Compiled by Anne Tate
BooFest – Thursday, all day – The Museum of Life and Science will have kooky activities like encounters in the Insectarium, Halloween storytime and Pumpkin treat stations. Family-friendly costumes are encouraged.
Trick-or-Treat on 9th Street – Thursday, 3-5pm – Put on your spookiest Halloween costume and head to The Regulator Bookshop to trick or treat for candy and shop for books. Head to Elmo’s Diner after claiming your candy for a costume contest at 5pm.
Wonderpuff + The Parlour Halloween Party – Thursday, 5-8pm – Indulge in Wonderpuff cotton candy clouds and The Parlour’s special spooky ice cream flavors. Remember to dress up in your best costume for the costume contest.
Hallow-Eno – Thursday, 6-9pm – Bring your kids 12 and younger to special Halloween activities at West Point on the Eno including campfire stories, songs, hayrides, treats, crafts, games and face-painting.
Bull Moon Rising – Thursday, 6pm-Sunday – A giant, internally lit replica of the moon with a diameter of nearly 23 feet will hang above CCB Plaza this weekend. The artwork features 120 dots per inch of detailed NASA imagery and has been exhibited in more than 30 countries. The Museum of the Moon installation will be open to the public on all four days. On Thursday, the moon will be illuminated, and on Friday, the Bull Moon Ball black tie ticketed fundraising gala will be held at Unscripted Hotel. Visitors can attend a community dinner featuring local food and beverage vendors on Saturday and attend a Moon Movement class with Community Power Yoga on Sunday morning.
44th Annual Sale – Thursday-Sunday – The Persian Carpet celebrates 44 years of business by discounting 7,000 hand-woven rugs. Persian, Caucasian, Chinese, Tibeten, Southwestern and more rugs are available. Each rug will be marked down 30 to 75%.
Women’s Leadership Weekend – Thursday, 4pm-9:30pm; Friday, 8am-midnight; Saturday, 8am-1am – Join Duke’s Fuqua School of Business for educational and professional insights into Duke and Fuqua. The weekend will feature Admissions programming, professional development and socially-geared enrichment activities for current and prospective students, plus alumnae. Author and Duke alumna Fallon Ukpe, MD, MBA, is the keynote speaker and will launch her book tour of “Life is a Squiggly Line.” A major theme of the weekend is diversity, so all individuals, regardless of gender, are welcome to attend.
‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Halloween Ball – Thursday, 7:30pm – Retro Film Series presents night two of the second annual, full-theatrical, FX-driven, light show-blazing, call-backing, musical motion picture at The Carolina Theatre.
Haus of Horrors / Raund Haus Halloween Party – Thursday, 8pm – Dress up in your best costume for Motorco’s special Halloween event featuring DJ Sets, MC’s, Live Beats and a costume contest.
Werq the World 2019 – Thursday, 8pm – The official RuPaul’s Drag Race returns with a new production at DPAC. Asia O’Hara leads a mission to save the universe with her intergalactic queens including Naomi Smalls, Yvie Oddly, Plastique, Aquaria, Violet Chachki and Monét X Change.
Favor Desserts PopUp – Friday, 8:30am-3pm – Durham’s November Pop-Up @ American Tobacco Campus is Favor Desserts, established and run by baker Keijuane Hester, running Monday-Friday until Nov. 27. This bakery is best known for its red velvet cupcakes, five-flavored pound cake, carrot cake and Italian creme cake.
Brick by Brick: Building with the Earth – Friday and Saturday, 10-11:30am – Discover the science of clay, sand and mud by creating adobe bricks during a Studio Earth Workshop at the Museum of Life and Science. This event is for children ages 6-10 accompanied by an adult.
NASHER Free Films – Friday, 2-5pm; Saturday, 2-4pm; Sunday, 3-5pm – The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University presents the films “Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner” on Friday, “Maliglutit” (Searchers) on Saturday and “SGaawaay K’uuna” (Edge of the Knife) on Sunday.
SoJam – Friday-Sunday – The Contemporary A Cappella Society presents SoJam, a three-day a cappella festival at The Carolina Theatre. This event brings together top vocal talent ranging from amateur singers to industry professionals for concerts, competitions, masterclasses and hands-on workshops. Headliners include Six Appeal, Stiletta and Resolve.
LAST CALL: Conversation + Cocktails with Brad Thomas Parsons – Friday, 4:30-6:30pm – Kingfisher‘s Sean Umstead and Michelle Vanderwalker welcomes Brad Thomas Parsons to the bar to share his latest book, “Last Call,” and sip Kingfisher’s cocktails, adapted from the book. There will be a Q&A with Brad, Sean and Michelle.
John Prine: The Tree of Forgiveness World Tour – Friday, 8pm – The two-time Grammy winner will perform at DPAC with special guest Ben Dickey.
The Love Song of R. Buckminster Fuller – Friday, 8pm – Presented by Duke Performances, join live documentary filmmaker Sam Green and band Yo La Tengo in their performance showcasing inventor, engineer, architect, theorist, author and early proponent of environmental sustainability, R. Buckminster Fuller.
Family Garden Walk: Autumn Leaves – Saturday, 9-9:45am – Discover Sarah P. Duke Gardens in autumn during a free walking tour. The tour begins at the Gothic Gates and ends inside gardens to continue exploring on your own.
