Arts & Entertainment

Boundless talent. Unapologetic creativity.

We’ve got the largest performing arts stage between DC and Atlanta;
Festivals many years old and weeks long;
Otherwise boring electrical boxes, parking garages, and tobacco warehouses… painted by local artists telling generations of history. Even our natural green spaces serve as backdrops for dancers, singers, poets, and creators.

This is where baseball is as wonderful a pastime as strolling through the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, where our karaoke and trivia nights are rivaled only by electric parades and rooftop gatherings. Intrigue is uncovered on spontaneous Saturday morning bike tours and acoustic sidewalk performances. Durham’s event calendar isn’t for the faint of heart.

Behind iron and brick lay the perfect place for canvas and sculpture – parted theatre curtains reveal the stages upon which you’re welcome to witness talent uniquely ours as well as world-class acts inspired to perform in Durham. Every inch of our cityscape and outdoor spaces are where you, too, can take part in creating your own magic and take in the magic of others. Concerts. Fairs. Festivals. Film. Discover the vibe of a community steeped in boundaries pushed with beauty always on display.

in this section

Museums & Galleries

Creative. Colorful.

Downtown Durham’s vibrant and ever-changing art scene is on display each month on Third Friday. Then, an immersive, city-wide gallery crawl puts you in the center of innovative art, while offering opportunities to interact with designers at local studios and galleries. Every night, expression is on full display, but on this particular night, our cityscape comes alive with shops and galleries, and our restaurants stay open late as impromptu music is played well into the...

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Performing Arts

Shout. Leap. Sing. Dance.

Movement and sound. That’s us. We’re loud enough to be heard, and bold enough to command attention. The performing arts are a cornerstone of how Durham came to be. We’re home to DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, a space that’s garnered international acclaim for over a decade of hosting hundreds of shows, including The Book of Mormon, The Lion King, and Hamilton. Our Historic Carolina Theatre hosts the 85-year-old American Dance Festival and the EDM...

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Entertainment & Amusements

You’re the missing ingredient in Durham’s blended social landscape.

Write your own messages and create art on the side of historic apartments in the Central Park district. Snap those fingers to late night jazz in Five Points. Document and photograph the natural splendor of the Eno River while you wander. Paint and sip your way through a collaborative art class at The Streets at Southpoint. Let loose while a drum circle serenades your food truck rodeo escapades. Take in the legendary Beaver Queen pageant...

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