Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(May 11 - May 17)

Welcome to a comprehensive guide of weekly events in Durham – from Broadway shows to intimate performances, serene river paddles to art exhibits, dance parties, food tours and more. Start here to plan your perfect week.

If you’d like to add an event to our calendar, submit an event here. Please check with the event organizers to see if events change due to weather. Have a great week!

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Noteworthy Events in Durham this Week

Triangle Drag Show at Weldon Mills Distillery Durham

• Step into the spotlight and #SupportLocalDrag! Whether you’re an aspiring performer or just a fan of local drag entertainment, the Triangle Drag Show is hosting an Open Stage night that promises to be the highlight of your week.
• Want to perform? Or just want to guarantee your spot in the audience? Everything you need is just a click away.
• Signups & Tickets: Visit triangledrag.myshopify.com to register for the open stage or grab your tickets.
• Don't miss out on a night of community, creativity, and incredible performances.
• Grab your friends, head down to Main Street, and show local performers some love!
• Wednesday, May 13
• 7:30 pm
• Admission: $12

AfterHours: Science of Beer at Museum of Life and Science

• Leave the kids at home! This event is for adults 21+!
• Join in for everyone’s favorite beer-themed event, where the worlds of beer and science collide! Explore the museum’s exhibits after hours while your favorite local breweries serve up samples and the science behind them all evening long.
• Delve into all things beer with activities, demonstrations, crafts, and more! Hop over to play lawn games, relax in the biergarten, then take a sunset train ride on the Ellerbe Creek Railway.
• All money raised from this event will benefit conservation and education initiatives that help inspire lifelong learning.
• A commemorative Science of Beer cup
  • Beverage & food samples from local vendors
  • Access to the Main Building, Hideaway Woods, and Magic Wings Butterfly House
    
  • “New Age Soul” & “50Kitchen” food trucks will also be on site for purchase. Not a big beer drinker, but love science? Don’t fret! They’ll have a variety of options outside of beer, including wine and a specialty mocktail available for purchase at our cash b
• Thursday, May 14
• 6:30 pm
• Admission: $45

Cars and Coffee Raleigh: Exotic and Classic Car Show and Market at Boxyard RTP

• Get ready, this Exotic and Classic Car Show is going to be electric!
  
• For this day only, Boxyard RTP is opening early, so come hungry. Enjoy breakfast burritos from La Taqueria, delicious coffee from Baekho, breakfast from Fullsteam, something special for the occasion from Will and Well, and build your own mini car, then race it down a ramp with The Makery!
  
• Check out an amazing lineup of classic and exotic rides while enjoying coffee, food, drinks, and a marketplace with on-site vendors.
  
• This event is family and pet friendly, so bring the kids, your furry friends, visiting guests, and anyone who loves a good time. Whether you are a car enthusiast or just looking for something fun to do, there is something for everyone and it is an experience you will not forget.
  
• Saturday, May 16
  
• 9 am
• Free

Bimbé Celebration at Rock Quarry Park

• This family-oriented event is a celebration of African and African American history, culture, arts, and traditions. Doug E. Fresh is headlining.
• Live Music
• Family Fun Zone
• Arts and Crafts
• Community Resources
• Ethnic Food
• Local Talent
• Seating will not be provided, please bring a lawn chair or blanket.
• Saturday, May 16
• 1 pm
• Free

Common Roots Festival for AAPI Heritage Month at Durham Central Park

• Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM)! Join NC Asian Americans at our second annual celebration, featuring Asian artists, free crafts and games, a vendor market, performances, food, and more. The Community Care Lounge, hosted by Tarang Mental Health, will also feature cultural wellness workshops including baduajin, yoga, herbal medicine, calligraphy, and more.
• This event is FREE and welcomes all ages.
• Saturday, May 16
• 3 pm
• Free

Jambalaya Soul Slam Haiku Slam at Hayti Heritage Center

• The haiku slam is a head to head poetic competition where poets compete with original haiku poems. Selected judges from the audience will determine the winner based on the quality and impact of the haiku. Any poet may sign up at the door to compete, but come ready with at least 15 to 20 haiku for the competition. This will be a bracket-style competition. Original haiku, senryu, or “ku” (slam style haiku of 17 syllables or less) are welcome. This will be an amazing night of poetry.
• Saturday, May 16
• 8 pm
• Admission: $10 in advance

