Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(September 29- October 5)

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

Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

• Elvis Costello began writing songs at the age of thirteen. 2017 marked the 40th anniversary of the release his first record album, “My Aim Is True”.
• He is perhaps best known for the songs, “Alison”, “Pump It Up”, “Everyday I Write The Book” and his rendition of the Nick Lowe song, “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love and Understanding”.
• His record catalogue of more than thirty albums includes the contrasting pop and rock & roll albums, “This Year’s Model”, ”Armed Forces”, “Imperial Bedroom”, “Blood and Chocolate” and “King Of America” along with an album of country covers, “Almost Blue” and two collections of orchestrally accompanied piano ballads, “Painted From Memory” - with Burt Bacharach and “North”.
• He has performed worldwide with his bands, The Attractions, His Confederates - which featured two members of Elvis Presley’s “T.C.B” band - and his current group, The Imposters – Steve Nieve, Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher - as well as solo concerts, most recently his acclaimed solo show, “Detour”.
• Tuesday, September 30
• 8 pm

PLAYlist Concert Series: Magnolias at Durham Central Park

• This powerful duo, comprised of Memphis-based singer-songwriter and accordionist Marcella Simien and Chicago-based fiddle player and singer-songwriter Anne Harris, brings a deeply soulful and electrifying performance to Durham Central Park. With influences spanning Creole, Soul, Blues, and Folk, their music weaves ancestral stories into a rich, resonant experience.
• Each evening starts with DJ Travis Gales spinning his Friday Night Mix live at the park at 7 p.m. Then the band takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. sharp. All the music is simulcast live through WNCU.
• There are restrooms at Durham Central Park and the venue is ADA accessible. Parking is free in the lots caddy-cornered and above the park (entrances are on Foster St. and Morris St).
• Local food trucks will be on site, as well as craft beer and other vendors.
• There’s lawn seating, so please bring a blanket or lawn chair. Picnics are welcome, but outside alcohol is not allowed. Leashed pets are welcome.
• Friday, October 3
• 7 pm
• Free

Phoenix Fest at Fayetteville St. and Lakewood Ave.

• African Market
• Food Truck Rodeo
• Live Music Festival
• Saturday, October 4
• 11 am
• Free

Missy Lane's Block Party at 300 Block of East Main Street

• Missy Lane’s Block Party launches this October — a new fall music festival in downtown Durham!
• This fall, downtown Durham will debut a major new cultural event when Missy Lane’s Charitable Foundation, Missy Lane’s Assembly Room LLC, and Stretch Music LLC present the first-ever Missy Lane’s Block Party — directly in front of Missy Lane’s Assembly Room.
• Inspired by the Art of Cool Festival (2014–2017) under the leadership of founder Dr. Cicely Mitchell, Missy Lane’s Block Party is launching as a high-energy Durham live music festival designed to fill the streets with performances, food, art, and community in partnership with Chief Xian Atunde Adjuah. This fall music festival in North Carolina will showcase top-tier national acts across two stages — the Call Stage and the Response Stage — creating a continuous flow of music throughout the day.
• Saturday, October 4
• 1 pm

"Dear Addy" Dinner at Historic Stagville

• Join host Jay Nailah and our chef for the evening, Chef Ricky Moore fora A special evening of history and culture, honoring African American culinary traditions and American Girl's Addy Walker.
  Chef Ricky Moore who is a James Beard Foundation award-winning chef, author, and owner of Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham, has crafted a very special menu that is innovative, yet rooted in tradition. It incorporates some of the foods that the enslaved ancestors would have eaten, and foods that sustained and nourished them in freedom.
• 5 course dinner
• Curated libations
• Live music
• Historical readings
• Saturday, October 4
• 5:30 pm
• Admission: $150 per person

Durham Twilight Market at Golden Belt Campus

• The MAKRS Society presents: Durham Twilight: a night market series.
• Featuring local vendors, a live DJ, performances by Dakota Fox Entertainment and beer and wine.
• Saturday, October 4
• 5:30 pm
• Free

Outdoor Movie Screening — Ghostbusters at Durham Central Park

• Bring your own picnic blanket or chair. No alcohol or smoking allowed. Part of the Fall Movies in the Park Series.
  
