Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(February 23 - March 1)

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!

Even More Ways to Find Events in Durham

Discover Durham has an app! Now, you can access our event calendar, updated daily, plus curated itineraries, challenges and a handy map to help you find even more things to do, places to eat and drink and more, all from your phone.

Join the Love Durham Challenge

Show your Durham love your way: as a foodie, a family, a style icon or a creative, with the 2026 Love Durham Challenge on the Discover Durham app. Choose the challenge that matches your Durham love, then check in at ten participating businesses or events by March 14. You'll earn a branded tote and themed patches while supporting the small businesses that keep Durham's heartbeat strong during the slowest season. Some events will be additional Love Durham Challenge check-in opportunities. We will mark them with a 🫶 emoji.

How to Participate in the Challenges

Download the App to Join the Challenge

Noteworthy Events in Durham this Week

Branford Marsalis Quartet at Hayti Heritage Center 🫶

• Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music. The NEA Jazz Master, GRAMMY Award winner, and Tony and Emmy Award nominee is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead, but the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet.
• Tuesday, February 24
• 7 pm
• Admission: $35-50

Scream Queens & Drag Dreams: Nevermore Film Festival Drag Show Kickoff at The Glass Jug Downtown

• Get ready to kick off the macabre magic of the Nevermore Film Festival with a night of stilettos, shadows, and spectacular scares! The Glass Jug Downtown is transforming into a dark sanctuary for daring and drop-dead gorgeous Drag Queens!
• Since 1999, the Nevermore Film Festival has been Durham's home for premier horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy. It's a three day celebration of the dark, terrifying, and fantastic - and The Glass Jug is here for it! They’re channeling that eerie energy into a high-octane drag showcase that celebrates everything from classic scream queens to sci-fi sirens.
• The incomparable Miss B Haven will be your guide through the darkness, making sure everyone finds their "haven" in the horror. Then be dazzled by a performance from the marvelous Mx. Princexx Peritwinkle. And adding a little sting to the night is the sharp and stunning Miss V. Sour. It's a daring trio whose moves can't be beat.
• Whether you're a die-hard fan of dark fantasy or just looking for a spirit-filled night at your favorite taproom, this is the official festival warmup you won't want to miss. Grab an award-winning Glass Jug brew and get set for a show that’ll haunt you afterwards!
• Don’t be a ghost - get your tickets early and save! Arrive early to snag a seat - space is limited and the show starts at 8pm.
• Celebrate the kick-off of Nevermore in true Durham style. It’s going to be a scream!
• Thursday, February 26
• 8 pm
• Admission: $15, $10 in advance

Black Genius Fest at Black Wall Street

• Black Genius Fest is a free, family-friendly celebration marking the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. On February 28, Durham's historic Parrish Street hosts over 18 interactive exhibitions showcasing creativity, innovation, and culture.
• Exhibitions include science, wellness, poetry, hip hop, live performances, and hands-on activities for all ages. The day features interactive worlds designed for exploration and discovery, wellness spaces for rest and reflection, and performances throughout the afternoon.
• The theme "Architects of the Dream: Past, Present, Future" honors Durham's Black history while celebrating the community builders and young dreamers shaping what's next.
• Free admission with registration.
• Saturday, February 28
• 11 am

Brett Young at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

• From his self titled debut in 2017, Brett Young has captured the hearts of fans everywhere through his honest lyrics and West Coast meets Southern sound, aptly dubbed his “Caliville” style. With more than 8.5 billion global streams and seven consecutive No. 1 singles, Rolling Stone has called him “one of Country’s most consistent radio stars,” carving a lane as one of the genre’s most successful and relatable voices.
• Sunday, March 1
• 8 pm

Multi-Day Events

Play: "Steal Away Home" at NCCU University Theatre

• Two slave boys escape from a South Carolina plantation and make their way north to join their freed father in Pennsylvania.
• Th-Sat 8 p.m., Sun 3 p.m.
  
• Admission: $20, $12 college students, $7 K-12

Nevermore Film Festival at Carolina Theatre

• Nevermore Film Festival is a juried competition festival that programs brand-new feature and short films with an emphasis on horror, science fiction, dark fantasy, animation, and mystery/thrillers from around the world. Named a “Top 100 Film Festival” by FilmFreeway and “One of the Best Horror Film Festivals in the World” by Dread Central, Nevermore has screened more than 1000 films since its creation in 1999. It has gained an international reputation as one of the premiere genre festivals in the USA.
• February 27- March 1

Duke Baseball v. Princeton at Duke

• Friday, Feb 27 at 4 pm
• Saturday, Feb 28 at 1 pm
• Saturday, Feb 28 at TBD
• Sunday, March 1 at 1 pm

