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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Popular in Durham

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Touch The Sky - The KickBack

Friday • 10:00 PM

O’TOURO

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

Saturday • 3:00 PM

American Tobacco Campus

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NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Saturday • 9:00 PM

Hilton Durham near Duke University

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NCCU night crawl

Saturday • 4:00 PM

Stadium Drive

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2026 Wyland Lecture on Religion and Law

Thu, Oct 15 • 6:30 PM

Reynolds Industries Theater

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For The Girls Vintage Market x Durham Central Park

Sun, Oct 18 • 3:00 PM

Durham Central Park

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The Ritual of Belonging: 35 Years of the Friday Center

Thu, Nov 5 • 6:30 PM

Friday Center

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Invented at Duke 2026

Tue, Nov 17 • 4:30 PM

Penn Pavilion

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Touch The Sky - The KickBack

Friday • 10:00 PM

O’TOURO

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

Saturday • 3:00 PM

American Tobacco Campus

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NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Saturday • 9:00 PM

Hilton Durham near Duke University

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NCCU night crawl

Saturday • 4:00 PM

Stadium Drive

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2026 Wyland Lecture on Religion and Law

Thu, Oct 15 • 6:30 PM

Reynolds Industries Theater

Check ticket price on event

For The Girls Vintage Market x Durham Central Park

Sun, Oct 18 • 3:00 PM

Durham Central Park

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The Ritual of Belonging: 35 Years of the Friday Center

Thu, Nov 5 • 6:30 PM

Friday Center

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Invented at Duke 2026

Tue, Nov 17 • 4:30 PM

Penn Pavilion

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

Today • 7:30 PM GMT+1

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AI Animation Studio: Create Kids' Cartoons

Tomorrow • 6:00 PM EDT

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HBR Press Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT

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HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 1:00 PM GMT+1

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Coming Together for Multilingual Children with DLD

Thu, Oct 22 • 6:00 PM GMT+2

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

Sat, Dec 19 • 8:00 PM EST

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

Today • 7:30 PM GMT+1

Check ticket price on event

AI Animation Studio: Create Kids' Cartoons

Tomorrow • 6:00 PM EDT

Check ticket price on event

HBR Press Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 8:00 AM EDT

Check ticket price on event

HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Thu, Oct 15 • 1:00 PM GMT+1

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Coming Together for Multilingual Children with DLD

Thu, Oct 22 • 6:00 PM GMT+2

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(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

Tue, Oct 27 • 11:30 AM EDT

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

Thu, Nov 5 • 1:00 PM GMT

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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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NCCU REFLECTIONS HOMECOMING 2026!!!

Friday • 7:30 PM

Weldon Mills Event Center

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Touch The Sky - The KickBack

Friday • 10:00 PM

O’TOURO

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Onyx - NCCU Annual All Black Alumni Affair

Friday • 10:00 PM

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

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SILVER EAGLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Friday • 10:00 PM

West End Billiards

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NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Saturday • 9:00 PM

Hilton Durham near Duke University

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Bellygang kush homecoming takeover at CLUB RDU

Saturday • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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GOODTIMES VOL 3.

Saturday • 7:00 PM

Lakewood Social

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Southern Hospitality - Never Leave Homecoming on A Sunday

Sunday • 3:00 PM

Peace & Saint Durham

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NCCU REFLECTIONS HOMECOMING 2026!!!

Friday • 7:30 PM

Weldon Mills Event Center

Check ticket price on event

Touch The Sky - The KickBack

Friday • 10:00 PM

O’TOURO

Check ticket price on event

Onyx - NCCU Annual All Black Alumni Affair

Friday • 10:00 PM

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe

Check ticket price on event

SILVER EAGLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Friday • 10:00 PM

West End Billiards

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NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Saturday • 9:00 PM

Hilton Durham near Duke University

Check ticket price on event

Bellygang kush homecoming takeover at CLUB RDU

Saturday • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

Check ticket price on event

GOODTIMES VOL 3.