Third Friday

Third Friday in the Visitor Info Center: Carolina Blaze Giveaways! at Durham Visitor Info Center

• Join us for a night of giveaways ahead of the AUSL Carolina Blaze at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park! Try to pin the horns on Major the Bull to win Carolina Blaze tickets and various swag. We will also have pizza on deck (while supplies last), a prize wheel, and postcard writting.
• Friday, May 15
• 6 pm
• Free

Third Friday - Guided Museum Tours at 21c Museum Hotels Durham

• Offered in conjunction with the Third Friday Durham Art Walk & Gallery Crawl, learn about 21c Durham’s current exhibition Truth or Dare: A Reality Show, our site specific artworks, and the artists behind it all. Meet us in the lobby every third Friday @ 5:00PM to explore!
• Tours are free and all are welcome.
• May 15
• 5 pm

The Spring Ephemeral: Alysa Cantor at Durham Food Hall

• Join Liberty Arts in the Durham Food Hall’s Looseleaf Gallery for a presentation of work by artist Alysa Cantor. The Spring Ephemeral takes its name from the plants that complete their entire life cycle in the fleeting window before the forest canopy closes. This collection of experimental cyanotypes and mixed media serves as a series of field notes on transience.
• This exhibition is an invitation to recognize the porous exchange between our outer and inner landscapes, and to find that sustained, patient attention is the most profound way to honor the fleeting.
• Alysa Cantor received an MA from Lesley University in expressive arts therapy and mental health counseling, and this background continues to shape how she approaches making. She values art as a process of connection, healing, and transformation, and is drawn to practices that reward presence and play. Much of Alysa’s work is informed by attentive, embodied ways of moving through this world—exploring new areas of the forest, observing seasonal changes, and lingering with small, often overlooked details.
• Friday, May 15
• 6 pm
• Free

Liberty Arts: Iron Heroes Spring Cohort Pour and Fundraiser at Liberty Arts Foundry

• Join Liberty Arts and the Spring 2026 Iron Heroes cohort for the highlight of their nine week program! Instructed by Tripp Jarvis, this group of five veterans will cast the aluminum sculptures that they’ve carefully crafted this season. Take part in workshops inspired by the program, meet the students and instructor, learn about the program, and support this initiative that connects veterans and youth with creative opportunities!
• Scratch Block or BOWL Workshop: Carve designs into blocks OR BOWLS of resin-bonded sand. Then watch your creation become a work of art (in the form of an aluminum tile or aluminum bowl!) during a pour in the Liberty Arts Foundry. $85 per block, $140 per bowl during early bird sign up. All proceeds support the continuation of the Iron Heroes Program. Registration required. Sign up now!
• Mask Making Activity: Paint and personalize your own mask in this workshop that pays homage to the Iron Heroes Program! This workshop is fun for all ages. Use provided paints and decorative materials to make a hero’s mask of your own! Each registration directly supports the program’s continuation. Registration required. Sign up now!
• Friday, May 15
• 6 pm
• Free for spectators

3rd Friday: Mix & Mingle at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

• It's 3rd Friday at Zeitgeist! They are open at 5pm, meet and greet is from 6-10pm & then open until midnight! Swing by, meet some artists, make some friends, taste their infused liquor cocktails!
• All, any & every artists and art lovers are invited.
• Friday, May 15
• 6 pm
• Free

Martin Molloy Collage Art Opening at Ment Beverage Co.

• Join Ment Beverage Co. on Third Friday for their new art exhibition! Collages by Hillsborough-based artist Martin Molloy. Grab a drink to go as you stroll to your next downtown stop on the Third Friday Art walk.
• Friday, May 15
• 6 pm
• Free

Kerry Burch - Third Friday Opening Reception at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery is pleased to present a nature-inspired exhibition of abstract paintings by Kerry Burch. Drawing from nature’s shapes, contours, and earthy tones, her work combines bold color and layered texture to evoke shifting pathways and quiet moments found in the landscape. Meet the artist and experience this new body of work. Enjoy the varied creations of our ten Triangle-based artists working in painting, sculpture, fused glass, mixed media, and finely crafted furniture. The exhibition runs from May 14 through June 13.
• Friday, May 15
• 6 pm
• Free

