Please use this thread to make posts that would otherwise be considered spam.

As a reminder, our wiki has a lot of great posts covering many of these topics, although it is quickly getting outdated!

Weekly Events in Durham

(August 25- August 31)

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

Stargazing at The Durham

• To the stars! Hosted by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Visit the open-air Roof for telescopic stargazing with Morehead educators and music from DJ Mic Check. In this session, Morehead astronomy educators will be focusing on Jupiter and Mars.
• DJ Mic Check will spin out-of-this-world tunes. The Roof opens at 5pm so you can kick off the night with shareable plates, craft cocktails, and sunset views.
• This event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.
• August 26th 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Duke Football vs Elon at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium

• Season opener!
• Thursday, August 28
• 7:30 pm

Drag Story Hour at Boxyard RTP

• Crafts afterward with Moss Kids Books.
• Saturday, August 30
• 10:15 am
• Free

A Poetry Reading by Crystal Simone Smith at Horton Grove at Historic Stagville

• This free public reading will be outdoors on the grounds of Horton Grove, beside the historic slave dwellings. The reading will be followed by an author Q and A and book signing.
• Smith's poetry reimagines the experiences of enslaved and formerly enslaved persons in a stark and chilling response to the archives of chattel slavery: bills of sale, interviews, narratives, and fugitive runaway ads. Embodying the aesthetics and Japanese poetic forms haiku and tanka, her poems bear witness to the brutal and horrifying treatment of enslaved people and contrast their humanity with the inhumanity of their enslavers.
• In these poems, fugitive persons evade slave patrol hounds by climbing magnolia trees, use the cover of night and the detritus of a shipwreck to swim to freedom, and find temporary refuge in a cabin where a woman offers bread and water. Throughout, Smith poignantly envisions their flights to freedom—passages that were fueled by love, hope, and impossible dreams. She unceasingly gives voice to those who found courage in both bondage and freedom.
• Parking is in a grass lot off of Jock Road. This program includes walking less than 100 yards over uneven grass or gravel to reach the reading location. In case of rain or inclement weather, the program will be moved into the visitors center at 5828 Old Oxford Highway. Chairs will be provided for attendees.
• Saturday, August 30
• 3pm
• Free

NCCU Football v. New Hampshire at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium

• Season opener!
• Saturday, August 30
• 6 pm

Labor Gay at Arcana Bar and Lounge

• This labor day weekend come discuss unionism, labor, and the role women play in our movements with fem union panelists from across industries including warehouse workers, restaurant & bar workers, and professional organizers. There will be ample time to answer your burning questions about the power of labor in building a world we want! The panel will be held from 6PM to 8PM.
• Then, get loose, bond, and dance together to radical music with the fantastic DJ u/vsprtn_ from 8:30PM to 11:30PM. 🎶🎵💗
• This event is part of the labor day bar crawl.
• Saturday, August 30
• 6pm

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, August 31
• 11am
• Free

Multi-Day Events

Durham Bulls vs. Worcester at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• 8/26 Tendies and Tallboys
• 8/27 Pickleball and Small Business Night
• 8/28 Bark in the Park and Life of a Showbull
• 8/29 & 8/30 Fireworks
• 8/31 Kids Run the Bases and Truck Fest

Pick Your Own Muscadine Grapes at Herndon Hills Farm

• Pick Your Own Muscadine Grapes at 200-year-old Herndon Farm in Durham. Muscadines are native to North Carolina and a true Southern treat! They have 10 varieties, all certified organic, all sweet and delicious. Highlight of the fall for anyone interested in Southern food.
• $3.50 per pound
• Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Feb. 25, 2026

Rumors Durham Back to School Weekend Pop-up Market Series at Rumors Durham

• Every weekend in August shop the Back to School Pop-up Market Series
• Every Saturday and Sunday in August Rumors will be hosting pop-ups next door with vintage clothing, art, handmade jewelry, decor and more! Each weekend will be hosted by different vintage sellers and artists
• The pop-ups will be from 11 am until 4 pm every Saturday and on Sunday from 12 pm until 4 pm at the building next to the store front! Shop in the AC and jam out with each of their sellers as you explore all the goodies they will have for you!
• Saturdays and Sundays from August 9- August 31
• Free

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

Kizomba Ladies Ginga and Styling at Triangle Dance Studio - Back Studio

• Join Kimberly Nicole for a 4-week journey designed to help women of all body types and backgrounds explore their unique expression of Ginga——the fluid, feminine movement that lies at the heart of Kizomba and Semba.
• Rooted in the rhythms of Angola, Kizomba is a partner dance that emphasizes musicality, connection, and presence. This series offers a safe and supportive space for women to deepen their movement, develop their personal style, and gain tools to feel more grounded and expressive on the dance floor.
• Ginga is for everybody! Whether you’re new to Kizomba or looking to refine your styling, this series is crafted to help you feel empowered, graceful, and connected to your body.
• August 4-25
• Admission: $75: 4-week class $150 both Ginga + Kizomba Class (Mondays 8:30 - 10pm) combo $20/drop-in class

