Durham Happenings: October 2022

It’s officially Fall! So it’s officially the time of year for festivals, football, and lots of outdoor fun while it’s not blazing hot or freezing cold. If you’re looking for hot tips on some cool activities this month, then read on for a curated list of Durham-based happenings.

Oktoberfest events:

Did you know that Oktoberfest is an annual two-week-long festival in Munich, Germany that ends on the first Sunday in October? Did you also know that Durham has an Oktoberfest-adjacent celebration for every week of October? Check out one or visit them all to explore the variety of beers, eats, and fun times to be had.

 Oct 1- Octobullfest at Bull City Burger (107 E Parrish St, Durham, NC 27701)

o Bull City Burger hosts their annual celebration of German beer and food with a street festival from 4-10pm. This year, they’re raising funds for Habitat for Humanity of Durham.

 Oct 15- Oktoberfest at Motorco (723 Rigsbee Ave, Durham, NC 27701)

o Motorco presents a celebration of “suds, sausage, and oompah!” Book your table to imbibe in steins of German beer and a variety of German food while enjoying music and dancing during one of two sessions (1-5pm or 6-10pm).

 Oct 22- Blacktoberfest at Durham Bottling Company (506 Ramseur St, Durham, NC 27701)

o Part of a trio of Black craft beer festivals in the South, Blacktoberfest celebrates Black-owned breweries, wineries, & distilleries and highlights Black artists and chefs through crafty collaborations. Get your tickets for this whole-day event from 2-10pm at Durham Bottling Company.

 Oct 28- Durham Oktoberfest at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701)

o The Glass Jug and The Little German Band round out our month of Oktoberfest celebrations with a free festival at Durham Central Park. Not only will there be soft pretzels with beer cheese, but there will be a Kids Zone and a stein hoisting competition (not in the same area,of course!). This event runs from 4-10pm, but get there early if you want to snag a commemorative 8th anniversary stein.

College Football Games:

Bring your pom-poms and face paint because it’s time to cheer on our local college football teams. Monday Night Football is fine, but there’s something to be said about getting out into that crisp autumn air and watching your team in action right from the sidelines. And in Durham, we’re so fortunate to have two fantastic squads to choose from: North Carolina Central University and Duke. Each have home games during October, so grab your tickets and root for the Eagles and Blue Devils.

 Oct 13- Eagles football at NCCU (O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium, 1801 Fayetteville St, Durham, NC 27707)

 Oct 1 & 15- Blue Devils football at Duke (Wallace Wade Stadium, 110 Frank Basset Dr, Durham, NC 27708)

Oct 2: Phoenix Fest at Fayetteville St & Lakewood Ave

Celebrating Hayti, one of North Carolina’s oldest African American communities, Phoenix Fest is jumping into its 21 st year as Durham’s “funkiest street music festival.” The celebration will transform the Phoenix Crossing parking lot into a bustling bazaar, complete with food, fun, and family-friendly entertainment. This free event was bumped from Saturday to Sunday to avoid the rain, but still takes place from 1-6pm.

Oct 7 & 8: Bull City Yoga Festival at Forest Hills Park

(1639 University Dr, Durham, NC 27707) – Designed to be an inclusive experience, Bull City Yoga Festival brings together diverse yoga practitioners for its 5th year of yoga, meditation, and mind-body practices. From Friday evening at 7pm through 5pm on Saturday, participants are invited to select from over a dozen workshops led by BIPOC teachers. There’s even a ticket option for kids to join.

Oct 9: Black Farmer’s Market at Hillside High School

(3727 Fayetteville Rd, Durham, NC 27707) – Established in 2019, the Black Farmers Market has been cultivating community and access to healthy foods across the Triangle. With one monthly market in Durham and one in Raleigh, community members are able to sample and explore a variety of produce and products from Black farmers and vendors. The market is free to shop and takes place rain or shine from 1-4pm.

Oct 16: Bull City Race Fest at American Tobacco Campus

(318 Blackwell St, Durham, NC 27701) – Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Bull City Race Fest highlights some of Durham’s most gorgeous scenery and landmarks along its half-marathon and 5-mile routes. There’s even a family-friendly one- mile run if you want to earn your beer or food truck breakfast at the picturesque American Tobacco Campus finish line. The race starts at 7:30am and registration rates increase after 10/10, so sign up soon.

Oct 20: RTP180- Forensic Science at The Frontier

(800 Park Offices Dr, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709) – Ever find yourself binge watching CSI and wondering what it would be like to work in forensics? Check out RTP180, a learning series sponsored by RTI International, that brings experts in a particular topic to speak for 300 seconds (that’s 5 minutes). In October, the topic is forensic science and will begin with networking over complimentary popcorn, beer, and wine at 5pm, speakers (both live and virtually streamed) at 6pm, and more networking from 7-7:45pm.

Pro tip: check out Boxyard RTP for dinner and drinks before or after the show.

If you’re looking for spots to pick up seasonal pumpkins or apples, check out my last blog post Apples, Pumpkins, and Fall, Oh My! And stay tuned later this month for Halloween activities for the whole family.