Events
Inspiring FOMO since 1869
Durham is where self-made synth beats are created alongside home-grown and international talent. Where renowned hip hop artists come home to spit with our next generation of performers.
Where there’s no need to wait for Friday night; both large and small festivals and cultural events win the hearts of wandering souls from near and far — all week long.
Each year, 5,000 classes, tours, markets, competitions and performances await you here. The key to your next adventure lies in your own curiosity. Come taste, see, hear and discover.
While practicing social distancing, we know many folks are looking for things to do and ways to stay engaged with the Durham community. After all, at the stay-at-home orders' core, it's really about physically distancing ourselves from one another. That doesn't mean we can't find ways to be alone together.
During this time, we plan to publish virtual events and other safe, creative ways for you to remain connected to Durhamites, our local partners, and other Durham-based groups. If you have any questions, please email eventcalendar@discoverdurham.com .
Featured Events
Beverly McIver Art Exhibit: "The Light Within"
A nationally known artist who has been named Top Ten in Painting by Art News, Beverly McIver was working nonstop, teaching classes at Duke, leading workshops all over the country, caregiving for her family, and painting when she could. When Covid hit, along with all of 2020’s racial and political turbulence, McIver’s life changed dramatically. McIver faced the chaos and isolation the only way she knew how—through paint.It was an intensely productive time. “I painted...
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Friends of Geer Cemetery Pop-Up Exhibit at MODH
The Museum of Durham History, in partnership with the Friends of Geer Cemetery, presents the story of four women who were buried in Geer Cemetery in a special social-distance friendly pop-up exhibit under the Museum’s gazebo. In the latter half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, African American women juggled work and family against tremendous odds in Durham. This pop-up features glimpses at the lives of four women:Pearl Whitted helped educate Durham’s local African...
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Untold Secrets of the Heart Chamber
Premiere of Untold Secrets of the Heart Chamber by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma and Marc Bamuthi Joseph. Building upon their partnership over the past few years and with a desire to work together to support artists and their creativity during this extraordinary moment in time, The American Dance Festival (ADF) and DANCECleveland have commissioned a new dance film by South African choreographer Gregory Maqoma and poet, arts activist, and educator Marc Bamuthi Joseph. The new work...
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Something Else: A Tribute To Cannonball Adderley
Every Month, Hayti pays tribute to the masters of Jazz and the legacy they left behind. This Month they pay tribute to Cannonball Adderley. Featuring Dexter Moses.Limited in-person tickets available.
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Art Exhibit — Works by Faculty
On display in person or as a virtual experience. Works in the exhibit include drawing, painting, graphic design, printmaking collage and sculpture. Featured artists are NCCU Art Museum director and Art and Design Department chair Brenda Faison, as well as professors Troy Brown, Myongsin Choi, Kwame Hawkins, Connie Floyd, and Chad Hughes.Faison will exhibit paintings developed from an array of digital tools that translate the physical elements of the environment onto print.Brown will show a...
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Hayti Heritage Film Festival
One of the nation's longest-running Black film festivals, HHFF is the region's signature event each year to keep Black Southern film alive. The 2021 edition will be mainly virtual with films from new and veteran artists, panel discussions with industry experts, a series of in-person drive-in events, and an online, live performance. Festival attendees will be able to screen outstanding work from the African diaspora, and take a deep dive into the craft of filmmaking.
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Empty Bowls 2021
Empty Bowls, the annual event benefitting Urban Ministries of Durham, has been temporarily re-configured for a primarily virtual experience. Join over 1,000 members of our community—both local and far away—for this quintessential Durham event, now in its 15th year. If you’re in the RDU metro area, purchase tickets to pick up individual meal-size soups prepared by local award-winning chefs on event day. Enjoy your dinner while you watch a virtual show beginning at 6:30pm, including...
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In Conversation: Amir Sulaiman
Acclaimed poet, activist, recording artist, and filmmaker Amir Sulaiman will join Youssef Carter (UNC Religious Studies) for a screening of his new short film "Laying Flowers Setting Fires." Sulaiman will also read from and discuss his work, which viscerally and spiritually confronts themes of race, identity, suffering, healing, and love. Sulaiman’s reading caps a week of virtual engagements with the Duke and Durham community, including local K-12 students, as part of Duke Performances’ ongoing ‘Building...
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Beverly McIver Art Exhibit: "The Light Within"
A nationally known artist who has been named Top Ten in Painting by Art News, Beverly McIver was working nonstop, teaching classes at Duke,...
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History Exhibit — " Faces of Durham"
The exhibit features a selection of familiar and lesser known faces from the Bull City’s past and present, highlighting a broad range of...
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5 Points Gallery Exhibition: Rejuvenation
5 Points Gallery in downtown Durham welcomes the New Year by honoring the spirit of REJUVENATION. These 2021 exhibiting works will soothe...
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In Plain Sight: Reflections Past and Actions Present in Durham's Geer Cemetery
The Friends of Geer Cemetery are proud to introduce In Plain Sight— an outdoor educational exhibit in Durham’s historic African American...
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Friends of Geer Cemetery Pop-Up Exhibit at MODH
The Museum of Durham History, in partnership with the Friends of Geer Cemetery, presents the story of four women who were buried in Geer...
Details
Untold Secrets of the Heart Chamber
Premiere of Untold Secrets of the Heart Chamber by Gregory Vuyani Maqoma and Marc Bamuthi Joseph.
Building upon their partnership over the...
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Nevermore Film Festival
Named by Film Freeway as one of its Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals, Nevermore is a juried competition festival which programs brand-new...
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Duke Men's Basketball vs Louisville
Duke Men's Basketball vs Louisville at Cameron Indoor Stadium
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Durham Parks & Rec. Pickleball Tournament
The Pickleball “SMASH” Tournament is a dedicated, doubles, gender inclusive (male/male, female/female, male/female, or gender fluid) event...
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Durham Farmers’ Market
The Durham Farmers’ Market offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, cut flowers, artisanal cheeses and breads, home-baked...
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Sacred on Saturday: Music for Lent
Dr. Philip Cave, associate conductor for Chapel Music, explores notable pieces of sacred music. These "Sacred on Saturday" online...
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Seasonal Celebrities: Winter Plants for Your North Carolina Garden
In this weekly online presentation with Duke Gardens director of education and public programs Jan Little, learn about a group of landscape...
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