Things to do in Durham
Things to do in Durham, newest first: events, festivals, parks and family days out, with dates, times and the organizer's own link.
Top story
NCCU Theatre stages Noises Off Nov. 19-22, tickets $7-$20
NCCU's Department of Theatre stages Michael Frayn's comedy Noises Off at University Theatre in Durham, Nov. 19 to 22, with public tickets priced from $7 to $20.
Plan your weekend
Things to do
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.
Trails
Parks and trails in Durham
Durham runs 66 parks and 30-plus miles of trails. West Point on the Eno is closed for upgrades; Lake Michie is shut by low water. Parks: 919-560-4355.
Fourth of July
Durham Fourth of July fireworks 2026
Durham's July Fourth fireworks follow the Durham Bulls home game at the DBAP. In 2026 the show started about 9:15 p.m. after a sold-out game.
Halloween
Trick-or-treat hours in Durham 2026
Halloween 2026 in Durham is over. The city sets no official trick-or-treat hours; this page is updated each October with the next Trunk or Treat and BooFest.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day in Durham 2027: events, dinners and date ideas
Valentine's Day 2027 falls on a Sunday. Durham restaurants and bars open that night, DPAC shows that week, and free date ideas, from each venue's own site.
Easter
Easter in Durham 2027: egg hunts, brunch and services
Easter is March 28, 2027. Durham's 2026 egg hunts: Spring Egg Dive, free hunts at Campus Hills Park and West Point on the Eno. 2027 dates are not out yet.
Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Durham 2027: brunch, events and gift markets
Mother's Day is May 9, 2027. Durham brunch spots, free Duke Gardens, the Craft Market's spring gift market and Saturday markets, with 2026 dates marked.
Father's Day
Father's Day in Durham 2027: events, car shows, brunch
Father's Day is June 20, 2027. Sunday brunch, taproom hours, free Duke Homestead on the Saturday and Durham Bulls plans, with 2027 events added as announced.
Labor Day
Labor Day in Durham 2027: events, closings, trash pickup
Labor Day is Sept. 6, 2027. Durham city and county closings, the one-day trash delay, the last pool day and weekend events, from the 2026 notices.
Christmas
Durham Christmas parade and tree lighting 2026
Durham's Holiday Tree Lighting is 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at CCB Plaza, with Santa. The Durham Holiday Parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
Fall
Fall festivals and pumpkin patches in Durham 2026
Durham's pumpkin patch season ended Nov. 1. Still ahead this fall: a free movie in Durham Central Park Nov. 7 and the Liberty Arts Iron Pour there Nov. 14.
Halloween
Halloween events in Durham 2026
Halloween 2026 in Durham is past: BooFest, the city Trunk or Treat and the ATC party ran Oct. 28-31. This page is updated each fall with the next dates.
Christmas
Holiday lights and Christmas events in Durham 2026
Durham holiday lights 2026: FestiBull of Lights from Nov. 19, the tree lighting Nov. 21, the Lucky Strike tower lighting Dec. 2 and the German Market Dec. 5.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in Durham 2026
New Year's Eve 2026 in Durham: Noon Year's Eve for kids at the Museum of Life and Science, Mamma Mia at DPAC, FestiBull of Lights and where to see fireworks.
Dogs
Dog-friendly Durham: parks, patios, trails and the leash rules
Dog-friendly Durham: four city dog parks and their $17 tag, the county's at-large rule, leash etiquette on greenways, dog-friendly patios and dog events.
Free
Free things to do in Durham
Free things to do in Durham: Duke Gardens, the Nasher Museum, Duke Homestead, 30 miles of greenways, free museum days, outdoor concerts and movies in the park.
Durham German Market
Durham German Market 2026: Dec. 5 at Durham Central Park
The Durham German Market is 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at Durham Central Park: 100+ artisan vendors, gluhwein, brats and a tree contest.
Nutcracker
Nutcracker in Durham 2026: 4 shows, Nov. 19 to Dec. 27
Four Nutcrackers in Durham in 2026: DPAC on Nov. 19, Triangle Youth Ballet Dec. 10-12, World Ballet Company Dec. 23 and The Hip Hop Nutcracker on Dec. 27.
