Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(May 4 - May 10)

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 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

Letters to America at The Carolina Theatre

• “Letters to America” is the culminating event of the Durham Symphony Orchestra’s (DSO) 50th Anniversary season. Join them for a landmark event celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and 50 years of the DSO serving the community, promoting music education and uplifting the love and legacy of American Classical Music! The event brings together DSO’s community and arts partners, the Pauli Murray Center, Hayti Heritage Center, North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green, Kristi Vincent Johnson, Director of Dance at NCCU, and Kidznotes.
• The concert will feature two new compositions: a celebratory opening work by Maestro Curry and “Letters to America” by North Carolina composer Brittany J. Green, co-commissioned by the DSO. Written for orchestra and Grammy Award–winning soprano Karen Slack, “Letters to America” uses text derived from historical sources and public contributions and marks the 250th anniversary by centering the voices, stories and experiences of Black women in America. The Durham performance will include a video dance vignette inspired by the work and produced by students from NCCU.
• Wednesday, May 6
• 8 pm
  
• Tickets required

Mother's Day Market at Nanny Goat Market (RTP)

• Celebrate Mother’s Day with an afternoon pop-up at Nanny Goat Market, right outside Concerts on the Creek!
• Enjoy a concert picnic and a sweet collaboration featuring macarons by Little Blue Macaron, tea from Jasper & Gold, and elderberry goodies from Jodi’s Elderberry Syrups.
• Enjoy the sunshine and music, shop local makers, and build a perfect Mother’s Day treat box.
• Saturday, May 9
• 2:30 pm
• Admission: Free

Concerts on the Creek: Too Phat Brass Band at Hub RTP Stage

• Make the most of the in-between by joining Hub RTP for its monthly mid-day performance at the Hub stage.
• This month, Concerts on the Creek features Too Phat Brass Band, known for celebrating the culture and traditions of New Orleans' Second Line Brass music.
• This event is free to attend and open to all. Free parking is located in the deck across the street at 3150 Elion Drive. When you arrive, walk through the outdoor breezeway to the courtyard and you will see the stage. House music begins at 2:30, with the performance starting at 3 p.m. There will be a brief intermission from 4-4:30 p.m. before the final set plays from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 9
• 3 pm

Professinal Ultimate Double Header at Durham County Memorial Stadium

• Carolina Flyers vs Philadelphia Phoenix at 7:30 pm
• Raleigh Radiance vs Nashville Nightshade at 4 pm
• Saturday, May 9
• Tickets required

Durham Geek and Grub Market (Book Nerd Edition) at Durham Armory

• Book Lovers Rejoice! The hit Book Nerd Market has returned for the next chapter! This fun and FREE event features 40+ geektastic vendors, food trucks, special guests and fun activities.
• Begin your adventure at the check-in desk at the main entrance of the building, where little geeks can receive a free goodie from the treasure chest or find out how to participate in the free scavenger hunt. Refresh at the Geek Tavern with a selection of non-alcoholic geektastic beverages.
• No ticket required for this Geektastic journey!
• Sunday, May 10
• 12 pm
• Free

Multi-Day Events

Durham Bulls vs. Round Rock at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• 5/5 at 6:45 pm; Copa de la Diversión - Toros Bravos de Durham
• 5/6 at 6:45 pm
• 5/7 at 6:45 pm; Bark in the Park
• 5/8 at 6:45 pm; Bull Dragons
• 5/9 at 6:45 pm; Peanuts Night
• 5/10 at 1:05 pm; Mother's Day and Kids Run the Bases

The Great Gatsby at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center

• THE GREAT GATSBY is a “Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy” (Entertainment Weekly). Based on the classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Tony Award®-winning new musical is an unforgettable journey of love, wealth and tragedy that brings the Roaring Twenties to life on stage.
• Tue-Sat 7:30 p.m.
• Sat 2 p.m.
• Sun 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.