• Saturday, October 4
• 8 pm
• Free

Illuminate Durham Mind-Body-Spirit-Arts Festival at Durham Armory

• Experience the BEST in local holistic wellness & arts! Exhibitors offer aura photography, bodywork, energywork, intuitive readings including tarot and astrology, handmade jewelry and gifts, luxurious spa products, free workshops and more. Free admission, too! Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Sunday, October 5
• 10 am
• Free

Move-A-Bull City Open Streets Event at Blackwell, Corcoran, and Foster Streets between Morehead Avenue and Trinity Avenue

• Move-A-Bull City Open Streets is a free, car-free celebration of active living in the heart of downtown Durham. On Sunday, October 5, from 12–4 pm, Bike Durham and community partners will transform Blackwell, Corcoran, and Foster Streets into a vibrant public space where people can walk, bike, roll, and play without the stress of traffic.
• The event invites everyone—residents and visitors of all ages and abilities—to experience city streets in a new way. Bring a bike, skates, a stroller, or just comfortable shoes and explore over a mile of open public space. Along the route you’ll find live music, dance and fitness demos, family-friendly games, art activities, and a pop-up “protected intersection” that showcases how our streets can support community health, creativity, and connection.
• Sunday, October 5
• Noon
• Free

Multi-Day Events

Oktoberfest at Ponysaurus Brewing Co. Bull City Beer Challenge Check-in Event 🍺

• September 20 – October 5
• Ponysaurus' biggest Oktoberfest ever! They’re brewing triple the amount of beer as last year and serving up a German-inspired food menu to match.
• On Tap:
  • Core German-style favorites: Munich-style Helles, Gose, and Kölsch
  • Small-batch Oktoberfest exclusives: Altbier, Berliner Weisse, Hefeweizen, Dry-Hopped Hefeweizen, Rauchbier, and Vienna Lager. All draft-only, all limited—nab a pint while they last!
• Oktoberfest Flights
  • Try a Radler: a traditional German blend of beer and lemonade.

• On the Menu:
  • Goulash Pizza with braised beef, rustic tomato, caramelized onions, peppers, carrots & sour cream drizzle
  • Oktoberfest Pie with Ponysaurus Beer Braised Sausage, Peppers & Onion
  • Bavarian Pretzel & Mustard
  • Apple Turnover Ice Cream Sammy with apple filling, caramel dip, and pretzel crumble

John Mulaney: Mister Whatever at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

• John Mulaney is a three-time Emmy Award, Critics Choice award and WGA award-winning writer, comedian and actor. Most recently, Mulaney can be seen as the host, writer and executive producer of his Netflix talk show EVERYBODY'S LIVE WITH JOHN MULANEY. The show serves as the continuation of the series EVERYBODY'S IN LA. The series features monologues, guests, pre-taped sketches, musical segments and more. EVERYBODY’S IN LA, was a six-night live comedy series that explored Los Angeles during the Netflix Is A Joke Festival in 2024. In December 2024, Mulaney starred in the Broadway play “All In: Comedy About Love,” alongside a cast including Fred Armisen, Richard Kind and Renee Elise Goldsberry. Mulaney is currently on the first leg of his newest stand-up tour, JOHN MULANEY: MISTER WHATEVER, performing across North America. Mulaney can next be seen in the Amazon MGM Studios film, MADDEN, an upcoming American biographical sports drama directed by David O. Russell.
• Oct 2 - 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
• Oct 3 - 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
• Oct 4 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Oct 4 - 9:30 PM - 11:30 PM

Universal Monsters Film Series at Carolina Theatre

• Universal Monsters is the name given to a series of distinctive horror, suspense and science fiction films made by Universal Studios from 1923 to 1960. Although not initially conceived as a franchise, the enduring popularity and legacy of the films and the characters featured in them has led the studio to market them under the collective brand name of Universal Studios Monsters.
• Films include Dracula, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and more.
• September 29- October 2
• Admission: $12 per screening, or $50 of 5-pass

