Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(July 21- July 28)

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!

Even More Ways to Find Events in Durham

Discover Durham has launched an app! Now, you can access our event calendar, updated daily, plus curated itineraries, challenges and a handy map to help you find even more things to do, places to eat and drink and more, all from your phone.

Download the App

Noteworthy Events in Durham this Week

Durham Bulls vs. Jacksonville at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• 7/25 Arrive early to see the Budweiser Clydesdales pull their wagon down Blackwell Street and around the ballpark. Enjoy fireworks after the game both Friday and Saturday.
• 7/25 Christmas in July Peanuts Special
• 7/27 Kids Run the Bases
• Games 7/22-7/27

MJ Lenderman & The Wind with Rosali at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

• No one paid too much attention when Jake Lenderman recorded Boat Songs, his third album released under his initials, MJ Lenderman. Before he cut it, after all, he was a 20-year-old guitarist working at an ice cream shop in his mountain hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, getting away for self-booked tours of his own songs or with the band he'd recently joined, Wednesday, whenever possible.
• Wednesday, July 23

Adult Summer Camp at Museum of Life and Science

• Take a journey back to your childhood and relive your favorite summer camp experiences! Make friendship bracelets, custom keychains, and challenge your friends in our inflatable courses! Test your inner scientist with hands-on experiments, race through the treehouses, or ride the train – all while enjoying your favorite adult beverages that evoke your inner kid. Oh, and don’t forget to send a postcard home!
  
• The Main Building, Gateway Park, Hideaway Woods,  Magic Wings Butterfly House, and the  Train will be open for your enjoyment.
• Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ and Hot Chix Hotcakes & Chicken will be on site, along with Waves Shaved Ice available for purchase. Beer and wine will also be available for purchase at pop-up bars.
• Leave the kids at home, this event is for adults 21+!
• Thursday, July 24
• Admission: $45

BBQ Fundraiser for Duke Homestead Education and History Corporation at Duke Homestead State Historic Site

• The Duke Homestead Education and History Corporation, the volunteer non-profit support group for Duke Homestead, will hold a barbecue lunch fundraiser. Individual meal tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door, and the meals are available for both take-out or eating in the site’s picnic area. All proceeds of the lunch will be used to supplement Duke Homestead’s special events, site maintenance, and staff development. Tickets can be purchased in person at the site’s gift shop or at the event.
• They have a new element to add this year! Enjoy a special Victorian Tableaux Vivants performance with music, living pictures, and exciting narration of familiar stories and beloved scenes! The performance will begin at 12:30pm.
• The $12 ticket includes pulled pork BBQ, boiled potatoes, coleslaw, chips, and a roll. Bottled water and canned soft drinks will be available for $2 each. We will also have pound cake slices for $2 each.
• Saturday, July 26
• 11am

Durham Underground Market at Durham Central Park

• The MAKRS Society X Oak City Music Collective presents: Durham Underground Market: a market and concert series.
• Join us for our monthly series featuring new bands every month from Oak City Music Collective, 45+ local vendors, food trucks, and more!
• Event start: 11am
• Bands: 12pm-3pm
• Everything else: 11am-3pm
• House music will be played during band breaks.
• Shop from unique vendors. Jam out to awesome music. Grab drinks and food. And make memories with your friends and family!
• Sunday, July 27
• 11am
• Free

Free Burgers and Hot Dogs at Bull City Burger and Brewery, hosted by Bull City Freebie Society

• Sign up at BullCityFreebieSociety.org, show your confirmation and enjoy free burgers and hot dogs — plus fries and a drink— at Bull City Burger and Brewerhosted by Bull City Freebie Society.

• Saturday, July 26
• 12-4 p.m. while supplies last

Multi-Day Events

Shark Week at Ment Beverage Co

• ALL WEEK Ment will have something sharky playing on the big screen!
• ALL WEEK (Sun-Sat) - Shark week Punch Card
• Get 2 stamps: (attend 2 events): FREE “Ferment” T-Shirt
• Get 4 Stamps: (attend 4 events): Get a $25 gift card & Prize Pack
• All week: Buy a Cider, pick a prize out of the “shark tank”
• All week: FREE temporary tattoos!
• At the end of the week, Ment will pick a raffle winner to win a prize pack of a $25 gift card, T-Shirt, stickers and more!
• Sunday: Get a raffle ticket for every mead float purchased. (mead floats only available on Sunday)
• Monday: Get a raffle ticket for every drink/flight purchased. It’s also Meadgarita Monday!
• Tues: FREE shark craft
• Wed: FREE shark craft
• Thurs: Get a raffle ticket for every drink/flight purchased.
• Fri: FREE Shark Bingo with prizes for all winners!
• Sat: “Shark Hunt” - find the hidden sharks around the tasting room and win prizes!

