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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

Onyx - NCCU Annual All Black Alumni Affair primary image

Onyx - NCCU Annual All Black Alumni Affair

Fri, Oct 9 • 10:00 PM

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

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NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE primary image

NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Sat, Oct 10 • 9:00 PM

Hilton Durham near Duke University

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(PlutoWeen) Pluto takes over CLUB RDU for halloween primary image

(PlutoWeen) Pluto takes over CLUB RDU for halloween

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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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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Onyx - NCCU Annual All Black Alumni Affair primary image

Onyx - NCCU Annual All Black Alumni Affair

Fri, Oct 9 • 10:00 PM

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

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NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE primary image

NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Sat, Oct 10 • 9:00 PM

Hilton Durham near Duke University

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(PlutoWeen) Pluto takes over CLUB RDU for halloween primary image

(PlutoWeen) Pluto takes over CLUB RDU for halloween

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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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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FEAR! StorySLAM primary image

FEAR! StorySLAM

Tuesday • 7:30 PM

Motorco Music Hall

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Newsmakers: Strengthening Economic Mobility in the Triangle primary image

Newsmakers: Strengthening Economic Mobility in the Triangle

Wednesday • 5:30 PM

Fullsteam ATC

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Press Play Durham primary image

Press Play Durham

Friday • 3:00 PM

Durham County Main Library

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PanDAYmonium - NCCU #1 Alumni Day Party primary image

PanDAYmonium - NCCU #1 Alumni Day Party

Fri, Oct 9 • 3:00 PM

Peace & Saint Durham

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Good Moon Pres. FREE MATINEE feat. MJ Lenderman, Rodrigo Amarante and more primary image

Good Moon Pres. FREE MATINEE feat. MJ Lenderman, Rodrigo Amarante and more

Sat, Oct 10 • 3:00 PM

American Tobacco Campus

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For The Girls Vintage Market x Durham Central Park primary image

For The Girls Vintage Market x Durham Central Park

Sun, Oct 18 • 3:00 PM

Durham Central Park

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Women's Prayer Breakfast primary image

Women's Prayer Breakfast

Sat, Oct 31 • 9:00 AM

3218 N Roxboro St

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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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FEAR! StorySLAM primary image

FEAR! StorySLAM

Tuesday • 7:30 PM

Motorco Music Hall

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Newsmakers: Strengthening Economic Mobility in the Triangle primary image

Newsmakers: Strengthening Economic Mobility in the Triangle

Wednesday • 5:30 PM

Fullsteam ATC

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Press Play Durham primary image

Press Play Durham

Friday • 3:00 PM

Durham County Main Library

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PanDAYmonium - NCCU #1 Alumni Day Party primary image

PanDAYmonium - NCCU #1 Alumni Day Party

Fri, Oct 9 • 3:00 PM

Peace & Saint Durham

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Good Moon Pres. FREE MATINEE feat. MJ Lenderman, Rodrigo Amarante and more primary image

Good Moon Pres. FREE MATINEE feat. MJ Lenderman, Rodrigo Amarante and more

Sat, Oct 10 • 3:00 PM

American Tobacco Campus

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For The Girls Vintage Market x Durham Central Park primary image

For The Girls Vintage Market x Durham Central Park

Sun, Oct 18 • 3:00 PM

Durham Central Park

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Women's Prayer Breakfast primary image

Women's Prayer Breakfast

Sat, Oct 31 • 9:00 AM

3218 N Roxboro St

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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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Online Events

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Marketing Breakthrough: 40X Your Holistic Business [$297 Value] primary image

Marketing Breakthrough: 40X Your Holistic Business [$297 Value]

Today • 10:00 AM PDT

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Online Group Reading - September 27 primary image

Online Group Reading - September 27

Today • 8:00 PM ADT

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Barnes & Noble and Waterstones Virtually Presents: Madeline Miller primary image

Barnes & Noble and Waterstones Virtually Presents: Madeline Miller

Tuesday • 2:00 PM EDT

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Black Girl Book Fair! Spooky Edition primary image

Black Girl Book Fair! Spooky Edition

Saturday • 12:00 AM CDT

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Ethically Shady: Navigating the Gray Areas of Interpreting primary image

