Things to Do in Durham this Week

Weekly Events in Durham

(Jan 13-19)

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.

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Noteworthy Events

Third Friday at Downtown Durham

• Come downtown every third Friday for Durham’s art walk and gallery crawl. Enjoy exhibition openings, art demonstrations and cool art-themed events at restaurants and shops!
• Stop by the Visitor Info Center to sample mocktails from Da Kine’s Kava and Ment Beverage and write love letters to Durham. For more information, click HERE.
• You
• Fri, Jan 17
• 6-9 p.m.
• Free admission

Celebrate 50 Years at Hayti Heritage Center

• Drop by to explore Hayti’s incredible 50-year legacy and connect with your own family’s stories in an interactive, hands-on space.
• Here’s what to expect:
  • 📸 Hayti Archive Station– Check out curated photos, artifacts, and documents, and reflect on the center’s powerful history.
  • 📖 Family Archive Station – Guided prompts and activities to help you explore and honor your own family’s memories.
  • ✍🏾 Writing & Sharing Area – Use the Mine the Archive Workbook to capture your thoughts and stories.
    
• Fri, Jan 17
• 6-9 p.m.

DJ Deluxe Presents Love & Happiness: A Funk, Soul, Disco, Classic, R&B Experience at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

• Love & Happiness, A Night Where We Invite You To Experience Seductive Vibes And Curated Cocktails Mixed With 70s, 80s And 90s Classic R&B From Today's Most Talented DJs.
• As You Step Into This Soulful Evening, You’ll Be Greeted By Plush Blue And Gold Velvet Seating And A Warm, Intimate Ambiance That Sets The Perfect Tone For Connection.
• Fri, Jan 17
• 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
• Free admission with RSVP

North Durham Farmers' Market at Soul Sanctuary

• A vibrant and diverse community space where you'll find fresh, locally grown produce and handmade goods from our talented artisans. Come explore our 12-acre farm in the historical neighborhood of Bragtown and discover what makes us different. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or a curious food lover, we've got something for everyone. Join us today and experience the joy of community-supported agriculture!
• Sat, Jan 18
• 12-4 p.m.
• Free admission

NC Eat & Play 2025 S'mores & Hot Chocolate Festival at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

• NC Eat and Play is taking over large portions of the ball park’s concourse and creating a wonderland filled with:
  • Complimentary s’mores and hot chocolate (while supplies last).
  • A variety of delicious hot food and chocolate creations for sale from local vendors and restaurants.
  • Family-friendly fun: outdoor inflatables, games, roaming characters, and a lively “snowball fight” with Wool E. Bull!
  • Adult fun with Dance Freeze Challenges, a Sweets Night Market, and beer & wine for purchase
  • Apex Racing Lab’s racing simulators for some high-speed fun (quick races for purchase).
• The evening ends with a complimentary Fireworks show! 🎇
• Sat, Jan 18
• $20, kids 12 and under free - Your ticket includes admission, complimentary s’mores and hot chocolate (while supplies last), and so much more!

Duke Men's Tennis vs. NCCU at Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center

• Sun, Jan 19
• 5 p.m.
• Free admission

Hope is a Song - A Community Gathering on MLK Day at Durham Central Park

• Join Rainbow Collective for Change, the LGBTQ Center of Durham, A Great Idea, and so many more community partners for "Hope is a Song - A Community Gathering on MLK Day."
• Come together as a community of families and friends to celebrate Black and LGBTQIA+ elders and DREAM together for a better future. Share stories and participate in artivism together. Food and coffee, children's books celebrating Black and LGBTQIA+ leaders for families to take home, and care packages for trans youth will be provided. Community partners will join in to provide opportunities for joy, care, and action.
• Mon, Jan 20
• 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
• Free admission

Multi-Day Events

White Rabbit Red Rabbit at Mettlesome Theater

• One of the most toured plays in the contemporary history of theater. No rehearsals. No director. No set. A different actor reads the script cold for the first time at each performance.
• Thu, Jan 16 - Sat, Jan 18
• 7:30 p.m.
• $20+

