Durham Magazine

12/18/2025

❄️🎨✨ The final stretch of 2025 arrives with showstopping theater, creative celebrations and plenty of ways to relish the season! 🎭🌟

Step into the spectacle as Water For Elephants brings a sweeping, circus-filled story of love, loss and wonder to the stage at DPAC. 🎪🐘

Stroll through Downtown Durham, Inc.'s final Third Friday Art Walk & Gallery Crawl of the year to view fresh exhibits at 5 Points Gallery and Super G Print Lab as well as the opening of Inter-Latin American Artist Collective's “Sources of Joy” at Durham Arts Council. 🖼️🍷

Feeling nostalgic? Motorco rewinds to the 2000s with "All Your Friends: The Indie Party" – skinny jeans, eyeliner and dance-floor energy encouraged. 🎧🖤

Saturday brings festive flair: Meet Santa Tate at Boxyard RTP and craft ornaments with Cozy Panda Event Co. or shop 50-plus makers at The Fruit - Durham Fruit & Produce Co’s Last-Minute Gift Market. 🎅🛍️✨

Embrace the shortest day and longest night of the year at Durham Central Park’s Winter Solstice Faire🔮🌞, then end the weekend with holiday music from five centuries and five countries during Choral Society of Durham’s Holiday Concert with Mallarme Chamber Players at Duke University Chapel. ⛪️🎶

➕ even more happenings across the Bull City!

Tap the 🔗 below for the full lineup, and tag in your weekend adventures! 📸💫

From annual festivals to fundraisers and more, read on for everything fun you can eat, drink and do in Durham this weekend.

12/11/2025

❄️🎶 The holiday season hits a joyful stride this weekend, filled with stage magic, a parade and plenty of ways to get in the spirit! 🌟🎭

Kick things off at the The Carolina Theatre of Durham as Triangle Youth Ballet's cast of more than 100 young dancers bring "The Nutcracker" to life. Then settle in at DPAC for Theatre In The Park and Ira David Wood's masterful musical comedy adaptation of the Dickens holiday classic, "A Christmas Carol." 🩰🎭🎶

Head to The Fruit - Durham Fruit & Produce Co as The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle and special guest Alex Fiterstein bring the "Dreams & Prayers of Isaac the Blind" to life, blending centuries of Jewish tradition with stirring string compositions. 🎼🕯️

The action heads outdoors Saturday: Lace up for the Jingle Bell LEAP 5K with LEAP- Latino Educational Achievement Partnership on the American To***co Trail, then head to Main Street for Durham Parks and Recreation’s holiday parade. Keep the momentum going with Bulltown Strutters' New Orleans-style revelry at The Blue Note Grill during their annual Holiday Threauxdown. 🏃‍♀️🎺🎉

Wrap it all up in a nice bow on Sunday at Durham Central Park during Durham Craft Market's Holiday Market – your go-to for unique artist-made gifts – and close out the weekend with Jewish for Good's joyful Hanukkah Festival, complete with crafts, games, latkes and a community menorah lighting. 🎁🕎✨

➕ so much more happening across the Bull City!

Tap the 🔗 below for the full guide, and tag Durham Magazine as you make the most of this festive weekend! 📸💫

From annual festivals to fundraisers and more, read on for everything fun you can eat, drink and do in Durham this weekend.

12/10/2025

DYK that ’s trails and tracks are home to several world-class runners? 🏃‍♀️🌲 Read our story on the PUMA Elite Running team – which includes Fiona Okeeffe, Miriam Dattke, Pat Tiernan, Angel Piccirillo, Patrick Dever, Amon Kemboi, Taylor Roe, Peter Lynch, Alex Maier and Dorcus Ewoi, among others, as well as coaches Alistair Cragg and Amy Cragg.

Want to see the PUMA group in action? Don’t miss the inaugural East Coast Exchange relay this Saturday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m., starting at mile marker 21 in New Hill and finishing in Durham. Stick around for the post-race party at QueenBurger, where the top teams take home awards, swag and gift cards 🍔🎉

How the area's trails, climate and community helped spark the creation of the Puma Elite pro running group

12/04/2025

🎄✨ Soak in the season this first weekend of December! ❄️🎶🎭

Start with the showstoppers: Taylor Mac’s fabulously offbeat "Holiday Sauce" with Duke Arts; the four-time Tony Award-winning The Outsiders Musical at DPAC; and a night of big laughs with Jessy Kirson at The Carolina Theatre of Durham. 🌈🔥😂

Then choose your holiday vibe: Head to CCB Plaza for Downtown Durham, Inc.'s Holiday Tree Lighting; step back in time for an 1870s Christmas at Duke Homestead State Historic Site’s Christmas by Candlelight; or take in the soaring tradition of Handel’s "Messiah" at Duke University Chapel. 🎄🕯️🙌

Shop and stroll your way through many a market, from handmade finds at the Patchwork Market to festive treats and crafts at Wildly Inclusive Learning Collective's Durham German Market in Durham Central Park. 🎨🛍️🍻

And don’t miss the vibrant Jonkonnu celebration with Stsya Nation at Historic Stagville, where dancers, musicians and a bonfire bring this Afro-diasporic tradition to life. 🔥🥁

➕ so much more all weekend long!

