Scrappy Morning Out Mini-Camp – Thursday, 9am-noon – Need a new way to beat the heat and keep the kids occupied? The Scrap Exchange’s mini-camp features a sampling of its most popular activities including “Make n’ Take” and “Junk Jam.”
“Black Ballerina” Screening – Thursday, 7-9pm – “Black Ballerina” confronts unfortunate truths in the world of dance – it follows six generations of black women, including Joan Myers Brown, Delores Browne and Raven Wilkinson, and the challenges they overcame after joining the world of ballet. “Black Ballerina” is the documentary film showcase at American Dance Festival’s Movies by Movers film festival. The screening takes place at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University.
John Jasperse – Thursday, 7pm – John Jasperse returns to the American Dance Festival with a new work called “Remains.” Remains addresses the illusion of ego, the notion of a fluid boundary between the self and one’s environment and the notion of legacy as the sum total of the energy we put out in the world.
Music in the Gardens: Mount Moriah – Thursday, 7pm – Local country rockers Mount Moriah are on a roll – their 2016 album “How to Dance” proves that they’ve found their niche, so this isn’t a show to miss! Music in the Gardens takes place at Sarah P. Duke Gardens and showcases the best of local music. (Note: All tickets holders from the rained-out June 29 event will be honored).
“The Sandlot” – Thursday, 7:30-10pm – As part of the family-friendly Movies on the Plaza series, Northgate Mall presents this coming-of-age film about the adventures of a baseball team in the summer of 1962. Grab some blankets and head to the mall early to get good seats and relax with a beer or wine from Bull City Burger and Brewery.
Durham Comics Fest – Friday-Sunday – Presented by Durham County Library, Durham Comics Fest is an annual all-ages celebration of comics and graphic novels, with an emphasis on supporting a community of comic readers and creators. The weekend includes drawing workshops and meet-ups, a comic swap and a special screening of the documentary “Dear Mr. Watterson.”
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago – Friday, 8pm, and Saturday, 1pm and 7pm – This contemporary dance group returns to Durham Performing Arts Center for American Dance Festival! “N.N.N.N” is a program that appears as a mind in four parts. Four dancers in a state of constant, tacit connection are underscored by the sudden murmured flashes on Thom Willems’ music. “Quintett’s” seamless progression of solos, duets and trios for five dancers runs in concert with—and counter to—themes of loss, hope, fear,and joy heard in Gavin Bryars’ 1971 orchestral composition, “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet.” “One Flat Thing, reproduced” begins with 20 tables, like jagged rafts of ice, flying forward and become the surface, the underground, and the sky inhabited by a flight of dancers. Described as a detailed storm of movement, this performance is not to be missed!
Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest of Glass – Friday, 5:30-7:30pm – Presented by Durham Central Park to kick off the Warehouse Blues series, Amythyst Kiah is one of the few musicians who can seamlessly infuse contemporary style into traditional roots music. Amythyst draws her inspiration from old-time music, classic country and both old and new R&B vocalists. This concert is free for all ages.
Dinner & Dance: Hubbard Street Dance Company – Friday, 5:30pm – Parizäde and American Dance Festival pair to present a specially curated three-course meal. Ticket holders to Dinner & Dance receive 1-2 tickets to the Hubbard Street Dance Company performance on Friday night. Reservations are recommended.
Girls Rock NC Showcase – Friday, 6pm – Come out to The Pinhook to support Girls Rock NC at the after-school program’s showcase concert! Fifty second- and third-graders rock out with music they made at camp.
Movies by Movers Short Films Screening – Friday, 7pm – Presented by American Dance Festival, this event at The Shed Jazz Club showcases 13 professional short films. Movies by Movers is a celebration of the conversation between body and camera. All genres of films are represented.
Joshua James – Friday, 7pm – Utah-based singer-songwriter comes to The Cookery. His third album, “On Top of Willamette Mountain” focuses on mysticism and a personal quest toward transcendence.