Gatsby’s Gold - Drink special for The Great Gatsby at Honeygirl Meadery

• Step into the Jazz Age before the curtain rises. Join us for a special Great Gatsby-inspired signature drink “Gatsby’s Gold,” crafted just for the Broadway run at DPAC. Whether you’re headed to the show or just feeling a little glamorous, swing by for a quick pour, a little sparkle, and a proper pre-show toast. Cheers to a night of drama, decadence, and good company.
• May 5-10

Graduation Weekend: Dinner & Brunch at The Durham

• To toast the grads, The Durham will feature special dinner and brunch menus in their first-floor dining space during Graduation Weekend. On Saturday, May 9th, enjoy a four-course prix fixe dinner for $85 per guest in the Coffee Bar from 4–9 PM.
• Join brunch on Sunday, May 10 from 10:30AM to 3PM for a family-style spread at $45 per person ($20 for kids 12 and under). With graduations and Mother’s Day all falling on the same weekend, it will be a busy time in Durham — they highly recommend reservations.
• Admission: $85 per person | $20 kids 12 and under | Family Style

Bear Awareness Week at Museum of Life and Science

• Meet with the Animal Care Team at our Bear Overlook for Q&As focused on coexisting with the bears in North Carolina and keeping wildlife wild, and engage in hands-on activities across campus!
• Bear Q&As will take place all week (May 10 – 16) at 2 pm, and additional programming will take place on Sunday from 10 am – 3 pm.
• Free with museum admission

Phone Free Fun at Glass Jug Downtown

• Want to escape the screens? Need desperately to put your phone down but find it too challenging? Take this opportunity to bond with your friends while everyone sets their cell aside - to hang out old school, just like in the 90's. Happening all day every Sunday starting on May 3rd, you just leave your phone with the bartender who will securely keep them safe. Each beverage you purchase, you get a raffle ticket, which enters you into a raffle drawing done on the last Sunday of every month. So by unplugging, you can win in more than one way - come give it a try!
• Every Sunday from May 3 through July 26

Drafts of the Bull: Craft Beer and Food Tour at Entrance of Brightleaf Square

• Discover the heart of Durham’s craft beer culture with an immersive brewery tour that blends rich flavor and local history. Whether you’re a seasoned beer lover or simply curious, this tour offers an authentic taste of the city—full of character, craftsmanship, and that unmistakable Durham charm. Cheers to an unforgettable experience!
• Your tour begins at Clouds Brewing, where they’ve been brewing since 2014 focusing on German-inspired, American-made bold brews and pub fare. From there, you’ll head to Crank Arm Brewing, a place that’s been focused on bikes and beer since 2013. The next stop is Flying Bull Beer Company who is focused on building community here in Durham through warm hospitality, great food and even better beer. The last stop is Atomic Clock Brewing Company known for innovative brews and a focus on perfection.
• By the end of this tour, you’ll have experienced not just Durham’s best brews, but also the passion and creativity that make this city have such an amazing brewery scene. Bring a friend, meet some new ones, and enjoy this wonderful city with us.
• Every Saturday and Sunday
• 1 pm
• Admission: $75

Discovering West Point: Historic Walking Tour at West Point on the Eno

• Have you ever wondered about the lives of the people who were here before you? At West Point on the Eno, explore the complex histories of our own backyard. West Point on the Eno is not your typical historical site. It's not a battleground for major wars, nor the birthplace of presidents. Instead, it's a vivid tapestry of everyday yet extraordinary lives from Durham's past. Here, the routine of mill workers, the creativity of people like photographer Hugh Mangum, and the stories within the historic house are discovered and shared. These are tales of ordinary people whose lives, like yours, are extraordinary in their own right. Discover a different kind of history at West Point on the Eno, where the extraordinary is found in the ordinary. Take a guided walking tour of West Point on the Eno's historic park.
• Tours leave on the hour at 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. Registration is required. Dogs are allowed on hikes but are not permitted inside historic buildings unless a registered service animal.
• Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through May 31
• Free

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 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 chilled crab rangoon dip for the first course; ricotta gnocchi or shrimp roll for the second course; and for dessert, Mexican chocolate pot de crème or St. Angel Triple Crème Cheese. Price: $40. The menu and prices change based on season and ingredient availability.
• Through June 30th

$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.
• Through June 30th

Durham Beer Garden Monday Specials .75c Chicken Wings & 32 oz Kona Big Wave Mugs at Durham Beer Garden

Monday, May 4

5 p.m.

Boogie Fever: 70s Funk & Disco at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

Arts & Drafts at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

Silent Reading Club at The Glass Jug Downtown

6:30 p.m.

Collector's Night Rip Event at DICK'S House of Sport Durham

Disc Golf Putting League at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

Trivia Night at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

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

7 p.m.

FREE Fun da’MENTal Trivia with “Just Dave” at Ment Beverage Co.

Trivia at W XYZ bar at Aloft Hotel

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

8 p.m.

Drugdealer at Motorco Music Hall

Tuesday, May 5

10 a.m.

Durham Community Day at Museum of Life and Science

11 a.m.

