Events
Inspiring FOMO since 1869
Every day of the year, there’s a festival, show, concert, book reading, sporting event, or something incredible happening in the Bull City.
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 never a 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.
We know many people are looking for things to do and ways to stay engaged with the Durham community. Check out the events below or head to the blog for safe and creative ways 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
Taylor Tomlinson
The New York Times opines, comedian Taylor Tomlinson “demonstrates tight joke writing, carefully honed act-outs and a ruthless appetite for laughs” in her second hour-long special, Look At You, now streaming on Netflix. New York Magazine adds, “Watching Tomlinson gives you the same comfort as a Swift concert or a Broadway show that’s been on for years. This is a professional. This performance will be ultra-produced. You do not need to be anxious,” and the...
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Les Misérables
Cameron Mackintosh presents the acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, Les Misérables. This brilliant staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed as “Les Mis for the 21st Century” (Huffington Post), “a reborn dream of a production” (Daily Telegraph) and “one of the greatest musicals ever created” (Chicago Tribune). Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams...
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Paperhand Puppet Intervention
For over twenty years, Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Burger have used paper-mâché, cardboard, bamboo, old house paints, cloth, and other “junk” to create incredible giant puppets, masks, shadow plays, and spectacular performances for all ages. This presentation of art, and the magic of masks and puppetry through award-winning puppeteers/artists will deliver super fun exploration of movement and an interactive engagement for all ages. The puppets are brought to life in a synergy of multiple art...
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Beetlejuice
He earned his stripes on Broadway… now the ghost-with-the-most is coming to DPAC. It’s showtime! Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, BEETLEJUICE is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!”...
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David Spade
David Spade has announced the 2023 dates of his ongoing comedy tour, Catch Me Inside. The comedian, actor, and television personality will be hitting cities across the country with his hilarious set. David Spade became a household favorite during his five-year stint as a cast member on NBC’s Saturday Night Live and was named the “Hot Stand-Up Comedian of the Year” by Rolling Stone Magazine. He is best known for his memorable characters including the...
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157h Anniversary Surrender Commemoration
Spirit in the Land: An Afternoon at Historic Stagville
Gather at Horton Grove at Historic Stagville for a commemorative and ecological guided walk with Vivette Jeffries Logan and Justin Robinson. The Nasher Museum and Historic Stagville co-present an afternoon of tours for all ages, inspired by the exhibition Spirit in the Land. Free Spirit in the Land postcards will be available to take home. Vivette Jeffries-Logan (Kanahabnen Tabunitckia translation: “Morning Star”) is an enrolled member of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, the...
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Druski
“It’s a dream come true to headline my own comedy tour,” Druski said. “I’ve been fortunate to tour alongside several of the biggest musicians in the world and get valuable experience, but now I’m ready to take the next step in my career. I’m coming off my most successful year in comedy and it’s time to show the world my growth as an entertainer.” Most recently, Druski served as the opener for Chris Brown and...
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Bill Maher
For more than twenty-five years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television. First on “Politically Incorrect” (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last nineteen years on HBO’s “Real Time,” Maher’s combination of unflinching honesty and big laughs has garnered him 41 Emmy nominations. Maher won his first Emmy in 2014 as executive producer for the HBO series, “VICE.” In addition, Maher has written five bestsellers...
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Travis Tritt
Thirty years after Travis Tritt launched his music career, the Southern rock-influenced artist continues to sell out shows and stay true and relevant to country music fans across the globe. Continuously performing shows and withholding a heavy appearance schedule, Tritt is proving to be unstoppable. The highly abbreviated Tritt timeline started when the young Marietta, Georgia native incorporated his lifelong influences of Southern rock, blues, and gospel into his country during a honky-tonk apprenticeship that...
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Chicago
After 25 years, CHICAGO is still the one musical with everything that makes Broadway shimmy-shake: a universal tale of fame, fortune, and all that jazz, with one show stopping song after another and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. No wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards, 2 Oliver Awards, a Grammy, and thousands of standing ovations. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary – you’ve got to come see with the name...
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Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory! A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Welcome to Moulin Rouge! The Musical! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Directed by Tony Award® winner Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love. With...
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Art Exhibit — Art of Peru
This gallery features ceramics, textiles, metalwork and carvings produced by ancient cultures across what is known as present-day Peru....
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The Textile Art of Debbie Secan
Debbie Secan fell in love with weaving as a teenager and has worked with woven structures ever since, in the textile industry and as a fine...
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The Art of Nicholas Edward
Derrick Nicholas is the artist behind Nicholas Edward. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, he moved to Raleigh in 1995 and has been...
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Art Exhibit — Patrimonio | Heritage
A series of drawing Interventions on “Llanchama” (Amazonian tree bark) by Peruvian/American artist Renzo Ortega.
Patrimonio| Heritage is...
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Art Exhibit — "Spirit in the Land"
Spirit in the Land is a contemporary art exhibition that examines today’s urgent ecological concerns from a cultural perspective,...
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The Mind’s Eye: Gallery Members Exhibition
5 Points Gallery celebrates cleverness in The Year of the Rabbit with their new exhibit The Mind's Eye. Fresh from the imaginations of...
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Golden Bulls 2023—the Hunt is on
Beginning on March 1, 2023, Bull City Burger and Brewery will begin releasing clues for its 13th annual “Hunt for the Golden Bulls,” a...
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Mi Casa, Your Casa Experience
Visit The Streets at Southpoint for Mi Casa, Your Casa at Main Street Near Amc.
Feels like home.
Designed to look and feel like an...
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Pub Karaoke
Join in for Pub Karaoke every Friday night at West 94th St Pub in Durham from 10pm-1am. Hosted by All King Entertainment.
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Weekly Trivia Wednesday
They will have multi round contests with a winner for every night. Each night's winner will receive a gift card.This event is run with...
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MFA | EDA Thesis Exhibition — "In Relation To"
See the final exhibition at the Power Plant Gallery.
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