#weekend-festivals — Public Fediverse posts

Triangle Weekend Event Guide – Things to Do August 21–23, 2026

Looking for things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and across the Triangle this weekend? The Triangle Weekend Event Guide for August 21–23, 2026, features free concerts, food festivals, arts and crafts, outdoor movies, farmers markets, family activities and community celebrations.

Major weekend highlights include Durham Foodie Fare, Dancing at Dix, the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, Packapalooza, Kirby Derby, the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo and dozens of free live-music events.

Friday, August 21

Start the weekend with art, music, food and dancing throughout the Triangle.

Morning and Afternoon

• Tasting at Ten: Free coffee tasting at Counter Culture Coffee Headquarters in Durham, 10 a.m.
• Free Wine Tastings: Bottle Theory in Apex, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
• Friday Night Tasting Party: Weaver Street Market Raleigh, 5–7 p.m.
• National Night Out: Target in Fuquay-Varina, 5–8 p.m.
• Fridays on the Front Porch: The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, 5–8 p.m.

Friday Evening Events

• Durham Foodie Fare: Durham Central Park, 5:30–9:30 p.m.
• Possum Monorail Concert: Magnetic Sound Studios in Durham, 6–8 p.m.
• Third Friday Art Opening: Reid Haithcock: Ment Beverage Co. in Durham, 6–8 p.m.
• Dancing at Dix: Free square dancing at Gipson Play Plaza, 6–8 p.m. Registration is required.
• Live Music with XOXOK: The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP, 6–8 p.m.
• Summer at The Springs: All Y’all Country All-Stars at the Holly Springs Cultural Center, 6–9 p.m.
• The Long Exhale Opening Reception: 5 Points Gallery in Durham, 6–9 p.m.
• The Scrap Exchange 35th Anniversary Celebration: CCB Plaza in Durham, 6–9 p.m.
• Third Friday Durham: Art receptions, exhibits and performances in Durham City Center, 6–9 p.m.
• Live Music: Gizmo Brew Works in Raleigh, 6–9 p.m.
• Front Porch Friday: Haven Farm in Knightdale, 6–10 p.m.
• Live at American Tobacco Campus: Velvet Beat, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
• Groovin’ in Garner: EnVision at Garner Recreation Center, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
• Raleigh International Folk Dancing: Glen Eden Pilot Park, 6:30–10 p.m.
• Bynum Front Porch Music Series: Pittsboro, 7–8:30 p.m.
• Third Space Music Open Mic: Lanza’s Cafe in Carrboro, 7–9 p.m.
• Live Music: Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh, 7–9 p.m.
• Karaoke Bingo: KōMANA Brewing Company in Cary, 7–11:55 p.m.
• Movie Night: Raleigh Brewing, 7 p.m.
• Y2K Party with DJ Skylan: Bearded Bee Brewing Company in Wendell, 7:30 p.m.
• Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic: Durty Bull Brewing Company in Durham, 8–11 p.m.
• Pub Karaoke: West 94th Street Pub in Durham, 10–11:59 p.m.

Saturday, August 22

Saturday offers one of the weekend’s busiest schedules, with major festivals, back-to-school events, markets and live entertainment.

Saturday Morning

• Visit Cow Sanctuary: Brajboro Cow Sanctuary in Chapel Hill, 8 a.m.–noon; $0–$25
• Durham Craft Market: Durham Central Park, 8 a.m.–noon
• Wellness on the Block: Current Wellness in Raleigh, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival: Downtown Cary, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Kick-Off to Kindergarten: Marbles Kids Museum, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; registration required
• Dance Gumbo: Free outdoor dance fitness at the NCMA Museum Park, 9 a.m.
• The Raleigh Market: N.C. State Fairgrounds, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Brightleaf Harvest Day: Duke Homestead, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Community Book Bag Giveaway: Hargraves Community Center in Chapel Hill, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Free Mini Cooler Cup Giveaway: Participating Lowe’s stores, 10 a.m.
• Black History Walking Tour: Pope House in Raleigh, 10–11 a.m.; $6–$10
• Millbrook UMC Food Pantry: Raleigh, 10 a.m.–noon
• Mill Open House: Historic Yates Mill County Park, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Open Farm: Sunrise Community Farm Center in Chapel Hill, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; $8

Family and Community Events

• Back-to-School Giveaway: Sanderford Road Park in Raleigh, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Vege-Palooza: Vegan tastings, cooking demonstrations and children’s activities at Weaver Street Market Raleigh, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
• A Wild Goose Chase: Puppets and Poetry: Carolina Theatre in Durham, 11 a.m.; $5
• Historic Raleigh Trolley Tours: Mordecai Historic Park, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.; $6–$10
• NC State Capitol Tours: Free tours at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Sisters of Purpose Clothing and Lunch Giveaway: Long Meadow Park in Durham, noon–2 p.m.
• Mahjong 101 Registration Opens: The Chapel at Dix Park, noon
• Growth NC Back 2 School Bash: Lyon Park in Durham, 1–4 p.m.
• Cultivating Wellness Family Health Festival: Bulltánica in Durham, 1–5 p.m.
• Cary Really Really Free Market: Walnut Street Park, 2–4 p.m.