Tap the 🔗 below for the full rundown! ✨

From annual festivals to fundraisers and more, read on for everything fun you can eat, drink and do in Durham this weekend.

12/01/2025

Thanksgiving may be behind us, but the holiday season is just getting started – unwrap our 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳/𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘦 to get in the spirit! ❄️🎄🕯️
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Inside, you’ll find:
🛍️ Markets, seasonal events and winter wonders to make the most of the season;
🍽️ Counting House NC's executive chef Melanie Wilkerson's culinary journey – plus a crowd-pleasing recipe;
🧱 Lego-inspired joy and holiday magic with Bricks & Minifigs Durham;
🕯️ Must-burn seasonal candles from The Raw Edition Candle Company, LLC, brightblackcandle and Switchback Candles; and
🎆 10 quintessentially Durham experiences to check off before ringing in the new year.
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PLUS:
🏃‍♀️ How PUMA Elite Running is hitting its stride as a world-class running team;
🧂 A look inside Durham Salt Cave by OUSIA and Halo Salt Lounge's restorative spaces;
🙌 Discover the ways Bull City-born antiperspirant brand Carpe is helping thousands feel confident again;
🏠 Learn all about: Harper's Home, a new nonprofit founded a young cancer survivor and her mother that provides a haven for families traveling for care at Duke Children's; a first-of-its-kind grief support partnership with Duke Health 💙; and Welcome Baby's mission to champion local families through resources, education and advocacy 🍼

➕ so much more!
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👀 Read it now at the 🔗 below – and grab your copy when it hits stands later this week!

📸 by John Michael Simpson at Harper's Home

Get in the holiday spirit with cozy comforts, festive fun for the whole family, uplifting health and wellness stories and so much more!

11/21/2025

🎄 Durham German Market Giveaway 🎄

Make plans to celebrate the season with the at Dec. 6 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. 🎁

We’ve partnered with to gift one lucky winner a prize pack valued at more than $140 that’s filled with festive favorites and exclusive event perks including:

👕 One Krampus T-shirt
🇩🇪 One Durham German Market T-shirt
👔 One Krampus long-sleeve shirt
☕ One glühwein mug
🥂 Two Christmas light-changing glasses
🎟️ Golden Ticket – good for two free drinks & two free brats at the event
✨ Plus surprise WILC extras!

Enter to win and kick off your holidays in true German Market style – with cozy vibes, twinkling lights and a little mischief included. 🎅

ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀ:
💟 ʟɪᴋᴇ and save this post
📲 ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡ +
😊 ᴛᴀɢ your German fare! (Multiple entries allowed, separate comments please.)
👀 ꜱʜᴀʀᴇ this post to your story and tag for ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ extra entries! Good luck ☘️

𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘃. 𝟮𝟲, 𝗮𝘁 𝟭𝟭 𝗮.𝗺. 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝘿𝙪𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙢 𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙚’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗼𝗻. 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝟭𝟴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.

11/20/2025

🍗🍁 With Thanksgiving just a week away, the Bull City is already abuzz with holiday magic – which this weekend’s lineup delivers in spades! ✨🎭🎶

Wander through the glowing magic of Durham Bulls Baseball Club' FestiBull of Lights all weekend long to enjoy s’mores, Santa, the NC by Train Holiday Express and thousands of twinkling displays. 🎅✨🌟

Settle in for a powerful, heartfelt story as North Carolina Central University Theatre stages Samm-Art Williams’ coming-of-age play, "Home." 🎭❤️ Then join Duke Arts in honoring a jazz legend as Sandbox Percussion and the Tyshawn Sorey Trio deliver a spellbinding tribute to Max Roach at Baldwin Auditorium. 🥁🌟

Get your holiday shopping started at the Durham Arts Council Art Walk Holiday Market ,🎨🛍️ then don your finest attire for The Animal Protection Society of Durham’s Tails at Twilight gala at Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club to raise funds for Durham’s homeless animals. 🐾✨

You'll be on the edge of your seat as The Monti brings gripping true stories of entrapment to the stage with "No Escape," 🎤🔥 or step into a wintry world of wonder as the NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet brings the classic holiday tale to life at DPAC. ❄️🩰

Tap the 🔗 below for the full roundup of this weekend's must-dos, and don't forget to tag Durham Magazine and show us how you’re kicking off the holiday season! 📸

From annual festivals to fundraisers and more, read on for everything fun you can eat, drink and do in Durham this weekend.

11/19/2025

✨ Light up your holiday season at American To***co Campus! ❄️

Kick off the festivities with the lighting of the iconic Lucky Strike Water Tower Dec. 3! 🎁 This treasured 21-year tradition is always packed with joyful music, merriment and plenty of good cheer. 🎄

Keep the party going Dec. 4-5 with two evenings of electric live music from , and more during ’s Holiday Nights! 🎸

’ calendar is chock-full of holiday events and specials all season long. So, grab a winter libation and stroll through this winter wonderland, meet up with friends at your favorite restaurants and shops, and make a day – or night – of it! ☃️

📸 No. 1 by
📸 No. 3-4 courtesy of

***coCampus