Saturday • 7:00 PM

Lakewood Social

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Southern Hospitality - Never Leave Homecoming on A Sunday

Sunday • 3:00 PM

Peace & Saint Durham

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Good Moon & NO VISA pres. Jacques Greene at BOOM Club

Thursday • 10:00 PM

BOOM Club

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PanDAYmonium - NCCU #1 Alumni Day Party

Friday • 3:00 PM

Peace & Saint Durham

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The Ultimate Experience Day Party NCCU Homecoming

Friday • 4:00 PM

711 Rigsbee Ave

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SENDOFF NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Sunday • 4:00 PM

Dame's Chicken & Waffles

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Words of Essence's "21st Annual Gospel Showcase Event 2026"

Sun, Oct 18 • 5:00 PM

The Downtown Durham Armory (across from the Marriott Hotel)

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Goth Prom

Fri, Oct 23 • 7:00 PM

Arcana Bar and Lounge

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$✨ ¡Karaoke de Disfraces! ✨ primary image$

✨ ¡Karaoke de Disfraces! ✨

Fri, Oct 23 • 6:00 PM

Westgate Drive

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(PlutoWeen) Pluto takes over CLUB RDU for halloween

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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Good Moon & NO VISA pres. Jacques Greene at BOOM Club

Thursday • 10:00 PM

BOOM Club

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PanDAYmonium - NCCU #1 Alumni Day Party

Friday • 3:00 PM

Peace & Saint Durham

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The Ultimate Experience Day Party NCCU Homecoming

Friday • 4:00 PM

711 Rigsbee Ave

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SENDOFF NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Sunday • 4:00 PM

Dame's Chicken & Waffles

Check ticket price on event

Words of Essence's "21st Annual Gospel Showcase Event 2026"

Sun, Oct 18 • 5:00 PM

The Downtown Durham Armory (across from the Marriott Hotel)

Check ticket price on event

Goth Prom

Fri, Oct 23 • 7:00 PM

Arcana Bar and Lounge

Check ticket price on event

$✨ ¡Karaoke de Disfraces! ✨ primary image$

✨ ¡Karaoke de Disfraces! ✨

Fri, Oct 23 • 6:00 PM

Westgate Drive

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(PlutoWeen) Pluto takes over CLUB RDU for halloween

Sat, Oct 31 • 10:00 PM

2223 NC-54

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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.

Popular in Durham

Touch The Sky - The KickBack

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

NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

NCCU night crawl

2026 Wyland Lecture on Religion and Law

For The Girls Vintage Market x Durham Central Park

The Ritual of Belonging: 35 Years of the Friday Center

Invented at Duke 2026

Touch The Sky - The KickBack

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

NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

NCCU night crawl

2026 Wyland Lecture on Religion and Law

For The Girls Vintage Market x Durham Central Park

The Ritual of Belonging: 35 Years of the Friday Center

Invented at Duke 2026

Online Events

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

AI Animation Studio: Create Kids' Cartoons

HBR Press Webinar: Resilient Optimism

HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Coming Together for Multilingual Children with DLD

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

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

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

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

AI Animation Studio: Create Kids' Cartoons

HBR Press Webinar: Resilient Optimism

HBR Book Webinar: Resilient Optimism

Coming Together for Multilingual Children with DLD

(ONLINE) Women on the Move with Ann Patchett

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

Washington Crossing the Delaware / The Crossing - Film History Livestream

This Weekend

NCCU REFLECTIONS HOMECOMING 2026!!!

Touch The Sky - The KickBack

Onyx - NCCU Annual All Black Alumni Affair

SILVER EAGLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Bellygang kush homecoming takeover at CLUB RDU

GOODTIMES VOL 3.

Southern Hospitality - Never Leave Homecoming on A Sunday

NCCU REFLECTIONS HOMECOMING 2026!!!

Touch The Sky - The KickBack

Onyx - NCCU Annual All Black Alumni Affair

SILVER EAGLES 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

NOSTALGIA @ THE HILTON - NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Bellygang kush homecoming takeover at CLUB RDU

GOODTIMES VOL 3.

Southern Hospitality - Never Leave Homecoming on A Sunday

Music events

Good Moon & NO VISA pres. Jacques Greene at BOOM Club

PanDAYmonium - NCCU #1 Alumni Day Party

The Ultimate Experience Day Party NCCU Homecoming

SENDOFF NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Words of Essence's "21st Annual Gospel Showcase Event 2026"

Goth Prom

✨ ¡Karaoke de Disfraces! ✨

(PlutoWeen) Pluto takes over CLUB RDU for halloween

Good Moon & NO VISA pres. Jacques Greene at BOOM Club

PanDAYmonium - NCCU #1 Alumni Day Party

The Ultimate Experience Day Party NCCU Homecoming

SENDOFF NCCU HOMECOMING FINALE

Words of Essence's "21st Annual Gospel Showcase Event 2026"

Goth Prom

✨ ¡Karaoke de Disfraces! ✨

(PlutoWeen) Pluto takes over CLUB RDU for halloween

Points of Interest near Durham

Where can I find live music events in Durham?

What are some free events in Durham?

Are there any good venues for comedy shows in Durham?

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

How can I experience the art scene in Durham?

What kind of family-friendly events happen in Durham?

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

What is there to do in the Ninth Street area?