Events in Durham, NC | Find Festivals, Concerts & Sporting Events

Pictured:

CenterFest - Credit Samantha Everette

Every day in the Bull City, there’s a wide variety of events happening to help you get involved in our vibrant community. If you're already here or planning a trip, use our search function below to find events suited to all interests and ages.

Durham is home to many homegrown festivals and events that happen annually and are easy to plan a trip around. From beats to barbecue and everything in between, check out our seasonal events page to find the perfect time to visit the Bull City.

Submit an Event to our Calendar

If you're a Durham-based venue or organization and you'd like us to include your event on our calendar, follow the link below to find our submission guidelines and submit your information.

Submit an Event

If you have any questions, please email eventcalendar@discoverdurham.com.

Featured Events

Handel’s Messiah

Since 1933, Handel’s Messiah has been the fulcrum of the Chapel’s concert life and a cherished Duke holiday tradition. Handel’s masterwork traces the history of humanity’s divine redemption through Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection, in music that is both treasured and timeless. This year Messiah will be performed with period instruments and Baroque-era tuning, as Handel himself would have heard it. Each performance will last approximately two hours and fifteen minutes with intermission. Seat cushions...

Details

Show Me Reptiles & Exotics Show

The Show Me Reptile & Exotics Show is one of the largest reptile and exotic pet shows in the region. This is a safe and family friendly event geared to educate and introduce people to reptiles and exotics. The show is also a great place to go if you already have pets, with feeders and supplies from quality sources.

Details

Holiday Open House

Enjoy a look inside the historic McCown-Mangum House, Photography Museum, and Mill. While you’re there, try your hand at some crafts, listen to stories by the fireside, sing-along to live holiday music and treat yourself to yummy refreshments. No need to register—just drop in, rain or shine!

Details

Durham Holiday Parade

Cheer on dynamic floats, hometown bands, drill teams, schools, and community groups as they make their way down Main Street at the Durham Holiday Parade. The procession will conclude with a guest appearance from Santa.

Details

African American Dance Ensemble Kwanzaafest

Join the African American Dance Ensemble for their 39th Kwanzaa celebration! The focus will be on the principle of Imani, which represents Faith. It’s a time to wholeheartedly believe in community and the justness of community struggles. Kwanzaa is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate African American culture and values, such as unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. It’s also a moment for reflection and joy, featuring communal feasts and gatherings that...

Details

Solstice: A Winter Circus Experience

Embark on an acrobatic journey with “Solstice: a Winter Circus Experience.” This captivating circus show unfolds the story of a character who has lost his inner light, plunging him into a wondrous and surreal world where memories come to life and the ordinary becomes ‘extra’ordinary. “Solstice” blends over 8 acrobatic acts with lighting, costumes, music, scenery, and snow to create a unique blend of poetry and circus in a 75-minute show! “Solstice” is an unforgettable...

Details

Biscuits & Banjos Festival

GRAMMY & Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens’ new festival is dedicated to the celebration and exploration of Black music, art and culture in her home state of North Carolina. Biscuits & Banjos is a 3-day festival to exchange ideas, expand conversations, uplift traditions, and trace the musical and geographical connections of old time, country, Americana, folk, jazz and blues to highlight their complicated origins. The festival will champion Black artists and creators, offering robust musical...

Details

Cosmic Baseball Takeover Tour

Into The Snow Globe! A Winter Experience at The Velvet Hippo

This winter, The Velvet Hippo is taking you Into The Snow Globe! Enjoy limited-time seasonal cocktails under the sparkling winter tree,... Details

A Very Electric Christmas - Lightwire Theatre

Follow the story of a young bird, named Max and his family, as they begin their journey south for the winter. When Max gets blown off... Details

Play — Changing Same: The Cold-Blooded Murder of Booker T. Spicely

Local theater auteur Mike Wiley’s latest solo work is based on the true 1944 Durham event. On July 8th,1944, Private Booker T. Spicely was... Details

$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... Details

The Durham Bazaar

The Durham Bazaar pop-up market is an annual Market hosted by Ghostkittydesigns and provides a mix of vintage, salvaged and handmade goods... Details

Free Wine Tasting

Sample a selection of wines from estate grown, family owned wineries from around the world. These tastings are educational, but also casual... Details

The Glass Jog Run Club - Winter Series

Meet at the the Parkwood Ballpark parking lot by 6pm and join your fellow runners for a 2-mile walk or a 5k jog/run. Strollers and dogs are... Details

Women on the Wall

This 1-hour meetup will explore the adventure of climbing in a close and supportive atmosphere. Learn to focus your attention on your... Details

TBS 1st Tuesday Blues Jam

They are kicking the Triangle Blues Society Blues Jams back into gear EVERY 1ST TUESDAY of the month. Get on in there and be part of one... Details

BYOV w/ Jaffar (Bring Your Own Vinyl Night)

Want to share your dope taste in music with fellow audiophiles? Love hearing new music from area music geeks with eclectic tastes? Hang... Details

Adult Coloring Night

Grab a drink from the bar and swing by the art table to grab a page and fill a cup with the supplies you need. It's totally FREE and... Details

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony @ Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club 

Step into a winter wonderland at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, the AAA Four Diamond rated hotel on Duke University’s campus, for the... Details

Durham Events Calendar

Submit an Event to our Calendar

Featured Events