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

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.

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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!

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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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Pumpkin Painting

Paint/decorate a pumpkin!Tickets at the door; while supplies last. All ages welcome. Details

PlayMakers Repertory Presents: King James

King James by Rajiv Joseph is a fast, funny, and heartfelt play about basketball, friendship, and the ties that keep us together—even when... Details

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull

Join in every Thursday and Sunday at Durty Bull for Hammered Trivia! Sunday from 2pm-4pm come bring your friends and test your knowledge on... Details

Hot Wax on Tap

Please join in for drop in candle making, exploring new scents every Sunday! No pre-registration is required and no appointment is needed.... Details

SisterSong North Carolina presents The Life of a Queer Showgirl

SisterSong invites you to an evening rooted in community, care, and connection in the heart of Durham. This gathering centers Black and POC... Details

Open Mic

Hosted by Deb Aronin. Comedy, Music, Poetry, Ventriloquism and whatever other talents and performance skills you might have. All are... Details

Hush Little Horror Circus Show

Once upon a time, there was a gruesome circus show featuring spine-chilling renditions of classic nursery rhymes. See your favorite... Details

Matty Frank

Self taught in almost all of his musical and engineering knowledge, multi instrumentalist and vocalist Matty Frank currently creates... Details

Peel Dream Magazine / Big Mistake

The band, whose name nods to the BBC Radio 1 legend John Peel — arbiter of all things underground, quality, and (it must be said) “cool” —... Details

Arts & Drafts

Arts & Drafts Durham is a creative arts community meet-up where people get together to work on their crafts while chatting and supporting a... Details

Crunk Club DRM presents: Crank Arm Durham RUN

It's Crunk the Crank Arm Run club in Durham! Join in Monday for the weekly run club. Run starts at 6:30PM with 3-5 mile routes or make... Details

Trivia Night at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

Show off your smarty pants at Ponysaurus Brewing's weekly Trivia Night! They'll test your knowledge of the useless information you learned... Details

Durham Events Calendar

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Featured Events