Ethically Shady: Navigating the Gray Areas of Interpreting

Saturday • 10:00 AM PDT

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry primary image

A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Wed, Oct 7 • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett primary image

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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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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Marketing Breakthrough: 40X Your Holistic Business [$297 Value] primary image

Marketing Breakthrough: 40X Your Holistic Business [$297 Value]

Today • 10:00 AM PDT

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Online Group Reading - September 27 primary image

Online Group Reading - September 27

Today • 8:00 PM ADT

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Barnes & Noble and Waterstones Virtually Presents: Madeline Miller primary image

Barnes & Noble and Waterstones Virtually Presents: Madeline Miller

Tuesday • 2:00 PM EDT

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Black Girl Book Fair! Spooky Edition primary image

Black Girl Book Fair! Spooky Edition

Saturday • 12:00 AM CDT

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Ethically Shady: Navigating the Gray Areas of Interpreting primary image

Ethically Shady: Navigating the Gray Areas of Interpreting

Saturday • 10:00 AM PDT

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A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry primary image

A Norman stitch-up? The story behind the Bayeux Tapestry

Wed, Oct 7 • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett primary image

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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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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CARMEN in Motion Presented by Flamenco Carolina and North Carolina Opera primary image

CARMEN in Motion Presented by Flamenco Carolina and North Carolina Opera

Today • 1:00 PM

Barriskill Dance Theatre School

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4th Annual Noble Queen Summit : Reassessing Self-care primary image

4th Annual Noble Queen Summit : Reassessing Self-care

Today • 2:00 PM

Hilton Garden Inn Durham Southpoint

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Ivy Community Center's Annual Jazz Affair: The Signature Brunch Experience primary image

Ivy Community Center's Annual Jazz Affair: The Signature Brunch Experience

Today • 1:30 PM

Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park

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Pride Vendor & Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park! primary image

Pride Vendor & Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park!

Today • 12:00 PM

Durham Central Park

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Pillow Princess: A Drag & Burlesque Pajama Party primary image

Pillow Princess: A Drag & Burlesque Pajama Party

Today • 8:00 PM

Arcana Bar and Lounge

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Recovery: A Tea Dance: Durham PRIDE Edition primary image

Recovery: A Tea Dance: Durham PRIDE Edition

Today • 4:00 PM

The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge

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⁠Mindful Wellness Walk in Durham primary image

⁠Mindful Wellness Walk in Durham

Today • 2:00 PM + 1 more

Cocoa Cinnamon

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Bounce with the Best: Family Fun Bundle primary image

Bounce with the Best: Family Fun Bundle

Today • 12:00 PM

Sky Zone Trampoline Park Durham

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CARMEN in Motion Presented by Flamenco Carolina and North Carolina Opera primary image

CARMEN in Motion Presented by Flamenco Carolina and North Carolina Opera

Today • 1:00 PM

Barriskill Dance Theatre School

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4th Annual Noble Queen Summit : Reassessing Self-care primary image

4th Annual Noble Queen Summit : Reassessing Self-care

Today • 2:00 PM

Hilton Garden Inn Durham Southpoint

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Ivy Community Center's Annual Jazz Affair: The Signature Brunch Experience primary image

Ivy Community Center's Annual Jazz Affair: The Signature Brunch Experience

Today • 1:30 PM

Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park

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Pride Vendor & Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park! primary image

Pride Vendor & Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park!

Today • 12:00 PM

Durham Central Park

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Pillow Princess: A Drag & Burlesque Pajama Party primary image

Pillow Princess: A Drag & Burlesque Pajama Party

Today • 8:00 PM

Arcana Bar and Lounge

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Recovery: A Tea Dance: Durham PRIDE Edition primary image

Recovery: A Tea Dance: Durham PRIDE Edition

Today • 4:00 PM

The Velvet Hippo Bar & Lounge

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⁠Mindful Wellness Walk in Durham primary image

⁠Mindful Wellness Walk in Durham

Today • 2:00 PM + 1 more

Cocoa Cinnamon

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Bounce with the Best: Family Fun Bundle primary image

Bounce with the Best: Family Fun Bundle

Today • 12:00 PM

Sky Zone Trampoline Park Durham

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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.