Full Frame Documentary Film Festival – Thursday-Sunday – Featuring nearly 100 films over four days, all set within a four-block radius of downtown, the 19th year of this morning-to-midnight doc fest welcomes filmmakers and film lovers from all over the world.
“Wabi-Sabi” Exhibit Opening – Thursday-May 1 – Celebrating the Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic – asymmetry, roughness or irregularity, simplicity, and appreciation of natural objects and processes – this Pleiades Gallery installment centers around the acceptance of imperfection.
Big Biscuit Brew Ha-Ha – Thursday, 6-9pm – Rise Biscuits & Donuts chefs are paired with special guest chefs, and six teams will compete at The Rickhouse in a doughnut/biscuit throwdown with beer pairings from local breweries. Proceeds benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of North Carolina.
Durham Bulls Opening Day – Thursday, 6:05pm; Friday, 7:05pm; Saturday and Sunday, 5:05pm – Kick off the 2016 Durham Bulls season as the team takes on the Charlotte Knights this weekend, with a special first pitch, giveaways, post-game fireworks and more on opening night!
Music in the New Galleries – Thursday, 7-8pm – An hour of ambient music in “The New Galleries” at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
Duke Wind Symphony: Broadway Baldwin – Thursday, 8pm – Your Broadway favorites from “Wicked,” “Into the Woods,” “Les Miserables,” brought to you by the incredibly talented Duke Wind Symphony.
“The Nether” – Thursday-Saturday, 8:15pm, and Sunday, 2pm – This sci-fi thriller about technology and human desire by Jennifer Haley makes its regional premiere at the Manbites Dog Theater. Preview night Thursday; opening night & reception on Friday.
Holy Ghost Tent Revival – Thursday, 9pm – Experience this “soulrock horn band” at Motorco Music Hall.
Stephanie Storey – Friday, 7pm – Bringing 16th century Florence alive, the author will discuss her historical novel “Oil and Marble,” about the rivalry between Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, at The Regulator Bookshop.
Community Campfire – Friday, 7-8pm – Dig into a s’more – provided by Durham Parks and Recreation Adventure Programs – around a campfire at Northgate Park.
Clay Date Night – Friday, 7-9pm – Take your partner or friend out to the Durham Arts Council’s Clay Studio and get creative with clay. Instructors will help you design a beautiful piece of pottery, which will be glazed and fired by the instructor and available for pickup 2 to 3 weeks after the workshop.
Shanghai Quartet – Friday, 8pm – This famous quartet is joined by pipa (Chinese lute) virtuoso Wu Man to perform new works by contemporary Chinese composers – including Tan Dun, who achieved international fame for his score for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” – in this Duke Performances concert at Baldwin Auditorium
Joel McHale – Friday, 8pm – Star of NBC comedy series “Community” and host of E!’s “The Soup,” the sarcastic comedian performs an evening of stand-up at DPAC.
Dive In Movie – Friday, 8-10pm – Heated indoor pool plus kid-friendly movie equals one great night for the whole family. Grab your floaties and head on over to the Edison Johnson Aquatic Center.
Soul Funk Disco Dance Party! – Friday, 9pm – Great records, great vibes and lots of dancing to take place at The Pinhook during this special bi-monthly party.
A Birthday Party for Addy – Saturday, 10am and 1pm – In celebration of their favorite American Girl, Addy, Historic Stagville is throwing her a birthday party full of food and fun!
Slow Art Day at Nasher – Saturday, 10:30-11am – Spend 30 minutes with a single work of art during this nation-wide event to discover art at a different pace.
High Ropes Discovery Day – Saturday, 11am, 12:30pm and 2pm – Challenge your agility with a variety of obstacles, some reaching 55 feet in the air, on the Durham Parks and Recreation‘s high ropes course in Bethesda Park. Pre-registration required.
Touch a Truck – Saturday, noon-4pm – Open to children of all ages and located at Northgate Mall‘s Sears parking lot, this event provides kids the opportunity to touch over 27 service vehicles and heavy machinery, plus food trucks!
Let There Be Rock school concert – Saturday, 1pm – Fans of the movie “School of Rock” are sure to enjoy this Motorco-hosted concert, put on by Durham/Chapel Hill’s premier performance-based rock and roll school.
Salt & Smoke Festival – Saturday, 4pm – A celebration of the best flavors of the South – whole hog barbecue (and the fixin’s), oysters and beer – in Polysaurus‘ front yard.
Mo’ Mojo – Saturday, 7pm – This Louisiana-spiced band brings zydeco, Cajun, blues, roots, rock and reggae to The Monkey Bottom Artists’ Collaborative. Local swing music favorites, the Haw River Rounders, will open.
Listening Room: Sumner James – Saturday, 7-9:30pm – Listen in at the Mercury Studio Listening Room for an evening of live music and dialogue featuring the thoughtful Sumner James.
Dancing Hammers in Concert – Saturday, 7:30-9:30pm – Performing at Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse, Dancing Hammers utilizes the hammered dulcimer, a predecessor to the piano, which is more than 2,500 years old and known for its unique and ethereal sound.
Orlando Consort, ‘Voices Appeared: La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc’ – Saturday, 8pm – Britain’s Orlando Consort accompany a screening of the silent film “La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc” for a special performance at Baldwin Auditorium.
Star Party – Saturday, 8-10:30pm – Gaze at the stars through high-powered telescopes as part of the NC Science Festival’s state-wide Star Party at Old North Durham Park.
Lynn Grissett Quartet – Saturday, 8pm and 10m – Enjoy a night of this UNC-Greensboro and North Carolina Central University grad’s jazz at Beyu Caffe.
Dreaming of the 90’s Dance Party! – Saturday, 9pm – Dream the 90’s alive at The Pinhook.
Verdi: Requiem – Sunday, 4pm – Duke Chapel Music, Duke Chorale and Choral Society of Durham present this stunning opera.
Sunday Screening – Sunday, 7-10pm – Hosted by UNEXPOSED Microcinema, this free screening of student works is curated by Jason Sudak and Sylvia Herbold.
An Evening with David Lindley – Sunday, 8pm – Enjoy this eclectic performance put on by the multi-instrumentalist at Motorco.
Ringo Deathstarr – Sunday, 8pm – Rock out with the Austin-based alternative band at The Pinhook.
