Events

January

Kwanzaa Celebration with the African American Ensemble (formerly KwanzaaFest)

919-683-1709 Durham Armory

Call for date and time.

Admission Free. A full day of cultural festivities, entertainment, and educational activities, including an African style marketplace, a variety of live poetry readings, dance, music, and children's activities.

Nevermore Horror and Gothic Film Festival Carolina Theatre

919-560-3030

Call for date, time and admission charges. Created in 1999, the Nevermore Horror and Gothic Film Festival is dedicated to screening audience-requested horror flicks as well as brand-new films from around the world.

February

Native American Powwow North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

919-416-2730

Call for date, time and admission charges. Full day of traditional Native American dancing, singing, crafts, food, and socializing.

North Carolina Jewish Film Festival Carolina Theatre of Durham, Royall Center for the Arts

919-560-3030

Call for date, time and admission charges. A celebration of Jewish history and culture through internationally acclaimed films and short features from around the globe, including motion pictures direct from theatrical release in Israel.  

March

Annual Bike Show – Harley-Davidson Durham Harley-Davidson, Inc.

919-682-6695

Call for date and time.

Admission Charged. Events include a chili cook-off, Harley-Davidson motorcycle show, door prizes, and lots of food and fun for the whole family.

Annual Durham Spring Carnival

Durham County Stadium

Admission Charged. Games, rides, prizes, music, food and entertainment for the entire family.  

April

Annual Grady Tate Jazz Festival B.N. Duke Auditorium, North Carolina Central University Campus Two nights of Jazz greats featuring the NCCU Jazz Vocal Ensemble, Grady Tate, and various jazz vocalists.

Earth Day Festival and Celebration Durham Central Park

919-560-4100 The Triangle’s largest Earth Day celebration featuring an eclectic mix of music, educational booths and events.

“Getting a Jump on Easter”  Egg Hunt

Durham Central Park, Downtown 919-682-2800

Admission Free.

Features a traditional egg hunt and also educational activities with farmyard and domestic animals.  

Bennett Place Living History Civil War Surrender Reenactment Bennett Place State Historic Site Reenactment of negotiations and surrender between Generals Sherman and Johnston that ended the Civil War. Occurs bi-annually in odd years.

Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Carolina Theatre of Durham, Royall Center for the Arts The only international festival of its kind celebrating strictly the power and artistry of documentary cinema. Formerly Doubletake Documentary Film Festival.  

May

May Day Music at Durham Central Park

Durham Central Park, Downtown 919-560-2788

Admission:  donation suggested.  Children and students free.

Classical Music is performed in the park.  Also includes an orchestral instrument petting zoo, cake walk, May pole, instrument-making session, and other activities.

June

Alive After Five Concert Series (summer months)

Durham Bulls Athletic Ball Park

Admission Free. FREE concerts and outdoor fun for the entire family. Concerts are normally held on the last Thursday of the month. Musical entertainment provided by various artists.

Durham Arts Council’s Edible Arts Festival Durham Civic Center

Admission Charged. Sample gourmet creations and signature dishes by Durham's finest culinary artists and nationally acclaimed chefs.  

American Dance Festival Various locations on Duke University West Campus The largest and most influential modern dance festival in the world, featuring more than two dozen modern dance companies and hundreds of choreographers, writers, and students participating in classes, seminars, and performances.  

Duke Homestead Herb, Garden and Craft Festival Duke Homestead State Historic Site

Admission Free. Enjoy this historical outdoor herb festival, which features traditional herbal-use displays and a wide variety of herb and craft vendors. Musical entertainment, guided tours of the Homestead and food are available.  

July

Children’s Independence Day Parade & Family Fun Day

Durham Central Park, Corner of Hunt St. and Foster St. 919-682-2800

July 4

Admission Free.

This July 4 event has been expanded to include a family picnic and ice-cream social following the parade. Children decorate their bikes and scooters using patriotic colors and will then follow a police escort around the block. Afterwards, everyone can enjoy a tasty lunch and additional entertainment.

Festival for the Eno West Point on the Eno City Park

Admission Free.

One of the region's premier Independence Day celebrations with exhibits, displays, arts, crafts, and live entertainment on the banks of the Eno River to benefit efforts to preserve this beautiful natural area.

Durham Music Festival

Various Downtown Durham locations. 919-560-2730

Call for information.

Admission Charged.

Come out and enjoy the music, artists, exhibits and activities.  Past festivals have featured more than 35 live bands!

Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival Durham Central Park, Downtown

919-560-4965 African-American music and arts festival. One of the oldest cultural festivals in the country and one of the region's most comprehensive celebrations of music, art and dance, from African and Caribbean to reggae and rap.  

August

Bull City Chili Challenge

Durham Central Park

919-682-2800

Call for exact date and time.

Admission Charged.

The Bull City Chili Challenge is an annual event featuring sampling and judging of a wide selection of tasty chili showcasing local restaurants and produce. The area's first cook-off is sanctioned by the Chili Appreciation Society International! Tasting kits will be sold and you will be able to sample chilies in 5 categories: Vegetarian, Youth, Restaurant, Free Style, and Texas Style. All proceeds will benefit Durham Special Olympics. Also features live music, a raffle and special activities for children.

North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Carolina Theatre of Durham, Royall Center for the Arts

919-560-3030 One of the nation's premier gay and lesbian film festivals, with more than 100 films screened (including world-premiere showings) and more than 10,000 tickets sold each year.

September

Bull Durham Blues Festival Historic Durham Athletic Park

919-683-1709 A celebration in the birthplace of the Piedmont Blues, featuring national, regional, and local blues, from the mournful sounds of the Mississippi Delta to the fine finger-picking and ragtime exuberance of the Piedmont Blues.  

Durham Arts Council’s Centerfest Five Points Plaza, Downtown Durham

919-560-2723 One of North Carolina's oldest and one the Southeast's largest street-arts fairs. The streets of Downtown Durham come alive with arts, crafts, entertainment, food, and fun.  

North Carolina Gay Pride Parade Duke East Campus and Ninth Street District The largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender event in a five-state area, attracting 6,000 festival participants.

World Beer Festival Historic Durham Athletic Park

500 West Corporation Street

919-530-8160 Featuring more than 300 beer vendors from all over the country as well as local restaurant vendors, family entertainment, and great music by local and regional artists.

October

Broadway at Duke Series Page Auditorium, Duke West Campus Since 1968, Broadway at Duke has brought the best of Broadway, off-Broadway, and major national and international repertory companies to Durham.  

Oktoberfest Main Quad, Duke University West Campus

Admission Free. Oktoberfest is a day-long party on the main quad featuring craft and food vendors as well as a large variety of local artists.  

November

Durham Art Guild’s Annual Juried Art Show Durham Arts Council, Royall Center for the Arts

Admission Charged. Durham's more than 100 working artists join with regional artists to compete and display in a variety of media.

December

Christmas by Candlelight at Duke Homestead Duke Homestead State Historic Site

Call for exact date and time.

Admission Free. A celebration of an 1870 Christmas with evening candlelight tours of the Homestead featuring period decorations, caroling, hot apple cider, and other goodies.

Light Up Durham Downtown Durham

Call for exact date and time.

919-687-6561

Admission Free. Seasonal music, performers, tree lighting, food and fun, including a parade that brings Santa to town.