Final Friday Cary Art Loop
Friday, December 29
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On the last Friday of the month, explore the artsy side of Cary. Various venues will be hosting artist receptions, exhibitions, live music and more. Visit the Cary Art Loop website for a map of participating venues.
23rd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
Friday, December 29
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Avenue, Cary
Also in Cary on Friday is the 23rd Annual Kwanzaa Celebration. There will be a performance by the African American Dance Ensemble, ethic food, a vendor market, children’s crafts and much more.
Sparkling Wine & Champagne Free Tasting Extravaganza
Saturday, December 30
12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Raleigh Wine Shop, 126 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh
This is your chance to make an educated decision about what champagne or sparkling wine to greet the New Year with. There will be free tastings going on all afternoon.
Night Lights: A Family New Year’s Eve at Morehead Planetarium
Sunday, December 31
2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the kids a little early with this free party. There will be games, a photo booth, an early New Year’s countdown, activities from Kidzu Children’s Museum, light and dance shows, and a couple of food trucks. There will also be a star show in the Planetarium, which costs $5. You’ll need to go to Morehead Planetarium’s website and sign up, but shows fill up quickly. Except for the star show, you can just show up, and the festivities are free.
New Year’s Eve Masquerade Party
Sunday, December 31
10 p.m.
Aloft Chapel Hill, 1001 South Hamilton Road, Chapel Hill
If you want to spend a lot of money on New Year’s Eve nobody will stop you, but if that doesn’t sound like a good time to you, there are actually quite a few New Year’s Eve parties going on in the Triangle that have no cover. Aloft Chapel Hill is hosting one and it includes free food and a DJ. You don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to attend. For more free and cheap New Year’s Eve parties, check out the list on TriangleOnTheCheap.com