web analytics

Triangle on the Cheap

Live well in the Triangle on a budget. Find fun, free things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, NC

Free and cheap things to do in Durham–a list of upcoming events

POSTED BY
Jody Mace


Find all the free and cheap things to do in Durham, North Carolina. Free arts activities, concerts, kids’ stuff, movies and much more.

To start with, learn about some of the top attractions in Durham, and then scroll down for a day by day list (starting today) of free and cheap things to do in Durham. 

Email subscription form header
Never miss a post
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz

Top Durham Attractions

Learn about some of the top spots in Durham to find free and cheap things to do.

Museum of Life + Sciences

Museum of Life + Sciences

Museum of Life + Sciences is free for Durham County residents on many Community Days throughout the year.

Continue Reading
Bennett Place Historic Site

Bennett Place Historic Site

Admission is free to visit Bennett Place Historic Site. It's where General Sherman and General Johnston met for talks, leading to the end of the Civil War.

Continue Reading
Durham Farmers' Market

Durham Farmers' Market

Durham Farmers' Market is in the heart of Downtown Durham, at Durham Central Park. It is open all year.

Continue Reading
Golden Belt Campus

Golden Belt Campus

Golden Belt Campus is the site for free concerts, film, kids' activities and more, usually free.

Continue Reading
Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Duke Gardens are considered among the best in the country. It's free to visit (but there's a charge for parking.)

Continue Reading

Email subscription form header
Never miss a post
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz

Upcoming free and cheap things to do in Durham

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free admission to Museum of Life + Science to Durham residents on Community Days

All Day | FREE | Museum of Life+Science, Durham

Storytime at Locopops

10:30 am | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Happy Hour at Nolia: 50% off all beverages

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Nolia: Family + Coffee, Durham

Kids Voting Durham at Locopops

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Free play Simpsons pinball

4:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham

Old Time Learning Jam at Locopops

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham

Scary Movie Tuesdays

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus, Durham

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Free monthly art tour at Duke Medicine Pavilion

2:00 pm to 2:30 pm | FREE | Duke University Hospital

Community Sewing Meetup

4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | The Scrap Exchange

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Wine Wednesday--free wine tasting

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Wine Feed Durham

Play music with Northgate Jams every Wednesday

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Northgate Mall, Durham

SummerStage SuperJam Wednesday

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | SummerStage at Golden Belt Campus, Durham

Free cornhole league

7:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Free day at Nasher Museum of Art

10:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham

Live music: Prince Yabani Music

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus, Durham

Iron Breaking at Liberty Arts

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Liberty Arts, Durham

Movie loft Presents "The Church"

7:00 pm | FREE | Shadowbox Studio

Friday, October 25, 2019

Library Labyrinth (special needs)

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Tasting at Ten: Free tasting and tour at Counter Culture Coffee HQ

10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham

Library Labyrinth

12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Vegan Cookout, and live music by Beloved Binge, Horizontal Hold, and Today's Forecast

6:00 pm | FREE | Shadowbox Studio

Duke Homestead's Halloween Phantasmagoria

6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Duke Homestead

Fourth Friday Film Series

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | SummerStage at Golden Belt Campus, Durham

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Durham NC parkrun: weekly free 5K timed run

8:00 am | FREE | Southern Boundaries Park, Durham

Saturdays at the Foundry with Liberty Arts

9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

The Art Market at Vega Metals

9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Vega Metals, Durham

Library Labyrinth

9:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Pumpkin Patch Express at Museum of Life + Science

9:30 am to 4:00 pm | $15.00 | Museum of Life+Science, Durham

Family Fun Series at Golden Belt: Bilingual Storytelling & Bookmobile

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | SummerStage at Golden Belt Campus, Durham

Durham's Architecture and the Urban Landscape Walking Tour

10:00 am | FREE | Durham Farmers’ Market

Library Labyrinth (special needs)

12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Architectural Tombstone Tours at Historic Maplewood Cemetery Tour with Preservation Durham

1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | $10.00 | Maplewood Cemetery, Durham

West Point on the Eno Park Tour

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Tours and bourbon tasting at Durham's Mystic Farm & Distillery

2:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery

Library Labyrinth

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Barktoberfest in Durham Central Park

3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

Tours and bourbon tasting at Durham's Mystic Farm & Distillery

4:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery

Family-Friendly Halloween Party and Costume Contest

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Bull McCabe’s

Durham School of the Arts’ Fall Art Festival: Día de los Muertos

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham School of the Arts

Sounds of the Studio: Live music, plus BOGO small plates

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Unscripted Durham

Durham Bulls: Fall Festi-BULL

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham Bulls Athletic Park

Adult-only Halloween Party with Costume Contest

9:00 pm | FREE | Bull McCabe’s

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Pumpkin Patch Express at Museum of Life + Science

