Kick off the fall season with these virtual and in-person events
Compiled by Jade Earnhardt
THURSDAY
UHill Walls – Thursday-Saturday – University Hill hosts more than 40 local, national and international artists to create one of the largest consolidated collections of murals in the Southeast. The walkable art district includes 40,000-plus square feet of murals at the new mixed-use development center.
Navigating Jim Crow: The Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina – Thursday-Sunday, 9am-5pm – Historic Stagville State Historic Site opens a new traveling exhibit by the N.C. African American Heritage Commission. The exhibit highlights a complex statewide network of business owners and Green Book sites that allowed African American communities to thrive and created “oasis spaces” for a variety of African American travelers. Displayed on an outdoor screened porch, guests must follow appropriate COVID-19 restrictions, including wearing face masks and social distancing.
September Craft Series – Thursday, 6pm or 8pm, and Sunday, 2-3pm – Bull City Ciderworks hosts a cuff bracelet stamping class, where attendees receive hands-on instructions on how to personalize bracelets with names, quotes, song lyrics, etc. Each ticket includes a pint to sip on while crafting.
Italian Harvest Wine Dinner– Thursday, 6:30-9pm – Sarah Newman of Volio Imports educates guests on Italian vineyards with a selection of five hand-picked wines for a delicious dinner at Parizade. Executive Chef Jason Lawless carefully curates a menu featuring seared scallops, lobster fra diavolo, slow-braised beef short rib with housemade ricotta, potato gnocchi and dessert. Advanced registration is required.
FRIDAY
Pride: Durham, NC – Friday-Sunday – This annual event celebrating the LGBTQ+ community goes virtual this year with programming all weekend long on Twitch. On Friday and Sunday, the LGBTQ Center of Durham screens several documentaries, including “MAJOR!” about Miss Major, a black transgender elder and activist. On Saturday afternoon from, noon-4pm, there will be educational and restorative sessions followed by a Sister Circle from 3-4pm with Dominique Jackson. She created a session specifically for trans women and femmes of color to enjoy and restore in a safer space. From 6-10pm, the evening concludes with performances by local drag artists.
West Point History Tour – Friday, 10-11am – Take a guided tour of West Point on the Eno‘s historic buildings and grounds. While visiting the West Point Mill, McCown-Mangum House and Hugh Mangum Museum of Photography, hear stories about the people who lived, worked and played there.
The Streetery – Friday and Saturday, 5pm-9:30pm – Downtown Durham Inc. launches The Streetery this Friday and opens multiple streets in the center of downtown to pedestrian traffic, with festive lights, music and performers. The Streetery will run every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 19. “This is our way of welcoming folks to a safer, socially distanced, outdoor downtown experience,” Nicole J. Thompson, Downtown Durham Inc. president and CEO says.
Food Truck Flix – Friday-Saturday, 8pm – A team of local food trucks hosts two evenings of drive-in moving screenings at Focus Church. Buy a pass for your car to watch “Slumdog Millionaire” on Friday or “Night at the Museum” on Saturday. Gates open at 6pm with the movie to follow at 8pm. The Friday event features food trucks Gussy’s, Chirba Chirba Dumpling and Magnificent Concessions. Saturday features Chick-N-Que, NC Bulkogi and Bruster’s Ice Cream. Proceeds from the weekend benefit Raleigh Dream Center, a nonprofit dedicated to providing social services and community programs to homeless, abused and impoverished high-risk youth, individuals and families.
Backyard Film Series Drive-in – Friday-Saturday, 7pm – Hayti Heritage Film Festival hosts a two-day drive-in movie experience featuring short films by young filmmakers of color on Friday and “United Skates,” a movie produced by John Legend, on Saturday. Both movies highlight stories of memory and resilience in African American history.
Movies on the Monster – Friday, 7:30pm – Blue Cross NC presents an outdoor movie viewing of “42” for all ages on the field at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. To promote a safe atmosphere, exclusive “pods” will be spaced out across the outfield, with each pod holding up to 10 people.
SATURDAY
Cultivate | Garden + Harvest – Saturday, 8am-3pm – A new community-focused plant nursery opens in the space formerly occupied by Benson Nursery. The 15,000-square-foot garden center will feature a wide variety of unique and native plants, indoor plants, socially distanced seating areas and art for sale from local artists. Customers can also browse through a personal horticulture library while enjoying a cup of coffee.
Seasonal Celebrities: Autumn Plants for your N.C. Garden – Saturday, 10-11am – Sarah P. Duke Gardens presents a virtual program providing tips and tricks for fall gardening. Director Jan Little will discuss horticulture history, note plants’ native region and culture, and recommend care for a blossoming garden.
Handcrafted Durm – Saturday, 1-6pm – Handcrafted Durm and Durty Bull Brewing Company hosts an outdoor beauty and apparel market featuring various North Carolina vendors such as Angel Boutique, Unique Finds, N&L Custom Designs and Arts, and Crafts by Barbara.
Bull City Reels on Wheels – Saturday, 7:30pm – Durham Parks and Recreation, in partnership with the Durham County Memorial Stadium, screens “Hitch” in its series of free drive-in movies. Bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, or buy your refreshments from the food trucks on-site. (Ticket slots are full but a waitlist is available.)
Movies in the Beer Garden – Saturday, 8-10pm – The Glass Jug Beer Lab screens “Casablanca” on a 20-inch inflatable screen at its backyard beer garden. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets and lawn chairs, adhere to social distancing guidelines, and purchase a hand-crafted brew!
The Show Must Go Online! – Saturday, 8pm– Duke Performances presents Mwenso & The Shakes during its virtual season to provide a safe outlet of entertainment for performers and fans. Tune in to hear their special musical-code switching, African beats, modern jazz, funk, dance pop and Delta blues.
SUNDAY
Drag Brunch – Sunday, 11am-2pm – Unscripted Durham hosts a brunch event featuring performances by the best in Durham drag. Experience three of the biggest stars from House of Coxx – Vivica C. Coxx, Stormie Daie and Naomi Dix – and a live DJ. Complimentary mimosas will be given upon entry.
Picnic on The Farm – Sunday, 2-4:15pm – Book a private two-hour picnic experience at Serenity Farm NC for groups of two to four. Enjoy tastings from popular local restaurants in a gourmet foodie box curated by Taste Carolina.
