Durham

Bull Durham Blues Festival - Mel Brown/DCVB
Summer
JUNE
American Dance Festival
The largest and most influential modern dance
festival in the world, featuring over two dozen
dance companies and hundreds of choreographers,
writers, and students participating in classes,
seminars, and performances. Events at DPAC
and Duke University; 919-684-6402; www.
americandancefestival.org
Beaver Queen Pageant F
Annual neighborhood ‘pageant’ featuring
live music and fun. Contenders for the Beaver
Queen Crown are scored for their performance
in wetlands ready wear, talent, and poise. Duke
Park, 1530 Acadia St, beaverlodgelocal1504.org
NC Juneteenth Celebration F
A fun-filled, educational and uplifting day that
features musical entertainment, food, vendors,
exhibitors, and presentations on the origin and
significance of Juneteenth. Downtown Durham;
866-680-0465; www.spectacularmag.com/
NCJuneteenthCelebration.html
JULY
Festival for the Eno
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. West Point on the Eno City Park,
5101 N Roxboro Rd; 919-620-9099;
www.enoriver.org/Festival/index.html
AUGUST
North Carolina Gay and Lesbian
Film Festival
Since beginning in 1995, this has become
the second largest such film festival in the
Southeast, attracting nearly 10,000 patrons
yearly. Carolina Theatre, 309 W Morgan St; 919-
560-3030; festivals.carolinatheatre.org/ncglff/
Fall
Mississippi Delta to the fine finger-picking and
ragtime exuberance of the Piedmont Blues.
Historic Durham Athletic Park, 500 W
Corporation St, Downtown Durham, 919-683-
1709; http://www.bulldurhamblues.org
Duke Homestead Tobacco Harvest
Festival F
Cultural festival centered on tobacco harvesting,
curing, and related activities in the fields and
at the barn. Duke Homestead State Historic
Site, 2828 Homestead Rd; 919-477-5498; www.
nchistoricsites.org/duke/duke.htm
Durham Arts Council’s CenterFest F
Art- and community-focused street festival that
brings the Central Park District to life with arts,
crafts, entertainment, food, and fun. Central
Park District, 550 Foster St; 919-560-2722;
www.centerfest.durhamarts.org
Heroes, Villains, and Special Effects
Explore the science behind entertainment and
meet experts in the fields of special effects,
make-up artistry, video game design and
simulation, comic book art, and staged combat.
Free with Museum admission. Museum of Life
and Science, 433 W Murray Ave; 919-220-5429;
www.lifeandscience.org
North Carolina Gay Pride Parade F
The largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, &
transgendered event in a five-state area,
attracting over 12,000 festival participants. Duke
East Campus and Ninth Street District, www.
ncpride.org/pride/
THINGS TO SEE & DO
OCTOBER
World Beer Festival
Over 400 world-class beers from more than 150
different breweries around the world, as well
as food vendors and great music by local and
regional artists. Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409
Blackwell St, Downtown Durham; 919-530-
8150; www.allaboutbeer.com/wbf/
NOVEMBER
Durham Art Walk Holiday Market F
NC’s largest art gallery and studio walking
tour, celebrating Durham’s diverse Downtown
environment and encouraging exchange
among artists and business owners, residents
and visitors. Held in spring and fall. Downtown
Durham; 919-560-2787; www.durhamartwalk.
com
DECEMBER
Each December, Durham’s historic sites offer the
opportunity to step back in time to experience
authentic 19th century holiday celebrations,
delivering a deep, hands-on inventory of history:
Christmas by Candlelight F
Duke Homestead State Historic Site, 2828
Homestead Rd; 919-477-5498; www.
nchistoricsites.org/duke/duke.htm
Christmas in the Big House,
Christmas in the Quarters F
Historic Stagville, 5828 Old Oxford Hwy;
919-620-0120; www.stagville.org
Christmas in the Carolinas
During the Civil War F
Bennett Place State Historic Site, 4409
Bennett Memorial Rd; 919-383-4345; www.
nchistoricsites.org/bennett/
VARIOUS DATES
Durham Art Guild’s Annual Juried
Art Show
More than 400 Durham visual artists join with
regional artists to compete and display in a
variety of media. Check website for dates.
Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St; 919-560-
2713; www.durhamartguild.org
Ongoing
SunTrust Broadway Series
Direct-from-Broadway hit shows in the stateof-the-art
DPAC. The ‘11-’12 season includes
performances of Come Fly Away, Rock of Ages,
Memphis, The Addams Family, Bring It On, WICKED,
and Chicago. DPAC - Durham Performing Arts
Center, 123 Vivian St;
919-680-2787; www.dpacnc.com
SEPTEMBER
Bull Durham Blues Festival
A celebration in the birthplace of the Piedmont
Blues, featuring national, regional, and local
blues, from the mournful sounds of the
DCVB
Symbol Key:
Kid-Friendly
F Free Admission
WWW.DURHAM-NC.COM