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September is here and Durham doesn’t disappoint with its awesome line-up of events. CenterFest, Black Wall Street Homecoming, Local Durham Market, Art of Cool Festival, and a lot more. Here’s our top picks for September.
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best things to do in Durham and a guide to your weekend events
Labor Day Weekend Food Truck Rodeo ft. Ragweed Brass
September 1, 2019 @ 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Durham Central Park
A Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo is an all-ages Sunday afternoon gathering of dozens of the Triangle’s most popular food trucks, five times each year. The event is free to attend. You simply pay for what you decide to eat from the trucks’ menus–from savory and stick-to-your-ribs to sweet treats. Ragweed Brass will be performing jazz, blues and folk music.
GeekCraft Expo RDU 2019
September 7th & 8th at Durham Convention Center
You can really nerd out at GeekCraft Expo. There’s geeky, super-fun make-n-take crafting activities for kids & families…free of charge! Admission is free, just make sure to register beforehand otherwise there is a small fee at the door.
Shop Durham Market
September 7, 2019 @ 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Durty Bull Brewing Company
Mark your calendars for September 7th, Shop Durham is hosting the Local Market at Durty Bull from 1-4pm! There will be 25+ local businesses + makers, food + drink samples, desserts, live music, and the ultimate local Durham raffle. The first 100 guests to stop by the Shop Durham table will get a FREE Shop Durham card! Enter the raffle for a chance to win prizes from awesome locally owned businesses!
*Yes, this event is dog-friendly! Vendors include Alley Twenty Six Tonic Syrup, Durham Distillery, Shop Durham, Papermill Creative, Favor Desserts Bakery, Dirty Durham, and more!
Brazilian Day NC Festival
September 7, 2019 @ 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Durham Central Park
September is a very special month for Brazilian immigrants living in the United States. It is a time to sing, dance, meet friends, and celebrate life as an immigrant. Aligned with the festivities for the Brazilian independence, September is the month in which the cities with large Brazilian population commemorate the Brazilian Day. There will be musical performances, dance workshops and performances, capoeira workshops and roda, drinks and foods from local donors, games and prizes aligned with authentic and Brazilian live music.
Foster St Festival for Arts Entrepreneurship
September 14, 2019 @ 8:00 am to 6:00 pm at Foster Street, Durham, NC
A team of Durham Central Park District arts organizations is hosting a celebration of arts entrepreneurship on September 14th in Durham Central Park District. The Artisan Market at 305, Cecy’s Gallery, the Art Market Durham, the Durham Craft Market, and Cricket Forge will host an arts festival that day as part of the Durham 150 Celebration. The event will celebrate 30 years of arts entrepreneurship in the Durham Central Park/Downtown District. The festival will honor how Durham’s supportive community has been an integral part of each individual’s story and has contributed to their success.
8th Annual Durham Oktoberfest at Motorco Music Hall
September 14, 2019 @ 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Motorco
The 8th Annual Durham Oktoberfest celebration takes place at Motorco, 723 Rigsbee Avenue, Durham, on Saturday, September 14th, 2019, from 12 p.m. until close.
It’s free to attend and open to all ages. There will be a German food takeover of the kitchen, so you can enjoy pretzels, schnitzel, brats and more. Little German Band and Dancers will be performing from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Beats n Bars Concert 2019
September 14, 2019 @ 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm at Beats n Bars Festival
BnB curates a diverse mix of performances from some of the best artists in Hip Hop locally and nationally. The lineup represents a variety of styles and showcases the dynamic range of Hip Hop music. The festival showcases are both a recognition of artists making their mark and a celebration of the contributions from established trailblazers.
Enjoy 1 full day of music, food, coding class, tech tour, and interactive labs! Festival-goers can expect to be actively engaged and increase their understanding of new ways to display and celebrate hip-hop with while establishing a space that fosters a broader glance into and understanding of how science, technology, education, and music intersect with Hip Hop culture.
45th Annual CenterFest Arts Festival
September 21, 2019 @ 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at Durham Arts Council
CenterFest is back for its 45th annual art-focused festival! Attendees can expect the best visual artists from near and far, music, dance, and more from local performers. Kids will have a blast at the Creative Kids Zone, food vendors will keep guests fueled for fun. It all takes place in the heart of Durham’s historic downtown.
NC Jerk Food Festival
September 21, 2019 @ 11:30 am to 7:30 pm at West Point on the Eno
Celebrate Caribbean culture and Jamaican food at the NC Jerk Fest on Saturday, September 21st, 2019, from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., at West Point on the Eno Amphitheater, 5101 N Roxboro Rd, Durham. Bonus: it’s free and family-friendly.
Hi-Wire 5k
September 22, 2019 @ 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt
North Carolina is a power center for the Craft Brewery revival. Hi-Wire Brewing brings you an unique 5k chip-timed race through the Heart of Durham.
Check out the music and beer festival, lawn game zone with cornhole, Life Size Beer Pong and Kan Jam, beer specials all afternoon, and a food truck festival at the finish line!
Black Wall Street: Homecoming 2019
September 25th-27th, 2019
Black Wall Street: Homecoming brings together black founders, investors, industry experts and members of the startup community. It focuses on pitches, workshops, stories, art, and culture at various venues in Downtown Durham.
With everything from motivational talks led by speakers who live the entrepreneurial journey to deep-dives on business pain-points, with an option to personalize agendas. An awesome three-day event!
Art of Cool Festival
September 27th-29th, 2019 in Downtown Durham
The Art of Cool Festival is celebrating its 6th year this September 27-29th in downtown Durham, North Carolina. A remix of a Black American Music festival, AOCFEST 2019 fuses forward-thinking Jazz, alternative Soul and Hip Hop greats over the course of a dope, culture-filled weekend. The mission of Art of Cool is to expand the audience for jazz, while championing innovative thought around music and culture. This year’s Art of Cool Festival will feature Run DMC, Jill Scott, Ari Lennox, Whodini, Black Violin, Omar, DJ Skillz, and Durham’s own 9th Wonder and many more to be announced!
Pride: Durham, NC 2019
September 28, 2019 at Duke University East Campus
Pride: Durham, NC serves as the annual celebration of community, family, pride, and activism in Durham and across the state. Pride: Durham, NC will take place Saturday, September 28, 2019 on Duke University’s East Campus at 1304 Campus Drive. The festival is from 11 AM to 4 PM.
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best things to do in Durham and a guide to your weekend events