10th annual Walk in Their Shoes – Saturday, 10:30am – Open Table Ministry hosts this 3-mile walk for the homeless and unsheltered. All proceeds will benefit the homeless of Durham, enabling Open Table Ministry to provide free clothing, food, emergency shelter and assistance with obtaining permanent housing. The out-and-back three-mile walk will take place along Third Fork Creek Trail, beginning and ending at Southern Boundaries Park. Check-in will begin at 10am.
Soaring Eagle Powwow – Saturday, noon-5pm – North Carolina Central University, the Native American Law Students Association and the Department of Diversity and Inclusion present an afternoon highlighting Native American Culture featuring Native American food vendors, dance and drum exhibitions, craft vendors and more at their inaugural event.
50th Anniversary Celebration – Saturday, 1-6pm – Join staff, family and friends of Morgan Imports for an afternoon of festivity and fun. There will be a selection of snacks and beverages, plus drawings for door prizes will be held every 20 minutes. A special interactive “Arch of Decades,” featuring photographs, news articles and vintage advertisements will provide a look into the shop’s past. A tarot card reader will be on hand to provide a glimpse into the future. “Buck the Reindeer” also turns 50 this year and makes an early arrival. He will be available throughout the day for photo opportunities. The official party kicks off at 3:30pm with hors d’oeuvres and sweets, sparkling wine, birthday cake and balloons. At 4:30pm, Mayor Steve Schewel will make remarks and issue a special proclamation.
Howl-O-Ween Bash – Saturday, 2-5pm – Bring your pup to Boxcar Bar + Arcade for Halloween and dog-themed activities like a doggy costume contest. On Point Pupcakes and Mutt Stuff will be there, helping fundraise for Hope Animal Rescue.
Inflatable Day at the Park – Saturday 3-6pm – Bounce on inflatables, roll around in Zorb Balls, listen to music and indulge in food trucks at Durham Central Park. All proceeds go toward the relocation of the Northgate Carousel.
Durham 150 Closing Ceremony – Saturday, 7:30-10pm – Rounding out a historic year for the community, this event at DPAC will feature productions of pivotal moments in Durham’s history, and will highlight the works and accomplishments of 29 heroes and changemakers. Walk through time with the aid of three large video walls that will feature historical visual materials. Narration written by historian Jim Wise and recorded by longtime WUNC host Frank Stasio will play across the images. Enjoy live music from John Brown Little Big Band. The program will conclude with the reveal of Durham’s new anthem composed by Gavin Williams, Joshua Gunn and Phil Cook.
Queer Prom: A Fall Ball – Saturday, 8pm-midnight – The 2019 Human Rights Campaign Triangle presents this opportunity for LGBTQ+ individuals to relive their high school years and prom at Rigsbee Hall.
Superchunk Plays ‘Foolish’ 25th Anniversary Acoustic Performance – Saturday, 9:15pm – Head to Motorco to hear American indie rock band perform songs off of their latest album, “What a Time to Be Alive,” among others.
Holiday Open House – Sip, Snack, Shop & Save – Saturday and Sunday, noon-4pm – Get a jump on your holiday shopping at Vintage Home South’s holiday mixer. Enjoy complimentary treats and bubbly while you browse local artisan offerings, artisanal snacks and festive drinks. The event features Alley Twenty Six, Monuts, Baker Street Cookies, East Durham Bake Shop and Bull City Olive Oil. At checkout, each customer can “draw a discount” for up to 20% off.
Oddville! – Saturday, 6:30pm-2am – The Fruit hosts this “festival of the awesomely strange,” an exposition of the world’s strangest art, photography, sculpture and performance. All mediums of art and photography are welcome. This show is interactive and welcomes exhibitors and viewers.
Teddy Bear Hospital – Sunday, 10am-2pm – The Museum of Life and Science hosts the Duke Children’s Teddy Bear Hospital where kids can bring their favorite stuffed animal to participate in activities highlighting the body, physical fitness and healthy habits. There will be an opportunity to see a Duke Life Flight ambulance and interact with Duke pediatric doctors.
A Festival of Fabulous Mums – Sunday, noon-5pm – Enjoy show chrysanthemums grown by the Central Carolina Chrysanthemum Society at Sarah P. Duke Gardens. Browse information booths about gardening with mums, participate in arts and crafts activities and tours of mum displays in the Gardens in this free, drop-in event.
Halloween Weekend Food Truck Rodeo – Sunday, noon-4pm – Dozens of Durham’s most popular food trucks will park and serve delicious food at Durham Central Park. The event is free; just pay for what you eat.
Sip + Savor – Sunday, 4pm – Taste the best the Triangle has to offer at this third annual wine and food experience taking over three floors at DPAC. Hosted by the producers of TASTE the Event, more than 30 restaurants and artisanal vendors, such as It’s A Southern Thing, Counting House, Bleu Olive and Viceroy, will create dishes paired with world-class wineries. Guests can expect a live band, dessert and bubbly alongside their culinary samplings.
Durham Symphony Orchestra – Sunday, 4pm – Enjoy beautiful music and honor the American Women’s Suffrage Centennial at The Carolina Theatre with a symphony tribute. The winner of the Stephen Prystowsky Young Vocalists Award will be presented to Jemeesa Yarborough.
The Bipeds Present: The Guy Fawkes Session – Sunday, 7pm – Head to Shadowbox Studio for an evening of dance and music duos celebrating Guy Fawkes, featuring Renay Aumiller/Dave Yarwood, Matthew Kessler-McMunn/Crystal Bright, Megan Yankee/John Osborn and Curtis Eller/Stacy Wolfson.