Multi-Day Events

An Evening with David Byrne at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

• David Byrne returns to the road with a brand-new live show in support of his latest album Who Is the Sky?, Byrne’s first album since releasing the acclaimed 2018 American Utopia, which was later adapted into a hit Broadway musical and HBO film. It was produced by the Grammy-winning Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus), while its 12 songs were arranged by the members of New York-based chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra. Guests include Paramore’s Hayley Williams, St. Vincent and The Smile drummer Tom Skinner.
• The album was introduced by the infectious first single “Everybody Laughs,” directed by multimedia artist Gabriel Barcia-Colombo. The video set the tone for Who Is the Sky? with its universal themes of human connection and the potential for societal unity against the chaotic backdrop of the world.
• May 11-12
• 8 pm

Duke Baseball v. Wake Forest at Duke

• Thursday, May 14 at 6 pm
• Friday, May 15 at 6 pm
• Saturday, May 16 at 3 pm

Bull City Metal Fest at Stanczyks

• Two days of local and regional bands and the head bangers that love them! Support your scene.
• May 15-16
• Admision: Day Passes are $20 and Weekend Passes are only $30…that’s like two bucks a band…

NCCA Durham Regional Softball Tournament at Duke

• May 15-17
  
• Tickets required

Durham Greek Festival at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church

• Enjoy authentic Greek food and fabulous desserts in the dining tent or for take-out. Admission is FREE and this family-friendly festival will be held rain or shine. Continuous Greek music and regular folk dance performances. Opa! The Taverna offers Greek wines and beer. The Marketplace features Greek grocery items, artwork, jewelry, home decor, Greek ceramics and souvenirs, Ukrainian crafts and more, plus the award-winning community cookbook THE GRECIAN PLATE (over 50,000 copies sold!). The Attic Treasures Sale offers collectibles and other treasures for all budgets. Tours of the landmark Byzantine-style, domed church highlight newly completed iconography. A portion of festival proceeds benefit Ukraine relief and local charities."
• Saturday, May 16 11am - 8pm
• Sunday, May 17 11am - 7pm
• Free

Driver Street Vintage Block Party at Design Bank

• One city block, four ways to shop (and sip) vintage wares and wines. Join in for vibes, vintage, and vino at this first-ever vintage block party on Driver Street (at Angier St.).
• Sidekick Vintage is holding its semi-annual pop-up with clothing and accessories at Design Bank. Drop in there, then stop for a sip at Pinheiro Wines, and keep strolling for more great gear at other end of the block at the new AndAlso Vintage.
• Lots of free parking behind the shops!
• May 16-17
• Free

Bear Awareness Week at Museum of Life and Science

• Meet with the Animal Care Team at our Bear Overlook for Q&As focused on coexisting with the bears in North Carolina and keeping wildlife wild, and engage in hands-on activities across campus!
• Bear Q&As will take place all week (May 10 – 16) at 2 pm, and additional programming will take place on Sunday from 10 am – 3 pm.
• Free with museum admission

Phone Free Fun at Glass Jug Downtown

• Want to escape the screens? Need desperately to put your phone down but find it too challenging? Take this opportunity to bond with your friends while everyone sets their cell aside - to hang out old school, just like in the 90's. Happening all day every Sunday starting on May 3rd, you just leave your phone with the bartender who will securely keep them safe. Each beverage you purchase, you get a raffle ticket, which enters you into a raffle drawing done on the last Sunday of every month. So by unplugging, you can win in more than one way - come give it a try!
• Every Sunday from May 3 through July 26

