Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(August 11- August 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

OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival at Carolina Theatre of Durham

• OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival celebrates 30 years of queer film in Durham this year with a worldwide glimpse of today’s LGBTQ+ life, bringing the community together and featuring entertaining and sophisticated films and filmmaking.
• August 14-17

Brightleaf Concert Series at Brightleaf Square

• Featuring a mix of soul, funk, jazz, indie folk-pop, and Afrocentric rhythms, performed live in Brightleaf Square’s iconic cobblestone courtyard.
  The event kicks off each evening with a DJ set by DJ Boobee, followed by two live band performances designed to showcase regional talent and create an immersive cultural experience for the Durham community.
• Presented by Brightleaf Square, in collaboration with So When Do I Clap? and Sonic Pie Productions
• Event Lineup:
  Thursday, August 15
  6:30 PM – DJ Boobee (Opening Set)
  7:00 PM – ALGORYTHM – R&B, Soul & Funk
  8:30 PM – RAVARY – Indie-powered Folk-Pop
• Seating is limited — guests are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets. Local restaurants and shops will be open for pre-show dining and refreshments.
• Friday, August 15
• 6:30 pm
• Free

Brightleaf Harvest Day at Duke Homestead State Historic Site

• Experience North Carolina farming culture and history at Duke Homestead! They’ll be harvesting their tobacco out of the field and demonstrating the process of tobacco looping. Visitors are welcome to try their hand at these activities, or to chat with an interpreter in the historic buildings.
• This event is free to the public. It will be a free-flowing event from 10am-2pm.
• Saturday, August 16

Rescue Brew Launch Party at Boxyard RTP

• In addition to having Rescue Brew on tap (and 6-packs will be available for purchase) at Fullsteam RTP, they’ll have DJ Marrs spinning beats and adoptable animals for you to meet!
• Saturday, August 16
• 4 pm
• Free

Third Friday, August 15

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.
• Friday, August 15
• 5pm

Third Friday in the Visitor Info Center - End-of-Summer Bucket List at Durham Visitor Info Center

• Stop by the Visitor Info Center on Third Friday to gain inspiration for your end-of-summer bucket list and enjoy a free hot dog from QueDogs!
  
• Continue your night visiting downtown art galleries and other Third Friday events! Looking for more summer inspiration? Check out our Family-Friendly End-of-Summer Bucket List blog for additional recommendations.
  
• **Hot dogs while supplies last.
• Friday, August 15
• 6-8pm
• Free

2025 Group Exhibit. 5 Artists, Many mediums at Bull City Art & Frame Company

• Join Bull City Art & Frame for their first employee showcase. Five different artists, many mediums. Light refreshments.
• Friday, August 15
• 6pm
• Free

Reception: June Merlino Retrospective at Through This Lens

• Double exposures, plastic camera, and pinhole photography.
• Friday, August 15
• 6pm
• Free

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, August 15
• 6pm
• Free

Femme Friday: 3rd Friday Dance Parties! at The Velvet Hippo

• Every 3rd Friday, The Velvet Hippo hosts a dance party with beats by some of the Triangle's best woman and NB DJs! These baddies will bring the heat so you can dance the night away under a ceiling of glittering disco balls. Come see your favorites from around the area, and discover new artists to follow! No cover, drink specials all night, and 21+ with valid ID to enter as always.
• Friday, August 15
• 9:30 pm
• Free

Multi-Day Events

Durham Bulls vs. Nashville at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• 8/14 'Augtoberfest with beer & stein package
• 8/15 Stranger Things Night
• 8/15 & 8/16 Fireworks

Film Screening — Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos at Carolina Theatre

• Founder of the pioneering band Cro-Mags and a legend of the NYC Hardcore scene, Harley Flanagan is a punk rock icon who has defied the odds and come out the other side. But while his career has been a no-holds-barred ride, Wired for Chaos isn’t just about the music, it’s about a man forged in fire – a survivor of neglect, sexual abuse, drugs, violence and PTSD – who’s lived to tell the tale.
• Director Rex Miller be in attendance for all six screenings of “Harley Flanagan: Wired for Chaos,” and he will be introducing the screening on Friday, August 8 | 7:10 PM
• Wed, Aug 13 9:00pm - Cinema Two