Gin & Tonic Flight Experience at The Glass Jug Downtown

• Sip, savor, and elevate your evening with the ultimate Gin & Tonic Flight Experience!
• Dive into a Classic G&T Flight featuring four legendary gins - Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray, Beefeater, and Conniption - all for just $15.
• Want to get more creative? Build your own flight from nine top-shelf gins for only $20 and discover your new favorite pairing.
• Whether you're a gin connoisseur or just love a good crisp summer cocktail, this is the perfect night to explore that classic juniper taste as you toast with friends. Don't miss out because your perfect G&T adventure awaits!
• July 23-27
• $20

makegroup at ADF's Scripps Studios

• Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30 pm
• Wednesday, July 23 at 5:00 pm
• Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 pm
• Friday, July 25 at 5:00 pm
• Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 pm
• For Ages 18+
• Step into the evocative world of Group Therapy, an immersive dance-theater experience where movement and language intertwine in a quest for understanding ourselves and one another. Guided by a former dance teacher turned self-certified Experimental Experiential Dance Therapy Theatre Therapist, you’ll join a session like no other—one where bodies speak louder than words, time-outs are transformative, and the act of naming unnamed feelings becomes an art form in itself. Using a DIY aesthetic and a hearty dose of humor, Group Therapy creates a world where we all attempt to get “better”—whatever that means. Leah Cox is the co-creator, co-producer, and performer of Group Therapy, as well as the co-founder of makegroup. In addition to her work in creating and performing, Cox is a nationally recognized educator and served as the Dean of the ADF School from 2015 to 2022.
• This performance involves audience participation at your own comfort level. No dance background needed, just come open to a new experience!
• Admission: $27 (discounts available)

Scapegoat Initiative presents "Keely and Du" at Shadowbox Studio

• This summer, Durham welcomes a new theatrical company, Scapegoat Initiative. Founded by Durham-based actor and activist Arin Dickson, Scapegoat Initiative seeks to be an unconventional, daring, and empowering source of art in Durham. Their artistic and political goals are rooted in engaging viewers in social, economic, political, and environmental activism while celebrating intersectionality and uplifting the marginalized voices that surround us."
• Recommended for ages 18+.
• July 25-26

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company & Paul Taylor Dance Company at Page Auditorium at Duke University

• Friday, July 25 at 7:30 pm *Post-Performance Discussion
  
• Saturday, July 26 at 12:00 pm *Children’s Matinee
• Saturday, July 26 at 5:00 pm
• The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) and Paul Taylor Dance Company will (PTDC) close out the ADF season with a shared program that marks a significant milestone, as both companies are stepping outside of their traditional repertory. DCDC will perform Paul Taylor’s 1975 masterpiece Esplanade, a vibrant exploration of human movement, takes pedestrian actions—walking, running, falling—and elevates them to virtuosic heights. Set to the soaring music of Bach’s violin concertos, Esplanade unfolds in five distinct sections, each a testament to Taylor’s choreographic genius. From its deceptively simple beginnings to its breathtaking finale of dancers fearlessly careening across the stage, the work captures the essence of human experience with raw athleticism and emotional depth. PTDC will perform Ulysses Dove’s Vespers, a mesmerizing piece originally crafted for DCDC in 1986. Vespers celebrates sisterhood through the athleticism and grace of six female dancers, driven by Mikel Rouse’s electronic score. Combining faith and abstract movement, the piece captivates with its precise, repetitive choreography and emotional intensity. The work has traditionally been performed by African American repertory companies. This cross-exchange highlights the companies’ commitment to innovation and cultural exchange, making it a truly momentous performance. To conclude the evening, the festival has commissioned internationally acclaimed choreographer and ADF alum Amy Hall Garner to create a groundbreaking new work for both DCDC and PTDC—an unprecedented collaboration. Garner is known for creating innovative works across ballet, modern, and theatrical genres. She will develop the piece during residencies in Dayton and New York City, with a final creative week at ADF before its world premiere on their shared program. The work will then be featured and toured in both companies’ repertories.
  
• Admission: $40-70

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company & Paul Taylor Dance Company Children’s Matinee at Page Auditorium at Duke University

• Children’s Matinee Series
• Saturday, June 21 at 12:00 pm *Pilobolus
• Saturday, June 28 at 12:00 pm *Ballet Hispánico
• Saturday, July 26 at 12:00 pm *Dayton Contemporary Dance Company & Paul Taylor Dance Company
• The Children’s Saturday Matinee series presents one-hour performances specially curated to ignite and inspire children’s imaginations. A FREE Kids’ Party follows each matinee at the Landing of the Bryan Center, complete with live music, face painting, and more.
• Admission: $18 or $40 for all three performances

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 18-20
• 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

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, July 21

3 p.m.

Meadgarita Monday at Ment Beverage Co.

5 p.m.

Safer Sports — a Discussion and Film Screening at Durham County Main Library Auditorium

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

Tuesday, July 22

5 p.m.

Yaki Tuesday at Dashi

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

6 p.m.

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.

Pony Ride with Ponysaurus Brewing Co. at The Bull in CCB Plaza

Trivia at Durham Food Hall

7 p.m.