Drafts of the Bull: Craft Beer and Food Tour at Entrance of Brightleaf Square

• Discover the heart of Durham’s craft beer culture with an immersive brewery tour that blends rich flavor and local history. Whether you’re a seasoned beer lover or simply curious, this tour offers an authentic taste of the city—full of character, craftsmanship, and that unmistakable Durham charm. Cheers to an unforgettable experience!
• Your tour begins at Clouds Brewing, where they’ve been brewing since 2014 focusing on German-inspired, American-made bold brews and pub fare. From there, you’ll head to Crank Arm Brewing, a place that’s been focused on bikes and beer since 2013. The next stop is Flying Bull Beer Company who is focused on building community here in Durham through warm hospitality, great food and even better beer. The last stop is Atomic Clock Brewing Company known for innovative brews and a focus on perfection.
• By the end of this tour, you’ll have experienced not just Durham’s best brews, but also the passion and creativity that make this city have such an amazing brewery scene. Bring a friend, meet some new ones, and enjoy this wonderful city with us.
• Every Saturday and Sunday
• 1 pm
• Admission: $75

Discovering West Point: Historic Walking Tour at West Point on the Eno

• Have you ever wondered about the lives of the people who were here before you? At West Point on the Eno, explore the complex histories of our own backyard. West Point on the Eno is not your typical historical site. It's not a battleground for major wars, nor the birthplace of presidents. Instead, it's a vivid tapestry of everyday yet extraordinary lives from Durham's past. Here, the routine of mill workers, the creativity of people like photographer Hugh Mangum, and the stories within the historic house are discovered and shared. These are tales of ordinary people whose lives, like yours, are extraordinary in their own right. Discover a different kind of history at West Point on the Eno, where the extraordinary is found in the ordinary. Take a guided walking tour of West Point on the Eno's historic park.
• Tours leave on the hour at 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. Registration is required. Dogs are allowed on hikes but are not permitted inside historic buildings unless a registered service animal.
• Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through May 31
• Free

Guided Spirits Tasting Tour at Liberty & Plenty Distillery

• Join a brand ambassador from Liberty & Plenty Distillery for a guided tour of the production facility and Rickhouse in Downtown Durham to learn the basics of how spirits are made. Every tour includes a tasting of Liberty & Plenty Distillery's rums, vodkas, gins and whiskies.
• Every Friday at 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM and every Saturday at 2:00 PM and 3:30 PM
• Admission: $20

Pre-Theatre Menu at Alley Twenty Six

• Durham’s Alley Twenty Six offers a Pre-Theatre Menu from 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. The three-course menu includes appetizer, entree, and dessert. An example menu includes a mandatory green salad or chilled crab rangoon dip for the first course; ricotta gnocchi or shrimp roll for the second course; and for dessert, Mexican chocolate pot de crème or St. Angel Triple Crème Cheese. Price: $40. The menu and prices change based on season and ingredient availability.
• Through June 30th

$1.50 Oysters at Alley Twenty Six

• Durham’s Alley Twenty Six is now offering $1.50 raw oyster special from 4-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. A selection of oysters are sourced from North Carolina and often Canada, Virginia or elsewhere along the East Coast and served with cocktail sauce, Mignonette sauce and lemon. Bar seats are available first come, first serve or make a reservation at alleytwentysix.com.
• Through June 30th

Durham Beer Garden Monday Specials .75c Chicken Wings & 32 oz Kona Big Wave Mugs at Durham Beer Garden

Monday, May 11

5 p.m.

Retro Rewind: 80s Radio Gold at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

Arts & Drafts at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

Silent Reading Club at The Glass Jug Downtown

6:30 p.m.

Disc Golf Putting League at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

Trivia Night at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

Crunk Club DRM presents: Crank Arm Durham RUN at Crank Arm Brewing Durham

7 p.m.

Trivia at W XYZ bar at Aloft Hotel

Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

7:30 p.m.

Midrift in Durham at Motorco Music Hall

The MOST Open Mic (Monday Moans) at West End Wine Bar

The Devines Intervention Comedy Open Mic at Devine's Restaurant and Bar

Tuesday, May 12

5 p.m.

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

6 p.m.

Duke Baseball v. William & Mary at Duke

Silent Book Club at Letters Community Bookshop

Preservation Durham 2026 Home Tour Lecture and Annual Meeting at Hope Valley Country Club, Renaissance Room

Teen Science Café at Museum of Life and Science

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

Adult Coloring Night at Hi-Wire Brewing

Gentle Yoga Flow at ReCity Network

Music Bingo Night at Glass Jug Downtown

Glass Jog Run Club - Spring Series at The Glass Jug Beer Lab

Women on the Wall at Triangle Rock Club - Durham

BYOV w/ Jaffar (Bring Your Own Vinyl Night) at Rubies on Five Points

6:30 p.m.

