Compiled by Melanie Vidovich
TACO – Through Sunday, 10-5pm – The Museum of Life and Science encourages parents to explore the great outdoors with annual Take a Child Outside week. Build a forest fort, talk to an animal keeper and get your hands dirty in the garden with your little ones.
Black Wall Street: Homecoming – Through Friday, noon – Upholding the historic legacy of Black Wall Street, the vibrant downtown African American business district along Parrish Street in the early 20th century, this annual networking conference brings together early-stage startups, investors and students for a three-day event.
Durham Night Market – Thursday, 5:30pm – Support local with more than 40 North Carolina-native artists at the first night market of the fall at Pine and Poplar at The Wine Feed. Vendors showcase wares, from pet toys to baked goods, and the event is accompanied by live music and food trucks.
‘Anthropocene: The Human Epoch’ Film Screening – Thursday, 6pm – 21c Museum Hotel screens this acclaimed film on humanity’s massive reengineering of the planet. The film details human planetary dominion through global shots that intersect art and science, and brings light to how intensely humans have impacted the Earth.
Community & Scholars Series: Orrin Pilkey – Thursday, 7pm – Duke University’s Forum for Scholars and Publics teams up with The Regulator Bookshop in welcoming the author, who will discuss his new book, “Sea Level Rise: A Slow Tsunami on American Shore,” and the consequences of 21st century sea level rise on the country.
‘The Roommate’ – Thursday through Oct. 13, Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm – Bulldog Ensemble Theater opens its second season in Durham with Jen Silverman’s play ‘The Roommate’ at The Fruit. In this dark comedy, two women from very different backgrounds transform each other’s lives in unexpected ways.
Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band – Thursday, 8pm – The acclaimed singer/songwriter performs works from his latest album “Fever Breaks” at The Carolina Theatre.
Sinbad w/Memphis Red & The Funk Nasty Band – Thursday, 8-10pm – Laugh it up at Rhythms Live Music Hall with comedian Sinbad. He’ll entertain the audience alongside Memphis Red & The Funk Nasty Band to create the perfectly funky and funny evening.
Exchange Family Center’s Annual Golf Tournament – Friday, 8am – Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the friendly tournament is held at The Crossings Golf Club, giving registrants a chance to help create safe safes and responsive environments for Durham’s children and families. You can register the day of the tournament, too! Registration begins at 8 am and the tournament begins at 9 am. You’ll have the chance to win raffle and door prizes, including a brand new car and exclusive island resorts stays. Breakfast and lunch will be served along with cold beer and other refreshments.
Art of Cool Festival – Friday-Sunday – The sixth annual music event, presented by The Dome Group LLC, brings together hip-hop, R&B, neo soul and jazz artists for a culture-filled weekend downtown. This year’s headliners include Run-DMC, Ari Lennox and three-time Grammy winner Jill Scott. Shows take place primarily at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park but also at venues like Motorco, The Pinhook and the Durham Armory. Stop by the Urban Vendor Market at CCB Plaza and American Tobacco Campus on Friday and Saturday, featuring vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, music, inflatables and family fun.
Oktoberfest Flights & Pretzels – Friday, 4-10pm – Visit Barley Labs and try their Oktoberfest flight featuring three fall brews. And get a free soft pretzel while supplies last!
Gaspard & Dancers: 10 Year Fête – Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm – Celebrate the 10-year anniversary of modern dance choreographer Gaspard Louis’ diverse, dynamic dance company, Gaspard & Dancers, with performances across two days at Duke’s Reynolds Industries Theater, followed by a celebration at The Fruit after the final show on Saturday. The performances will feature two new works inspired by current United States policy on political asylum seekers. There will be a reception after the Saturday production, featuring a cocktail hour, beer and wine, hors d’oeuvres, a DJ and dancing, and a free matinee performance for Durham Public Schools.
Sequoyah Murray – Friday, 8pm – This soul musician performs at The Pinhook, entrancing the audience with his modern soul vibe. Sequoyah’s debut album, “Before You Begin,” dropped earlier this month.
Queer AF Pride Dance Party – Friday, 10pm-2am – Dance like no one’s watching at The Fruit’s Queer AF Pride Dance Party featuring DJs Femi the Femme, Queen Plz and VSPRTN. Donations will be accepted at the door, which will benefit the LGBTQ Center of Durham.