D Jean-Baptiste / Chaepter / Applefield at The Pinhook

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, July 23

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.

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 Arcadea

8 p.m.

Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

Thursday, July 24

4 p.m.

Belgian National Day Celebration at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

6 p.m.

Nic Cage Film Discussion Group Film Selection Face/Off and Trivia Night! at Moon Dog Meadery and Bottle Shop

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.

Adult Summer Camp at Museum of Life and Science

Sapphic Happy Hour at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

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

Bullish: A Mettlesome Sketch Comedy Show at Mettlesome Theater

8 p.m.

Queer-Eoke at Club ERA

Music Trivia Bingo with Stormie Daie! at The Velvet Hippo

Friday, July 25

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

5:30 p.m.

Kids Night Out at Museum of Life and Science

6 p.m.

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

The Duke Street Dogs at The Blue Note Grill

7 p.m.

Chilled Reds & Pizza at Glasshouse Kitchen Courtyard

Dashi x The Floor Izakaya Sessions at Dashi

SunSets Evening Rooftop DJ Sets! at The Velvet Hippo

7:30 p.m.

Bullish: A Mettlesome Sketch Comedy Show at Mettlesome Theater

8 p.m.

Open Mic Comedy Night at Durty Bull Brewing Company

9 p.m.

ADF 2025 Season Closing Party at Parizäde

Hush Hush Improv Comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

Karaoke at Flying Bull Beer Company Taproom

Saturday, July 26

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 a.m.

Women's Kayaking 101 at Falls Lake Durham

10 a.m.

Open Saturdays at The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

Messtival! at Museum of Life and Science

Line Dance Class with LineMasterP at GTA Fitness

11 a.m.

BBQ Fundraiser for Duke Homestead Education and History Corporation at Duke Homestead State Historic Site

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

12 p.m.

Car, Truck, Bike and Slingshot Show at Creech Road

Stormie Daie Presents Drag & Serve Drag Brunch at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

1 p.m.

Nailed It DIY - Build It Event at Nailed It DIY Studio Durham

4 p.m.

Christmas in July Community Adoption Event at Beer Tooth Taproom

6 p.m.

Tataco Grand Opening Party at Tataco

7 p.m.

Red Nucleus--Fine Acoustic Guitar & Bass at Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen

Charcuterie Design And Resin Workshop With Board & Bliss at Wine & Design Durham

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

Evening Eno Exploration Paddle at Eno River Durham

7:30 p.m.

Bullish: A Mettlesome Sketch Comedy Show at Mettlesome Theater

8 p.m.

Moon Dog on Fire at Moon Dog Meadery

9:30 p.m.

Saturday Night Dance Party at The Velvet Hippo

10 p.m.

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat! at Club ERA

Sunday, July 27

Events at Moon Dog Meadery

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

9 a.m.

Women's Kayaking 101 at Falls Lake Durham

10 a.m.

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

Sunday Surrender Yoga Series at The 360 Approach

11:30 a.m.

Yoga @ The Winery at Zinc House Winery & Brewery

12 p.m.

Dungeons & Drafts at Glass Jug Downtown

Sunday Dollar Bin Sale for Charity at Rumors Durham

12:15 p.m.

Public Tour of Duke Chapel at Duke University Chapel

2 p.m.

The Sunday Set with DJ Uymami at The Durham Hotel

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing Company

4:30 p.m.

Sunday Supper at The Durham

7 p.m.

Photography Stroll & Meet up at Ment Beverage Co.

Karaoke Night at the bar @DBCo

8 p.m.

Beer Study Film Club: Featuring The Weird World Of Cult Cinema at Beer Study Durham

The Devine Feminine Comedy Showcase at Devine's Restaurant and Bar

Running Art Exhibits

Something Wild is Brewing at Atomic Clock Brewing Company - Taproom

• Something Wild is Brewing features the bold and imaginative work of Christopher Freeman, whose art radiates energy, color, and layered visual storytelling. His paintings combine surreal landscapes, abstract forms, and pop-culture fragments to create scenes that are both disorienting and oddly familiar. Freeman’s work invites viewers to look closer, cultivating reverence for the animals he depicts and reminding us that the wild places they inhabit are fragile and worth protecting.
• July 9- July 21
• Free

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

King Nobuyoshi Godwin: Artist to Have a Good Day Exhibition Featuring American Animals at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery is thrilled to present King Nobuyoshi Godwin’s 2025 Artist to Have a Good Day Exhibition Featuring American Animals, where his joyful, number-filled paintings bring together a diverse cast of creatures to celebrate peace, unity, and friendship. King, an autistic artist, uses vibrant color and repeating numbers to express the simple beauty of togetherness. Each canvas is a heartwarming reminder that harmony across differences makes for a truly good day.
• Join the Third Friday Reception on July 18, 6–9pm. 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. Image: The horse is having a chilin’ day because it’s with the animals, acrylic paint on canvas, 60x48 inches.
• July 17- Aug 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