Pony Ride with Ponysaurus Brewing Co. at The Bull in CCB Plaza

Cocktail Class at Durham Distillery

Beginners Line Dancing Class at Mystic Farm & Distiller

7 p.m.

Monday Night Trivia at Aloft Durham Downtown

Karaoke Night at the bar @DBCo

Trivia at Beer Study Durham (back room)

Not Rocket Science Trivia at DSSOLVR Durham

Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

7:30 p.m.

Ally J on the Roof at The Durham Hotel

8 p.m.

The Chameleons at Motorco Music Hall

Queer Country Night at The Pinhook

Wednesday, May 13

5:45 a.m.

Guided Sunrise Paddle Trip on Falls Lake at Falls Lake

11 a.m.

Guided Tour of Pauli Murray's Childhood Home at Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

11:30 a.m.

Shuffle: Mellow Swells at Hub RTP Stage

3 p.m.

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

5 p.m.

Wine Wednesday! Free Wine Tasting at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

Silent Book Club at Letters Community Bookshop

6:30 p.m.

Mayacamas Wine Dinner at Nanas at Rockwood

Mahjong Night at The Glass Jug Downtown

Crank Arm DURHAM Wednesday Night Ride at Crank Arm Brewing Durham

Trivia Night at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

7 p.m.

Hammered Trivia at Hi Wire brewing

Signature Wine Tasting at Zinc House Winery & Brewery

Trivia Night at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Music Bingo at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

Music Bingo at the bar @DBCo

Brett Chambers Open Mic at The Blue Note Grill

7:30 p.m.

Triangle Drag Show at Weldon Mills Distillery Durham

8 p.m.

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

Thursday, May 14

5:30 p.m.

Walking Club with Bull City Strollers at The Glass Jug Downtown

6 p.m.

Art Swap with DAG at Ment Beverage Co

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

6:30 p.m.

Latinos & Latinas Run Club at Glass Jug Downtown

AfterHours: Science of Beer at Museum of Life and Science

Line Dance Class & Open Dance Night at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Decolonizing Yoga at Duke Park

Pony Run at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

Sapphic Happy Hour at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

7 p.m.

Thursday Trivia at Crank Arm Durham

Thursday Trivia at Baryo

Trivia Night at Beer Tooth Taproom

Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing

7:30 p.m.

Trivia Night w/Big Slow Tom at Clouds Brewing Brightleaf Square

8 p.m.

Hot 8 Brass Band in Durham at Motorco Music Hall

Music Trivia Bingo with Stormie Daie! at The Velvet Hippo

8:30 p.m.

Free Improv Jam at Mettlesome Comedy Theater

9 p.m.

QueerEoke (Karaoke) at Club ERA

Friday, May 15

Events at Club Era

• 7-10 p.m. - Pregame Fridays!
  
  
• 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Freaky Fridays

10 a.m.

Tasting at Counter Culture Coffee

12 p.m.

Discovering West Point: Historic Walking Tour at West Point

3 p.m.

North Durham Friday Evening Farmers' Market at Soul Sanctuary

4 p.m.

Bull City Cocktails Tour at Durham Distillery

5 p.m.

USA Basketball Youth Clinic at Downtown Durham YMCA

Third Friday - Guided Museum Tours at 21c Museum Hotels Durham

6 p.m.

The Spring Ephemeral: Alysa Cantor at Durham Food Hall

Liberty Arts: Iron Heroes Spring Cohort Pour and Fundraiser at Liberty Arts Foundry

Live Music with Tom Neuhauser at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

3rd Friday: Mix & Mingle at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

Martin Molloy Collage Art Opening at Ment Beverage Co.

Kerry Burch - Third Friday Opening Reception at 5 Points Gallery

Third Friday in the Visitor Info Center: Carolina Blaze Giveaways! at Durham Visitor Info Center

The Duke Street Dogs at The Blue Note Grill

7 p.m.

Live Vinyl Spinning by PhDJ Every 1st & 3rd Friday! at Beer Study Durham

Secret Society Improv Show at Mettlesome Comedy Theater

Live Band Karaoke at Mystic Farm & Distillery

7:30 p.m.

