Events in Durham, NC | Find Festivals, Concerts & Sporting Events

Pictured:

CenterFest - Credit Samantha Everette

Every day in the Bull City, there’s a wide variety of events happening to help you get involved in our vibrant community. If you're already here or planning a trip, use our search function below to find events suited to all interests and ages.

Durham is home to many homegrown festivals and events that happen annually and are easy to plan a trip around. From beats to barbecue and everything in between, check out our seasonal events page to find the perfect time to visit the Bull City.

Submit an Event to our Calendar

If you're a Durham-based venue or organization and you'd like us to include your event on our calendar, follow the link below to find our submission guidelines and submit your information.

Submit an Event

If you have any questions, please email eventcalendar@discoverdurham.com.

Featured Events

SplatterFlix Film Series

It’s exactly what you think it is: the goriest, scariest horror movies ever made, re-animated by Retro Film Series for screening over a three-day weekend.

Details

Pumpkin Patch Express

All aboard the Pumpkin Patch Express! Join in Saturdays and Sundays through October 26 to celebrate the arrival of autumn at one of the Museum's most popular family-friendly events. Pick the perfect pumpkin to decorate, race through the hay maze, and enjoy a variety of games, photo-ops, and activities inspired by the season. Then climb aboard the train for a relaxing ride back to the station on the Ellerbe Creek Railway!

Details

Third Friday in the Visitor Info Center: Beer Tasting with Fullsteam Brewing

Stop by the Visitor Info Center on Third Friday for a free slice of pizza, beer samples from Fullsteam Brewing and expert Durham recommendations. You can also earn another Bull City Beer Challenge check-in!*Pizza and beer samples while supplies last. You must be at least 21 years old to sample beers. Afterwards, continue your night visiting downtown art galleries and other Third Friday events!

Details

Nasher Museum 20th Anniversary Celebration

Help celebrate the Nasher Museum’s 20th anniversary and the grand opening of the Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Sculpture Garden! This exciting milestone will feature four special exhibitions on view, including Everything Now All At Once, which highlights bold and innovative works from the Nasher’s contemporary art collection.Guests can enjoy art-making stations, interactive learning experiences, hands-on activities, and special performances throughout the day. A variety of local food and beverage options will...

Details

Blacktoberfest

Black Brew Culture's amazing celebration of beer, food, art and entertainment. This year’s festival features 20 breweries and collaborators, plus six Black-owned wine and spirits brands. Add to that 30 vendors, food trucks, and a full entertainment stage, and you’ve got the makings of an East Durham block party you won’t want to miss.

Details

Bull City Race Fest and Food Truck Rodeo

Experience the brand NEW 2025 Race Routes! This festival has something for the fastest runners and families alike. Start and Finish at Diamond View Park at the American Tobacco Campus and choose from the Half Marathon, Five Miler or 1 Mile distances. Enjoy a fall morning of running through downtown Durham, Duke University and surrounding Historic Neighborhoods. After you cross the finish line, enjoy delicious eats from a variety of delicious food trucks! The Bull...

Details

Chocolate & Bourbon Pairing

This luxury class will take you through different Mystic Bourbons and the chocolate pairing that brings out the amazing flavors. Learn about, and taste, all of their spirits along with a classic chocolate pairing.

Details

Diana Ross

Diana Ross is a consummate performer, as well as one of the most iconic female singers of all time and one of the most prominent women in popular music history and pop culture of the late 20th century. Diana Ross’ famed and remarkable career spanning almost five decades has resulted in major awards, accolades and music history milestones. Her international achievements were acknowledged by the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in December 2007 in Washington DC...

Details

Carolina Gold: Black Southern Writers Conference

This year Griot and Grey Owl is bringing together some of the South’s most powerful writers, scholars, and authors—Nnena Freelon, Pierce... Details

Griot & Grey Owl: Carolina Gold Blk Southern Writers Conference

A three-day gathering honoring Black Southern storytelling, heritage, and creativity, from Appalachia to the Gullah Coast! Details

Freaky Friday Dance Party!

One thing about it, is you know you are the baddest “B around, so why not tip toe through Durham’s sexiest Queer nightclub with that killer... Details

Guided Spirits Tasting Tour

Join a brand ambassador from Liberty & Plenty Distillery for a guided tour of the production facility and rickhouse in Downtown Durham to... Details

BOOM Club: The Rail Residency

Durham, NC — BOOM Club, a new Arts Organization dedicated to providing resources for electronic musicians, is excited to announce the... Details

Durham Community Day at the Museum of Life and Science

Durham Community days, Durham County residents get in free with proof of Durham address. All adults must have Durham residency to get in... Details

Tasting at Ten

Tasting at Ten is a free coffee tasting hosted by Counter Culture Coffee at the roastery, every Friday at 10am. A new coffee is featured... Details

Friday Co-Working Social

Join in for a fun-filled Friday Co-Working and Networking Social at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Downtown Durham! You've made it to Friday,... Details

Friday Night Live Music on the Lawn at Bull McCabe's

Enjoy family friendly live music every Friday night from 6-9pm! There's never a cover! Each week we feature different local artists from... Details

TGIF: Family Game Night

It’s Friday night in the ’90s. The TV is set to TGIF, your favorite board game is spread across the floor, and someone’s begging to trade... Details

The Duke Street Dogs

The Duke Street Dogs are a four-piece acoustic band out of Durham, NC. They play songs written by Dog Michael Borstelmann, as well as... Details

Live Vinyl Spinning by PhDJ Every 1st & 3rd Friday!

A favorite local DJ comes to spin records every FIRST and THIRD Friday of the month with a variety of vinyl offerings. Anything from funk... Details

Durham Events Calendar

Submit an Event to our Calendar

Featured Events