The Treachery of Sounds at von der Heyden Studio Theater

• Two people in an art museum argue over the validity of a work that questions the very meaning of meaning. One is accepting if detached, the other is troubled but engaged. Visitors come and go, choosing their journeys, inviting us into surreal scenes of love, loss, alienation, attraction, and wonder.
• Theatre of Music (a.k.a. The Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble) has joined forces with composer Steven Bryant to create an immersive, multi-disciplinary work inspired by Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte. Challenging accepted notions of reality, Magritte has shown us time and again that the eye may well lie to us… But what of our ears? Should we trust them? The Treachery of Sounds explores the porous and transient nature of reflection.
• February 27-28
• 7:30 pm
• Admission: $25-$30

Field & Factory: A Look at Duke Homestead State Historic Site

• To learn a fuller story of the people who worked in tobacco, join Duke Homestead staff on site for a special program, “Field & Factory: A Look at Tobacco’s Laborers.” These walks will highlight the contributions that each group of people working in tobacco made to North Carolina’s culture and powerful economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, while addressing the inequalities in tobacco’s labor forces.
• Depart from the visitor’s center lobby at 11:15am and 2:15pm on Saturday 14th, 21st, and 28th.
• Admission is free.

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

Monday, February 23

5 p.m.

Arts & Drafts at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

SIlent Reading Club at The Glass Jug Downtown

6:30 p.m.

Trivia Night at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

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

7 p.m.

Monday Night Trivia at Aloft Durham Downtown

Not Rocket Science Trivia at Fizzwerks

Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

7:30 p.m.

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

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

Tuesday, February 24

10 a.m.

Tuesday Moves at Live at Bay 7

5 p.m.

Duke Softball v. East Carolina at Duke

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

6 p.m.

The Glass Jog Run Club - Winter Series at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

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.

Beginners Line Dancing Class at Mystic Farm & Distiller

7 p.m.

Branford Marsalis Quartet at Hayti Heritage Center 🫶

An Evening to Shine at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

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.

Writin’ Dirty: Southern Slang at 104 W Parrish St.

8 p.m.

Laundry Day at Motorco Music Hall

Wednesday, February 25

11 a.m.

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

4 p.m.

Distortion Hemp Beverage 420 Happy Hour at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

5 p.m.

Duke Women's Lacrosse v. East Carolina at Duke

Barsa's Bourbon & Beer Pairing at Barsa New Indian

WUNC Spotlight: Reflecting on Five Years of Embodied at WUNC Public Radio

Wine Wednesday! Free Wine Tasting at Beer Study Durham

6:30 p.m.

Crank Arm DURHAM Wednesday Night Ride at Crank Arm Brewing Durham

Trivia Night at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

7 p.m.

Pinball Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

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

Music Mashup Trivia at Fizzwerks

8 p.m.

Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

9 p.m.

Last Wednesdays: Velvet Disco DJ Sets with Lex Nell at The Velvet Hippo

Thursday, February 26

4 p.m.

Duke Softball v. Northwestern at Duke

5 p.m.

Wilders Wagyu & Glasshouse Kitchen Present: Beef & Bourbon Night at Glasshouse Kitchen

6 p.m.

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

6:30 p.m.

Ink & Insight at The Daily Beer Bar

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

Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club - Durham

7 p.m.

Famous Last Drinks Series - George Orwell at Ment Beverage Co.

Thursday Trivia at Baryo

Crank Arm Durham Presents: Level up and Sip at Crank Arm Brewing Durham

Trivia Night at Beer Tooth Taproom

Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing

7:30 p.m.

UNC Faculty Jazz with guest, Jason Marshall at Sharp Nine Gallery

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

8 p.m.

Duke Women's Basketball v. Florida State at Cameron Indoor Stadium

Scream Queens & Drag Dreams: Nevermore Film Festival Drag Show Kickoff at The Glass Jug Downtown

Music Trivia Bingo with Stormie Daie! at The Velvet Hippo

Queer-Eoke at Club ERA

Friday, February 27

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 🫶

3 p.m.

Duke Men's Tennis v. California at Duke

5 p.m.

Duke Softball v. Ohio State at Duke

Premier Winter Wine Tasting Experience at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

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

5:30 p.m.

Kids Night Out at Museum of Life and Science

6 p.m.

The Duke Street Dogs at The Blue Note Grill

Mystic & Magic Presents: "Distilled Deceptions" at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Bars, Beats & Bingo at Kore

7 p.m.

Seth Meyers: Live (Rescheduled) at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

SunSets Evening Rooftop DJ Sets! at The Velvet Hippo

7:30 p.m.

Kobie Watkins Grouptet at Sharp Nine Gallery

8 p.m.

Cult Your Nights Presents: Rent Party at Garland Hall

9 p.m.

Hush Hush Improv Comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

Karaoke at Flying Bull Beer Company Taproom

9:30 p.m.

Friday Night Shift DJ Dance Party! at The Velvet Hippo

Saturday, February 28

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 a.m.

parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park

9 a.m.

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

South Durham Farmer's Market at Hub RTP

10 a.m.

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's 🫶

Pauli Murray Center Open Saturday at Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

Walk-In Saturday at Welcome Tattoo 🫶

11 a.m.

