Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(June 30- July 6)

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

Childrens' Independence Day Parade at Durham Central Park

• Decorate those bike, trikes, wagons and strollers all welcome at 9:30 a.m., with items from The Scrap Exchange. Then, parade through the park at 10:30.
  Following the parade there will be free popsicles and fire truck tours. DJ Pittipat will spin tunes.
• July 4
• 9:30am

Frederick Douglass Community Reading at Historic Stagville

• Commemorate Independence Day with a community reading of Frederick Douglass' powerful Fourth of July address, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July." This is a participatory event, open to people of all ages! Copies of the speech will be provided to all attendees, and you will read it out loud together in front of the slave dwellings at Horton Grove.
• Bring a chair or blanket to sit on the grounds. This free event will last about 1 hour, with the option to tour the original slave dwellings at Horton Grove available afterwards.
• July 4
• 10am
• Free with preregistration

Festival for the Eno at West Point on the Eno

• Music: Over 60 artists on three stages.
• Juried Craft Show: artisans from throughout the Southeast.
• Food & Drink: Food trucks and vendors, craft beers, wines, seltzers and cider.
• More: Art and dance demonstrations, fun on the river!
• The EnoFest, presented annually by the Eno River Association, raises awareness and funds to protect and restore exceptional places that provide our region with clean water and healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas, and open space.
• Parking is at Durham County Stadium, with shuttles to the festival
• July 4-5
• 10am
• Admission: $35

July 4th Bash in the Beer Garden at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

• All day long, enjoy a rare smoothie sour takeover featuring at least 4 smoothie sours from Drekker Brewing Company! Glass Jug will feature these on draft and in the slushie machine all weekend or until they run out.
• Since it's Friday, The Tasty Turkeyque are back with their amazing menu of turkey-que sandwiches, tacos and plates from 4-8pm.
• And if sitting in traffic to see fireworks isn't your thing, stick around for live music from local musician Josh McDonald on the beer garden stage from 5-7pm with his authentic, soulful music that blends jazzy elements with laid-back vibes. Then he'll be followed by our house spin doctor - AJ with Three Count Records - who will have you vibing from 7:30pm on.
• July 4
• 11am
• Free

4th of July BBQ Party at Durham Central Park

• Join in for hot dogs in the park - a fundraiser for Durham Central Park! On Friday the 4th of July starting at 11am there will be tents out serving hot dogs, watermelon and chips for a suggested donation to everyone's favorite downtown park. (Food available until they run out so get there early!) DCP will be on hand to take donations and share their future dreams.
• They'll also be slinging suds in the park so you can enjoy drinks in the bullpen and explore all the park has to offer. Plus Glass Jug's taproom will be open at 11am so you can enjoy the parade from the porch or take a break inside.
• July 4
• 11am
• Free

Durham Bulls vs. Norfolk at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• Post-game fireworks July 4. Gates will open for general admission at the end of the 7th inning based on availability for those that would like to view the fireworks show from inside the ballpark.
• July 4-6

North Durham Farmers' Market at Soul Sanctuary

• North Durham Farmers' Market is Durham's newest Farmers' Market centering BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and Women-led businesses. Visit every 1st and 3rd Saturday each month from 12 noon to 4pm at Soul Sanctuary.
• Saturday, July 5
• 12 pm
• Free

Multi-Day Events

Sauna, Cold Plunge & Forest Yoga at West Point on the Eno

• Sauna House Durham has teamed up with Recess Yoga to bring a very cool activation to the Festival for the Eno.
• Sauna House will have a large mobile sauna, cold shower and two cold plunges to enjoy along the banks of the Eno River. Recess is going to offer free forest yoga during the event.
• July 4-5
• Admission: 1 Day Adult Ticket $35 for Eno Fest admission | $20 for 1-hour Sauna/Cold Plunge | Free Forest Yoga

A Home for the Brave at NorthStar Church of the Arts

• A 3-day cultural festival with concerts, panels, performances, and celebration of Black creative and spiritual power. Music, storytelling, creative spaces, vendors, food and more. See website for schedule.
• July 4-6
• Donations Accepted

Forces of Nature Dance Theatre at Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke University