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

$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.
• July 26-Sept 30

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 chicken-fried cauliflower for the first course; farro risotto or steamed mussels for the second course; and for dessert, Mexican chocolate pot de crème or St. Angel Triple Crème Cheese. The menu and prices change based on season and ingredient availability.
• July 26-Sept 30

Studio Ghibli Film Series at Carolina Theatre

• For decades, Studio Ghibli has created breathtakingly beautiful movies that have captivated and inspired audiences for generations through masterful storytelling and stunning visuals. Experience the wonder of these groundbreaking, beloved animated films.
• July 30 -Dec 13

Monday, August 25

5 p.m.

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, August 26

5 p.m.

Yaki Tuesday at Dashi

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

5:30 p.m.

Duke Football Radio Show and Tailgate Dinner at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

6 p.m.

Turtles! Who? What? Where? When? Why? at Durham County Main Library

Film Screening and Discussion: “Becoming Thurgood” at NCCU School of Law

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.

Mahjong Night at The Durham Hotel

Trivia at Durham Food Hall

7 p.m.

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

7:30 p.m.

Stargazing at The Durham

Wednesday, August 27

11 a.m.

Pauli Murray Center Guided Tour at Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

3 p.m.

Building a Career in Psi Research with Mentors and Colleagues at Online

Durham Farmers’ Market at Pavilion at Durham Central Park

5 p.m.

The Tohoku Region Omakase at Dashi

5:30 p.m.

Speed Dating for Singles Age 40-65 at The Durham

6 p.m.

“Artful Evenings” Artist in Residence Series @ JB Duke Hotel at JB Duke Hotel

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.

Pinball Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

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 u/DBCo

Brett Chambers Open Mic at The Blue Note Grill

Old School Bingo Night – Every Wednesday Night at DSSOLVR

7:30 p.m.

Rooftop Floating Sound Bath @ Unscripted at Unscripted Durham

8 p.m.

Blends With Friends (Open Decks) at The Pinhook

Air Hockey Tournament at Boxcar Arcade

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

9 p.m.

Last Wednesdays: Velvet Disco DJ Sets with Lex Nell at The Velvet Hippo

Thursday, August 28

11 a.m.

RAR Brewing Tap Spotlight at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

5 p.m.

Guest Bartender Series @ JB Duke Hotel at JB Duke Hotel

RTP 180: Quantum Computing at Frontier RTP

5:30 p.m.

Walking Club with Bull City Strollers at Glass Jug Downtown

6 p.m.

*FREE* Red Wine Tasting at Durham Beer Garden

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

6:30 p.m.

Unisong: Guided Song Circle at People's Solidarity Hub

Decolonizing Yoga at Bullitanica

Sapphic Happy Hour at Zeitgeist Gallery & Bar

Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club - Durham

7 p.m.

Kim's Video at Shadowbox Studio

Back to (Wine) School - Learning Your ABCs & BBQs at Glasshouse Kitchen
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

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing

7:30 p.m.

Duke Football vs Elon at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium

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

8 p.m.

The Casualties at Motorco Music Hall

Queer-Eoke at Club ERA

Music Trivia Bingo with Stormie Daie! at The Velvet Hippo

Friday, August 29

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

4 p.m.

Duke Field Hockey v. Liberty at Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium

6 p.m.

Duke Volleyball v. Bryant at Cameron Indoor Stadium

Bike Speed & Dog' Choice Dating & Friends Event at Crank Arm Brewing DRM

The Duke Street Dogs at The Blue Note Grill

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

7 p.m.

Film Screening — The Fifth Element & Johnny Mnemonic at Carolina Theatre

Andmoreagain Presents: Marshall Sidbury at Rubies on Five Points

Friday Night Magic at The Durham Hotel

7:45 p.m.

Let's Chat About the Stars Paddle at Falls Lake Durham

8 p.m.

Hammer No More the Fingers at Motorco

Karaoke Under the Stars at The Glass Jug Beer Lab - RTP

Open Mic Comedy Night at Durty Bull Brewing Company

9 p.m.

Hush Hush Improv Comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

Karaoke at Flying Bull Beer Company Taproom

Well Seasoned - comedy at Mettlesome Theatre

10 p.m.

The Floor at Rubies on Treee City

Saturday, August 30

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

9:30 a.m.

