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Best events in
Durham

Looking for events or things to do in Durham, NC? The city’s scene is deeply rooted in its history, with many of the best venues and restaurants housed in revitalized tobacco warehouses and industrial buildings. A lively culinary culture often sets the stage for a night out, with chef-driven spots located just steps from major performance halls.

Start an evening on the American Tobacco Campus with dinner before walking to a Broadway show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or a Durham Bulls game.
Explore the Central Park District, a community hub known for the weekly Durham Farmers' Market and live shows at Motorco Music Hall.
Catch independent films and live performances at the historic Carolina Theatre or see local bands at intimate downtown spots like The Pinhook.

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After 8pm

VICTORY - UNC Homecoming All Black Affair @ Houston's Lounge primary image

VICTORY - UNC Homecoming All Black Affair @ Houston's Lounge

Fri, Nov 13 • 10:00 PM

Houston's Bar & Lounge

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Finesse2tymes aka 250 Ricky bonfire after party at CLUB RDU primary image

Finesse2tymes aka 250 Ricky bonfire after party at CLUB RDU

Sat, Nov 14 • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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That Sexy Black Party is BACK: 2 Parties In One! primary image

That Sexy Black Party is BACK: 2 Parties In One!

Fri, Nov 27 • 9:00 PM

Weldon Mills Distillery Durham

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ABE 2026 Black Tie Special Edition with DJ Skillz DJ Cleve DJ Que DJ Ike primary image

ABE 2026 Black Tie Special Edition with DJ Skillz DJ Cleve DJ Que DJ Ike

Sat, Nov 28 • 9:00 PM

Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park

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VICTORY - UNC Homecoming All Black Affair @ Houston's Lounge primary image

VICTORY - UNC Homecoming All Black Affair @ Houston's Lounge

Fri, Nov 13 • 10:00 PM

Houston's Bar & Lounge

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Finesse2tymes aka 250 Ricky bonfire after party at CLUB RDU primary image

Finesse2tymes aka 250 Ricky bonfire after party at CLUB RDU

Sat, Nov 14 • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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That Sexy Black Party is BACK: 2 Parties In One! primary image

That Sexy Black Party is BACK: 2 Parties In One!

Fri, Nov 27 • 9:00 PM

Weldon Mills Distillery Durham

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ABE 2026 Black Tie Special Edition with DJ Skillz DJ Cleve DJ Que DJ Ike primary image

ABE 2026 Black Tie Special Edition with DJ Skillz DJ Cleve DJ Que DJ Ike

Sat, Nov 28 • 9:00 PM

Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park

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Popular in Durham

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The Ritual of Belonging: 35 Years of the Friday Center primary image

The Ritual of Belonging: 35 Years of the Friday Center

Tomorrow • 6:30 PM

Friday Center

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Blac Youngsta takes over CLUB RDU primary image

Blac Youngsta takes over CLUB RDU

Saturday • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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Lucky Strike Durham Lucky Launch Party! primary image

Lucky Strike Durham Lucky Launch Party!

Sunday • 11:00 AM

Lucky Strike Durham

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Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes primary image

Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes

Sunday • 2:00 PM

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub with the TanDurm Kitchen

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Community Dinner and Panel: Securing Our Energy Future primary image

Community Dinner and Panel: Securing Our Energy Future

Monday • 6:30 PM

The Commons (Brodhead Center, Top Floor)

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The Merry Wives of Windsor primary image

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Fri, Nov 13 • 7:00 PM + 2 more

Cynthia Fowler Barnes Auditorium

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NC Comicon 2026 primary image

NC Comicon 2026

Sat, Nov 14 • 10:00 AM

Durham Convention Center

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Invented at Duke 2026 primary image

Invented at Duke 2026

Tue, Nov 17 • 4:30 PM

Penn Pavilion

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The Ritual of Belonging: 35 Years of the Friday Center primary image

The Ritual of Belonging: 35 Years of the Friday Center

Tomorrow • 6:30 PM

Friday Center

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Blac Youngsta takes over CLUB RDU primary image

Blac Youngsta takes over CLUB RDU

Saturday • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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Lucky Strike Durham Lucky Launch Party! primary image

Lucky Strike Durham Lucky Launch Party!

Sunday • 11:00 AM

Lucky Strike Durham

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Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes primary image

Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes

Sunday • 2:00 PM

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub with the TanDurm Kitchen

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Community Dinner and Panel: Securing Our Energy Future primary image

Community Dinner and Panel: Securing Our Energy Future

Monday • 6:30 PM

The Commons (Brodhead Center, Top Floor)

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The Merry Wives of Windsor primary image

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Fri, Nov 13 • 7:00 PM + 2 more

Cynthia Fowler Barnes Auditorium

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NC Comicon 2026 primary image

NC Comicon 2026

Sat, Nov 14 • 10:00 AM

Durham Convention Center

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Invented at Duke 2026 primary image

Invented at Duke 2026

Tue, Nov 17 • 4:30 PM

Penn Pavilion

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Online Events

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Gunpowder Plot - punishing the plotters primary image

Gunpowder Plot - punishing the plotters

Today • 7:30 PM GMT

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Tomorrow • 1:00 PM GMT

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The World of Bunny vs Monkey Workshop with Jamie Smart primary image

The World of Bunny vs Monkey Workshop with Jamie Smart

Saturday • 10:00 AM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America primary image

The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America

Thu, Nov 12 • 7:00 PM EST

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REVISED Cottage Food Safety Statewide Online Training primary image

REVISED Cottage Food Safety Statewide Online Training

Fri, Nov 13 • 9:00 AM MST

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Physicians Financial Wellness Conference 2026 primary image