• Tuesday, July 1 at 7:30 pm *Post-Performance Discussion
• Wednesday, July 2 at 7:30 pm
• An evening with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre is a powerful journey through light and darkness, where ancient legacies come alive through rhythm and movement. It’s a celebration of the human struggle for balance, healing, and consciousness—expressed through the universal language of dance. In this kinetic space, past, present, and future collide in the now as passion, joy, sorrow, love, and desire move together. Divinity becomes one, and diverse dance, music, and rhythm forms unite to stir the soul. Featuring timeless repertoire, this is a night to remember—where the unseen and seen merge, lifting the spirit with hope and connection as dance and audience become one.
• Admission: $30-$45

Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects at von der Heyden Studio Theater at Duke University

• Thursday, July 3 at 5:00 pm
• Friday, July 4 at 12:00 pm
• Saturday, July 5 at 5:00 pm
• Sunday, July 6 at 12:00 pm
• Luke Murphy’s Attic Projects brings four-time Irish Times Theatre Award winner Volcano to ADF this summer. In a liminal space, a living room in disrepair, a room without a door, two exasperated characters recreate the greatest hits of old lives: a night at a rave, a favorite game show, an 80s music video, passing the time or quietly clinging to distant memories of a life out of reach. As the narrative unfolds the deeper precarity of their circumstances comes to focus leading the audience through a fever dream of questions and upended assumptions. Presented across four, forty-five-minute episodes, Volcano blurs the lines of experimental theater, contemporary dance, and a sci-fi thriller in live performance made for the Netflix era.
• Admission: $38

Killer Queen Kitchen Takeover with A Hungry Chef at Killer Queen Wine Bar

• A Hungry Chef is taking over the Killer Queen kitchen! Killer Queen Chef Kyle West is taking a much deserved vacation and A Hungry Chef (by Chef Michael Murtha) is taking over the menu with his very own pop up from Friday, June 27 through Sunday, July 6.
• Simply put, this menu is “homegrown and homemade” – A Hungry Chef’s own words. No need for buzzwords or platitudes – this is the real deal, made with AHC’s own homestead ingredients, his bakery’s fresh baked breads and treats, and his friends’ – aka “local farmers” – vegetables, herbs, ciders, eggs, and more.
• This menu features AHC’s signature sourdough soft pretzels, a Botanist and Barrel Farmhouse Cider Braised Bratwurst with pork from AHC’s pigs, blueberry pierogies stuffed with fresh bluebs picked by Ruby and Max (AHC’s kiddos), just-plucked garden greens/ cucumbers/ tomatoes, and more.
• Farms and friends represented include Eno River Farms, Everfield Farm, Botanist and Barrel Cidery and Winery, Cedar Grove Blueberry Farm, Lyon Farms, Fox Farm and Forage, Durham Greens, and of course, A Hungry Chef.
• June 29-July 6

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
• July 4-6
• Free

American Dance Festival Performance Season at Various Locations

• The American Dance Festival (ADF), with a 91-year legacy, is celebrating its 2025 season this summer from June 12 to July 26. This season features 40 performances by 22 renowned dance companies and choreographers from around the world, including 10 world premieres, 13 ADF commissions, and 11 company debuts. The 2025 season is dedicated to ADF Alumni and highlights the diversity and brilliance of modern dance. A key feature of the season is a special program celebrating the collaborations between iconic choreographers like Trisha Brown, Merce Cunningham, and Paul Taylor, and visual artist Robert Rauschenberg. The season promises a mix of joyful, athletic performances, immersive experiences, and thought-provoking works, while also spotlighting the ongoing contributions of ADF alumni to the future of dance.
• June 12- July 26

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

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

Pride Month Flight at Ment Beverage Co.

• $1 for EVERY flight sold in June will be donated to LGBTQ Center Durham
• June 2-30

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.

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

Monday, June 30

5 p.m.

Arts & Drafts at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

Queer Death Cafe at Arcana

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

Tuesday, July 1

5 p.m.

Yaki Tuesday at Dashi

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

6 p.m.

TBS 1st Tuesday Blues Jam at The Blue Note Grill

Queer Bachata 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

7:30 p.m.

Forces of Nature Dance Theatre at Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke University

Wednesday, July 2

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.

Horton Grove Hike at Horton Grove Preserve

Carolina Filmmakers Happy Hour at Motorco/Parts & Labor

Triangle Area Pagan Alliance Meet and Greet and Tarot with Joy at Arcana

Dice & Drafts at Ment Beverage Co.