Kayaking 101 at Falls Lake Durham

10 a.m.

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

10:15 a.m.

Drag Story Hour at Boxyard RTP

11 a.m.

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

12 p.m.

Bourbon Blending Class at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Pig Pickin' at Atomic Clock Brewing

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

1 p.m.

Shaw Football v. Albany State at Durham County Memorial Stadium

Amped Up Tie Dye Party at Hi-Wire Brewing Durham

3 p.m.

A Poetry Reading by Crystal Simone Smith at Horton Grove at Historic Stagville

4 p.m.

Chocolate & Bourbon Pairing Class at Mystic Farm & Distillery

5 p.m.

Duke Volleyball v. Houston at Cameron Indoor Stadium

6 p.m.

NCCU Football v. New Hampshire at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium

Labor Gay at Arcana Bar and Lounge

7 p.m.

Laurent Estoppey + Jasmine Powell + Daniel Levin + Matthew Rock at Shadowbox Studio

8-Track Minds at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery

The Crones of Anarchy at Succcotash Southern & Creole Kitchen

7:30 p.m.

Outdoor Movie Series u/Crank Arm Durham Saturdays at Crank Arm Brewing DRM

9 p.m.

Taylor Vs. Emo Night Party at Motorco

9:30 p.m.

Saturday Night Dance Party at The Velvet Hippo

10 p.m.

The Conjure Presents: Spice Dance Party at Rubies on Five Points

BLENDR: Alvin Shavers / Tracksuits / Se7en Cutz / Red Wild at The Pinhook

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat! at Club ERA

Sunday, August 31

Events at Moon Dog Meadery

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

9:30 p.m.

Introduction to Standup Paddleboarding at Falls Lake Durham

10 a.m.

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

11 a.m.

Durham Underground Market at Durham Central Park

11:30 a.m.

Yoga @ The Winery at Zinc House Winery & Brewery

12 p.m.

Sunday Dollar Bin Sale for Charity at Rumors Durham

12:15 p.m.

Public Tour of Duke Chapel at Duke University Chapel

1 p.m.

The Sunday Chill with Carter: Carter Minor & Lindsay Rosebrock at The Blue Note Grill

2 p.m.

Duke Volleyball v. FIU at Cameron Indoor Stadium

Pre-Labor Day on the Roof: Sunday Set with DJ Skylan at The Durham Hotel

Women's Introduction to Standup Paddleboarding at Falls Lake Durham

Durham Warehouse District Treasure Hunt - Walking Team Scavenger Hunt! at Crank Arm Brewing

Cigar & Bourbon Pairing at Mystic Farm and Distillery

Hammered Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing Company

5 p.m.

Duke Women's Soccer v. Creighton at Koskinen Stadium

Running Art Exhibits

Bullish On Art: 5 Points Gallery Members Showcase at 5 Points Gallery

• 5 Points Gallery proudly presents Bullish on Art, a Members Showcase celebrating the creative force of Durham’s vibrant art scene. Virtually all of their artists live in Durham, and all have deep ties to the region. Their work reflects a broad range of contemporary perspectives shaped by life in the South. The exhibition features paintings, sculpture, fused glass, mixed media works, and finely crafted furniture by ten Triangle-based artists. Join in for the Third Friday Reception on August 15, 6–9pm.
• August 13- September 13
• Free

Art Exhibition — Southern Grammar at Ella West Gallery

• A compelling new group exhibition curated by Raleigh-based painter Clarence Heyward featuring work by Jō Baskerville, Jeremy Biggers, and Sam Lao, Southern Grammar explores the legacy, evolution, and unapologetic spirit of the Black South through powerful visual storytelling.
• From Baskerville’s cinematic black-and-white silhouettes, to Biggers’ hyperreal portraits of defiance and dignity, to Lao’s joy-filled tufted works bursting with color and texture—each artist brings a distinct voice to the conversation. Together, their work offers a multifaceted look at identity, memory, and the cultural truths of the American South.
• The exhibition marks Heyward’s curatorial debut and reflects both his eye for emerging excellence and his deep roots in Southern artistic practice.
• Gallery Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 12PM–5PM and by appointment
• August 17-November 15
• Free

Coming into Focus: A Snapshot of Photography at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

• Recently the Nasher has added over 2,000 photographs to its collection, including works by the best-known practitioners from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, such as Edouard Baldus, Ilse Bing, Henri Cartier-Bresson, André Kertész, Arthur Rothstein, Nadar, and Edward Weston. Coming into Focus: A Snapshot of Photography at the Nasher celebrates these gifts and other acquisitions, highlighting a sampling of gems and illuminating a bright future of continued collecting and presenting of photography in innovative and ambitious ways.
• July 28- January 1
• 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