Physicians Financial Wellness Conference 2026

Sat, Nov 14 • 1:00 PM EST

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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Gunpowder Plot - punishing the plotters primary image

Gunpowder Plot - punishing the plotters

Today • 7:30 PM GMT

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No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence primary image

No Title, No Permission, No Problem: Harnessing the Power of Influence

Tomorrow • 1:00 PM GMT

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The World of Bunny vs Monkey Workshop with Jamie Smart primary image

The World of Bunny vs Monkey Workshop with Jamie Smart

Saturday • 10:00 AM GMT

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Lean Global Connection 2026 primary image

Lean Global Connection 2026

Thu, Nov 12 • 2:00 PM UTC

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The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America primary image

The Walrus Talks at Home: Canada After America

Thu, Nov 12 • 7:00 PM EST

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REVISED Cottage Food Safety Statewide Online Training primary image

REVISED Cottage Food Safety Statewide Online Training

Fri, Nov 13 • 9:00 AM MST

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Physicians Financial Wellness Conference 2026 primary image

Physicians Financial Wellness Conference 2026

Sat, Nov 14 • 1:00 PM EST

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream primary image

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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This Weekend

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Fall Flavors & Fresh Pasta Making Class primary image

Fall Flavors & Fresh Pasta Making Class

Friday • 6:30 PM

Il Laboratorio - The Cooking Lab by Melina's Fresh Pasta

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"Who Do You Say I Am?": Retreat Day with Author Sharon Garlough Brown primary image

"Who Do You Say I Am?": Retreat Day with Author Sharon Garlough Brown

Saturday • 9:00 AM

Christ the King Church

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Blac Youngsta takes over CLUB RDU primary image

Blac Youngsta takes over CLUB RDU

Saturday • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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Stacked Edition Waffles with Mom primary image

Stacked Edition Waffles with Mom

Saturday • 11:00 AM

Reality Ministries

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Pottery Painting with Cozy Panda primary image

Pottery Painting with Cozy Panda

Saturday • 6:00 PM

Daughters Coffee and Books

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SoJam Lite! A Cappella Festival 2026 primary image

SoJam Lite! A Cappella Festival 2026

Saturday • 9:00 AM

West Duke Building

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She Survived HerStory primary image

She Survived HerStory

Saturday • 10:00 AM

The Purpose Church

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Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes primary image

Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes

Sunday • 2:00 PM

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub with the TanDurm Kitchen

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Fall Flavors & Fresh Pasta Making Class primary image

Fall Flavors & Fresh Pasta Making Class

Friday • 6:30 PM

Il Laboratorio - The Cooking Lab by Melina's Fresh Pasta

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"Who Do You Say I Am?": Retreat Day with Author Sharon Garlough Brown primary image

"Who Do You Say I Am?": Retreat Day with Author Sharon Garlough Brown

Saturday • 9:00 AM

Christ the King Church

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Blac Youngsta takes over CLUB RDU primary image

Blac Youngsta takes over CLUB RDU

Saturday • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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Stacked Edition Waffles with Mom primary image

Stacked Edition Waffles with Mom

Saturday • 11:00 AM

Reality Ministries

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Pottery Painting with Cozy Panda primary image

Pottery Painting with Cozy Panda

Saturday • 6:00 PM

Daughters Coffee and Books

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SoJam Lite! A Cappella Festival 2026 primary image

SoJam Lite! A Cappella Festival 2026

Saturday • 9:00 AM

West Duke Building

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She Survived HerStory primary image

She Survived HerStory

Saturday • 10:00 AM

The Purpose Church

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Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes primary image

Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes

Sunday • 2:00 PM

Bull McCabe's Irish Pub with the TanDurm Kitchen

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Frequently asked questions about Durham

Where can I find live music events in Durham?

Motorco Music Hall and The Pinhook are great spots for live music events. Motorco, in the Central Park District, is a larger repurposed space, while The Pinhook offers an intimate downtown setting for indie bands and DJs.

What are some free events in Durham?

The PLAYlist Concert Series at Durham Central Park offers free monthly shows from May to October. For a different kind of free event, the Monthly Durham Art Walk & Gallery Crawl opens up downtown galleries and studios to the public.

Are there any good venues for comedy shows in Durham?

The Comedy Dojo & Event Center is a dedicated club for comedy. It features both scheduled performances and open mic nights. Major touring comedians often perform at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) or the Carolina Theatre.

What's a good plan for a date night in Durham?

Pair dinner in Brightleaf Square with a show at a nearby downtown venue. The historic tobacco warehouses create a charming atmosphere for a meal, and it's a short walk to the Carolina Theatre for a film or to Boxcar Bar + Arcade for games.

How can I experience the art scene in Durham?

Participate in the Monthly Durham Art Walk & Gallery Crawl downtown. For performing arts, the American Dance Festival is a celebrated annual summer series, and the CenterFest Arts Festival is a juried event that takes over downtown each fall.

What kind of family-friendly events happen in Durham?

A Durham Bulls baseball game is a classic family outing at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The annual Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival is also a large, free, family-friendly event celebrating African and African American culture each spring.

Where are the best spots for food and drink events in Durham?

The Durham Food Hall often hosts its own programming and food-centric events. For a more casual scene, the weekend farmers' markets at Durham Central Park or in South Durham serve as community hubs with food trucks and local vendors.

What is there to do in the Ninth Street area?

Ninth Street is known for its casual eateries, coffee shops, and bookstores. Located near Duke University's East Campus, it's a popular daytime spot for a meal and a stroll through its unique collection of shops.