Mint Field in Durham at The Pinhook

8 p.m.

Broken Records Musical Improv at Mettlesome Comedy Theater

Pass the Aux at Boricua Soul

Goodies : 2000s Hip Hop Nite in Durham at Motorco Music Hall

Dance Blues Friday at Studio 5

8:30 p.m.

Ally J and Kevin Clark at Arcana

9 p.m.

Karaoke at Flying Bull Beer Company Taproom

9:30 p.m.

Femme Friday DJ Dance Party! at The Velvet Hippo

Bachata Fixation – FREE Class & Latin Dance Party! at Flying Bull Restaurant & Brewery

Saturday, May 16

Guided Walking Tours with Triangle Adventures

• 2 p.m. - Historic Downtown Durham Walking Tour
• 4 p.m. - Durham African American History Tour
• 6 p.m. - Downtown Durham True Crime Tour

8 p.m.

parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park

9 a.m.

Cars and Coffee Raleigh: Exotic and Classic Car Show and Market at Boxyard RTP

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

South Durham Farmer's Market at Hub RTP

10 a.m.

SEEDS Queen Bee Bash at SEEDS

HBOT4Heroes' Ride 4 Their Lives with Raging Bull Harley-Davidson at Raging Bull Harley-Davidson

Keep Species SAFE: Celebrating Endangered Species Day at Museum of Life and Science

Self-Guided Tours of Pauli Murray's Childhood Home at Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

Walk-In Saturday at Welcome Tattoo

11 a.m.

Storytime at Barnes and Noble New Hope Commons: Kids Stage

Drop-In Make Your Own Body Fragrance at Bright Black.

12 p.m.

Beers and Gears Block Party at Crank Arm Brewing

Preservation Durham 2026 Home Tour: Hope Valley Centennial at HQ: Hope Valley Tennis Pavillion

North Durham Farmers' Market at Soul Sanctuary

Discovering West Point: Historic Walking Tour at West Point on the Eno

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

12:30 p.m.

Plant Swap at Durham Beer Garden

1 p.m.

Bimbé Celebration at Rock Quarry Park

Drafts of the Bull: Craft Beer and Food Tour at Entrance of Brightleaf Square

1:45 p.m.

Downtown Durham Food Tour with Taste Carolina at Visitor Info Center

2 p.m.

Amped for Stagville! at Bull McCabe's Irish Pub

Crawfish Boil at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

Durham Ballet Theatre presents Aladdin at Carolina Theatre

3 p.m.

Common Roots Festival for AAPI Heritage Month at Durham Central Park

Derrick's Bullcity Block Party at CCB Plaza

Eurovision Song Contest Watch Party at Glass Jug Downtown

4 p.m.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover at Museum of Life and Science

SINGamajig at Mettlesome Comedy Theater

Chocolate & Bourbon Pairing Class at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Bull City Cocktails Tour at Durham Distillery

5 p.m.

The Racket Improv Comedy at Mettlesome Comedy Theater

Opening Reception - Alia El-Bermani "Perennial" and Bryant Holsenbeck "Birds Among Us" at Craven Allen Gallery

6 p.m.

The PUN-CH Bowl Competition at Mettlesome Comedy Theater

6:30 p.m.

Beer Garden Concert Series at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

7 p.m.

Starling, Total Wife at Rubies at Five Points

Golden Age Improv Comedy at Mettlesome Comedy Theater

Medieval Night at Ment Beverage Co.

*Free* Music on Mangum at Durham Beer Garden

John Crist Live at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

7:30 p.m.

John-Robert at The Pinhook

8 p.m.

Jambalaya Soul Slam Haiku Slam at Hayti Heritage Center

Drayton Farley at Motorco Music Hall

Bull for Initiative: A Live Play D&D Show at Mettlesome Comedy Theater

Durham Ghost Walk at Fate & Folklore

9:30 p.m.

Made by You: Huichol Yarn Art at Hub RTP Stage

Saturday Night DJ Dance Party! at The Velvet Hippo

10 p.m.

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat! at Club ERA

Sunday, May 17

10 a.m.

Durham Community Day at Museum of Life and Science

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

10:30 a.m.

Sunday Kettlebell Classes at Glass Jug Downtown

11:30 a.m.