Saturday Festivals and Entertainment

• Packapalooza: NC State’s free festival, 2–10 p.m.
• Doggie Pool Party: Ment Beverage Co. in Durham, 3–6 p.m.
• School of Rock: Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh, 3–8 p.m.
• Kirby Derby: Dorothea Dix Park, 3–9 p.m.
• GOUGE Wrestling: Mason Jar Lager Company in Fuquay-Varina, 3 p.m.
• Live Music: Raleigh Brewing, 3 p.m.
• Live Music: Crooked Hammock Brewery in Raleigh, 4–7 p.m.
• Glow Market: PourWorks in Raleigh, 5–9 p.m.
• Saturdays in Saxapahaw: Haw River Ballroom, 5–8 p.m.
• Live Music: Gizmo Brew Works in Raleigh and Durham, 5–8 p.m.
• Durham Summer Concert: Wilson Springs Hotel at Forest Hills Park, 6–8 p.m.
• Live Music: Fortnight Brewing in Wake Forest, 6–9 p.m.
• Live Music: Southern Peak Brewery in Apex, 6:30–9 p.m.
• Karaoke: Crank Arm Brewing in Durham, 7–10 p.m.
• The Blenders: Fortnight Brewing in Cary, 7–10 p.m.
• Golden Hour DJ Series: Ponysaurus in Durham, 7 p.m.–midnight
• Live Music Saturdays: Bombshell Beer Company in Holly Springs, 7–10 p.m.
• CaryLive! with Delta Rae: Downtown Cary Park, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
• Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse Concert: Durham, 7:30 p.m.
• Rod Abernethy: Sonark Farms in Hillsborough, 8–10 p.m.; $15
• Rhythm & Reels Movie Night: Mario Galaxy at Apex Nature Park, 8 p.m.
• Stand-Up Comedy Night: Incendiary Brewing Raleigh, 8 p.m.
• Open Mic and Karaoke: Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh, 8–11 p.m.

Sunday, August 23

Close the weekend with markets, outdoor recreation, food trucks and live music.

Sunday Morning

• Cars and Coffee Raleigh: 6270 Glenwood Avenue, 8–11 a.m.
• Visit Cow Sanctuary: Brajboro Cow Sanctuary in Chapel Hill, 8 a.m.–noon; $0–$25
• The Raleigh Market: N.C. State Fairgrounds, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival: Downtown Cary, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Sunday Morning Yoga: Compass Rose Brewery in Raleigh, 10–11 a.m.
• Mill Open House: Historic Yates Mill County Park, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Durham Underground Market: Durham Central Park, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Sunday Brunch Music: Weaver Street Market in Carrboro, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Sunday Afternoon and Evening

• Free Dix Park Trolley Tour: Stone Houses at Dix Park, noon–2 p.m.
• Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo: Fayetteville Street in Downtown Raleigh, noon–6 p.m.
• Morgan Street Sessions: Morgan Street Food Hall, noon–4 p.m.
• Black Farmers’ Market: Southeast Raleigh YMCA, 1–4 p.m.
• Free Air Hockey Tournament: Super Rad Retro Lounge in Raleigh, 1 p.m.
• Open Mic: Oaklyn Springs Brewery in Fuquay-Varina, 2–5 p.m.
• Open Mic Night: Gizmo Brew Works in Raleigh, 3–6 p.m.
• Live Music: Crooked Hammock Brewery in Raleigh, 3–6 p.m.
• Bluegrass Open Jam: Bond Brothers Eastside in Cary, 4–7 p.m.
• Raleigh Concert Series: Carpe Diem Saxophone Quartet at Fred Fletcher Park, 6–8 p.m.
• Open Mic Night: Clouds Brewing Taproom in Raleigh, 6–9 p.m.
• Gage Saylor Creek & the Creekside Boys: Slim’s in Raleigh, 6:30 p.m.; $5
• Sundays at Sundown: Southern Village in Chapel Hill, 7–9 p.m.

Plan Your Triangle Weekend

With free festivals, concerts, markets, food events and family-friendly attractions scheduled across the region, August 21–23 offers something for nearly every interest and budget. Event schedules can change, and some activities require advance registration, so confirm details with the organizer before leaving home.

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