Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(May 27- June 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!

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Durham Bulls vs. Memphis at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• 5/26, 5/28-6/1
• 5/29 Bark in the Park; 5/30 & 5/31 Fireworks; 5/29 & 6/1 Kids Run the Bases

Music Near the Gardens at Duke University East Campus

• Durham legends The Lover Boyz kick off Music Near the Gardens with a powerhouse set. A four-part harmony group backed by some incredible local players, The Lover Boyz have delivered smooth vocals, sharp choreography, and undeniable joy to Durham for over 30 years. Arrive ready to dance at this opening show!
• Wednesday, May 28
• 7pm
• Free event +Free Afterparty: ¡Tumbao! The Pinhook at 9 PM

¡Tumbao! at The Pinhook

• A high-energy Latin Fusion ensemble that will transport you to the vibrant streets of Latin America and beyond. Composed of nine seasoned musicians from diverse genres and backgrounds, this group combines their incredible talents to create a sound that defies categorization.
  With members hailing from all corners of the musical spectrum, ¡Tumbao! effortlessly blends the infectious rhythms of Salsa, the groove of Funk, indigenous beats of Cumbia, the electrifying power of Latin-Rock, the smoothness of R&B, the mind-expanding Psychedelic Amazonian beats, and the soul-stirring touch of Brass. Formed in 2019, ¡Tumbao! has wasted no time in capturing the hearts and ears of audiences wherever they perform. From legendary venues along the United States east coast to festivals that celebrate the very essence of world music, this ensemble’s popularity is skyrocketing. The band’s dynamic stage presence, stellar musicianship, and infectious energy create an atmosphere that is impossible to resist.
  More than heart-pounding rhythms and irresistible melodies, The band provides a cultural journey that celebrates the rich traditions and diverse heritage of Latin America. By blending musical elements from different regions, ¡Tumbao! creates a multicultural experience that unites people from all walks of life.
• Wednesday, May 28
• 9 pm
• Free

Born at Duke Homestead State Historic Site

• We often talk about Duke Homestead as the birthplace of Washington Duke’s tobacco business. But it was also the birthplace of some important Duke family members, and where a handful of women worked to raise those children and maintain a home. Join in for a special program focusing on the lives of the women in the Duke Family household. Learn about the daily expectations of Victorian motherhood from young mothers, through pregnancy and birth, caring, teaching, mortality and remarriage, and enslaved vs white motherhood.
• Saturday, May 31
• 11am
• $2 per person

Tropical Party @ Liberty & Plenty at Liberty & Plenty Distillery

• Release of Cap & Cane Spirits Overproof Rum, the newest powerhouse in Liberty & Plenty's lineup — just awarded an astonishing 98 points at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition! To celebrate, they’re throwing a release party at Liberty & Plenty Distillery.
  • Free snacks & food
  • Live set from Jorden the DJ from 3-6PM
  • Hourly giveaways (you could win bottles, merch, and more!)
  • Special cocktail menu inspired by the globally-celebrated Tropical Standard — including collaboration with local NC rum legends, Outer Banks Distillin
  • PLUS: Did you know you can taste Cap & Cane Overproof Rum for free any day at the distillery? Just stop by and sip the 98-point magic for yourself

• Saturday, May 31
• Noon
• Free

Kate McGarry & Keith Ganz Quartet — Music on Main Concert at Cinema Circle Stage at The Streets at Southpoint

• Music on Main features a wide selection of musical artists selected by Duke Arts every Saturday through October 12 from 5–8 p.m. Attendees of all ages are invited to bring chairs and blankets for seating and discover a new artist each week! Takeout is available from Streets at Southpoint restaurants, and you take advantage of the new social district, which allows visitors to enjoy alcoholic beverages purchased at on-site restaurants/bars while walking around the designated social district.
• Saturday, May 31
• 6pm
• Free

9th Wonder & Give Em Soul: One Forty Seven at The Fruit

• 9th Wonder and Give Em Soul: A Jazz Fusion and Hip-Hop Tribute to Durham is a powerful celebration of the Bull City’s deep musical roots and creative spirit. Legendary producer 9th Wonder joins forces with the dynamic collective Give Em Soul to blend lush jazz melodies with head-nodding hip-hop rhythms in a genre-bending live performance. With live instrumentation and soul-soaked beats, this show bridges generations and honors the legacy of Durham’s music scene. It’s a one-night-only tribute to the past, present, and future of the city’s sound—don’t miss it.
• Saturday, May 31
• 8pm
• Tickets Required

Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park

• Join us downtown for over 50+ food trucks, cuisine from all over the world, and family fun - making it the ultimate Sunday Funday in Durham Central Park! The famous rodeos feature trucks and drink vendors of all types for you to enjoy in the park or as you’re passing through on your way to the taproom, whether you need respite from the weather indoors or enjoying the sun on the patio. You can bring your food in as you grab a drink, or you can even take a drink with you in the Durham Bullpen. Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeos aren’t just a great place to relax and eat great local street food, they also support Durham Central Park. These events raise much needed funds that help to operate, beautify, program and improve the park’s five acres. So come on out Sundays!
• Sunday, June 1
• Noon
• Free

Multi-Day Events

NCHSAA Softball State Championships at Duke Softball Stadium

• 5/30-31
  

NCHSAA Lacrosse State Championships at Durham County Memorial Stadium

• 5/30-31

Walltown Children's Theatre 25 Year Celebration at Walltown Children's Theatre

• Walltown has been pouring into young developing artists for 25 years. This year's showcase is a nod to that rich 25-year history AND an introduction to the young artists who are continuing to build on that legacy. The showcase will highlight students' performing arts journeys in all departments - Dance, Drama, and music. Shows will be geared toward each of 3 divisions, with a separate recital for our Music students. No matter which division your little performer is in, you will want to attend more than one show to experience the breadth of what Walltown offers our students ages 3-18.
• May 27-June 1

Retro Film Series — School in the Crosshairs at Carolina Theatre

• Genre master Nobuhiko Ôbayashi is best known for 1977’s “Hausu,” and this 1981 fantasy is filled with his trademark analog special effects and camera tricks, though this time supported by a stronger main story with a well-developed central character, a notable departure from “Hausu.” Hiroko Yakushimaru stars as Yuko, a high school girl who must defend her school from an extraterrestrial attack. A new transfer student is using her psychic abilities to transform their school into a conformist, almost fascistic staging area for an alien takeover of the Earth, while coercing her classmates into going along. Discovering her own latent telekinetic abilities, Yuko teams up with Koji, her budding boyfriend from the kendo club, to fight off the invaders. The special effects-heavy finale – a battle between Yuko and Kyogoku, the demon-like extraterrestrial being who has set his sights on the school – manages to outdo “Hausu” in its wild, brain-melting unbelievability. It’s also a brilliant statement about conformity and free thought, most likely aimed by Obayashi at Japanese society in general and the film industry in particular. Despite having been remade over and over as a television series, animation, and other live-action films, it’s Obayashi’s version that is considered the best by Japanese critics and fans.
• May 23-29
• Admission: $12+

Durham Bulls vs. Memphis at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• 5/29 Bark in the Park
• 5/30 &
• 5/31 Fireworks

Retro: The Criterion Collection Film Series at Carolina Theatre

• Nine of the Greatest Films Ever Made are returning to the big screen for 3 days. The Criterion Collection is a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films. Since 1984 Criterion has aimed to reflect the breadth of filmed expression. It tries not to be restrictive or snobby about what kinds of films are appropriate. An auteur classic, a Hollywood blockbuster, and an independent B horror film all must be taken on their own terms. All Criterion asks is that each film in the collection be an exemplary film of its kind.
• May 30-June 1
• Admission: $12+

BOOM Club: The Rail Residency at American Tobacco Campus: The Rail Car

• Durham, NC — BOOM Club, a new Arts Organization dedicated to providing resources for electronic musicians, is excited to announce the launch of its pop-up Synthesizer Clubhouse at the Rail Car–a historic train car at American Tobacco Campus, reimagined as a unique space for sound, creativity and community. Open every weekend from May 2nd through July 27th, the Clubhouse will provide a hands-on space for music lovers to explore high-quality electronic music instruments, participate in free workshops, and enjoy free live performances from local and visiting artists.
• Synthesizer Exploration Stations – Try out a variety of synthesizers and music production gear
• Free Workshops – Learn synthesis, beat-making, and live performance techniques from expert artists
• May 30- June 1
• Free

Whitelisted at Mettlesome Theater

• Rebecca is enjoying life in her newly renovated apartment when some seriously spooky stuff starts happening.
• Bulldog Ensemble Theater presents a darkly comic play about gentrification and the ghosts it can't erase.
• May 29-June 1
• Admission: $20 General; $18 military and over 65; $10 under 35

The Brunch Society at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

• Every weekend, Missy Lane’s curates a high-style gathering of sound, flavor, and soulful connection. Welcome to The Brunch Society—where Durham’s tastemakers gather for unmatched vibes and an elevated culinary experience.
• Live DJ sets with soul, R&B, funk, and vinyl classics
• Brooklyn Barista coffee to start your morning smooth
• Signature cocktails crafted for midday celebration
• Rotating brunch menu inspired by Southern roots and seasonal creativity
• Premium ambiance with stylish seating and a grown, gorgeous crowd
• Saturdays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | Sundays 12 p.m.–3 p.m.
  