Black Genius Fest at Black Wall Street

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

12 p.m.

Duke Men's Basketball v. Virginia at Cameron Indoor Stadium

Bourbon & Cheese Pairing at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

12:30 p.m.

Duke Softball v. Northwestern at Duke

1 p.m.

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

Nailed It DIY - Build It Event at Nailed It DIY Studio Durham

1:45 p.m.

Downtown Durham Food Tour with Taste Carolina at Visitor Info Center 🫶

2 p.m.

Mallarme Music Family Concert: Renaissance Tunes at Durham County Library Main Branch

Adult Workshops: Botanical Still Life Drawing at Museum of Life and Science

3 p.m.

Duke Women's Lacrosse v. California at Duke

4 p.m.

Chocolate & Bourbon Pairing Class at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Palentine's Event at Fate & Folklore

5:30 p.m.

Night Op: Gamma at Xtreme Park Adventures

7 p.m.

A/V Geeks tribute to David Lynch: Enter the 16mm Dreamscape at Fullsteam's Fullscreen Theater (formerly the Full Frame Theater)

Breaking Bad Trivia Night at Mystic Farm & Distillery

7:30 p.m.

James Fernando Trio at Sharp Nine Gallery

Lauren Moore and John Hollier at Live at Bay 7

8 p.m.

Lucy Darling at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

Nathan Evans and The St Phnx Band at Motorco Music Hall

Durham Ghost Walk at Fate & Folklore

8:30 p.m.

Gimme Gimme Disco at Stanczyks

9 p.m.

Eli & Fur at The Fruit

D.O.D. at The Fruit

9:30 p.m.

Saturday Night Dance Party at The Velvet Hippo

10 p.m.

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat! at Club ERA

Sunday, March 1

10 a.m.

Duke Softball v. Boston University at Duke

Engineers Day at Museum of Life and Science

Durham Community Day at Museum of Life and Science

Baba Marta Day at Ment Beverage Co.

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's 🫶

11:30 a.m.

Yoga @ The Winery at Zinc House Winery & Brewery

12 p.m.

Duke Men's Tennis v. Stanford at Duke

12:15 p.m.

Public Tour of Duke Chapel at Duke University Chapel

12:30 p.m.

Duke Softball v. Ohio State at Duke

1 p.m.

Duke Men's Lacrosse v. Saint Joseph's at Duke

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

Savory Sunday - Bloody Marys with ALL the Fixins at Liberty & Plenty Distillery

2 p.m.

Crank Arm Durham Sunday Dog Walk at Crank Arm Durham

Bourbon Blending Class at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Guided History Hike - Holden MIll at Piper-Cox House

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing Company

3 p.m.

Craft Club & Supply Swap at Glass Jug Downtown

6 p.m.

Reese McHenry Forever: Tribute Concert & Album Release Celebration at Motoroco

8 p.m.

Brett Young at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

Running Art Exhibits

Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof Exhibition: Life of Service at Durham Visitor Information Center 🫶

• Photographer Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof has transformed the Visitor Info Center to an ode to Durham hospitality. His exhibition, Life is Service, highlights community, connection, and hospitality, showcasing people from beloved local businesses. Add a stop to the Visitor Info Center to check off a Love Durham spot as part of the Creative Challenge!
• The Visitor Info Center is open every Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm.
• Free
• Through Feb. 28

Hoopla at Golden Belt Artists

• The bigger the hoops, the more influential the person. Taking up physical space has always been powerful— especially in a world where political space is limited. Internationally published artist Perrin Marie is creating a series of hoop skirts and accessories adorned with recycled materials that make noise— not always just a gentle swish swish, but the clink of bottles, the chime of cans, and a whole lot of presence. It's a fashionable revolution. Through this work, Perrin empowers individuals to take up space, skirt the issues, and make HOOPLA (get it?).
• Mid-Show Reception: February 20
• Closing Reception: March 20
• Through March 31
• Free

Anne Heartt Gregory: Horizons at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery announces the upcoming exhibit by Anne Heartt Gregory titled Horizons. These new works are vibrant renditions of abstract landscapes that imply moving to higher ground. Terrains shift from orange to blue making distant vistas appear within reach. What’s just over the horizon? You are invited to come discover for yourself.
• Join the Third Friday Reception on February 20 from 6–9pm to meet the artist and experience this new body of work. Enjoy the varied creations of ten Triangle-based artists working in painting, sculpture, fused glass, mixed media, and finely crafted furniture.
• February 19- March 15
• Free

"We Built This" Exhibit at James E. Shepard Library

• The James E. Shepard Library hosts Preservation NC's "We Built This," which is a traveling exhibit and educational program highlighting the often-overlooked African American craftspeople who built North Carolina's historic structures. The exhibit showcases stories of skilled builders, architects, and enslaved laborers who contributed to landmarks, HBCUs, and churches.
• February 15- March 31
• 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