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.

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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.

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

Featured Events

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!

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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...

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The 8th Annual Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball

A Retro annual tradition! More than just a movie screening, Retro presents a full-theatrical, FX-driven, light show-blazing, fog-blowing, call-backing, motion picture extravaganza! Fasten your garter belt and come up to the Carolina Theatre’s historic 1000-seat lab and see what’s on the slab! This madcap musical begins when rain-soaked Brad and Janet take refuge in the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite mad scientist from outer space who is about to unveil his greatest creation! This...

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2025 Chefs for Change Gala

Enjoy a multi-course dinner prepared by five of North Carolina’s top chefs—Matt Kelly, Gray Brooks, Aaron Benjamin, Michael Lee and Chris McLaurin—along with a live auction led by professional auctioneer Scott Peterson of Custom Benefit Auctions. Most auction items will be exclusive, chef-focused culinary experiences. Proceeds benefit Families Moving Forward, Durham’s primary emergency shelter for families with children.

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Tobacco Road Presents: Screen & Craft

Tobacco Road Festival Summit’s “Screen&Craft” is an exhibition that highlights premiere film showcasings & exclusive discussions, providing... Details

Ms. Full-Figured North Carolina Pageant

Ms. Full-Figured NC Pageant showcases the accomplishments of today's full-figured woman, as well as their commitment to self-love,... Details

Durham Twilight Market

The MAKRS Society presents: Durham Twilight: a night market series. Featuring local vendors, a live DJ, performances by Dakota Fox... Details

Downtown Durham True Crime Walking Tour

Hosted by a local historian, the Durham True Crime walking tour will surely capture your curiosity. From a mayoral candidate with a... Details

Mystic & Magic presents Distilled Deceptions

Enjoy a great night of cocktails and magic! Distilled Deceptions is performed by a trio of professional magicians called the Carolina... Details

Outdoor Movie Screening — Drumline

Bring your own picnic blanket or chair. No alcohol or smoking allowed. Part of the Fall Movies in the Park Series. Details

Durham Ghost Walk

Explore the spooky side of Durham's history on this tour of the city's most haunted locations. From the disgraced sons of tobacco giants... Details

Blind Tigers Live Band Karaoke

Think you’ve got karaoke game? Swagger like Mick Jagger swagger? Slay like Beyonce?Well ditch that old digital canned karaoke music, cuz... Details

Bardo Bloom

Durham local Bardo Bloom (Peter Daaleman) brings an array of melodic, organic, and uplifting tracks mixed alongside a growing list of... Details

Saturday Night Dance Party

Join in on the roof in downtown Durham every weekend for a Saturday Night Dance Party with the best DJs in the Triangle! Dance the night... Details

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat!

Every Saturday is a dance party, and every Saturday is a New ERA! Club ERA gives you a new Dj with a drag show, and a good drink to match... Details

Triangle Vegfest Durham

Saturday, 11/1 - Education Day (limited vendors) - 11am - 5pm Sunday 11/2 - Festival Day (no education) - 12pm - 5pm Everything you love... Details

Durham Events Calendar

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Featured Events