9:30 am to 4:00 pm | $15.00 | Museum of Life+Science, Durham

Brunches Brew

12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | SummerStage at Golden Belt Campus, Durham

Architectural Tombstone Tours at Historic Maplewood Cemetery Tour with Preservation Durham

1:00 pm to 4:30 pm | $10.00 | Maplewood Cemetery, Durham

West Point on the Eno Park Tour

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Library Labyrinth

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Between2Clouds Comedy Night with Jeremy Alder at Motorco

8:00 pm | $10.00 | Motorco Music Hall

Monday, October 28, 2019

Library Labyrinth (special needs)

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Library Labyrinth

12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Library Labyrinth (special needs)

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Library Labyrinth

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Southwest Regional Library, Durham

Durham YMCA's Trunk or Treat at Durham Central Park

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Covenant Presbyterian Church, Durham

Free ping pong league

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt

Durham Beer and Banjos

7:00 pm | FREE | The Pit Authentic Barbecue in Durham

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Storytime at Locopops

10:30 am | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Happy Hour at Nolia: 50% off all beverages

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Nolia: Family + Coffee, Durham

Free play Simpsons pinball

4:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham

Old Time Learning Jam at Locopops

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham

Scary Movie Tuesdays

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Ponysaurus, Durham

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Storytime on the Roof Halloween Party

10:30 am | FREE | The Durham Hotel

Community Sewing Meetup

4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | The Scrap Exchange

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Wine Wednesday--free wine tasting

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Wine Feed Durham

Play music with Northgate Jams every Wednesday

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Northgate Mall, Durham

SummerStage SuperJam Wednesday

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | SummerStage at Golden Belt Campus, Durham

Free cornhole league

7:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Free day at Nasher Museum of Art

10:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham

Fall Fest at Grace Church of Durham

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Grace Church of Durham

Iron Breaking at Liberty Arts

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Liberty Arts, Durham

Hallow-Eno: celebrate Halloween at West Point on the Eno

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Illumination and opening event of Bull Moon Rising

6:00 pm | FREE | CCB Plaza, Durham

Treatbag 2019

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Ponysaurus, Durham

Friday, November 1, 2019

Tasting at Ten: Free tasting and tour at Counter Culture Coffee HQ

10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Bull Moon Rising: Blackspace Music Cypher

9:19 pm | FREE | Orange Street, Durham

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Durham NC parkrun: weekly free 5K timed run

8:00 am | FREE | Southern Boundaries Park, Durham

Saturdays at the Foundry with Liberty Arts

9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

The Art Market at Vega Metals

9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Vega Metals, Durham

Durham Murals by Bike tour

10:00 am | FREE | Durham Farmers’ Market

Morgan Imports' 50th Anniversary Celebration

1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Morgan Imports, Durham

West Point on the Eno Park Tour

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Howl-O-Ween Bash

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham

Tours and bourbon tasting at Durham's Mystic Farm & Distillery

2:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery

Tours and bourbon tasting at Durham's Mystic Farm & Distillery

4:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery

Sounds of the Studio: Live music, plus BOGO small plates

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Unscripted Durham

Bull Moon Rising: Community Dinner

5:30 pm | FREE | CCB Plaza, Durham

Oddville -- A Festival of the Awesomely Strange

6:00 pm | $9.00-12.00 | Durham Fruit and Produce Company

Bull Moon Rising: Batalá Durham drum performance

8:00 pm | FREE | CCB Plaza, Durham

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Free admission to Museum of Life + Science to Durham residents on Community Days

All Day | FREE | Museum of Life+Science, Durham

Bull Moon Rising: Moon Movement--Yoga with Community Power Yoga

9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | CCB Plaza, Durham

Fall Food Truck Rodeo in Durham Central Park

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

A Festival of Fabulous Mums

12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens

West Point on the Eno Park Tour

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Monday, November 4, 2019

A Festival of Fabulous Mums

9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Covenant Presbyterian Church, Durham

Durham Beer and Banjos

7:00 pm | FREE | The Pit Authentic Barbecue in Durham

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

A Festival of Fabulous Mums

9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Storytime at Locopops

10:30 am | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Happy Hour at Nolia: 50% off all beverages

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Nolia: Family + Coffee, Durham

Free play Simpsons pinball

4:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham

Old Time Learning Jam at Locopops

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Community Sewing Meetup

4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | The Scrap Exchange

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Wine Wednesday--free wine tasting

