American Dance Festival – Through July 20 – Enjoy 38 performances by 25 companies and choreographers at five different venues, including Reynolds Industries Theater, von der Heyden Studio Theater at the Rubenstein Arts Center, Page Auditorium and The Carolina Theatre, during the 86th season of this world-renowned dance festival. The festival includes its annual Fête on June 19 at DPAC, featuring a performance by Mark Morris Dance Group and complimentary food and drinks. This season is dedicated to the choreographer and founder of the Paul Taylor Dance Company who died last year. As part of the 2019 performance season, ADF will activate public spaces with commissioned works by award-winning choreographer and North Carolina native Mark Dendy, who will work with 10 ADF scholarship students to create site-adaptable choreography to perform throughout Durham. (For this weekend’s performances, keep reading.)
Tour de Pork 2019 – Through July 31 – This summer, join Firsthand Foods as it showcases many pasture-raised pork dishes at local restaurants. Dine at 15 participating restaurants in June and July, and track your progress online and in your “Passpork” as you try nearly every part of the pig. Don’t forget to snap a photo of your dish and post it to Instagram with the hashtag #tourdepork for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate to a Tour de Pork restaurant of your choice, among other prizes.
Universe of Stories: Teen Creative Writing Workshop – Thursday, 5:30-6:30pm – Learn creative writing tips, how to beat writer’s block and how to get your work published with local writer Erim Akpan at East Regional Library.
Adult Summer Camp – Thursday, 6:30-10pm – Your chance to act like a kid again! Race up the rock climbing wall, make s’mores, play in the treehouse and more at the Museum of Life and Science. Enjoy food samples and adult beverages as you channel your inner child and mingle with new friends.
Lounge Doctors – Thursday, 6:30pm – Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy a performance from the Cary-based duo that mashes rock, jazz and blues together at the Down Under Patio at American Tobacco Campus.
Summer Indie Noir Series with Eryk Pruitt: ‘Dirtbag Noir’ – Thursday, 7pm – Discuss three crime noir novels and the independent crime fiction movement with screenwriter and author Eryk Pruitt at The Regulator Bookshop.
‘Luke & Jo’ – Thursday, 7:30-9:30pm – Enjoy free drinks and watch a screening of this independent film featuring Durham native Andie Morgenlander at Full Frame Theater. A Q&A with the filmmakers will follow.
ICONS – Thursday and Friday, 8pm, and Saturday, 7pm – Kicking off the American Dance Festival, three giants of American modern dance – Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor – share a program of works, two of which originally premiered at ADF, at Reynolds Industries Theater. Graham 2 will perform Martha Graham’s “Diversion of Angels” (1948). Stephen Petronio Company will appear in Merce Cunningham’s “Tread” (1970). Lastly, Taylor 2 will dance Paul Taylor’s “Piazzolla Caldera” (1997). Join in a post-performance discussion on Friday night.
Eric Hirsh – Thursday, 8-10:30pm – The Durham-based jazz pianist and his quartet performs at Arcana as part of a year-long residency. He challenges himself to write new music or perform a new cover each month, showcasing his versatility as an artist.
‘Vande Mataram’ – This Land, Our Home – Friday, 4:30pm and 7:30pm – Durham Independent Dance Artists presents a powerful performance at Walltown Children’s Theatre about how the love of one’s country can lead to hate. The performance features the choreography of Ramya S. Kapadia.
Meeting at the Finish Line: Coaches Walker and Buehler Exhibit Opening – Friday, 6-8pm – Learn how track and field coaches Leroy Walker (North Carolina Central University) and Al Buehler’s (Duke) friendship brought black and white student athletes together at the height of segregation at the Museum of Durham History’s newest exhibit as part of Durham’s 150th anniversary.
PLAYlist Concert Series – Friday, 7pm – This free summer concert series at Durham Central Park takes place every other Friday night, rain or shine. The lineup features an eclectic blend of genres and local, national and, for the first time, international acts. Grab some food and drink from a mix of local craft beer vendors and food trucks, take a seat on the open lawn, and enjoy the show. Alanna Royale kicks off the concert series this Friday.