Cinco de Mayo at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

5 p.m.

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

6 p.m.

Duke Baseball v. Queens at Duke

Taco Tuesday! Needle Felt A Squishy Taco with TSE Workshops at The Scrap Exchange

TBS 1st Tuesday Blues Jam at The Blue Note Grill

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.

Cocktail Class at Durham Distillery

Beginners Line Dancing Class at Mystic Farm & Distiller

7 p.m.

Monday Night Trivia at Aloft Durham Downtown

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.

The Chameleons at Motorco Music Hall

Queer Country Night at The Pinhook

Wednesday, May 6

11 a.m.

Guided Tour of Pauli Murray's Childhood Home at Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

11:30 a.m.

Shuffle: Mellow Swells at Hub RTP Stage

3 p.m.

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

5 p.m.

Wine Wednesday! Free Wine Tasting at Beer Study Durham

6 p.m.

Carolina Filmmakers Happy Hour at Motorco/Parts & Labor

Brick Endurance Summer Triathlon at Rolling View Recreation Area

Aliens! It's (almost) Never Aliens! at Durham County Main Library

Mahjong Workshop @ Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

Silent Book Club at Letters Community Bookshop

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.

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

Music Mashup Trivia at Fizzwerks

8 p.m.

Letters to America at The Carolina Theatre

Prince Daddy & the Hyena at Motorco Music Hall

Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

Thursday, May 7

11 a.m.

Lawson's Finest Liquids Tap Spotlight at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

5:30 p.m.

Walking Club with Bull City Strollers at The Glass Jug Downtown

6 p.m.

Art Swap with DAG at Ment Beverage Co

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

6:30 p.m.

Brit Bennett at Hayti Heritage Center

If I Ruled the World...Designing Future Spaces for Ourselves and our Community at Durham County Main Library

Line Dance Class & Open Dance Night at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Decolonizing Yoga at Duke Park

Pony Run at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

Sapphic Happy Hour at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

7 p.m.

Thursday Trivia at Crank Arm Durham

Thursday Trivia at Baryo

Trivia Night at Beer Tooth Taproom

Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing

7:30 p.m.

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

8 p.m.

The Winks & Rouge Cabaret Burlesque and Drag Open Stage at Durty Bull Brewing Company

Skizzy Mars at Motorco Music Hall

Music Trivia Bingo with Stormie Daie! at The Velvet Hippo

9 p.m.

QueerEoke (Karaoke) at Club ERA

Friday, May 8

Events at Club Era

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

9 a.m.

Mother's Day Flower Bar + Local Pottery at Piedmont Wholesale Flowers

10 a.m.

Tasting at Counter Culture Coffee

10:30 a.m.

Scented Storytime! at Durham County Main Library

12 p.m.

Discovering West Point: Historic Walking Tour at West Point

1 p.m.

Traveling with the Fews at Eno River State Park

3 p.m.

North Durham Friday Evening Farmers' Market at Soul Sanctuary

4 p.m.

Bull City Cocktails Tour at Durham Distillery

Playdate Create: Scent Storytelling at Durham Arts Council - GTE Fiber Studio

5:30 p.m.

Kids Night Out at Museum of Life and Science

6 p.m.

K Bomb & The Kool Whips at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

The Duke Street Dogs at The Blue Note Grill

6:30 p.m.

Speed Dating at Glass Jug Downtown

7 p.m.

Line Dance Party! at Mystic Farm & Distillery

8 p.m.

Raue at Stanczyks

8:30 p.m.

House of Heavy at Stanczyks

9 p.m.

Hot in Herre at Motorco Music Hall

Speakeasy Backroom Bash at Boxcar Bar + Arcade

Hush Hush Improv Comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

Well Seasoned - comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

Karaoke at Flying Bull Beer Company Taproom

Saturday, May 9

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 p.m.

parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park

9 a.m.

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

South Durham Farmer's Market at Hub RTP

10 a.m.

Compost Awareness Day at Museum of Life and Science

Self-Guided Tours of Pauli Murray's Childhood Home at Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

Walk-In Saturday at Welcome Tattoo

11 a.m.

Nurture & Flow: A Mother’s Day Yoga & Sound Bath Experience at The 360 Approach

Mother's Day Terrarium Workshop at LocoShop

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

12 p.m.

Bull City Bike Stampede and Afterparty at Crank Arm Brewing

Discovering West Point: Historic Walking Tour at West Point on the Eno

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

1 p.m.

