Life and Death in Ancient Peru – Thursday, 4pm – A gathering of leading experts on Peru explores the country’s millennial history and present-day challenges. It includes lectures and a roundtable discussion. This symposium at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University takes place alongside the student-curated Incubator exhibition, Cultures of the Sea: Art of the Ancient Americas. Free and open to the public.
Expressions of Color – *CANCELLED* Thursday, 5-7:30pm – In celebration of Black History Month, RTI International presents five African American speakers to share their experiences and successes in different fields at Frontier RTP. They’ll also speak about how they continue to celebrate their heritage and culture.
Blippi Live – Thursday, 6pm – The energetic character Blippi jumps off the screen and on to the DPAC stage with world-class production, audience engagement and amazing music on its first-ever tour. Children ages 2 to 7 will learn about the world around them while singing and dancing along with this one-of-a-kind show.
Black Girl Ventures Launch Party – Thursday, 6:30-8:30pm – The Durham Chapter of Black Girl Ventures, an organization promoting equal social and financial opportunity for minority women, celebrates the opening of its new space at American Underground with a party.
The Promise is Hope Concert – Thursday, 6:30-9pm – This Massachusetts-based folk duo and married couple share their stories and perform original songs at Locopops.
Fluid Black :: Dance Back – Friday, 1pm – Sunday, 2:30pm – Collegium for African Diaspora Dance’s fourth bi-annual conference includes performances, keynote speakers and workshops at Duke’s Rubenstein Arts Center. The conference fosters discussion and education of black identity and mobility in the context of societal issues like gender and social standing.
Locals Oyster Bar – Friday, 4-8pm – Barrel Culture Brewing and Blending hosts Locals Oyster Bar, which will soon open a spot in Durham Food Hall, for its Third Friday pop-up. There will be a raw oyster bar, grilled seafood sausages, and if the weather is good, an oyster roast!
Opening Exhibit for ‘The Right Angle, the Meander, & the Star’ – Friday, 6-8pm – The Durham Arts Council (DAC) features the work of Israeli artist Shirel Horovitz, who aims to convey the stories of the local Jewish community. Musical artist Alice Osborn will also perform in the DAC Pavilion.
Third Friday Reception – Thursday, 6-9pm – 5 Points Gallery presents the opening of its “Think Big! – A Small Works Exhibition” featuring local artists in its upstairs gallery. The exhibit runs through mid-March.
Processional Dance in the Sculpture Garden – Friday, 12:30-1pm – Led by Ava Lavonne Vinesett of Duke Dance, alongside Thomas F. DeFrantz, professor in the African and African American Studies Department, and director of “SLIPPAGE,” kicks off the fourth bi-annual conference of the Collegium for African Diaspora Dance (CADD) in the Sculpture Garden at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
An Evening of Entertainment – Friday, 7:30pm – Durham Public Schools (DPS) and the DPS Scholarship Foundation present a musical showcase at DPAC featuring about 500 choral and dance students from local elementary, middle and high schools. All proceeds will go toward scholarships for graduating DPS high school seniors.
Derrick Beasley: An Opening and a Conversation – Friday, 5-7pm – Kingfisher welcomes this Durham-based artist with an exhibit of his work, cocktails and a live conversation with Derrick and Darrell Stover, the Africana studies professor at NC State.
Brainchild: ‘It’s Alive!’ Residency – Third Friday Reception – Friday, 6-9pm – NorthStar Church of the Arts’ curators-in-residence, Brainchild, an experimental creative collective made up of Charla Rios, Germane James, Jade Wilson and Cassandra Rowe, host an opening reception for their debut residency that explores the themes of death, rebirth and transformation through visual and performance art, conversations, workshops, dance parties, fashion, food and film.
‘Napoleon Dynamite’ – Friday, 8pm – A special showing of the indie favorite followed by a conversation with Jon Heder, the actor who played the iconic character, at The Carolina Theatre. Tickets are available as buy one, get one free.
Remember Jones – Friday, 8pm – Motorco Music Hall features this one-of-a-kind soul/pop singer, storyteller and bandleader for a super-soul concert with a 12-piece show band.
‘Dreamgirls’ – Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 3pm – North Carolina Central University presents this Broadway show, which follows the story of a young female trio who become music superstars, in the Farrison-Newton Comm. Building.
Reopening of the Scrap Exchange’s Cameron Gallery – Saturday, noon – The Scrap Exchange celebrates its redesigned art gallery with a ribbon cutting alongside community leaders and local artisans.
Paws for a Cause – Saturday, 1-1:45pm – Support the Animal Protection Society of Durham with puppy yoga hosted by the Fitness World of Durham. Participants must be 16 years or older.
American Dance Festival: Movies by Movers – Saturday, 2-3pm – The American Dance Festival and the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University present an hour-long selection of films dedicated to conversations between body and camera. Films include: “MASS” by Fu Le; “Sirens Tango” by Lisa Lievre; “Between Silences” by Ali Kenner Brodsky; and more.
Feed the Need Gala – Saturday, 6-11pm – Benefiting Meals on Wheels of Durham, the annual gala held this year at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club celebrates the nonprofit’s 45th anniversary and features dinner, dancing, an open bar and a silent auction. All proceeds go to the organization, which in 2019 served some 156,000 meals to more than 550 Durhamites.
Middle Eastern Dance Showcase – Saturday, 7-9pm – The show features Middle Eastern dance and music with Egyptian dancer Mohamed Ali at The Fruit. Mohamed will also host dance workshops during the day.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo – Saturday, 8pm – Duke Performances and The Carolina Theatre present this small-yet-stalwart company that commands the stage with pomp and circumstance and commands audiences to ponder assumptions about gender and collective understanding of who tells the stories we have come to accept as canonical, and how.
Raund Haus Four-Year Anniversary – Saturday, 8pm-midnight – Los Angeles record producer Daedelus joins this record label in celebrating its anniversary with an electronic show at Motorco Music Hall.
Fourth Annual Chili Cook-Off – Sunday, noon-3:30 pm – Ponysaurus Brewing Co. hosts its annual chili competition, in which contestants vie for prizes like food, beer and a trophy. Donate a nonperishable food item to Porch-Durham to taste and vote.
Wedding and Events Showcase – Sunday, noon-3pm – The Rickhouse invites guests to meet local vendors, florists, photographers and more while experiencing the venue prepped with event decor as well as free wine tastings and food options.
Beer, Beads, & Beignets – Sunday, 3-6pm – Durty Bull Brewing Company and Bourbon Street Beignets bring the spirit of New Orleans to Durham with a live band, beer, beads and King Cake beignets.
Bull City Food & Beer Experience – Sunday, 4pm – More than 30 of the area’s finest restaurants pair with breweries spread throughout all three DPAC floors. Features unlimited samplings and the Harris Onstage Experience showcasing live music and local food trucks. Proceeds benefit Band Together NC and Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association.
Literary Frivolity – Sunday, 6:30pm – PEN America Piedmont Region Chapter, an organization that promotes and celebrates freedom of expression, hosts a literary celebration for the new year. The party is to commemorate the new regional chapter. It will feature a story slam, musical guest Quilla and a photo booth at The Pinhook.
