Free
Free green light bulbs for Operation Green Light (Durham County)
Mon Oct 26 – Wed Nov 11 · Mon-Fri · 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-5 p.m.
Durham County Veteran Services · Durham
Free things to do & deals in Durham, NC
Durham's free calendar runs from downtown tree lightings and the holiday parade to maker markets, the Durham Craft Market and community meals. Here's everything we've verified in the Bull City right now.
27 live listings in Durham, each verified against the organizer's or business's own page. For the whole area, see all listings and our guides.
Listings in Durham
Free admission
Parking fees apply
A Festival of Fabulous Mums at Duke Gardens: free chrysanthemum show
Fri Nov 6 – Sun Nov 8 · Fri Nov 6, 12-4 p.m.; Sat-Sun Nov 7-8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sarah P. Duke Gardens (Doris Duke Center and Japanese Garden) · Durham
- Indoor or outdoor: Both
Checked · Source: Duke Gardens (official)
Free admission
RSVP recommended
Free coffee tasting every Friday at 10 a.m. at Counter Culture Coffee (Durham)
Fri Nov 6 – Fri Nov 20 · Every Friday · Fridays 10 a.m.
Counter Culture Coffee Training Center · Durham
Checked · Source: Counter Culture Coffee (organizer, Eventbrite)
Free admission
Free Duke Chinese Music Ensemble concert: film themes and folk music (Durham, Nov 7)
Sat Nov 7 · Sat 5-7 p.m.
Baldwin Auditorium, Duke East Campus · Durham
Checked · Source: Duke Arts / Duke Department of Music (organizer)
Free admission
Registration required
Free Kickball for Kids at Piney Wood Park (Durham)
Sat Nov 7 · Sat 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Piney Wood Park · Durham
- Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Checked · Source: Major Minors (organizer)
Free admission
Ticket required
Free Ciompi Quartet concert with baritone Robert Sims (Durham, Nov 8; free ticket required)
Sun Nov 8 · Sun 2-4 p.m.
Baldwin Auditorium, Duke East Campus · Durham
Free admission
Free clothing swap at DSSOLVR in downtown Durham (Nov 8)
Sun Nov 8 · Sun 2-4 p.m.
DSSOLVR Durham · Durham
Checked · Source: Circular Triangle (official)
Free game of bowling
+ free $10 arcade card per guest
Lucky Strike Durham launch party: free game of bowling + $10 arcade card (Nov 8)
Sun Nov 8 · Sun 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Lucky Strike Durham · Durham
Pay what you can
$25 suggested donation, optional
BEERthoven 'A Night at the Opera': pay-what-you-can arias at Atomic Clock Brewing (Durham, Nov 10)
Tue Nov 10 · Tue 7:30 p.m.
Atomic Clock Brewing Company · Durham
Checked · Source: Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle (organizer)
Free admission
Durham County's 15th Annual Veterans Day Celebration
Tue Nov 10 · 11 a.m.
Durham County Human Services Building, 2nd-floor conference rooms · Durham
Free admission
No tickets required
Free Anzû Quartet chamber concert at Duke's Nelson Music Room (Durham)
Tue Nov 10 · Tue 7:30 p.m.
Nelson Music Room (East Duke 201), Duke East Campus · Durham
Checked · Source: Duke Arts / Duke Department of Music (organizer)
Free admission
StepUp Durham Fall Fest: free festival of local makers at Hi-Wire Brewing
Fri Nov 13 · Fri 3:30-8 p.m.
Hi-Wire Brewing (Durham) · Durham
Checked · Source: StepUp Durham (organizer)
Free admission
Free Duke String School Violin and Cello Choir concert (Durham)
Sat Nov 14 · Sat 4-5 p.m.
Nelson Music Room (East Duke 201), Duke East Campus · Durham
Checked · Source: Duke Arts (organizer calendar)
Free admission
Free holiday creative market at Synergy Fitness for Her in Durham
Sat Nov 14 · 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Synergy Fitness for Her · Durham
Checked · Source: Synergy Fitness for Her via Eventbrite (organizer listing)
Free admission
Liberty Arts Iron Pour: free molten-iron art festival in Durham
Sat Nov 14 · 4-9 p.m.
Durham Central Park · Durham
Checked · Source: Liberty Arts (official)
Free admission
Ciompi Downtown: free one-hour string quartet set (Durham, Nov 19)
Thu Nov 19 · Thu 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church · Durham
Free admission
Free Duke Wind Symphony concert 'We the People: Belonging?' (Durham, Nov 19)
Thu Nov 19 · Thu 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Baldwin Auditorium, Duke East Campus · Durham
Checked · Source: Duke Arts / Duke Department of Music (organizer)
Free admission
Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting (free)
Sat Nov 21 · 4-8 p.m.
CCB Plaza, downtown Durham · Durham
Checked · Source: Downtown Durham Inc. (official)
Free admission
Free outdoor concert: Rissi Palmer at Hub RTP (Nov 21)
Sat Nov 21 · 3-5:30 p.m. (house music from 2:30)
Hub RTP Stage · Durham
- Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Checked · Source: Hub RTP (official)
Free admission
Durham Rescue Mission free Thanksgiving community dinner
Thu Nov 26 · 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (doors 11, program noon)
Durham Rescue Mission · Durham
- Indoor or outdoor: Outdoor
Checked · Source: Durham Rescue Mission (official)
Free admission
Smash tickets $1
SmashFest at The Scrap Exchange (Black Friday alternative)
Fri Nov 27 · 3-7 p.m.
The Scrap Exchange · Durham
Checked · Source: The Scrap Exchange (official)
Free admission
Durham Craft Market Shop Small Saturday
Sat Nov 28 · 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Durham Central Park · Durham
Checked · Source: Durham Craft Market (official)
Free admission
Durham Underground Market at Durham Central Park (Thanksgiving weekend)
Sun Nov 29 · 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Durham Central Park · Durham
Checked · Source: MAKRS (official)
Free to watch
Durham Holiday Parade
Sat Dec 12 · Starts 10 a.m.
Main Street, downtown Durham · Durham
Free admission
Parking $2/hr
Free admission at Duke's Nasher Museum of Art (Durham)
Tuesday-Sunday · Tue-Sat 10-5 (Thu to 9), Sun 12-5
Nasher Museum of Art, Durham · Durham
Checked · Source: Nasher Museum (official)
Free admission
Parking $2/hr via Blue Spot
Free admission at Sarah P. Duke Gardens (Durham)
Daily · 8 a.m.-sunset
Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham · Durham
Checked · Source: Duke Gardens (official)
Free admission
Free admission at the Museum of Durham History
Tuesday-Sunday · Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
Museum of Durham History · Durham
Related guides
Free things to do · Free events · NC State Fair deals · Free this weekend · Free museums · Birthday freebies · Kids eat free · Happy hours · Halloween 2026 · Trunk-or-treats · Horse shows & rodeos · Veterans Day 2026 · Free Thanksgiving meals · Small Business Saturday · Tree lightings & parades · Thanksgiving break