Sylvan Esso 1 DD Graham Tolbert
photo by: Graham Tolbert

Your Durham Guide to the Good Moon Festival

May 24, 2024

Come for the tunes. Enjoy pop-ups around downtown. And support local favorites while planning a Durham-filled weekend.

Get ready for an awesome show with Sylvan Esso and more.

Ever since Psychic Hotline started teasing details of the Good Moon Festival, there’s been a buzz about town. A few years after the headlining Sylvan Esso sold-out a weekend of shows at the Historic Durham Athletic Park, the Grammy-nominated electronic pop duo and a full-lineup of other standout artists return for a third time to their hometown at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) on October 8-10. 

Maybe you already know of their iconic ‘What Now’ album cover from a backdrop at Koktuku Surf Club. Or caught their ‘Rooftop Dancing’ performance recorded on a literal downtown rooftop for a CBS This Morning’s Saturday Session. Or streamed their COVID-era recording of ‘Numb’ live at the DBAP more times than you’d care to admit. But in case you didn’t, we hope by now you’re aware that Durham loves Sylvan Esso. And we hope all who plan to attend plan to show Durham love right back.

FESTIVAL DETAILS

When: October 8-10, 2026

Time: Gates open at 5 p.m.

Where: Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 William V. Bill Bell Way, Durham, NC 27701

Tickets: A limited number of VIP weekend passes and single day-passes remain. General admission tickets are available for $49.50 - $89.50 (pre-tax and fees) and VIP Weekend Passes are available online for $427.50. VIP weekend passes include access to the same seats for all 3 headline shows, priority access to all aftershow and daytime programming, an invite to a private happy hour and an exclusive merch bundle. Day passes are purchased on a tier scale, with tier one being the closest to the stage and tier 4 being the furthest. 

They are also offering tickets to the aftershows at $40 for guaranteed admission. As space is available, they will also sell night-of aftershow tickets for $20. These tickets will be for sale at the venue starting at 11 pm.  

Purchase Tickets

Enjoy one night of performances or get tickets for the whole weekend.

Lineup: On Thursday, October 8, Sylvan Esso will headline, following American singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello. On Friday, October 9, Appalachian Americana artist Tyler Childers headlines following surrealist blues artist aja monet. Finally, on October 10, Sylvan Esso will wrap up the weekend with another headlining performance with Mexican artist Silvana Estrada opening the night. 

Aftershows include both local and touring artists like Tash LC, Babe Haven, Weirs, Circuit des Yeux and more. There will also be a free matinee show featuring MJ Lenderman, Woke County Speedway, William Tyler and 'Time Indefinite'. The aftershows will be held at The Pinhook, Boom Club, and Bay 7.

Catch some rays at the Unscripted Hotel rooftop pool.

Where To Stay For Good Moon

The DBAP is located on the American Tobacco Campus, a 1-million-sq-foot refurbished former tobacco factory that today is teeming with local businesses and Instagrammable spots for visitors. There are seven hotels located within one mile of the ballpark.

  • Aloft Durham Downtown  Also located on American Tobacco Campus, Aloft is the closest hotel option to the festival. It offers a modern aesthetic, heated pool, Durham-themed rooms and proximity to plenty of dining and entertainment options.
  • Durham Marriott City Center As the name implies, the Marriott is in the heart of downtown. Earn points while being close to it all
  • 21c Museum Hotel Explore the hotel’s art collection and snag a selfie with the 21c mascot – a hot magenta penguin.
  • The Durham Hotel A mid-century boutique hotel with a celebrated restaurant and rooftop bar.
  • Residence Inn Durham McPherson/Duke University Medical Center The newly constructed Residence Inn has apartment-style suites, heated pool and fitness center in the Brightleaf District.
  • Unscripted Durham An eclectic hotel with a rooftop deck, pool and unique cocktail and cuisine options.

Where To Eat And Drink During Good Moon

With the third iteration of Good Moon Festival being even bigger than it was in 2024, we hope that you, the fans, use the opportunity to make the most of the weekend while supporting small businesses.

Sip on a Drink

Yes, it’s okay to pose in front of the album backdrop at Kotuku Surf Club while visiting for the weekend. With an age limit of 23, Surf Club is a local favorite watering hole with a beer list that’s far better than it needs to be. The dive bar’s expansive patio is one of the best places in Durham to catch a sunset.

Check the Pinhook's events schedule to see if there's something fun happening during your stay.

Support Durham's Queer Spaces

Durham and Sylvan Esso both also love drag. Club ERA, Durham's gay, queer and trans nightclub, is a great place to keep the party going after performances. It is located below The Fruit, an inclusive performance and live music venue, about a half mile from DPAC. Other queer-friendly spots downtown include The Pinhook, The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge and Arcana.

Where to Go During Good Moon

Sample Chef Matt Kelly's cuisine at Mateo Bar de Tapas.

Grab a Bite

When in South Durham, just off an Interstate 40 exit for those driving in to the Bull City, the Bull City Reddit thread recommends Sarah’s Empanadas for the arepas and empanadas. Mi Perú offers simple but delicious food at totally reasonable prices. Don’t miss the rotisserie chicken or the arroz chaufa de carne.

Mateo bar de tapas has helped put Durham on the foodie map for more than a decade. The first solo venture from multi-James Beard semifinalist chef Matthew Kelly, Mateo’s menu has a Spanish heart with a Southern soul. In addition to its delicious menu, Mateo also boasts one of the largest sherry offerings in the country.

Zweli's Ekhaya is one of the many awesome restaurants at ATC.

Bon Appetit named Rose’s Noodles, Dumplings and Sweets one of the best new restaurants in the country in 2014 – the married team of Katie and Justin Meddis hasn’t slowed down since, with still some of the best ramen and ice cream sandwiches here in the Tastiest Town of the South. 

Gocciolina, an Italian restaurant in Northern Durham with nightly chalkboard specials is another "indispensable Durham Restaurant." Never skip on an offering of the Parmigiano, imported from Hombre Farm in Modena, Italy. Juju Asian Tapas + Bar, tucked on the corner of Durham’s beloved Ninth Street and Hillsborough Road, has an accessible menu for those with dietary restrictions (or not!).

Located on the first floor of the 21c Museum Hotel, Counting House Restaurant and Bar is another great spot to grab a meal or a drink when strolling downtown. Check out the seasonally fresh menu with a focus on North Carolina’s heritage of fresh seafood – plus, the house-made cocktails.

Where To Park

Hotel room booked, dinner reservations and tickets to the festival acquired. One burning question remains: where do you park your car in Durham? Can you park your car once for the weekend or should you plan to keep your wheels handy? Check out our guide to learn all you need to know about parking in the Bull City.

Other Durham Recommendations

We could continue, but know this guide is already getting a little bit long. If you’d like personalized recommendations for what to do, where to eat or how to shop before doors open, we got you. Walk into our Visitor Info Center at 212 W. Main Street, about a 0.3 mile stroll from the DBAP, for a curated list of things to do based on your interests, provided to you by Durham locals. There will also be a pop-up Visitor Info Center set up at Good Moon with folks happy to help you on site.