Triangle Vegan Chef Challenge at participating businesses across the Triangle

• Join a month-long celebration of new vegan dishes all over the Triangle Region! Businesses across the area will showcase exciting special vegan menu items, giving everyone the opportunity to explore creative plant-based dishes crafted by talented local chefs.
• How It Works:
  • Visit participating restaurants throughout Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
  • Try their exclusive vegan offerings.
  • Share your experience—vote, comment, post photos of your favorite meals, and tag us at @veganchefchallengeSE
• This event is open to everyone—not just vegans! It’s about bringing the community together to celebrate incredible food and support our region’s chefs.
• Mon, Jan 13 - Fri, Jan 31

Dry January at The Durham Hotel

• Join in on the heated and enclosed Roof or in the Restaurant this January—and all year—for thoughtfully crafted zero-proof cocktails. What began as Dry January in 2013 has evolved into a movement toward alcohol-free living. At The Durham, they craft mocktails with the same care as every drink on our menu, offering depth, balance, and a sense of occasion.
• Mon, Jan 13 - Fri, Jan 31

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, dance the night away beneath a glittering ceiling of disco balls, or wrap up in a fleece blanket and sip spiked cider among snowy evergreens and cozy heaters on the roof deck.
• Mon, Jan 13 - Sun, Feb 2
• Free admission

Monday, Jan 13

5:30 p.m.

NCCU Women's Basketball vs. Delaware State at McDougald-McLendon Arena

6 p.m.

Maker Mondays at DSSOLVR Durham

6:30 p.m.

Run Club at Crank Arm Brewing Company

Trivia Night at Ponysaurus Brewing Company

Neurospicy Creators Space at SEEDS

7 p.m.

Community Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

7:30 p.m.

Intervention Comedy Open Mic at Devine's Restaurant and Bar

NCCU Men's Basketball vs. Delaware State at McDougald-McLendon Arena

Tuesday, Jan 14

Events at Duke University

• 3 p.m. - Wrestling vs. Gardner-Webb at Card Gym
• 9 p.m. - Men's Basketball vs. Miami at Cameron Indoor Stadium

5 p.m.

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

6 p.m.

Queer D&D Night at Arcana

Zoonoses! Who, What, Where, When and Why? at Durham County Main Library

Adult Coloring Night at Hi-Wire Brewing

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

Gentle Yoga Flow at ReCity Network

Bring Your Own Vinyl with Jaffar at Rubies on Five Points

Music Bingo Night at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in Downtown Durham

Run Club - Winter Series at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP

Women on the Wall at Triangle Rock Club

6:30 p.m.

Trivia at Durham Food Hall

Fermentation 101 with Durham County Library at Ment Beverage Co.

7 p.m.

Trivia at Beer Study Durham

Not Rocket Science Trivia at DSSOLVR Durham

Video Game Day at Moon Dog Meadery

Gilmore Girls Trivia at Weldon Mills Distillery Durham

7:30 p.m.

BEERthoven ft. The Balourdet Quartet at Atomic Clock Brewing Co.

8 p.m.

Jeremy 'Bean' Clemons Trio at Kingfisher

Wednesday, Jan 15

5 p.m.

Free Wednesday Wine Tasting at Beer Study Durham

VIN: A Wine, Food and Music Experience at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

5:30 p.m.

“Love’s Braided Dance” — A Book Launch Event at Ahmadieh Family Lecture Hall

6 p.m.

Queer Craft Night and Tarot with Joy at Arcana

RTP Business Rockstar Connect Networking Event at Sheraton Imperial Hotel

6:30 p.m.

Game Night at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in Downtown Durham

7 p.m.

Hammered Trivia at Hi-Wire Brewing

Karaoke Night at Mavericks Smokehouse

Trivia Night at Mystic Farm & Distillery

Music Bingo at Ponysaurus Brewing Company

Brett Chambers Open Mic at The Blue Note Grill

Signature Wine Tasting at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery

7:30 p.m.

Wednesday Night Jam w/ Al Strong at Congress Social Bar

8 p.m.

Trivia Night at Bull McCabe's

Karaoke at Moon Dog Meadery

Blends With Friends at The Pinhook

Thursday, Jan 16

12 p.m.

IPA Tap Spotlight with Equilibrium and Other Half at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP

5 p.m.

Thirsty Thursdays at Dashi

5:30 p.m.

Walking Club with Bull City Strollers at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in Downtown Durham

6 p.m.