Fall Plant Sale – Saturday, 8-noon – Calling all Durhamites with green thumbs! Sarah P. Duke Gardens hosts one of its largest plant sales of the year this morning. Heed expert advice on how to make your purchases thrive from the expert staff and volunteers.
Kickoff to College & Career – Saturday, 9-noon – Parents and students, come learn about college requirements, different careers and how to get involved in your community via service opportunities at this premier education fair at the Durham Armory.
Pump & Putt – Saturday, 9:30-12:30pm – Join Bull City Mini Golf and Bar and the Durham YMCA’s Red Rover fitness truck for seven circuit exercises, plus an active Durham-themed mini golf recovery afterward.
Pride Durham – Saturday, 10am – The festival and parade, hosted by the LGBTQ Center of Durham, return for the second year to Duke University’s East Campus. The event, meant to foster and promote inclusion, will include food vendors and music.
Parade of Homes – Saturday and Sunday, noon-5pm – The 36th annual event – a collaboration between the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County and the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham Counties – is the state’s largest open house tour. The free, self-guided tour includes more than 250 homes in our area, and is designed to feature the latest in-home design trends and highlight new communities.
Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center Grand Opening – Saturday, 1-4pm – All Duke alumni, students, faculty, administration and staff are invited to the grand opening of the Karsh Alumni and Visitors Center. Enjoy the Duke community, snacks, beverages and a tour of the new facility that has been dubbed the “gateway to campus.”
Composition 21 – Saturday, 2pm and 4pm – An outdoor space and sculpture garden that connects the Nasher Museum of Art
at Duke University and the Rubenstein Arts Center opens today. The unveiling will feature a performance at 2pm of “Composition 21” by Brooklyn-based, Israeli-born artist Naama Tsabar that brings together 21 local musicians who identify as women and/or gender nonconforming. The musicians, split into three bands, will perform separately yet simultaneously in their performance.
‘Cosmic Rhythm Vibrations’ – Saturday, 5-7pm – After Naama’s performance, head to the Nasher’s Great Hall for a cash bar and light refreshments to celebrate the opening of this exhibition highlighting works from the Nasher Museum collection that engage visual and musical rhythm.
Arts Open House – Saturday, 6-8pm – Meander the Rubenstein Arts Center’s current collections while enjoying desserts and refreshments.
Princess – Saturday, 7pm – 21c Museum Hotel Durham hosts this art-pop psychedelic duo, Alexis Gideon and Michael O’Neill, for a live performance of their video album, “Out There,” which explores femininity’s power and divinity.
Escher String Quartet & Dover Quartet – Saturday, 8pm – These two quartets will share the stage in the Baldwin Auditorium to perform a rare, all-octet concert featuring three musical pieces.
House of Coxx Pride Reunion – Saturday, 10pm-2am – DJ Femi the Femme provides smooth beats at The Pinhook for a party featuring drag comedy queens Anita Coxx and Brigitte Kiss.
Drag Brunch – Sunday, 11-2pm – 21c Museum Hotel and Counting House celebrate Pride Durham with a brunch buffet and mimosas. All proceeds will benefit the LGBTQ Center of Durham.
Messtival! – Sunday, 10-3pm – Join the Museum of Life and Science for a celebration of all things messy to cap off the end of Take a Child Outside week. The day will feature finger painting, mud, slime and sand activities.
The Art of Pride Trivia & Tea Dance with House of Coxx – Sunday, noon-7pm – Get some sun and splashes while exercising your brain at The Unscripted’s pool deck. Pride Durham and The Art of Cool Festival collaborate to bring you a day of trivia, topped off with music from DJ VSPRTN.
2019 Durham College Fair – Sunday, 1-3pm – Narrow down college choices at the Durham Convention Center. More than 75 colleges and universities will have representatives at the event.
Viola Turner – Sunday, 3-4pm – A theatrical presentation at the Hayti Heritage Center of an interview conducted with the first female board member of NC Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest black-owned company in the United States.
Parties for the Park: Trucks for the Park – Sunday, 5-7pm – Ticket-buyers get access to special menu items from more than 15 local food trucks at this private, mini food truck rodeo. Each ticket also provides two brews from Durham craft breweries (cash bar after). Proceeds benefit Durham Central Park.
The Righteous Brothers: Bill Medley and Bucky Heard – Sunday, 8pm – The band behind “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin,” the most played song in radio history, comes to The Carolina Theatre. These soul pioneers will perform their biggest hits as well as newer tunes.