Scrap Paper Shakespeare presents: Love's Labor's Lost at Shadowbox Studio

• This show is recommended for ages 11+ due to some suggestive humor.
• Thu. Aug 14th 2025, 7:30 pm
  Fri. Aug 15th 2025, 7:30 pm
  Sat. Aug 16th 2025, 2:00 pm
  Sat. Aug 16th 2025, 7:30 pm
  Sun. Aug 17th 2025, 2:00 pm
• Admission: $25; $15 students/seniors/artists

Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show at Durham Convention Center

• Love vintage beads? How about Chinese crystal or Ethiopian Opal? Find all this as well as large selection of rare beads, findings, tools and more at the Durham Bead Show! Shop exhibitors to get great value for high-quality product.
• August 16-17
• Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4
• Admission: $5, $2 with discount code (tickets available online only!)

Rumors Durham Back to School Weekend Pop-up Market Series at Rumors Durham

• Every weekend in August shop the Back to School Pop-up Market Series
• Every Saturday and Sunday in August Rumors will be hosting pop-ups next door with vintage clothing, art, handmade jewelry, decor and more! Each weekend will be hosted by different vintage sellers and artists
• The pop-ups will be from 11 am until 4 pm every Saturday and on Sunday from 12 pm until 4 pm at the building next to the store front! Shop in the AC and jam out with each of their sellers as you explore all the goodies they will have for you!
• Saturdays and Sundays from August 9- August 31
• Free

Open House at The Rickhouse

• Visit for Open House Days at The Rickhouse, happening every Wednesday and Saturday throughout July! These special days line up perfectly with the Durham Farmers Market—just down the road—making it the perfect summer outing.
• No reservation needed!
• Stop by at your leisure to: Meet with an event specialist, Tour our stunning venue, Explore displays from some of our favorite local vendors, Envision your next unforgettable event at The Rickhouse
• Wednesday 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Free

Kizomba Ladies Ginga and Styling at Triangle Dance Studio - Back Studio

• Join Kimberly Nicole for a 4-week journey designed to help women of all body types and backgrounds explore their unique expression of Ginga——the fluid, feminine movement that lies at the heart of Kizomba and Semba.
• Rooted in the rhythms of Angola, Kizomba is a partner dance that emphasizes musicality, connection, and presence. This series offers a safe and supportive space for women to deepen their movement, develop their personal style, and gain tools to feel more grounded and expressive on the dance floor.
• Ginga is for everybody! Whether you’re new to Kizomba or looking to refine your styling, this series is crafted to help you feel empowered, graceful, and connected to your body.
• August 4-25
• Admission: $75: 4-week class $150 both Ginga + Kizomba Class (Mondays 8:30 - 10pm) combo $20/drop-in class

Islands in the Alley at Alley Twenty Six

• Durham's Alley Twenty Six kicks off its annual summertime cocktail pop-up on July 1. For two months, the James Beard-nominated craft cocktail bar is bedecked with vacation-themed decor and offers an evolving food and drink menu celebrating far flung destinations and adventure.
• June 30-August 31

Lutra Brunch Pop-up at Cheeni

• Lutra Cafe and Bakery, the popular Durham-based bakery known for its sweet and savory buns, will host a weekly Sunday brunch at Durham's Cheeni restaurant. The brunch pop-up at Cheeni will give diners a chance to taste Lutra's expanded cafe menu months before chef-owner Chris McLaurin opens Lutra's counter-service restaurant at American Tobacco Campus by the end of 2025. Sunday brunch will be offered from 8-11 a.m. The brunch menu includes the sweet and savory buns, breakfast sandwich, biscuits and gravy, bread pudding, granola bowl, 100-layer hash browns and more.
• Sunday Brunch | June 8- September 28
• 8am-11am

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

$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.
• July 26-Sept 30

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 chicken-fried cauliflower for the first course; farro risotto or steamed mussels for the second course; and for dessert, Mexican chocolate pot de crème or St. Angel Triple Crème Cheese. The menu and prices change based on season and ingredient availability.
• July 26-Sept 30

Studio Ghibli Film Series at Carolina Theatre

• For decades, Studio Ghibli has created breathtakingly beautiful movies that have captivated and inspired audiences for generations through masterful storytelling and stunning visuals. Experience the wonder of these groundbreaking, beloved animated films.
• July 30 -Dec 13

Monday, August 11

5 p.m.

Arts & Drafts at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

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

6:30 p.m.

Crank Arm Run Club at Crank Arm Brewing Company

Trivia Night at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

7 p.m.

