Kick off the first full weekend of the new year with free festivals, outdoor adventures, cultural celebrations, live music, markets, and family-friendly events across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, and beyond. Here’s your curated Triangle Event Guide for Saturday and Sunday, January 3–4, 2026.
📅 Saturday, January 3, 2026
Cars and Coffee Morrisville
8:00 am – 11:00 am | FREE
📍 Imperial Center
Emancipation Day Breakfast and Lecture
8:30 am – 9:30 am | $20.00
📍 City of Raleigh Museum
Home Depot Kids’ Workshop: Tow Truck
9:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE
📍 Various locations
NC Collector’s Roadshow
9:00 am – 4:00 pm | $0–5.00
📍 Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds
Durham Craft Market
9:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE
📍 Durham Central Park
Hike with a Naturalist
9:30 am – 11:00 am | FREE
📍 Historic Yates Mill County Park
Produce Giveaway
10:00 am – 12:00 pm | FREE
📍 Lakewood YMCA
Emancipation Day Trolley Tour (2 start times)
10:00 am – 12:30 pm | $6.00–15.00
📍 Pope House Museum
Emancipation Day: Fighting for Freedom – Black Civil War Reenactors
10:00 am – 4:00 pm | FREE
📍 Pope House Museum
Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show
10:00 am – 12:30 pm | FREE
📍 Durham County Main Library
Visit Cow Sanctuary
11:00 am – 3:00 pm | $0–25.00
📍 Brajboro Cow Sanctuary
Karaoke Night
12:00 pm | FREE
📍 Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company
Hockey Pre-Game & Tailgate: Canes vs. Avalanche
12:00 pm | FREE
📍 Raleigh Brewing Company
Little WORLD Charity Holiday Model Train Show
1:30 pm – 5:00 pm | FREE
📍 Durham County Main Library
KōMANA Wellness Market
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm | FREE
📍 KōMANA Brewing Company
Annual Christmas Tree Toss
2:00 pm | FREE
📍 The Mason Jar Lager Company
Carrboro Really Really Free Market
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | FREE
📍 Carrboro Town Commons
Irish Music Jam
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm | FREE
📍 Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop
Christmas Tree Burning Party
4:00 pm – 7:30 pm | FREE
📍 Steel String Brewery at Pluck Farm
Illuminate Art Walk
4:45 pm | FREE
📍 Downtown Raleigh
First Saturday Under the Stars – Skywatching
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm | FREE
📍 Three Bears Acres
Live Music
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm | FREE
📍 Fortnight Brewing Company
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm | $16.74–30.64
📍 Koka Booth Amphitheatre
📅 Sunday, January 4, 2026
Hike with a Naturalist
9:30 am – 11:00 am | FREE
📍 Historic Yates Mill County Park
NC Collector’s Roadshow
10:00 am – 3:00 pm | $0–5.00
📍 Jim Graham Building
Pay-What-You-Can Yoga
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | $1–10
📍 Compass Rose Brewery
Visit Cow Sanctuary
11:00 am – 3:00 pm | $0–25.00
📍 Brajboro Cow Sanctuary
Kanikapila: FREE Ukulele Lessons
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | FREE
📍 KōMANA Brewing Company
Artspace Open Studio
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm | FREE
📍 Artspace
Selma Three Kings Day Fiesta
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm | FREE
📍 Downtown Selma
Craft Club & Supply Swap
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm | FREE
📍 The Glass Jug Downtown Durham Taproom
Open Mic Night
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm | FREE
📍 Gizmo Brew Works
Bluegrass Open Jam
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm | FREE
📍 Bond Brothers Eastside
Illuminate Art Walk
4:45 pm | FREE
📍 Downtown Raleigh
North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm | $16.74–30.64
📍 Koka Booth Amphitheatre
Sunday Open Mic
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm | FREE
📍 Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop
📌 Plan Your Weekend in the Triangle
From Emancipation Day history events to lantern festivals, hikes, free markets, and live music, this weekend offers something for everyone. Check back with DoRaleigh for daily updates and new event guides.
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