Queer Trivia at Arcana

Vinyl Night with DJ Deckades at Gizmo Brew Works

Chief Adjuah (AKA Christian Scott) Live at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

6:30 p.m.

Space Code Youth Open Mic at NorthStar Church of the Arts

Greek Wine Dinner at Parizade

Boulders & Brews Meetup at Triangle Rock Club

7 p.m.

Trivia Night at Beer Tooth Taproom

Community Board Game Night at Moon Dog Meadery

Dunums Record Release Party w/ Tre Charles & Meltdown Rodeo at The Pinhook

7:30 p.m.

Trivia Night with Big Slow Tom at Clouds Brewcade + Kitchen

Andrew Santino: Freeze Peach Tour at The Carolina Theatre

8 p.m.

Duke Women's Basketball vs. Cal at Cameron Indoor Stadium

Queer-Eoke at Club Era

9:30 p.m.

Karaoke Night at The Tavern

Friday, Jan 17

Events at 21c Museum Hotel Durham

• 5-6 p.m. - Third Friday - Guided Museum Tours
• 5-7 p.m. - Elevate Artist Reception + Discussion

Events at Club Era

• 7-10 p.m. - Pregame Fridays!
• 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. - Freaky Fridays

Events at Duke University

• 6 p.m. - Women's Tennis vs. Pepperdine at Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center
• 7 p.m. - Wrestling vs. UNC at Cameron Indoor Stadium

8 a.m.

Singing the Psalms at Goodson Chapel, Duke Divinity School

10 a.m.

Tasting at Ten at Counter Culture Coffee

5:30 p.m.

Kids Night Out at Museum of Life and Science

6 p.m.

Ally J & Kevin Clark and Tarot with Emily at Arcana

Liberty Arts Beach Party in January at Durham Central Park

Third Friday at Golden Belt Arts

Celebrate 50 Years at Hayti Heritage Center

"Our History, Our Voice: Latinés at Duke" Exhibit Opening at Museum of Durham History

The Duke Street Dogs at The Blue Note Grill

Third Friday: Sample Mocktails and Love Letter to Durham at Visitor Info Center

7 p.m.

Live Vinyl Spinning by PhDJ at Beer Study Durham

Joe Gatto at DPAC

Hush Hush at Mettlesome Theater

Paradiso XXII: Lizzy Hindman-Harvey, Kristen Waters, Dylan Angell at Shadowbox Studio

8 p.m.

Pass the Aux at Boricua Soul

Open Mic Stand-up Comedy at Durty Bull Brewing Brewing Company

Dance Blues Friday at Studio 5

9 p.m.

Karaoke at Flying Bull Beer Company

DJ Deluxe Presents Love & Happiness: A Funk, Soul, Disco, Classic, R&B Experience at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

DJ's Pharmacil / HEMA / Booshie + Bands Mean Habit / Violent Institution at The Pinhook

9:30 p.m.

Bachata Fixation – Free Class & Latin Dance Party! at Moon Dog Meadery

Saturday, Jan 18

Events at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

• 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Brooklyn Barista's Pop Up Shop
• 7-10 p.m. - The SSML Band

Events at The Pinhook

• 6:30 p.m. - Kill The Buddha + Ins Kino + Heartscape Landbreak
• 10:30 p.m. - Spice: A Dance Party with Lots of Flair

Events at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP

• 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. - Girl Scout Cookie & Beer Pairing
• 1-3 p.m. - Brew & Bark Dog Adoption Event

Guided Walking Tours with Triangle Adventures

• 2 p.m. - Downtown Durham Walking Tour
• 4 p.m. - Durham African American History Tour
• 6 p.m. - Downtown Durham True Crime Tour

8 a.m.

parkrun Durham at Southern Boundaries Park

9 a.m.

Durham Farmers' Market at Durham Central Park

South Durham Farmers' Market at Hub RTP

9:30 a.m.

Elements of the Garden Series: Fire at Sarah P. Duke Gardens

11 a.m.

Storytime at Barnes and Noble New Hope Commons: Kids Stage

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

Girl Scout Cookie & Beer Pairing at The Glass Jug Beer Lab in Downtown Durham

12 p.m.

Crafternoons at Gizmo Brew Works

Duke Men's Tennis vs. Elon at Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center

North Durham Farmers' Market at Soul Sanctuary

Free Wine Tasting at Wine Authorities

1:45 p.m.

