UNC School of Medicine | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Chapel Hill Public Library |
| Midtown Beach Music Series | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $8.73 | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Vinyl Nights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| FM2FV Concert Series: Heads Up Penny | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Centennial Square, Fuquay-Varina |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fortnight Brewing, Cary |
| Public Domain Movie Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | bmc brewing, Pittsboro |
| Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Thursday Jazz | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew (Hillsborough) |
| Jazz: The Session | 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 |
| Karaoke hosted by Empress | 9:00 pm | FREE | Speakeasy, Carrboro |
Friday, May 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Open Nursery and Garden Days at Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Plant Delights Nursery |
| Tasting at Ten -- free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee | 10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham |
| Got to be NC Festival | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Cary Night Market | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Meet on Main -- outdoor concert series: The Blenders | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Wendell |
| Durham Foodie Fare | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Teen Science Cafe at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill |
| Exhibit Opening- To Love and Live Free: The 1986 Mayoral Recall Fight and the Origins of Durham Pride | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Museum of Durham History |
| Third Friday Durham -- art receptions, exhibits and performances | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center |
| Pop Up Music at North Hills | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Freight Train Blues: Kelley Breiding, Gail Ceasar and Brenda Evans | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Carrboro Town Commons |
| Smithfield River Jam Concert Series: Jim Quick and Coastline Band | 7:00 pm | FREE | Neuse River Amphitheatre, Smithfield |
| Beach Music Series: Blackwater Band | 7:00 pm | FREE | Philip H. Kohn MOSAIC Family Commons, Pittsboro |
| Bynum Front Porch Friday Night Music Series | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Bynum Front Porch, Pittsboro |
| Third Space Music Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lanza’s Cafe, Carrboro |
| Bounce and Brews DJ Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham |
| Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Karaoke Bingo Nights | 7:00 pm to 11:55 pm | FREE | KōMANA Brewing Company, Cary |
| 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 |
Saturday, May 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham Craft Market | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park |
| Spring Open Nursery and Garden Days at Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Plant Delights Nursery |
| NC History Between the Lines -- a local history book club | 9:30 am | FREE | Historic Chatham County Courthouse |
| Lowe's DIY-U Kids' Workshop: Garden Basket | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Wheels on Academy, including Touch-a-Truck | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Cary Town Hall |
| Got to be NC Festival | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Free Yoga for Durham Residents | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham |
| Millbrook United Methodist Church Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Millbrook United Methodist Church, Raleigh |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Open House at Children's Art Classes | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Children’s Art Classes of Raleigh |
| Open Farm at Sunrise Community Farm Center | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $8.00 | Sunrise Community Farm Center, Chapel Hill |
| Triangle's Train: New Hope Valley Railway offering free rides for military service members on Armed Forces Day (2 start times) | 10:30 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | New Hope Valley Railway |
| Artsplosure | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh |
| Durham Greek Festival | 11:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church |
| Family Saturday Series: Charles and Jackson Pettee -- Catch the Bluegrass Bug | 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 |
| 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 |
| 55th Annual Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival | 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Rock Quarry Park, Durham |
| Irish Music Jam | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
| Oak City Voices: Sing a Song of Shakespeare | 5:00 pm | $10.00-12.00 | Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh |
| 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 |
| Raleigh Twilight Market | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Smoky Hollow, Raleigh |
| Beer Garden Concert Series | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Glass Jug Beer Lab, RTP |
| Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Beerded Lady Bottle Shop, Garner |
Sunday, May 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Open Nursery and Garden Days at Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Plant Delights Nursery |
| 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 |
| Artsplosure | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Fayetteville Street, Downtown Raleigh |
| Got to be NC Festival | 10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | NC State Fairgrounds |
| Visit Cow Sanctuary | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $0-25.00 | Brajboro Cow Sanctuary, Chapel Hill |
| Durham Greek Festival | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church |
| Hillsborough Really Really Free Market | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Gold Park, Hillsborough |
| 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 |
| Artspace Open Studio | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Artspace, Raleigh |
| Live Music: Jenkins & the Rabbit | 2:00 pm | FREE | The Fall Line, Zebulon |
| Pop Up Music at Midtown Park | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Midtown Park, Raleigh |
| Open Mic Jam | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Brewery, Fuquay-Varina |
| Open Mic | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Oaklyn Springs Taproom, Fuquay-Varina |
| Open Mic Night | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Gizmo Brew Works, Raleigh |
| Arts at St. Luke's: May Musicale | 4:00 pm | FREE | St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Durham |
| Bluegrass Open Jam | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Bond Brothers Eastside, Cary |
| The Sunday Set | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Durham Hotel |
| Cary Town Band Concert: Summer Sizzle | 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cary Park |
| Six Sundays in Spring concert: Marcel Portilla Band | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | E. Carroll Joyner Park, Wake Forest |
| Sunday Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop, Durham |