XXX Files Benefit Dance Party: The Truth is Out There – Friday, 9pm – Come out to The Pinhook for an X-files themed night of dancing featuring DJ PlayPlay and Ladyfingers in support of Internationalist Bookstore & Community Center! There will be a pie auction, costume contest, themed drinks and a merch table stocked with the best independent books, radical ‘zines and posters.
Pie & Loco Pop-Up – Saturday, 9am-3pm – Visit Funny Girl Farm for a day of family-friendly fun, featuring some of Durham’s best local products! Offerings include fresh-baked pie from East Durham Pie Company; gelato from Locopops; art fun with Artstigators; and samples from Chapel Hill Creamery, Carrboro Coffee Roasters and Big Spoon Roasters. Farm tours at 10am and 1pm.
TEDxDURHAM: Centers and Edges – Saturday, 9:30am-6pm – Don’t miss the inaugural TEDxDurham event at The Carolina Theatre! With more than 20 local speakers, this event encourages attendees to contemplate life’s centers and edges and how they function both individually and in larger communities. The speaker lineup includes artists, professors, professionals and activists.
Pork, Pickles & Peanuts – Saturday, 10am-4pm – Celebrate North Carolina food culture and history at Duke Homestead State Historic Site. Enter the pie competition, judge locally made barbecue and take a trip back in time with the mock 1940s Tobacco Queen pageant. Other festivities include live music, a peanut boil and pickle-making demonstrations.
Summer Renewal Celebration – Saturday, 1-4pm – Celebrate new beginnings at the Durham Summer Solstice Celebration on the Eno River. Participants are encouraged to get in the river, symbolically washing away the old and embracing the new.
Movies by Movers Short Films Screening – Saturday, 2-4pm – Presented by American Dance Festival, this event at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University showcases the second round of professional short films. Movies by Movers is a celebration of the conversation between body and camera. All genres of films are represented.
Runaway 2016 Summer Release Party – Saturday, 3-6pm – The newest collection of tees, hats and more debuts at Runaway. Doors open at 11am, with refreshments and music by DJ Shahzad starting at 3pm.
Downtown Downdog – Saturday, 5:15-6:30pm – American Dance Festival and lululemon host a free vinyasa yoga class at Diamond View Park (next to Durham Performing Arts Center). Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat, water, bug spray and sunscreen. Following the class, walk next door and enjoy a contemporary dance performance by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Receive 20% off tickets with code ADFLULU.
“MA” Screening – Saturday, 6pm – “MA” is a modern-day vision of Mother Mary’s pilgrimage. The film focuses on a woman’s journey across the American Southwest and interweaves ritual, performance and the body as sculpture. This screening takes place at SPECTRE Arts and concludes the Movies by Movers film festival.
Liontracks – Saturday, 6-8pm – Durham Parks and Recreation present Rock the Park, a summer concert and film series. Liontracks, a North Carolina reggae band, performs this weekend at Rock Quarry Park. The band brings a timeless reggae sound that’s sure to get you dancing!
Aoife O’Donovan – Saturday, 8-10pm – Hayti Heritage Center welcomes folk singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan. Aoife’s sophomore album “In the Magic Hour” focuses on themes of loneliness and flight, but the album is just as much an ode to joyful childhood summers spent in Ireland. Let her honeyed vocals and soft reverb lull you into another world.
Post-Show Brews – Saturday, 8:30pm – Turn your post-show blues into post-show brews! Head over to Ponysaurus Brewing Co. after the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago performance at DPAC to mingle and discuss the show.
APS Cat Adoption Event – Sunday, 2-3:30pm – Swing by The Regulator Bookshop to make some furry friends! Volunteers from APS of Durham will bring adoptable cats for you to meet and cuddle.
Saba Saba Festival – Sunday, 2-6pm – Sister Cities of Durham presents the Saba Saba Festival, in honor of the Tanzanian holiday celebrating the establishment of TANU, Tanganyika African National Union. The festival is family-friendly with African music, water relay races, children’s crafts, vendors and more!