Día de los Muertos Ofrenda at Duke Chapel

• Honor the dead with Día de los Muertos Ofrenda, a Day of the Dead altar piece, at Duke Chapel. Visitors are invited to contribute to this sacred Mexican tradition by adding an offering in the form of photographs or objects that represent a departed loved one, or by adding a link to a paper chain that drapes over the Ofrenda.
• Now in its third year, the Ofrenda returns to the Chapel as part of their mission to bridge faith and learning, in collaboration with Say the Thing, fostering cultural understanding and togetherness. This Ofrenda was first exhibited at the Rubenstein Arts Center in 2023 and features large colorfully painted calaveras (skulls), one of the most prominent symbols of Día de los Muertos. In addition to the calaveras, which were created by artists from the Inter-Latin American Artist Collective (ILAAC), you will find cempaxochitl (marigolds), papel picado (cut paper), and alebrijes (mythical creatures) painted on rocks. These elements of the ofrenda will be made in Duke Arts Create workshops this October.
• In relocating to Duke Chapel, the Ofrenda deepens its ties to the holiday’s religious roots and invites participants to explore how different cultures and religions honor the dead. Visit the Ofrenda on your own or join us for special events leading up to Día de los Muertos on November 1st and 2nd. Your participation will help weave a tapestry of memories and stories that transcend time and honor the enduring significance of this cherished tradition.
• October 3- November 2
• Free

Saint Luke’s Pumpkin Patch at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church

• Kids of all ages love A PUMPKIN PATCH. Treat your kids and yourself to a good time at St. Luke’s Pumpkin Patch which runs from October 4th – October 31st. They open on the 4th at 1:00 pm.
• Regular hours are Sun: 12pm – 7pm, Mon-Fri: 1pm–7pm, and Sat: 10am -7pm.
• Many choices of pumpkins and amazing gourds are available and it’s a great place to take photos of the kids. Proceeds are used to fund outreach and various programs at St. Luke’s. Whether you need pumpkins for Halloween or for pumpkin pie, they have what you want.
• October 4- 31
• Free Admission

Holder Hill Farm Pumpkin Patch at Holder Hill Farm

• Pick your own pumpkin straight from the vine, see and feel other crops, take a hay ride around the farm, visit with farm animals, take a stroll through the nature trail, enjoy some time in the different play areas! Pack a lunch and enjoy the picnic area before getting lost in the corn maze!
• M-Sa 9 a.m - Dusk
  Su 10 a.m. - Dusk
• September 19-November 2
• Admission: $16 per person for all activities and a pumpkin

Pick Your Own Muscadine Grapes at Herndon Hills Farm

• Pick Your Own Muscadine Grapes at 200-year-old Herndon Farm in Durham. Muscadines are native to North Carolina and a true Southern treat! They have 10 varieties, all certified organic, all sweet and delicious. Highlight of the fall for anyone interested in Southern food.
• $3.50 per pound
• Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Feb. 25, 2026

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, September 29

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.

Trivia Night at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

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

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

Tuesday, September 30

5 p.m.

Yaki Tuesday at Dashi

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

5:30 p.m.

Duke Football Radio Show and Tailgate Dinner at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

6 p.m.

“Artful Evenings” Artist in Residence Series @ JB Duke Hotel at JB Duke Hotel

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.

Eyrie Vineyards Wine Dinner at Nanas at Rockwood

7 p.m.

Duke Men's Soccer v. Averett at Koskinen Stadium

BL_ANK // Tacoma Park // Angell/Blake/Golombisky/Proctor/Sabiston at The Pinhook

Indie Strings Orchestra Fall Concert at Durham Armory

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

8 p.m.

Pixel Grip at Motorco

Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

Wednesday, October 1

3 p.m.

Trivia Night with Birdsong Brewing at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

4:30 p.m.

Shaw Women's Soccer v. University of Mount Olive at Durham County Memorial Stadium

5 p.m.

Wine Wednesday! Free Wine Tasting at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

Carolina Filmmakers Happy Hour at Motorco/Parts & Labor

Horton Grove Hike at Horton Grove Preserve

An Evening of Magic with Michael Bloemeke at The Durham Hotel

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.

