North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival – Through Aug. 20 – Offering a worldwide glimpse into the lives of people in today’s LGBTQ community, this film festival held at The Carolina Theatre attracts thousands of patrons yearly.
Newsies – Thursday, 7:30pm, Friday, 8pm, Saturday, 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday, 1pm and 6:30pm –Based on the newsboys’ strike of 1899, this Tony Award-winning musical comes to the Durham Performing Arts Center with high-energy song and dance to tell the story of a group of underdogs who stand up to the most powerful men in New York.
Dinner and a Movie: “Prom Night in Mississippi” – Thursday, 5-9pm – Nasher Museum Cafe is cooking up a dinner special to be enjoyed before the free screening of Morgan Freeman’s film about an historic racially integrated prom.
“Useful Work” Reception, Artist’s Talk & Book Signing – Thursday, 6-9pm – Join Ken Abbott at the Center for Documentary Studies as he discusses his exhibit “Useful Work: Photographs of Hickory Nut Gap Farm,” photographed over a five-year period.
Meet the Author: Andra Watkins – Thursday, 7-8:30pm – Gather at the Durham County Main Library auditorium for a meet and greet with The New York Times best-selling author to discuss her memoir “Not Without My Father.”
Mel Melton, Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones with Dennis Gruenling – Thursday, 8pm – Expect a bluesy evening accompanied, more than likely, by some serious harmonica duels at The Blue Note Grill.
Jackie Lynn – Thursday, 8pm – Check out this country-inspired performance at The Pinhook.
Rhubarb Berliner Weisse Release – Friday, 4-8pm – At 3% ABV, Durty Bull Brewing Co.‘s tart Berliner offers relief from the heat. Zeke’s Meats food truck will be serving up sandwiches, and the brewery’s Lager, Mint Saison and Dry-hopped Brett Table Beer are also on tap.
Durham Arts Council’s Third Friday Reception – Friday, 5-7 – On display this month is “Space of Otherness” by Quoctrung Nguyen and “Avant-Gardens” by Lauren Jones Worth.
Alliance Fundraiser – Friday, 6-7:30pm – Join Lux Performance Arts at Fullsteam Brewery for this aerial and acrobatic performance aimed at raising funds to improve Lux’s training facility, equipment and future productions.
“Journey to The Good Life” Artist’s Talk – Friday, 6-9pm – Kulsum Tasnif discusses her multimedia exhibition about the stories of migrants and refugees at The Carrack.
“Don’t You Lie to Me!” Podcast Launch – Celebrate Jeff Bell and Warren Hicks‘ new project focusing on the Triangle’s visual art scene.
“Bathroom Humor” Opening Reception – Friday, 6-9pm – National cartoonists take on House Bill 2 in this exhibit on display at the Bull City Arts Collaborative (where the reception will take place) as well as Duke University‘s Bryan Center.
Art and Trunk Show – Friday, 6-9pm – Capo Vintage, Chauncey Covington and Nikki Garrett come together at The Makery at Mercury Studio for this month’s Third-Friday pop-up show.
“Out of Context” – Friday, 6-9pm – Check out the opening reception for a group show by Durham artists Kathryn DeMarco, Linwood Hart and Libby O’Daniel at The Scrap Exchange‘s Cameron Gallery. The exhibit will consist of mixed-media pieces featuring print materials and found objects that have been removed from their original contexts and that gain new and different meanings within the context of the art works. The evening’s festivities include light snacks and drinks, as well as free art making in the Make N Take Room.
GLOW for Charity – Friday, 6-10:30pm – Sky Zone invites you to jump in the dark with music, black lights and lasers to benefit The Salvation Army of Durham and The Next Level Veterans Outreach Campus of Durham.
“CONTEMPORARY COLOR” – Friday, 7pm – This powerful music documentary chronicles the performances of ten of the best color guard teams from across North America as they showcased synchronized dance routines to music composed for their performances by musicians like St. Vincent, Nelly Furtado, Ad-Rock + Money Mark, Nico Muhly + Ira Glass and David Byrne. See it at Full Frame Theater.
Yarn – Friday, 9pm – Get your Americana/alternative country fix at this Motorco Music Hall performance featuring Yarn, Christopher Paul Stelling and DRISKILL.
Free Family Film Screening – Saturday, 10:45am – Join The North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and The Carolina Theatre at this family fun event beginning with activities and face painting at 9am and followed by a screening of “Babe” at 10:45am.
Building with Biology – Saturday 11am-3pm – Explore the regular exhibits at the Museum of Life and Science alongside activities centered around synthetic biology like extracting DNA and engineering super organisms.
Northgate’s Back-to-School Bash – Saturday, 11am-2pm – Back to school isn’t so bad when you kick it off with a surf simulator, bounce house, petting zoo and backpack giveaway. Don’t forget to bring a few books to donate to Book Harvest‘s drive.
Archaeology for Kids – Saturday, 1-4pm – Grab your digging tools and head on over to Leigh Farm Park for this free, drop-in event.
Third Date Improv – Saturday, 8-10pm – Four veteran actors improvise based on audience suggestions at Common Ground Theatre.
Rock the Park – Saturday, 8:30-10:30pm – Pack your picnic blankets for the last installment of this summer series featuring the kid-friendly movie “Home” at Durham Central Park.
Ti Harmon – Saturday, 8pm and 10pm – Enjoy one or both shows by this Philadelphian jazz vocalist, composer and band leader at Beyu Caffe.
Love South Durham Festival – Sunday, noon-3pm – School supplies are accepted as donations to this free, public fest held at Pearsontown Elementary featuring inflatables, face painting and games put on by South Durham Church.
Let’s Pokemon Go – Sunday, noon-5pm – Catch ’em all at Museum of Life and Science with lures set up to attract wild Pokemon and more than 22 Pokestops throughout the park.
Zine Workshop with Tristin Miller – Sunday, 2-4pm – Learn more about this self-published mixed-media format and create your own zine with hands-on instruction at The Regulator Bookshop.
Trucks for Duke Homestead – Sunday, 5:30-8:30pm – Sample small plates from 15 local food trucks like American Meltdown, Belgian Waffle Crafters and Heavenly Smoke in support of the historic site and museum.