Mommy & Me Mother’s Day Experience at Boxyard RTP

Drafts of the Bull: Craft Beer and Food Tour at Entrance of Brightleaf Square

1:45 p.m.

Downtown Durham Food Tour with Taste Carolina at Visitor Info Center

2 p.m.

Mallarme Music Family Concert: The Woman Who Fell from the Sky and Other Stories at Durham County Library Main Branch

2:30 p.m.

Mother's Day Market at Nanny Goat Market (RTP)

3 p.m.

Concerts on the Creek: Too Phat Brass Band at Hub RTP Stage

4 p.m.

Bull City Cocktails Tour at Durham Distillery

7:30 p.m.

Carolina Flyers vs Philadelphia Phoenix at Durham County Memorial Stadium

8 p.m.

Organ Monk – Durham Debut at Magnetic Sound Studios

Hotline TNT at Stanczyks

John R Miller at Motorco Music Hall

Durham Ghost Walk at Fate & Folklore

9 p.m.

Dømina at The Fruit

9:30 p.m.

Saturday Night DJ Dance Party! at The Velvet Hippo

10 p.m.

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat! at Club ERA

Sunday, May 10

10 a.m.

Glasshouse Kitchen Mother's Day Brunch at Glasshouse Kitchen

Mother’s Day "Digital Scout" Science Workshop for Kids and mother/parents at SEEDS, Durham

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

10:30 a.m.

Mother’s Day Brunch at The Durham Coffee Bar

11:30 a.m.

Yoga @ The Winery at Zinc House Winery & Brewery

12 p.m.

Durham Geek and Grub Market (Book Nerd Edition) at Durham Armory

Mother's Day Mimosas & Margs at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

12:15 p.m.

Public Tour of Duke Chapel at Duke University Chapel

12:30 p.m.

Open Table TTRPG at Moon Dog Meadery

1 p.m.

Mother's Day-- Intro to Jewelry: Make a Ring! at Liberty Arts Studio

Drafts of the Bull: Craft Beer and Food Tour at Entrance of Brightleaf Square

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

2 p.m.

Mother's Day Taylor Swift Trivia at Ponysaurus Brewing Co.

Crank Arm Durham Sunday Dog Walk at Crank Arm Durham

Hot Wax on Tap, Drop-In Candle Making at Bright Black.

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing Company

3 p.m.

Craft Club & Supply Swap at Glass Jug Downtown

4 p.m.

Sunday DRIFT Rooftop DJ Series at The Velvet Hippo

6:30 p.m.

Open Mic at Moon Dog Meadery

8 p.m.

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

Running Art Exhibits

Photography Exhibition: How Did I Get Here 1974 - 1977 at Through This Lens

• Gelatin Silver Prints by Jack Kadis.
• April 18-May 9
• Free

Teddy Devereux: Cellscapes and Cosmic Visions at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery is pleased to feature Cellscapes and Cosmic Visions by Teddy Devereux. Inspired by the idea that stars can look like cells in the sky, her fused glass on aluminum works shimmer with depth and movement, drawing viewers into a space where microscopic forms and distant galaxies seem to echo one another. Join the Third Friday Opening Reception to meet the artist and experience this new body of work.
• Enjoy the varied creations of our ten Triangle-based artists working in painting, sculpture, fused glass, mixed media, and finely crafted furniture.
• Visit 5 Points Gallery in person or online. All work from the exhibition is available for shipping or pickup. Gallery hours: Thursdays and Fridays 5–9pm, Saturdays 1–9pm. Artists are available to talk about their work.
• April 16- May 9
• Free

Art Exhibit — Dis/orient: Contemporary Art of the Asian Diaspora at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

• A focused exhibition that examines how artists of Asian descent confront long-standing stereotypes embedded in the word “Orient.” Rooted in Western imperialism, the term historically enforced a sense of distance and “otherness” that continues to shape cultural perceptions today. Dis/orient brings together artists who use humor, memory, tradition, and personal narrative to challenge this legacy and illuminate the richness and multiplicity of the Asian diaspora.
• “Dis/orient invites viewers to look beyond the flattened idea of a single ‘Orient’ and instead appreciate the complexity, humor, and emotional depth that define contemporary Asian diasporic art,” said Julianne Miao, curatorial associate at the Nasher Museum. “Each artist brings a distinct perspective, reminding us that identity is never monolithic. It is lived, questioned, and continually reshaped.”
• Tu-Sa 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Su 12-5 p.m.
  
• January 4- July 19

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