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

8 p.m.

Andmoreagain Presents: Big Leather at Rubies on Five Points

Tuesday, August 12

10:30 a.m.

Duke Field Hockey vs Davidson (Exhibition) at Williams Field

7 a.m.

Champions for Children Golf Tournament at Hillandale Golf Course

5 p.m.

Yaki Tuesday at Dashi

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

5:30 p.m.

Cocktails and Cornices Walking Tour at Ticket Pickup at Preservation Durham Headquarters

6 p.m.

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

TBS 1st Tuesday Blues Jam at The Blue Note Grill

Upcycle Thrifted Art at Ment Beverage Co.

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.

Line Dance Class at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Trivia at Durham Food Hall

7 p.m.

Bourbon & Belly Laughs at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Barrelhouse Blues: A Jook Joint Revue at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

Trivia at Beer Study Durham (back room)

Not Rocket Science Trivia at DSSOLVR Durham

Video Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

Wednesday, August 13

11 a.m.

Pauli Murray Center Guided Tour at Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

2 p.m.

Chocolate & Bourbon Pairing at Mystic Farm & Distillery

3 p.m.

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

5 p.m.

Herbs & Menopause at Bulltánica

Wine Study: Free Wine Tasting at Beer Study Durham

6:30 p.m.

Trivia Night with Broomtail Brewing and Burn Boot Camp at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

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

Old School Bingo Night – Every Wednesday Night at DSSOLVR

7:30 p.m.

Ally J on the Roof at The Durham Rooftop

8 p.m.

Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

Thursday, August 14

4 p.m.

Allagash Brewing Rare Beer Tap Night at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

5 p.m.

Grand Slams and Polka Jams: The Wolfpack Sound Polka Band! at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

5:30 p.m.

Walking Club with Bull City Strollers at Glass Jug Downtown

6 p.m.

Date Night DIY at Nailed It DIY Studio Durham

Men's Mental Health Social at Baryo

Scrap Swap-o-Rama: Puzzle Edition at The Durham Hotel

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

6:30 p.m.

Film Screening: Symphonie Fantastique + Q&A at The Fruit

Grief Ceremony hosted by Circle of Healing at People's Solidarity Hub (white building)

Sapphic Happy Hour at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club - Durham

7 p.m.

Duke Women's Soccer vs Penn State at Koshkinen Stadium

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

Eagles Nest Jam featuring NCCU Jazz at Missy Lanes

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing

7:30 p.m.

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

8 p.m.

Queer-Eoke at Club ERA

Music Trivia Bingo with Stormie Daie! at The Velvet Hippo

Friday, August 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.

Friday Co-Working Social at The Glass Jug Downtown

5 p.m.

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

6 p.m.

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

Dancefulness Summer Workshops at Durham Arts Council

Third Friday in the Visitor Info Center - End-of-Summer Bucket List at Durham Visitor Info Center

Reception: June Merlino Retrospective at Through This Lens

The Beagles sing The Beatles! at Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

2025 Group Exhibit. 5 Artists, Many mediums at Bull City Art & Frame Company

"Wild Things & Found Things" in the Loose Leaf Gallery at Loose Leaf Gallery in the Durham Food Hall

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

6:30 p.m.

Brightleaf Concert Series at Brightleaf Square

Summer Strings of Soul: A Motown Chamber Experience at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

7 p.m.

Dashi x The Floor Izakaya Sessions at Dashi

Swing Dance Class at Mystic Farm and Distillery

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

7:30 p.m.

The Beautiful People Club at The Blue Note Grill

8 p.m.

Dance Blues Friday at Studio 5

Pass the Aux at Boricua Soul

Open Mic Comedy Night at Durty Bull Brewing Company

8:30 p.m.

Ally J and Kevin Clark at Arcana

Summer Strings of Soul: A Motown Chamber Experience at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

9 p.m.

First Friday Latin Nights at The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge

Hush Hush Improv Comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

Karaoke at Flying Bull Beer Company Taproom

Well Seasoned - comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

9:30 p.m.

Femme Friday: 3rd Friday Dance Parties! at The Velvet Hippo

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

Goodies : 2000s Hip Hop Nite at Motorco

Saturday, August 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 a.m.

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park

10 a.m.

Brightleaf Harvest Day at Duke Homestead State Historic Site

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.