Shaw Men's Soccer v. University of Mount Olive at Durham County Memorial Stadium

Shaun Jay | The Magic of Innovation (Magic Show) at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery

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.

English Country Dance at Reality Center

Not Dead Yet! – John Cleese and the Holy Grail at Carolina Theatre

8 p.m.

PET SOUNDS LIVE with The Music of The Beach Boys featuring Pet Sounds Live! at Motorco Music Hall

Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

Thursday, October 2

5:30 p.m.

Walking Club with Bull City Strollers at Glass Jug Downtown

6:30 p.m.

Decolonizing Yoga at Duke Park

Sapphic Happy Hour at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club - Durham

7 p.m.

Duke Women's Soccer v. Pitt at Koskinen Stadium

Reel Fellowship Movie Night at Southside Church of Christ

Thursday Trivia at Baryo

Millington / Neutral Snap / Early Exit at The Pinhook

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.

nora chipaumire: Dambudzo at The Fruit

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

8 p.m.

Sam Greenfield / Polyrhythmics at Motorco

Music Trivia Bingo with Stormie Daie! at The Velvet Hippo

Friday, October 3

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

3 p.m.

Swiftie Party: The Life of a LocoPop at LocoShop

6 p.m.

The Phoebes at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

6:15 p.m.

Evening Eno Exploration Paddle at Eno River Durham

6:30 p.m.

Calling All Show Girls Paint And Sip Event at Wine & Design Durham

7 p.m.

Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium

The Get Down on the Roof at The Durham Hotel

The Ethics of Now with Diane Wilson at Durham Arts Council

PLAYlist Concert Series: Magnolias at Durham Central Park

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

7:30 p.m.

Taylor Swift Silent Disco Album Release Party at Hi-Wire Brewing

nora chipaumire: Dambudzo at The Fruit

8 p.m.

Duke Men's Soccer v. Pitt at Koskinen Stadium

Bangzz Album Release w/ Pie Face Girls and Narsick at The Pinhook

Broken Records: Musical Comedy Improv at Mettlesome Theater

8:30 p.m.

Open Mic Comedy Night at Durty Bull Brewing Company

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

10 p.m.

The [Friday] Night Shift at The Velvet Hippo

Saturday, October 4

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.

Cars and Coffee at Corner of Page and Miami

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park

9 a.m.

NC Disneyana 2025 at Doubletree by Hilton RTP

10 a.m.

Tree Identification Paddle at Eno River Durham

Luftgekühlt 11 at American Tobacco Campus

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

11 a.m.

Phoenix Fest at Fayetteville St. and Lakewood Ave.

Storytime at Barnes and Noble New Hope Commons: Kids Stage

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

11:30 a.m.

Barrels of Fun Brewery Tasting w/ Seth at Bull City Solera and Taproom

12 p.m.

North Durham Farmers' Market at Soul Sanctuary

Bless the Block Party Community Day at Southside Church of Christ

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

1 p.m.

Duke Softball v. Charlotte at Duke Softball Stadium

Kids Build It! at Nailed It DIY Studio Durham

Missy Lane's Block Party at 300 Block of East Main Street

Blessing of the Animals at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church

1:30 p.m.

"Forever Home-Brew" Beer Release & IAR Dog Adoption Event at Glass Jug Downtown

2 p.m.

Duke Volleyball v. UNC at Cameron Indoor Stadium

Oktoberfest at Guglhupf Restaurant

3 p.m.

Casual Chaos, Spooky Edition at Gizmo Brew Works - Durham Taproom

4 p.m.

Artist Talk with Beverly McIver at Craven Allen Gallery

5:30 p.m.

"Dear Addy" Dinner at Historic Stagville

6 p.m.

Evening Eno Exploration Paddle at Eno River Durham

7 p.m.

The Fabulous Nite-life Boogie--Swing, Jump, R & B at Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen

Bamako Rent Party at Gojo

7:30 p.m.

