Where and when: All the Triangle's four-year colleges and universities have athletic programs. And unless you're going to the big games -- ACC football and basketball -- they are free or at least cheap.

Plus, while many kids are on the soccer and football field this time of year, these games are a great opportunity to expose them to other sports that are just as much fun.

This weekend you could see:

Carolina's field hockey team vs. Wake Forest at noon, Saturday, on Navy Field on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus;

Duke's volleyball team versus N.C. State at 7 p.m. Saturday, at Cameron Indoor Stadium; and N.C. State's men's soccer team vs. Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m. Saturday, at the Wolfpack's soccer stadium on campus. Tickets are $5 for adults for this game. Kids 17 and younger are free. (Another family-friendly event is N.C. State's homecoming parade, 6 p.m. tonight on Hillsborough Street).

Who goes: While colllege soccer teams can attract a large local following, many of these games are attended by mostly friends and family of the athletes. But the public of all ages comes and is welcome.

What to know before you go: My 3-year-old loves sports. We often watch the local school kids and recreational leagues in our neighborhood. I'm not sure she likes sports enough for me to shell out big bucks to go to some major sporting event and deal with all the hassles of parking, crowds and pricey concessions.

So instead of heading to the Carolina Hurricanes or ACC football, we tried N.C. State women's volleyball at Reynolds Coliseum.

It had all the makings of a major arena spectacle. "Hungry Like the Wolf" blared over the loud speaker. There were giveaways, contests and an announcer.

It looked like several hundred filled the stands. And the crowd went wild when the Wolfpack got a point.

It was the complete sports package, and it was all free. My daughter was mesmerized.

Every weekend, most schools have something going on. The best way to check the schedule is by going to the school's Web site.

Some pages are easier to navigate than other (I wish it was easier to find the exact locations for all the games), but you should be able to find what you need here.

While concessions are available at some games (drinks were $3 at the volleyball game that we went to, and candy and popcorn was for sale, too), not all sell snacks and drinks. So pack some just in case or call ahead.

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