6:30 p.m.

Crank Arm DURHAM Wednesday Night Ride at Crank Arm Brewing Durham

Game Night at Glass Jug Downtown

7 p.m.

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

8 p.m.

Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

Thursday, July 3

3 p.m.

Zinchouse Independence Day Celebration at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery

6 p.m.

Keegan Heron and Tarot with Rene at Arcana

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.

Decolonizing Yoga at Bullitanica

Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club - Durham

7 p.m.

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

7:30 p.m.

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

8 p.m.

Bangzz at Rubies on Five Points

Queer-Eoke at Club ERA

Music Trivia Bingo with Stormie Daie! at The Velvet Hippo

8:30 p.m.

Live Music with Megabitch & Supermutt at Roadrunner at Kingfisher

9 p.m.

BukiSound at Motorco Music Hall

Friday, July 4

Events at Club Era

• 7-10 p.m. - Pregame Fridays!
  
  
• 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Freaky Fridays

9 a.m.

Jireh Family Farm — Farm to Table Breakfast & Farm Tour at Jireh Farm

9:30 a.m.

Childrens' Independence Day Parade at Durham Central Park

10 a.m.

Tasting at Counter Culture Coffee

11 a.m.

July 4th Bash in the Beer Garden at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

4th of July BBQ Party at Durham Central Park

12 p.m.

Alley Twenty Six's Fourth of July Cookout at Alley Twenty Six

1 p.m.

Fourth of July Friday Grill Out at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

4 p.m.

Sun’s Out, Buns Out: July 4th on the Roof at The Durham Hotel

6 p.m.

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

Gay Bash and Tarot with Heiltje at Arcana

The Duke Street Dogs at The Blue Note Grill

6:30 p.m.

Durham Bulls vs. Norfolk at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

7 p.m.

Free Live Performance with Jorden the DJ at Liberty & Plenty Distillery

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

8 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

9:15 p.m.

City of Durham July 4th Celebration at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

Saturday, July 5

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 Blvd

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park

9:30 p.m.

Women's Kayaking 101 at Falls Lake Durham

10 a.m.

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

11 a.m.

Free Retro Family Day — The Wild Robot at Carolina Theatre

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

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

1 p.m.

Kids Build It! at Nailed It DIY Studio Durham

Durham History Paddle at Falls Lake Durham

5:30 p.m.

Durham Nights at Golden Belt Campus

6:30 p.m.

Durham Bulls vs. Norfolk at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

7 p.m.

Tea Cup Gin--Vintage Jazz, Bouncin' Blues at Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen

9 p.m.

Bardo Bloom at Arcana (entrance on Ramseur)

Good Kid, M.A.A.D Party at Motorco

Blind Tigers Live Band Karaoke at Rubies on Five Points

9:30 p.m.

Saturday Night Dance Party at The Velvet Hippo

10 p.m.

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat! at Club ERA

Sunday, July 6

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.

Women's Introduction to Standup Paddleboarding at Falls Lake Durham

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.

Pop-up Record Show at Beer Durham

Weenies & ‘Tinis at Motorco Music Hall Veranda

2 p.m.

Introduction to Standup Paddleboarding at Falls Lake Durham

Retro Epics Film Series — The Towering Inferno at Carolina Theatre

Hammered Trivia w/ Thor at Durty Bull Brewing Company

6 p.m.

Matty Frank and Tarot with Joy at Arcana

6:30 p.m.

Durham Bulls vs. Norfolk at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

7 p.m.

Karaoke Night at the bar @DBCo

Running Art Exhibits

Todd Levins: Big Curves, No Brakes at 5 Points Gallery

• Big Curves, No Brakes showcases Todd Levins’ handcrafted furniture, where graceful curves and fine craftsmanship take center stage. Todd is creating minimalist furniture using modern industrial tools, which naturally favor straight lines and right angles, to re-infuse the curves that existed before the wood was milled as lumber. Working with walnut, oak, maple, and southern yellow pine, he builds pieces that attract the hand as well as the eye.
• 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.
• June 19- July 12
• 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

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

Photography Exhibit: Works by Aaron Canipe & Jim DiCiaccio at Through This Lens

• Backyard, and Other Worlds: photographs by Aaron Canipe, Black and White portraits by Jim DiCiaccio.
• July 23- August 9
• Free

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

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