North Durham Farmers' Market at Soul Sanctuary

Doggie Pool Party at Ment Beverage Co

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

1 p.m.

The DREAM Fashion Show at Faith Community Church International

1:30 p.m.

Saturday Day Party: Yonder at The Blue Note Grill

2 p.m.

Casual Karting: Silly 4 Person Mario Kart World Casual Video Game Competition at Gizmo Brew Works - Durham Taproom

3 p.m.

Duke Field Hockey vs Richmond (Exhibition) at Williams Field

4 p.m.

Rescue Brew Launch Party at Boxyard RTP

Sips & Scribbles: Picture frame decorating party! at The Scrap Exchange

5 p.m.

Sippin’ Thru The Summer: Bull City Bar Crawl at Downtown Durham

6 p.m.

Duke Men's Soccer vs JMU at Koshkinen Stadium
7 p.m.

Rhonda Robichaux & Meaux--NOLA Blues, Soul, & Funk at Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen

Whoop, FM Snow, and Plastic Giants at Rubies on Five Points

7:30 p.m.

The Gravy Boys at The Blue Note Grill

Outdoor Movie Series @Crank Arm Durham Saturdays at Crank Arm Brewing DRM

8:30 p.m

Jo Gore Performing Live @ Missy Lanes at Missy Lane's

9:30 p.m.

Saturday Night Dance Party at The Velvet Hippo

10 p.m.

4 Sport at The Fruit

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat! at Club ERA

10:30 p.m.

Thee Lion’s Den: an All Trans Cast of Dance & Burlesque w/ DJ Kali Fuchis at Pinhook

11 p.m.

Sonido Divino | Latin Night (18+) at Club Era

Sunday, August 17

Events at Moon Dog Meadery

• 12:30-6 p.m. - TTRPG Open Table Day
• 6:30-9 p.m. - Open Mic Night

10 a.m.

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

11:30 a.m.

Yoga @ The Winery at Zinc House Winery & Brewery

12 p.m.

Sunday Dollar Bin Sale for Charity at Rumors Durham

12:15 p.m.

Public Tour of Duke Chapel at Duke University Chapel

1 p.m.

The Sunday Chill with Carter: Carter Minor & Lindsay Rosebrock at The Blue Note Grill

2 p.m.

The Sunday Set: Queer Icons Only with DJ Skylan at The Durham Hotel

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing Company

6:30 p.m.

Photography Stroll & Meet up at Ment Beverage Co.

7 p.m.

Frisky Business Presents: Steamy Stories with Stormie Daie at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

Karaoke Night at the bar @DBCo

8 p.m.

The Queen Sheba and Dasan Ahanu Album Release Party at Pickleback 2

9:30 p.m.

Live Jazz Event with Symbiosis at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

Running Art Exhibits

Art Exhibition — Summer at Craven Allen Gallery

• Summer brings together the work of Peg Bachenheimer, Kathryn DeMarco, Paul Hrusovsky and Judy Keene, four of Craven Allen Gallery’s most popular artists. Working in a variety of mediums, including oil paint, collage and encaustic, they create pieces that range from complete abstraction to representational and figurative. Each artist pays special attention to the interactions of color and texture in their pieces, manipulating these elements in their own ways.
• Monday–Friday 9:30 – 6, Saturday 10 – 4
• June 29-August 23
• Free

Bullish On Art: 5 Points Gallery Members Showcase at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery proudly presents Bullish on Art, a Members Showcase celebrating the creative force of Durham’s vibrant art scene. Virtually all of their artists live in Durham, and all have deep ties to the region. Their work reflects a broad range of contemporary perspectives shaped by life in the South. The exhibition features paintings, sculpture, fused glass, mixed media works, and finely crafted furniture by ten Triangle-based artists. Join in for the Third Friday Reception on August 15, 6–9pm.
• August 13- September 13
• Free

Coming into Focus: A Snapshot of Photography at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

• Recently the Nasher has added over 2,000 photographs to its collection, including works by the best-known practitioners from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, such as Edouard Baldus, Ilse Bing, Henri Cartier-Bresson, André Kertész, Arthur Rothstein, Nadar, and Edward Weston. Coming into Focus: A Snapshot of Photography at the Nasher celebrates these gifts and other acquisitions, highlighting a sampling of gems and
  illuminating a bright future of continued collecting and presenting of photography in innovative and ambitious ways.
• July 28- January 1
• Free

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