Durham Happenings: May 2023

Spring is finally in full swing and Durham is bustling with activity all month long. From Mother’s Day to Memorial Day, concerts to markets to festivals, explore our city and discover what makes May a magical time of year in the Bull City.

Outdoor Fun All Month Long

Get outside this month by participating in some incredible Durham outdoor pastimes. Take your family, your pup, or your next Tinder date out to the ballgame at one of the eight Durham Bulls home games in May. Or join Two Sisters Adventure Company on one of their 17 paddling excursions this month.

Durham Bulls Games (409 Blackwell St, 27701)

Enjoy the classic American sport of baseball with Durham’s national championship-winning Bulls. Each evening boasts a fun, memorable theme or deal. Tickets start at $22. Some highlights of upcoming games include:

  • Wed, May 17 th , 6:35pm: Playing Nashville (Bark in the Park)

  • Thurs, May 18 th , 6:35pm: Playing Nashville (Dollar Dog Night)

  • Fri, May 19 th , 6:35pm: Playing Nashville (Friday Night Fireworks)

  • Sun, May 21 st , 1:05pm: Playing Nashville (Kids Run the Bases)

  • Mon, May 29 th , 5:05pm: Playing Jacksonville (Memorial Day)

Two Sisters Adventure Company (locations vary by excursion)

Explore the upcoming water adventures around Durham. Highlights include:

Mother’s Day Celebrations

For better or worse, Mother’s Day in the Bull City always coincides with Duke’s graduation weekend. Which means Durham will be quite busy! But that’s no excuse to neglect our moms and mother figures. Check out these Mother’s Day events below to make sure every mom in your life feels special on May 14th !

Fri, May 12 th , 6pm: Mother’s Day Charcuterie Design with Meat and Graze (The Frontier, 800 Park Offices Dr, 27709)

Tell Mom you love her through meats. Build a cheese and meat board from start to finish with the expert assistance of Aya from Meat & Graze. $125 gets you TWO tickets, three artisan cheeses per person, 1 charcuterie meat per person, plus accompaniments.

Sat, May 13 th , 12 – 4pm: Bull City Mother’s Day Market (810 Fayetteville St, Suite 104, 27701)

Grab your last-minute Mother’s Day treats at this one-stop shop. Sweet Lovable Chocolates will be hosting several local vendors selling special treats. You can preorder items like chocolate covered strawberries at www.sweetlovablechocolates.com and visit the other vendors on site the day before Mother’s Day. Heck, make it an outing WITH mom and let her pick her own goodies!

Sun, May 14 th , 12 – 6pm: Mother’s Day Celebration at Old Mill Farm (8913 NC Hwy 751 South, 27713)

Spend the day at Old Mill Farm celebrating mothers! Families can listen to live music and make bouquets with flowers from local farms. Tickets cost $18 per adult, $5 per kid 3+ (kids 2 and under are free), plus there are options to add on beverages, picnic baskets, wine, and gift baskets. Tickets are discounted for the last entry time of 4:30pm.

Sun, May 14 th : Mother’s Day Brunch Options – Don’t feel like cooking or hosting? Get your reservations now for any of these delightful Mother’s Day brunch options (and I mean NOW since you’re also competing with the graduation crowd!):

  • Bull and Bean (3710 Shannon Rd, 27707): A delightfully casual, yet still upscale dining experience, treat your Mom to Bull and Bean. They don’t typically take reservations, but on May 14th, they’re a must. Call 919-237-2398 or email bullandbeancatering@gmail.com with your name, number in your party, preferred date/time, and best contact number. Then enjoy their yet-to-be-released brunch and drink menu, which will charm anyone.

  • Guglhupf (2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, 27707): Each year, this German-influenced café and bakery highlights our most flavorful, seasonal fruit for Mother’s Day weekend: the strawberry. Check out their bakery menu for pre-orders by May 10 th as well as specials for weekend brunch.

  • Parizade (2200 W Main St, 27705): Limited reservations remain for this $60/person brunch buffet from 11:30am-2pm. Enjoy Mediterranean and classic brunch fare from this award- winning restaurant.

  • Vin Rouge (2010 Hillsborough Rd, 27705): This French bistro will be serving up a prix fixe brunch menu for $29/person. They also offer prix fixe menus for graduation dinner all weekend long, so again, make sure to make your reservation ASAP to compete with the graduates.

Memorial Day Weekend

While many folks travel over MDW, if you’re staying local, there are a few events worth checking out. Whether you’re looking to explore our nation’s history of remembering soldiers at Bennett Place or support local at the Taste of Soul Food Truck Rodeo, Durham’s got something for everyone.

 

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Sat, May 6 th , 10am – 3pm: Omie’s Springtime Pop-Up Market (2300 N Roxboro St, 27704)

Omie’s Coffee, a relatively new coffee shop in North Durham, is hosting their inaugural Springtime Pop-Up Market, highlighting local makers and vendors. They promise art, pottery, vintage clothes, music, flowers, candles, and so much more. Plus, you can purchase some of their own coffee and support this woman-owned shop.