Bull City Race Fest
Bull City Race Fest: half marathon and 5K in Durham
Bull City Race Fest ran Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, from the American Tobacco Campus. Results and photos are on the organizer's site; no 2027 date yet.
Full Frame
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in Durham: dates, passes
Full Frame, Duke's documentary film festival, returns to downtown Durham April 1-4, 2027. Passes and prices are announced in the fall. Venues and tips.
Festival for the Eno
Festival for the Eno: no July 2026 festival, back in spring 2027
The Festival for the Eno skipped July 2026 and plans a spring 2027 return, not on July 4. No 2027 date or site yet; West Point on the Eno is closed for work.
CenterFest
CenterFest Arts Festival in downtown Durham: dates and tips
CenterFest, Durham's free juried arts festival since 1974, fills Five Points to CCB Plaza each September. 2026 was Sept. 19-20; 2027 dates are not out yet.
Duke Homestead
Duke Homestead Christmas by Candlelight 2026: dates, tickets
Duke Homestead's Christmas by Candlelight tours in Durham: 2026 dates are not posted yet. The 2025 tours ran Dec. 5 and 12, 5:30 to 9 p.m., at $8 for adults.
Arts
Arts and exhibitions in Durham: November 2026
Durham arts to mid-December: the Nasher's free Declaration show, Duke's Witch and Messiah, the Iron Pour Nov. 14, Art Walk market Nov. 21-22 and The Bodyguard.
Walking tour
Durham Black Wall Street tour: Saturday dates, meeting spot
Durham's African American history and Black Wall Street walking tour runs 4 to 5 p.m. Saturdays, next on Nov. 7, from CCB Plaza. Tickets are $15 online.
Walking tour
Downtown Durham walking tour: Saturday dates, meeting spot
The Downtown Durham Historian-Guided Tour runs 2 to 3 p.m. Saturdays, next on Nov. 7, from the Lucky Strike water tower. Tickets are $15, booked online.
True crime tour
Durham True Crime Walking Tour: Saturday dates, tickets
The Downtown Durham True Crime Tour runs 6 to 7 p.m. Saturdays, next on Nov. 7, from the Lucky Strike water tower at 330 Blackwell St. Tickets are $15 online.
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol at DPAC: 2026 Durham dates and tickets
Theatre in the Park's A Christmas Carol plays DPAC in Durham Dec. 16-20, 2026: seven shows, opening Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35 plus tax.
Art Walk Holiday Market
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market 2026: dates and venues
The free Durham Art Walk Holiday Market is Nov. 21-22, 2026: Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. at the Durham Arts Council and downtown venues.
ATC Tower Lighting
ATC Tower Lighting in Durham: Dec. 2 time, music, parking
The free ATC Tower Lighting is 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, on the American Tobacco Campus lawn, with the Lucky Strike tower lit and live music from 6 p.m.
Durham Farmers' Market
Durham Farmers' Market: 2026 dates, hours and parking
The Durham Farmers' Market is open Saturday, Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to noon at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St. Winter hours, 9 a.m. to noon, start in December.
Geek and Grub Market
Durham Geek and Grub Market 2026: holiday edition
The free Durham Geek and Grub Market Holiday Nightmare Edition is Sunday, Dec. 6, noon to 4 p.m. at the Durham Armory, with 40-plus vendors and food trucks.
Ghost tour
Durham Ghost Walk: Saturday dates, tickets, meeting spot
The Durham Ghost Walk runs 8 to 9 p.m. Saturdays, next on Nov. 7, from Fate & Folklore at 123 Market St. downtown. Tickets are $15, booked online ahead.
Holiday market
Holiday Market at The Durham: 2026 date, tickets, parking
The Durham Hotel's Holiday Market is 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, with local gift vendors and seasonal drinks, in support of the Durham YMCA's Y Learning.
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Things to do
Things to do in Durham this weekend, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1
Durham's Halloween weekend, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1: BooFest Saturday, a free vintage bike show in Durham Central Park, ghost walks and Mrs. Doubtfire at DPAC.
Veterans
Durham County gives out free green bulbs for veterans
Free green bulbs from Monday, Oct. 26, at Veteran Services; four county landmarks lit green Nov. 4-11; a free Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.