Oyster Happy Hour at Alley Twenty Six

• Durham’s Alley Twenty Six has changed its weekday raw oyster specials to only offer a selection of oysters from the North Carolina coast. These raw N.C. oysters are offered at half price from 4-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. They are served with cocktail sauce, Mignonette sauce and lemon. Bar seats are available first come, first serve or make a reservation at alleytwentysix.com.
• May 13-June 27

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 Tuesdays through Sundays. The three-course menu includes appetizer, entree and dessert. A recent menu includes 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 creme or St. Angel Triple Creme Cheese. The menu and price changes based on season and ingredient availability.
• Tue, Apr 1 - Sun, Jun 29
• 4-5:30 p.m.
• $40

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.
• Mon, Mar 31 - Sat, June 21
• Select Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.
• $12+; $10+ children 12 and under; $40+ for series

Tuesday, May 27

5 p.m.

Adult Coloring Night at Ment Beverage Co.

Yaki Tuesday at Dashi

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

6 p.m.

MOTHS! Who? What? Where? When? Why? at Durham County Main Library Auditorium

Figure Drawing and Tarot with Virginia at Arcana

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.

Trivia at Durham Food Hall

7 p.m.

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, May 28

10:30 a.m.

Storytime on the Roof with Durham County Library at The Durham

3 p.m.

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

5 p.m.

Wine Study: Free Wine Tasting at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

Queer Trivia at Arcana

Dice & Drafts at Ment Beverage Co.

6:30 p.m.

Durham Bulls vs. Memphis at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

7 p.m.

Music Near the Gardens at Duke University East Campus

ZincHouse Laughs Comedy Show at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery

Karaoke Night at Mavericks Smokehouse

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

Pinball Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

7:30 p.m.

Ally J on the Roof at The Durham Rooftop

Rooftop Floating Sound Bath at Unscripted Durham

8 p.m.

Trivia Night at Bull McCabe's Irish Pub

Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

9 p.m.

¡Tumbao! at The Pinhook

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

Thursday, May 29

5 p.m.

Thirsty Thursdays at Dashi

5:30 p.m.

Walking Club with Bull City Strollers at Glass Jug Downtown

6 p.m.

"Less is More: Rightsizing Your Home and Your Life” Masterclass @ JB Duke Hotel at JB Duke Hotel Atrium

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

6:15 p.m.

Pony Run with Fleet Feet at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

6:30 p.m.

Durham Bulls vs. Memphis at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

R&B Yoga Class at Baba Chuck Dance Studio - Hayti Heritage Center

Decolonizing Yoga at Bullitanica

Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club - Durham

7 p.m.

Trivia Night at Beer Tooth Taproom

Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

Eagles Nest Jam featuring NCCU Jazz at Missy Lanes

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, May 30

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

5 p.m

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

6 p.m.

The Duke Street Dogs at The Blue Note Grill

6:30 p.m.

Durham Bulls vs. Memphis at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

8 p.m.

Open Mic Stand-Up Comedy at Durty Bull Brewing Company

8:30 p.m.

Ally J and Kevin Clark at Arcana

9 p.m.

Cirque du Sol-Rave at The Fruit

Hammer at The Fruit

Hush Hush Improv Comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

Karaoke at Flying Bull Beer Company Taproom

10 p.m.

Nono Gigsta / One Duran at The Pinhook

Saturday, May 31

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

9:30 a.m.

Kayaking 101 at Falls Lake Durham

Lower Eno River Discovery Paddle at Eno River Durham

9:45 a.m.

Get Wild! Creek Critters at Horton Grove Nature Preserve

10 a.m.

Durham Grown: The Durham County Library Garden Club at Durham County Main Library

11 a.m.

Born at Duke Homestead State Historic Site

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

11:30 p.m.

Saturdaze — DJ Parkside at Boxyard RTP

12 p.m.

Tropical Party at Liberty & Plenty Distillery

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

2 p.m.

Summer Kick Off Party at The Glass Jug Downtown

5 p.m.

Kate McGarry & Keith Ganz Quartet — Music on Main Concert at Cinema Circle Stage at The Streets at Southpoint

6:30 p.m.

Durham Bulls vs. Memphis at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

8 p.m.

9th Wonder & Give Em Soul: One Forty Seven at The Fruit

Moon Dog on Fire at Moon Dog Meadery

9 p.m.

DECIDUUS ft Black Rave Culture 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, June 1

Events at Durty Bull Brewing Company

• 12-2:30 p.m. - NC Air Hockey Players Air Hockey Tournament
• 2-4 p.m. - Hammered Trivia with Casey

Events at Moon Dog Meadery

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

9:30 a.m.

