Things to do in Durham this month: November 2026

Things to do in Durham in November: the Iron Pour Nov. 14, FestiBull of Lights from Nov. 19, the tree lighting Nov. 21 and the Holiday Parade Dec. 12.

Last checked Nov. 3, 2026. Rebuilt on the first of each month. Listings come from the Downtown Durham events calendar, Durham Parks and Recreation, DPAC, the Carolina Theatre and the organizers’ own pages. Check with the organizer before you go; plans change.

November in Durham runs from the Liberty Arts Iron Pour on Nov. 14 to the start of the holiday season: FestiBull of Lights opens Nov. 19, the downtown tree lighting is Nov. 21 and the Thanksgiving turkey trot is Nov. 26. Early December brings the Lucky Strike tower lighting on Dec. 2, the German Market on Dec. 5 and the Holiday Parade on Dec. 12. For the coming Friday to Sunday, see things to do this weekend; for shows, concerts and galleries, see arts and exhibitions.

Good to know

Durham Parks and Recreation events: 919-560-4355; weather line 919-560-4636, then 8

Downtown visitor center: 212 W. Main St.

Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 26; trash pickup and closings are on our Thanksgiving page

Getting there: downtown parking and transit are on our getting around page

This week: Nov. 3-8

Astronomy on Tap, science talks and trivia, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, at Fullsteam on the American Tobacco Campus; free.
One Night on Sugar Hill, Jerry Douglas and friends celebrating Barry Poss and Sugar Hill Records, Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Carolina Theatre.
Waiting to Exhale in Concert, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at DPAC.
Little Big Town, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at DPAC.
Golden Belt Artists Winter Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Golden Belt, 800 Taylor St.; free.
An ’80s double feature for disability awareness, noon to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Historic Durham Athletic Park, marking the ballpark’s 100 years; free.
Fall Film Series: Best in Show, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Durham Central Park, with free popcorn (Durham Parks and Recreation).
Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele, 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Carolina Theatre.

High school football playoffs start Friday, Nov. 6, with Hillside and Jordan at home; see Friday night football.

Next week: Nov. 9-15

Durham County Veterans Day Celebration, 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Human Services Building, 414 E. Main St.; free with an RSVP. Details in our story, from the county’s announcement.
Death Becomes Her, the musical, Tuesday, Nov. 10, to Sunday, Nov. 15, at DPAC.
Spyro Gyra, Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Carolina Theatre.
Stephen Lynch, comedy songs, 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at Motorco, 723 Rigsbee Ave.; $42 (listing).
Kathleen Madigan, stand-up, Friday, Nov. 13, at the Carolina Theatre.
Kids Voting Durham 20th anniversary, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the NC Cooperative Extension Durham County Center; free.
10th Annual Liberty Arts Iron Pour, 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Durham Central Park: artists pour molten iron into tiles and sculptures, with food trucks and music. Free; register ahead.
Chili Cook Off, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at Ment Beverage Co.; free.
Opera FM, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Carolina Theatre.

Later in November

BEAT, Belew, Vai, Levin and Bozzio performing the music of King Crimson, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at DPAC.
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet, 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at DPAC. Every Durham Nutcracker this season is on our Nutcracker in Durham page.
FestiBull of Lights opens Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 5:30 to 9 p.m. nightly to Jan. 2 (closed Nov. 26, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 25), $12 in advance (tickets). See holiday lights.
Noises Off, Michael Frayn’s farce, Thursday, Nov. 19, to Sunday, Nov. 22, at NCCU’s University Theatre; tickets $7 to $20. See our story.
A Drag Queen Christmas, 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at DPAC.
Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting, 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at CCB Plaza, with music, Santa and a kid zone (listing). See Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday, Nov. 22, downtown; free.
Messiah Sing-Along, 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Trinity United Methodist Church downtown; free.
Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Twas the Night Before…, Wednesday, Nov. 25, to Sunday, Dec. 6, at DPAC.
TROSA Turkey Trot 5K, 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 26, from TROSA’s campus, 1820 James St.; $40 (registration).
Durham Rescue Mission Thanksgiving Community Dinner, Thursday, Nov. 26, at 1201 E. Main St.: doors 11 a.m., meal at noon, free (mission). More on our Thanksgiving page.
Durham Craft Market Shop Small Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Durham Central Park (listing).
Holiday Record Fair, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at Motorco, 723 Rigsbee Ave.; free.

Early December

American Tobacco Campus tower lighting, 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, on the campus lawn, with Jeanne Jolly and The Mistletoes at 6 p.m. and Fust at 7:15 p.m.; free.
Santa Paws, 5 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at the Durham Armory, 212 Foster St.: photos with Santa for dogs.
Durham German Market, 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at Durham Central Park: more than 100 artisan vendors, German food and mulled wine (market). See our German Market page.
Durham Geek and Grub Market (Holiday Nightmare Edition), Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Durham Armory; free.
The Bodyguard, the musical, Tuesday, Dec. 8, to Sunday, Dec. 13, at DPAC.
Durham Holiday Parade, 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, on Main Street; free, rain or shine (Durham Parks and Recreation).
Durham Craft Market Holiday Market, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, under the Durham Central Park pavilion.

Every week

Durham Farmers’ Market: Saturdays at Durham Central Park, 8 a.m. to noon through November and 9 a.m. to noon from December to March, according to the market; see farmers markets.
Downtown walking tours: historian-guided, African American history, true crime and ghost walks on Saturdays, $15 each, on the Downtown Durham calendar.
Trivia and bingo nights at downtown breweries and the Durham Food Hall most weeknights, most of them free.

Send us your event

Organizing something in Durham? Email hello@bullcitynow.com with the date, time, venue, price and a photo. Listings are free, and they go on this page and in our events diary.

Durham’s big annual events each have their own page: Bull City Race Fest, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, the Festival for the Eno and CenterFest.

More: parks and trails and things to do in Durham.

Frequently asked questions

What is happening in Durham this weekend?

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Golden Belt Artists Winter Market runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Durham Central Park shows Best in Show free at 7:30 p.m. and Jake Shimabukuro plays the Carolina Theatre at 8 p.m. Our weekend page has the full list.

When is the Durham Christmas tree lighting in 2026?

The Downtown Durham Holiday Tree Lighting is 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at CCB Plaza, 201 Corcoran St., with music, Santa and a kid zone. The American Tobacco Campus lights its Lucky Strike tower 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2.

What free events are in Durham in November?

The Fall Film Series shows Best in Show in Durham Central Park Nov. 7, the Liberty Arts Iron Pour is Nov. 14 in the same park, the tree lighting is Nov. 21 and the Durham Art Walk Holiday Market runs Nov. 21-22. All are free.

When does FestiBull of Lights open?

FestiBull of Lights opens Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and runs to Jan. 2, 5:30 to 9 p.m. nightly except closed dates, from $12 in advance.