The Beat Market – Friday, 7:30-11:30pm – Peruse local art vendors, grab a drink and enjoy live music at Fullsteam Brewery. Curated by Durham Beat, the night market features vendors such as Vann Thomas Powell, Killdeer Pottery and Wadalian.
Electric Velvet – Friday, 9pm-midnight – Grab a drink and kick back with lo-fi music curated by Kubra Coltrane at the Arcana.
Meet the Artist: Cricket Forge – Saturday, 9am-1pm – Stop by Cecy’s Gallery & Studios and chat with the artists behind Cricket Forge, a Durham-based company that specializes in handcrafting outdoor steel furniture.
2019 Bull City Cruise-In – Saturday, 10am – Peruse hundreds of cars and trucks, enjoy food from local food trucks, live music and more at American Tobacco Campus. The annual event also features kid-friendly activities such as face-painting, inflatables and mini-golf.
Sketching in the Galleries: Kiki Farish – Saturday, 10:15am-12:15pm – Explore your artistic side through an informal sketching program with the artist at Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. The event begins with a brief demonstration of ways to respond to art by drawing. Participants then move through the galleries to continue sketching. Free with general museum admission.
NC Juneteenth Celebration – Saturday, 1-10pm – Hosted by comedian Darian “DWissh” Tedder, the 15th annual Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and the legacy they left for future generations through displays of art, history, exotic foods, a fashion show, K97.5 music hour, an 8 p.m. performance by rapper G Yamazawa and a block party.
The 4th Annual Triangle Community Band Festival – Saturday, 5:30-8pm – Join Durham Community Concert Band for this music festival at Durham Central Park, featuring performances from Cary Town Band, Holly Springs Community Band, The Village Band as well as the Durham Community Concert Band. Bring your chairs and blankets, grab eats from food trucks, and enjoy the show.
Marcus Anderson’s Let’s Go Crazy Show – Saturday, 8pm – The Billboard chart-topping saxophonist, who has performed with CeeLo Green and Stevie Wonder, comes to Rhythms Live Music Hall for a Prince tribute concert.
The Monti: Sh*t Hits the Fan – Saturday, 8pm – Enjoy a night of comedy at The Carolina Theatre as you listen to storytellers from The Monti recount times when everything was just a mess. Performers include Tiffany Okafor, Cassandra Rowe, Jordan Ford, Peter Metzner and Blair Bost.
1st Annual Newbie Poetry Slam – Saturday, 8pm – Come out and listen to new poetry slammers raise their voices at Hayti Heritage Center. Hosted by Jambalaya Soul Slam, the first annual event features Durham native Brittany Barbee, an emerging documentary artist from Duke University‘s Center for Documentary Studies.
School’s Out Summer Pride Party – Saturday, 9pm-2am – Safe Schools NC hosts a LGBTQ pride celebration at Arcana. Dance to sweet tunes, have your tarot read, grab a drink and bid in silent auctions benefiting the nonprofit organization.
Summer Food Truck Rodeo – Sunday, noon-4pm – An all-ages Sunday afternoon gathering of dozens of the Triangle’s most popular food trucks in Durham Central Park. Locally-brewed craft beer and other beverages will be on hand. Durham-based funk band The Up and Up performs! The nonprofit partner is Bull City Music School, who will give young folks a chance to try out cardboard practice violins and for budding percussionists to try out for BCMS’s drumline, who will perform as the Bull City All-Stars at DCP’s PLAYlist Concert Series later this summer.
Tune in & Wig Out: Drag Pool Party – Sunday, noon-5pm – Celebrate pride month with a rooftop pool party at Unscripted Durham. Watch performances from drag queens from the House of Coxx, mingle with new friends and enjoy delectable cocktails.
Father’s Day: Beer & Brats Grilled on the Patio – Sunday, noon-5pm – Celebrate Father’s Day with a grill on the patio at Jack Tar and The Colonel’s Daughter. Kick back and enjoy bratwursts and beer with the whole family.
Father’s Day Wii Golf Tourney & Donuts – Sunday, 2-5pm – Join in on the Father’s Day festivities at Barley Labs for a Wii Golf tournament. As you compete, drink from a selection of 16 beers and ciders on draft, and enjoy doughnuts.