Taylor Swift's "The Life of a Showgirl" Listening Party at Glass Jug Downtown

nora chipaumire: Dambudzo at The Fruit

8 p.m.

Durham Ghost Walk at Fate & Folklore

Outdoor Movie Screening — Ghostbusters at Durham Central Park

9 p.m.

Blind Tigers Live Band Karaoke at Rubies on Five Points

Bardo Bloom at Arcana (entrance on Ramseur)

Emo Karaoke at The Pinhook

9:30 p.m.

Saturday Night Dance Party at The Velvet Hippo

10 p.m.

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat! at Club ERA

Sunday, October 5

10 a.m.

Illuminate Durham Mind-Body-Spirit-Arts Festival at Durham Armory

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

11:30 a.m.

Yoga @ The Winery at Zinc House Winery & Brewer

12 p.m.

Move-A-Bull City Open Streets Event at Blackwell, Corcoran, and Foster Streets between Morehead Avenue and Trinity Avenue

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.

Black Farmers Market at Durham Tech Community College

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

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing Company

3 p.m.

Blessing of the Animals at Duke Chapel Quad

Running Art Exhibits

Yuko Nogami Taylor: 5 Points Gallery Featured Artist at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery is proud to showcase the luminous work of Yuko Nogami Taylor, where the elegance of Japanese Nihonga tradition meets the quiet strength of southern flora. In these paintings, ordinary plants become extraordinary symbols of resilience, humility, and hope. Her work invites viewers into a contemplative space of stillness, where the steady growth of plants reflects the persistence of human spirit.
• Join the Third Friday Reception on September 19, 6–9pm, to meet the artist and experience her inspiring works.
• Enjoy the varied works of ten Triangle-based artists in a range of media including painting, sculpture, fused glass, mixed media, and finely crafted furniture.
• Special Centerfest hours September 20, 10am-9pm and September 21, 11am-5pm.
• 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.
• September 18-October 11
• Free

Art Exhibition — Southern Grammar at Ella West Gallery

• A compelling new group exhibition curated by Raleigh-based painter Clarence Heyward featuring work by Jō Baskerville, Jeremy Biggers, and Sam Lao, Southern Grammar explores the legacy, evolution, and unapologetic spirit of the Black South through powerful visual storytelling.
• From Baskerville’s cinematic black-and-white silhouettes, to Biggers’ hyperreal portraits of defiance and dignity, to Lao’s joy-filled tufted works bursting with color and texture—each artist brings a distinct voice to the conversation. Together, their work offers a multifaceted look at identity, memory, and the cultural truths of the American South.
• The exhibition marks Heyward’s curatorial debut and reflects both his eye for emerging excellence and his deep roots in Southern artistic practice.
• Gallery Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 12PM–5PM and by appointment
• August 17-November 15
• Free

Art Exhibition — Beverly McIver’s “Notes to Self: Personal Work 1994-2025” at Craven Allen Gallery

• Notes to Self features a selection of new work, as well as seminal paintings, prints and collages on view for the first time. These works were created as part of Beverly Mclver’s personal practice, exploring themes and techniques that would later appear in some of her most recognizable paintings.
• Beverly McIver lives and works in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Known for her expressive self-portraits and intimate family narratives, her work is held in major collections including the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the North Carolina Museum of Art, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. She has received numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rome Prize, and, most recently, election as a National Academician by the National Academy of Design. McIver was the subject of the Emmy®-nominated HBO documentary Raising Renee and in 2022 was celebrated with Full Circle, a traveling retrospective organized by the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. She is currently developing an artist residency program, Renny’s Place, in honor of her sister.
• Monday–Friday 9:30 – 6, Saturday 10 – 4
• Reception 9/3, 5-8 p.m.
• Sept. 3-Nov. 15