Lower Eno River Discovery Paddle at Eno River Durham

10 a.m.

Durham Community Day at Museum of Life and Science

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

11:30 a.m.

Yoga @ The Winery at Zinc House Winery & Brewery

12 p.m.

Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park

Sunday Dollar Bin Sale for Charity at Rumors Durham

NC Air Hockey Players Air Hockey Tournament at Durty Bull Brewing Co

12:15 p.m.

Public Tour of Duke Chapel at Duke University Chapel

1 p.m.

Durham Bulls vs. Memphis at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

2 p.m.

Hammered Trivia w/ Thor at Durty Bull Brewing Company

3 p.m.

Create your own serving board at Killer Queen Wine Bar

7 p.m.

Karaoke Night at the bar @DBCo

Running Art Exhibits

History Exhibit: Unearthing Stories of Geer Cemetery at Museum of Durham History

• The Museum of Durham History, in partnership with the Friends of Geer Cemetery, is proud to present Unearthing Stories of Geer Cemetery: Using Archaeology to Reclaim, Restore, and Respect Sacred Space. This powerful exhibit explores how archaeological discoveries at Geer Cemetery have uncovered long-forgotten artifacts, shedding light on the lives of those buried there and the community’s ongoing efforts to preserve their memory.
• April 25-May 31
• Free

Art Exhibition – Freedom: Forward March at Ella West Gallery

• Gallery hours: Wed - Sat, 12 m. - 5 p.m. and by appointment
• Sat, Mar 15 - Fri, May 30
• Free admission

Listen – Solo Exhibition by Jim Mckeon at 5 Points Gallery

• Ever felt like the earth is trying to tell you something? Listen, a solo exhibition by artist Jim McKeon is an artful reminder of the profound connection indigenous peoples share with our planet. It is a touching invitation to slow down and listen. Can you hear the whispers of the caretakers and the cries of the protectors? Enjoy the varied works of nine Triangle-based artists in a range of media including painting, sculpture, fused glass, and mixed media.
• Visit 5 Points Gallery in person or online. All work from the exhibition is available for shipping or pickup. Gallery hours: Thursdays & Fridays 5–9pm, Saturdays 1–9pm. Artists are available to talk about the works.
• May 15- June 14
• Free

Pfc. Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero at Hayti Heritage Center

• In 1944, Pfc. Spicely, in uniform and unarmed, was shot and killed by a Durham bus driver just three blocks east of Watts Hospital, after a brief exchange in which Spicely protested the segregated seating on the bus. The Pfc. Booker T. Spicely Exhibition will also be on display at Hayti Heritage Center as a part of the DCAB-supported Pfc. Booker T. Spicely Committee's banner and research, funded by the City's Cultural & Public Art Program.
• May 16-July 13
  

James Keul "A Painter's Life" at Craven Allen Gallery

• James Keul’s new show, A Painter’s Life, examines our connection to nature. Keul is an accomplished artist who has taught painting around the world, working in a variety of mediums to develop the deft, painterly technique seen in his work.
• The exhibition includes a selection of plein air works from his native North Carolina and abroad, as well as large-scale paintings which explore the impact humans are having on the natural world. In these paintings, Keul includes figures, both adults and children, to invite us to consider how our actions will impact future generations.
• Keul values art not only for its own sake, but also as a meditative practice which has guided his life. “Having had an unconventional adolescence, flying back and forth between parents and coasts, and being sent, at age 16, to a therapeutic boarding school in Western Samoa, art has been true north on my life’s compass, helping to guide me through some turbulent events and teaching me the value of patience, perseverance, and humility” he says.
• Keul’s work can be found in important public and private collections around the world. As an educator committed to empowering the next generation of artists, he will be teaching a group of Savannah College of Art and Design students at their campus in Lacoste, France this summer.
• May 17-June 21
• Free

Art Exhibit — Cannupa Hanska Luger: Speechless at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

• “Cannupa Hanska Luger: Speechless” explores and amplifies the problematic colonial history and the concept of cargo cults from an Indigenous perspective. Cargo cults developed as a result of Western military campaigns that sent crated, often airdropped, supplies to foreign lands inhabited by Indigenous peoples.
  This exhibition features several momentual works by the artist, including a large-scale radio made from pine trees titled “The Keep”, three of the artists' “Transportable Intergenerational Protective infrastructure (TIPI)” works, an immersive video, a series of speaker towers, and a group of Native Americans bustles, a traditional part of Native American Powwow regalia.
• Fri, Feb 21 - Sun, Jul 6
• Tue - Sat, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sun 12-5 p.m.
• Free admission