Things To Do In Downtown Durham

Looking for something fun to do in Durham, North Carolina? We’ve compiled a list for you. Below we’ve included some of our favorite activities for you to try out, whether you’re visiting the area for the first time or have lived in Durham for years. Let us know in the comments below if you have any recommendations to share!

Durham ranks high in many local and national media outlets as of the Smartest Cities, Cities with Outstanding Hospital Care, Best Cities for Young Entrepreneurs, among others. is a fantastic place for every demographic. Home to many colleges and universities, and with easy access to Research Triangle Park in nearby Raleigh, Durham is a hip, fun, and historical city. Plan your trip today!

Jersey Boys at DPAC From April 7th through 12th, 2015

Jersey Boys is one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time. Jersey Boys has been at the DPAC prior to 2015 but every year it seems to get better. If you want to know the story behind Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons this is a must event for you. The Jersey Boys movie that was directed by Clint Eastwood that came out last year is just a sneak peak at the Broadway Musical. You will see a lot of similarities but going to the actual musical is a special occasion.

Tickets start at just $35 and they are available through TicketMaster. You will likely also be able to find second hand tickets on Craigslist and Ebay. If you are in the Downtown Durham area prior to the event you may want to just stop at the DPAC box office. With the advancements in technology most people want to print out tickets but other will want tickets in hand weeks prior to the event. Either way, there are options available to attend Jersey Boys in downtown Durham in April 2015.

Stomp Comes to the DPAC in March 2015

From March 27th through the 29th the international percussion sensation will be in downtown Durham at the Durham Performing Arts Center. This is a unique experience for audiences of all ages. Tickets start at $25 but remember there are three dates in which you can enjoy this special show. If you happen to be a friend of the DPAC you have likely already received an email about this event in March 2015.

Visual and Performing Arts

The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is a great space to explore the visual arts. With many traveling exhibitions on display, the Nasher is a fun and inexpensive activity, with admission at just $5 or less for those qualifying for discounts. The Nasher’s growing permanent collection focuses on artists of African descent, but also boasts a very strong European medieval art, as well as European and American painting.Check out their current exhibitions today and plan your visit soon!

The Durham Performing Arts Center, or DPAC, is a nationally renowned performance space that draws major headliners, from chart-topping musicians, to off-Broadway products, to comedic heavy hitters.Keeping up with the DPAC event calendar is certainly a must for anyone living or visiting in the area.

Like the DPAC, the Carolina Theatre is another performance space in downtown Durham. The Carolina Theatre is a non-profit community funded arts space that hosts a medley of performers, including musicians, film premieres, and theatre companies. Here’s a link so you can take a look at their schedule of upcoming events. We really enjoy attending film festivals here when we can. Here’s the Carolina Theatre’s excellent resource for their own film showings, festivals, and film series.

Historic Places

Former home to the Lucky Strike’s cigarette factory, the renovated American Tobacco Campus in the heart of Durham, NC, is a sprawling entertainment space. Many concerts, festivals, and art shows are held on a monthly basis in the space. Restaurants, shopping, and offices transform the old Tobacco Campus into a lively entertaining district. Enjoy dinner or a show under the iconic Lucky Strike Smokestack and relax in the warm Southern atmosphere. The Tobacco Campus is one of our favorite and most iconic Durham hotspots. You don’t want to pass up a visit while you’re in town.

png;base649b06d3c784456b