Sat, May 6 th , 11am – 3pm: Strawberry Festival at Old North Durham Park (310 W Geer St, 27701)

This annual event in Durham not only celebrates the peak of strawberry season, it also doubles as a fundraiser for Central Park School for Children, a K-8 child-centered, progressive charter school in downtown Durham. The festival features local food, live music, activity booths, inflatables, a silent auction, and of course, STRAWBERRIES! The event is free to attend.

Sat, May 13 12-2pm: World Belly Dance Day Dance Show & Class at Boxyard RTP (900 Park Offices Drive, Research Triangle Park)

Join Shimmy Mob NC, Shahzaadee, and other favorite local dancers for a dance show, dance class, and drum class/jam! This is a free event and donations to the Durham Crisis Response Center are encouraged.

Fri, May 19 th , 7pm: Wine + Dinner Event at Jireh Family Farms (1310 N Mineral Springs Rd, 27703)

Learn from wine expert, Akeyla Porcher, as you sample wines from around the world and enjoy a menu featuring Durham-raised poultry. This will be a four-course farm-to-table pairing AT the farm. Tickets go on sale May 1st, so don’t miss out!

Sat, May 20 th , 7pm: Grazefully Rooted Dinner at ATC (300 Blackwell St, 27701)

Speaking of farm-to-table dinners, the Black Farmers Market is hosting a five-course meal in front of the Lucky Strike Water Tower. If the scenery isn’t enough of an Insta-incentive, then wait til you check out the menu from Chef Ade’. The evening will also feature live music from local artist Jay Renee. Tickets cost $125/person and are on sale now.

Sat, May 27 th , 10am – 4pm and Sun, May 28 th , 10am – 3pm: Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Event at Bennett Place (4409 Bennett Memorial Rd, 27705)

Come learn about the history and evolution of Memorial Day through military living historians at Bennett Place. This annual event is a staple of this NC Historic Site in north Durham and is not to be missed. Tickets cost $3/adult and $2/child.

Sat, May 27 th , 12 – 6pm: Mystic Memorial Day (1212 North Mineral Springs Rd, 27703)

Apple pie, food trucks, and cocktails…oh my! Mystic Farm and Distillery offers a daylong event for the whole family, complete with live music and an apple pie eating contest. Children 20 years and younger are free and 21+ tickets cost $10 (including one complimentary cocktail). Entry is free to veterans and active service members.

Sat, May 27 th , 3 – 8pm: Taste of Soul NC “Variety Edition” at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Sample cuisine from across the Triangle as Taste of Soul NC gathers food trucks at Durham Central Park. Considered the “ultimate cookout,” this event will have kid games and a bounce house along with a DJ to provide some entertainment as you dine. Stay tuned for other monthly installments of the Taste of Soul NC event all summer long.

Everything In Between

On top of the Mother’s Day and Memorial Day events abound, Durham offers such a variety of activities all month long. From festivals to shows to markets to dinners, be sure to check out all the fun festivities going on in May.

Fri, May 5 th , 6:30pm: Playlist Concert Series at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Kickoff DCP’s summer season with their first Playlist Concert of 2023. Rebecca Kleinmann is an acclaimed flutist and singer who will bring her Sextet and passion to the stage. Durham Playlist is designed to be a Durham house party, complete with a night market, food trucks, beer, and a dance party following the live performance. Enjoy this free, community vibe!

Sat, May 20 th , 5 – 10pm: Durham Blues + Brews Festival at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Do you want exclusive access to 20 of NC’s best breweries, live bands, and hot local food trucks? Do you want to support the Exchange Club of Greater Durham, a local nonprofit working to better the lives of children in Durham and keep families together? Then buy your ticket to the adults-only Durham Blues + Brews Festival, featuring local brews (plus wine and cider) and 3 blues bands. Tickets cost $60 in advance ($20 for designated drivers).

Sat, May 20 th , 9pm: Drag King Show at the Pinhook (117 W Main St, 27701)

End (or start) your night at the Pinhook for an epic drag king show. Enjoy this 21+ show (while it’s still legal) and stay late for the Queer Agenda afterparty.

Wed, May 24 th , 7pm: Dancing with the Carolina Stars at the Carolina Theatre (309 W Morgan St, 27701)

Watch local celebs, like NC Representative Vernetta Alston and Alley Twenty Six owner Shannon Healy, dance with local professional dancers and compete for your vote. This fundraising event for the Carolina Theatre also features live and silent auctions and a VIP after-hours event throughout the entire theatre. Tickets start at $30.

I hope you all enjoy your special celebrations and that Durham treats you at one of the many, many events this month!

Chrysti-Peak-realtor-Durham-2

I’m Chrysti!

Durham real estate agent and enthusiast for all the best the area has to offer.

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