Yoga @ The Winery at Zinc House Winery & Brewery

12 p.m.

Preservation Durham 2026 Home Tour: Hope Valley Centennial at HQ: Hope Valley Tennis Pavillion

12:15 p.m.

Public Tour of Duke Chapel at Duke University Chapel

12:30 p.m.

Open Table TTRPG at Moon Dog Meadery

1 p.m.

Drafts of the Bull: Craft Beer and Food Tour at Entrance of Brightleaf Square

2 p.m.

The Dark Doorway: A Horror Writing Workshop For Beginners at Moon Dog Meadery

Crank Arm Durham Sunday Dog Walk at Crank Arm Durham

Hot Wax on Tap, Drop-In Candle Making at Bright Black.

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing Company

3 p.m.

Craft Club & Supply Swap at Glass Jug Downtown

4 p.m.

Sunday DRIFT Rooftop DJ Series at The Velvet Hippo

Verdi Requiem at Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University

5 p.m.

WISHING Women's Summit at DICK'S House of Sport Durham

6:30 p.m.

The DPAC Rising Star Awards at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery

8 p.m.

Yot Club at Motorco Music Hall

Running Art Exhibits

We Built This: Profiles of Black Architects and Builders in North Carolina at Research Triangle Park

• Many of North Carolina’s most treasured buildings were designed and built by Black craftsmen, builders and architects, yet their stories have often gone untold.
• We Built This, a traveling exhibition by Preservation North Carolina brings these stories to light. Through a series of profiles, the exhibit highlights the skill, innovation and lasting impact of African American builders who helped shape the state’s historic landscape across generations.
• Spanning more than three centuries, the exhibition connects past and present, from slavery and Reconstruction to the growth of Black institutions, businesses and civic life, offering a fuller understanding of the places we inhabit today.
• April 7-June 12
• Weekdays, 9am-5pm
• Free

Kerry Burch: 5 Points Gallery Featured Artist at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery is pleased to present a nature-inspired exhibition of abstract paintings by Kerry Burch. Drawing from nature’s shapes, contours, and earthy tones, her work combines bold color and layered texture to evoke shifting pathways and quiet moments found in the landscape.
• Join the Third Friday Opening Reception on May 15 from 6-9pm to meet the artist and experience this new body of work. Enjoy the varied creations of our ten Triangle-based artists working in painting, sculpture, fused glass, mixed media, and finely crafted furniture. The exhibition runs from May 14 through June 13. Image: Kerry Burch, The Forest Floor, Acrylic and Pastel, 30 x 20 inches
• Visit 5 Points Gallery in person or online. All work from the exhibition is available for shipping or pickup. Gallery hours: Thursdays and Fridays 5–9pm, Saturdays 1–9pm. Artists are available to talk about their work.
• May 14-June 13
• Free

Art Exhibit — Dis/orient: Contemporary Art of the Asian Diaspora at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

• A focused exhibition that examines how artists of Asian descent confront long-standing stereotypes embedded in the word “Orient.” Rooted in Western imperialism, the term historically enforced a sense of distance and “otherness” that continues to shape cultural perceptions today. Dis/orient brings together artists who use humor, memory, tradition, and personal narrative to challenge this legacy and illuminate the richness and multiplicity of the Asian diaspora.
• “Dis/orient invites viewers to look beyond the flattened idea of a single ‘Orient’ and instead appreciate the complexity, humor, and emotional depth that define contemporary Asian diasporic art,” said Julianne Miao, curatorial associate at the Nasher Museum. “Each artist brings a distinct perspective, reminding us that identity is never monolithic. It is lived, questioned, and continually reshaped.”
• Tu-Sa 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Su 12-5 p.m.
  
• January 4- July 19

Art Exhibition — Labor&Materials and The Intuitionist at 21c Museum Hotel Durham

• 21c Durham is unveiling two new exhibitions with Labor & Materials and The Intuitionist. The exhibitions feature a thematic group exhibition of 67 multi-media artworks by 40 artists from across the globe exploring the evolution of industry and labor in the 21st century and a two-person exhibition of paintings by Atlanta-based artist Xavier Daniels and Toronto-based artist Natia Lemay.
  
• June 12- May 31
• Free