Miler Lagos: The Merx Tree at Rubenstein Arts Center Gallery

• This site-specific installation by Colombian artist and engineer Miler Lagos is made of cardboard boxes collected on Duke’s campus, stacked and carved to resemble the base of a Ceiba tree—an ancient and sacred symbol in Mesoamerican and Amazonian cultures. By reshaping discarded cardboard to its pre-processed arboreal form, Lagos confronts viewers with the hidden cost of commerce.
• With the title, Merx, Latin for “merchandise” and derived from the Roman god Mercury (patron of commerce and communication/divination), Lagos imbues his work with a multi-leveled significance. The reclaimed cardboard evokes global systems of trade and transformation. And the Cieba tree connects the shamanic practice of bridging realms by inserting tobacco leaves into its bark to Duke’s historical entanglement with tobacco as a commodity. In this context, The Merx Tree becomes both a reflection of the global impact of distribution, and a monument to the invisible, often spiritual, networks embedded within it.
• Sept 7- Nov 25
• Free

Lotería: A Photographic Study of Latino Contributions to Our Community at Golden Belt Gallery of th Durham Art Guild

• The Durham Art Guild will host Lotería: A Photographic Celebration of Latino Contributions to Our Community just in time for National Hispanic Heritage Month. This exhibit features the work of local photographer, Anthony Garza, and brings dynamic portraits of members of our community into the visual world of lotería, an iconic game played throughout most of Latin America and the Caribbean. Through the portraits and accompanying profiles of the people featured in Garza’s work, from carpenters, lawyers, doctors, homemakers, authors, and rock stars, exhibit participants can explore the many ways that these community member’s complex histories and Latino identities bring richness, joy and deep commitment to our lives and our state.
• On Friday, September 19, they will be hosting a lotería game night from 5:30-6:30pm and the mariachi group Viva México playing at 7:00pm.
• Sept 7- Oct 5
• Free

Art Exhibit — The Disobedient Ones at Frederic Jameson Gallery, Friedl Bldg

• Cornelio Campos and Rodrigo Dorfman, two consolidated visual Latino artists living in North Carolina, come together for their first collaborative exhibit. The exhibit will also feature a forum about art and mobility, guided tours, and a film screening as part of the 2025 North Carolina Latin American Film Festival.
• Campos and Dorfman will be exhibiting new paintings created at the intersection of emerging AI technologies and the ongoing challenges of bearing witness to the (im)migrant Latino experience in the Nuevo South. The Disobedient Ones/Los Desobedientes is an attempt to break the rules, challenge assumptions, and search for new definitions of our humanity in a world whose axis and paradigms appear to be disintegrating before our eyes.
• On view Weekdays 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Cornelio Campos is a self-trained painter and muralist from Mexico who has resided in Durham, North Carolina, since 1990. His paintings and murals reflect on his indigenous Purépecha roots and his immigrant experience in the United States. Campos has exhibited throughout North Carolina, Colombia, Italy, and Mexico, and his work is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Museum. He is the first Latino to receive a North Carolina Heritage Award.
• Opening: September 20, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  Film Screening: October 4, 6:00 PM
  Forum: October 11 and 12 (TBA)
  Guided Tour: November 7th (TBA)
  Closing Party: December 12. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• September 29- December 12

Art Exhibit — Sherman Fleming: Unsettled at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

• Known for his provocative performances, Sherman Fleming (b. 1953), is an influential multimedia artist based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This focused survey gathers works spanning forty years of Fleming’s career, presenting paintings, drawings, ephemera, and documentation of his performances made between 1978–2019.
• Fleming’s works are demonstrations of perseverance, self-control, and conviction. The artist’s main medium is his body, which he uses in myriad ways. His endurance performances span hours and even months and include walking through Philadelphia for a day while carrying an eight-foot-tall wooden phallus along with spending a year wearing a noose—objects purposely chosen as material reminders of racial and sexual stereotypes of Black masculinity as well as the ongoing trauma of racialized terrorism in the United States.
• The unsettling nature of his work pushes the boundaries of discomfort as the imagery features both difficult subjects and unresolved compositions. Overall, Fleming’s complex practice is connected through his relentless processes that consistently expand the horizons of what art can be and how it may be experienced on paper, canvas, in a gallery, in a theatre, or even live on the street. Through his innovative explorations of identity, the artist’s messaging continues to resonate in profound ways, many years after its making.
• Tu-Sa 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Su 12-5 p.m.
  
• September 29- January 18

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