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Wine Feed Durham

Play music with Northgate Jams every Wednesday

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Northgate Mall, Durham

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free day at Nasher Museum of Art

10:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham

Iron Breaking at Liberty Arts

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Liberty Arts, Durham

Friday, November 8, 2019

Tasting at Ten: Free tasting and tour at Counter Culture Coffee HQ

10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham

5th Annual Fall for Orchids Show

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Durham NC parkrun: weekly free 5K timed run

8:00 am | FREE | Southern Boundaries Park, Durham

Saturdays at the Foundry with Liberty Arts

9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

The Art Market at Vega Metals

9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Vega Metals, Durham

5th Annual Fall for Orchids Show

9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Durham's Tobacco History Walking Tour

10:00 am | FREE | Durham Farmers’ Market

Walking tour: Pauli's Durham: History of Racial Segregation in the West End Neighborhood

10:00 am | $12.00-20.00 | Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, Durham

West Point on the Eno Park Tour

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Tours and bourbon tasting at Durham's Mystic Farm & Distillery

2:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery

Tours and bourbon tasting at Durham's Mystic Farm & Distillery

4:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery

Sunday, November 10, 2019

5th Annual Fall for Orchids Show

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sarah P. Duke Gardens

West Point on the Eno Park Tour

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Public Sing-Through of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience"

2:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Durham Arts Council

Organ Recital Series: Timothy Olsen

5:15 pm | FREE | Duke University Chapel

Monday, November 11, 2019

Puzzle Exchange at Locopops

4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Covenant Presbyterian Church, Durham

Durham Beer and Banjos

7:00 pm | FREE | The Pit Authentic Barbecue in Durham

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Storytime at Locopops

10:30 am | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Happy Hour at Nolia: 50% off all beverages

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Nolia: Family + Coffee, Durham

Free play Simpsons pinball

4:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham

Old Time Learning Jam at Locopops

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Community Sewing Meetup

4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | The Scrap Exchange

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Wine Wednesday--free wine tasting

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Wine Feed Durham

Play music with Northgate Jams every Wednesday

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Northgate Mall, Durham

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Free admission to Museum of Life + Science to Durham residents on Community Days

All Day | FREE | Museum of Life+Science, Durham

Free day at Nasher Museum of Art

10:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Nasher Museum of Art, Durham

Iron Breaking at Liberty Arts

5:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Liberty Arts, Durham

Friday, November 15, 2019

Tasting at Ten: Free tasting and tour at Counter Culture Coffee HQ

10:00 am | FREE | Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters and Training Center, Durham

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Third Friday Durham: explore art and music

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham City Center

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Liberty Arts Iron Pour

8:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

Durham NC parkrun: weekly free 5K timed run

8:00 am | FREE | Southern Boundaries Park, Durham

Saturdays at the Foundry with Liberty Arts

9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

The Art Market at Vega Metals

9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Vega Metals, Durham

Durham's Civil Rights History Walking Tour

10:00 am | FREE | Durham Farmers’ Market

West Point on the Eno Park Tour

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Tours and bourbon tasting at Durham's Mystic Farm & Distillery

2:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery

Liberty Arts Iron Pour at Durham Central Park

4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Durham Central Park

Tours and bourbon tasting at Durham's Mystic Farm & Distillery

4:00 pm | $10.00 | Mystic Farm and Distillery

Sunday, November 17, 2019

West Point on the Eno Park Tour

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | West Point on the Eno

Doggie Meet and Greet

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Beer Durham

Free line dancing social

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham

Guest Organ Scholar Recital: Josiah Hamill

5:15 pm | FREE | Duke University Chapel

Monday, November 18, 2019

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Covenant Presbyterian Church, Durham

Durham Beer and Banjos

7:00 pm | FREE | The Pit Authentic Barbecue in Durham

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Storytime at Locopops

10:30 am | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Happy Hour at Nolia: 50% off all beverages

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Nolia: Family + Coffee, Durham

Free play Simpsons pinball

4:00 pm | FREE | Durty Bull Brewing Company, Durham

Old Time Learning Jam at Locopops

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Locopops, Durham

Free beginning line dance class

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Holton Career and Resource Center, Durham

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Community Sewing Meetup

4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | The Scrap Exchange

Guided Docent Tour at 21c Museum Hotel

5:00 pm | FREE | 21c Museum Hotel, Durham

Wine Wednesday--free wine tasting

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Wine Feed Durham

Play music with Northgate Jams every Wednesday

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Northgate Mall, Durham

Posted by Jody Mace Filed Under: Triangle locations

Reader Interactions

Who We Are

lotc_logo_100_gray_bglogos
Triangle on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.