Food Tour with Taste Carolina at Visitor Center

4:30 p.m.

NC Eat & Play 2025 S'mores & Hot Chocolate Festival at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

6 p.m.

The Moon Unit and Tarot with Rene at Arcana

North Carolina Dance Festival: Artist-in-Residence Showing at Barriskill Dance Theatre School

7 p.m.

Crones of Anarchy: Blues, Rock, Americana at Succotash Southern & Creole Kitchen

Kumail Nanjiani: Doing This Again at The Carolina Theatre

7:30 p.m.

Bored Teachers: Comedy Tour at DPAC

Tonality: America Will Be at Duke Chapel

8 p.m.

Comedy Night at Moon Dog Meadery

9 p.m.

LaVern at The Fruit

10 p.m.

Drink, Drag, Dance, Repeat at Club Era

Sunday, Jan 19

Events at Duke University

• 12 p.m. - Men's Tennis vs. Harvard at Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center
• 1 p.m. - Women's Basketball vs. Stanford at Cameron Indoor Stadium
• 5 p.m. - Men's Tennis vs. NCCU at Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center

Events at Durty Bull Brewing Company

• 12-2:30 p.m. - NC Air Hockey Players Air Hockey Tournament
• 2-4 p.m. - Hammered Trivia with Casey

Events at Moon Dog Meadery

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

8 a.m.

Operation Southern Front at Xtreme Park Adventures

10 a.m.

Fleet Feet Ninth Street bRUNch Club at Fleet Feet Ninth Street

Jazz Brunch at Lula & Sadie's

11:30 a.m.

Yoga at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery

12 p.m.

Sunday Dollar Bin Sale for Charity at Rumors Durham

12:15 p.m.

Public Tour at Duke University Chapel

2 p.m.

Guided History Hike - Pump Station Trail at Eno River State Park, Pump Station Access

3 p.m.

Letters from Wolfgang at The Carolina Theatre

4 p.m.

Textures + Light / Contrast + Grain at Shadowbox Studio

6 p.m.

Mike Grigoni Trio and Tarot with Virginia at Arcana

7 p.m.

Supper Club Sunday Concert: Dexter Moses Feat. Lillian Faith (Music of Cannonball Adderley & Nancy Wilson) at Missy Lane's Assembly Room

7:30 p.m.

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at DPAC

Running Art Exhibits

Art Exhibition — Beverly McIver: Painters I Love at Craven Allen Gallery

• Featuring works by: Michael Dixon, Richard Garrison, Clarence Heyward, Pedro Lasch, William Paul Thomas and Lamar Whidbee.
• Sat, Jan 4 - Sat, Jan 18
• Mon - Fri, 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sat, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Free admission

Art Exhibit — Maya Freelon: Whippersnappers at Historic Stagville

• Maya Freelon: Whippersnappers will premiere large-scale sculptures, archival photographs, paintings, and collages that transform the former plantation. Whippersnappers, Freelon’s first large-scale installation featuring portraiture, was born from her research of enslaved children highlighted in the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog.
• Sat, Nov 16 - Sat, Jan 25
• Wed and Sat, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and by appointment
• For viewings by appointment, contact stagville@dncr.nc.gov
• Free admission

Art Exhibition: “Visible Spectrum: Portraits from the World of Autism” at Center for Documentary Studies

• Mary Berridge’s award-winning series of photographs is paired with narratives written primarily by the subjects or their parents. The exhibition, “Visible Spectrum: Portraits from the World of Autism,” offers an intimate view of life with autism, as told from within an autism community, which includes Berridge and her son. It encourages an alternate way of seeing the condition, in which the diverse and unconventional perspectives of the autistic are valued.
• Sat, Nov 16 - Fri, Feb 28
• Mon through Fri, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., excluding holidays
• Free admission

Art Exhibit — By Dawn’s Early Light at Nasher Museum of Art

• The years 2024 and 2025 mark the sixtieth anniversaries of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The two Acts transformed life in the United States for many marginalized individuals, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, elders, and others who had not had equal rights in the nation’s history. This legislation was the culmination of nearly a century of work by activists and advocates.
• Fri, Nov 8 - Sun, May 11
• Tue - Sat, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sun, 12-5 p.m.
• Free admission