Durham Happenings: June 2023

Here comes summer in the Bull City! The school year winds down and festivities heat up. June holds two very noteworthy recognitions: Pride Month and Juneteenth, both of which have several events around town. Plus, there are celebrations and festivals for everyone throughout the month. Be sure to lather on your sunscreen since it’s bound to be a hot one this June in Durham.

Pride Month

While nationally, Pride Month is celebrated in June, Durham’s large Pride event takes place in the fall (see Pride History here). However, there are still several events in June to commemorate Pride across Durham, many of which support the LGBTQ Center of Durham. So don your favorite rainbow attire and show your support of our LGBTQ+ Durhamites.

Thurs, June 1 st , 6:35pm: Durham Bulls Pride Night (Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St, 27701)

While the section supporting the LGBTQ Center of Durham is sold out, you can still attend and show your Durham Pride! Check out the rainbow pride merch and enjoy $1 Sahlen’s hot dogs at this and every Thursday home game.

Fri, June 2 nd , 7 – 11pm, Pride Silent Disco at Hi-Wire Brewing (800 Taylor St, 27701)

Silent disco is an incredible dance experience where all participants rent headphones that have 3 channels of awesome music to choose from. I attended one at Hi-Wire a few months ago and it was such a blast! Definitely bring your dancing shoes and be sure to get tickets early to take advantage of $10 early bird pricing ($15 day of).

Sat, June 3 rd ,2 – 5pm: Queer Family Planning Health Fair at Golden Girlz NC Soul Sanctuary (1016 Old Oxford Rd, 27704)

This health fair is inclusive and affirming, centered around the Queer experience of growing their families, whether through adoption, gestation, surrogacy, fostering, or more nontraditional paths. There will be a silent auction, kids play and craft areas, presentations, and lots of vendors, including event co-hosts Breastfeed Durham, Aya Birth & Community Wellness, Emerald Doulas, Family Care, The LGBTQ+ Center of Durham, & Rainbow Collective for Change. Register for the event here.

Sat, June 10 th , 12 – 9pm: Durham Pride! at Hi-Wire Brewing (800 Taylor St, 27701)

From 12-5pm, enjoy 20 local vendors at a market in the courtyard outside Hi-Wire, then the free drag show takes place from 7-9pm. While the event is free, table reservations are available for the drag show for $80 per 10-top.

Fri, June 16 th , 8pm: House of Coxx: It’s Funny, Girl! At Carolina Theatre (309 W Morgan St, 27701)

Join Vivica C. Coxx for a fast-paced, drag-fueled night of social justice comedy rooted in love and hope for a better world. Featuring members of the House of Coxx, this event will showcase music, comedy, dance, and theatrics. $1 of every ticket purchased will be donated to the LGBTQ Center of Durham.

Juneteenth

As mentioned in last month’s Racial Justice blog, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Now a federally-recognized holiday, use the time off to educate yourself and celebrate at various events across town. Support Black artists and businesses and check out these upcoming Juneteenth celebrations.

Durm Juneteenth Collaborative Weekend: Four days of free events brought to us by community partnerships among several key Durham groups – Be Connected Durham & Beyond’s Fayetteville Street Corridor Fellows Project, Village of Wisdom, The Art Chose Me, Bragtown Community Association, Spectacular Magazine, BUMP the Triangle, Free Things in Life, and the West End Legacy Project. Celebrate our culturally vibrant community at the below events:

• Fri, June 16 th , 3 – 9pm: Hayti Juneteenth Celebration (804 Old Fayetteville St, 27701)

  • A Freedom Friday community release through music, arts, wellness, and food. Event features wellness, live concert, DJs, art, food, and market

• Sat, June 17th, 1 – 10pm and Sun, June 18 th , 12- 6pm: Spectacular Magazine 18 th Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration at Golden Belt (800 Taylor St, 27701)

  • This event includes performances, vendors, children’s village, health fair, fashion show

• Sun, June 18 th , 2 – 7pm: Bragtown Juneteenth Celebration (3500 Dearborn Dr, 27704)

  • This event centers the legacy of Stagville descendents and the path they paved towards liberation today. It features a DJ, kids fun zone, food trucks, community resources, spoken word, and gospel fest.

• Mon, June 19 th , 2 – 6pm: West End Neighborhood Juneteenth Event at Carroll St Park (815 Carroll St, 27701)

  • Sponsored by West End/Lyon Park Legacy Project, this event features vendors, giveaways, kid activities, live entertainment, and gospel singing.

Other Juneteenth events around Durham:

Sat, June 17 th , 10am – 1pm: Juneteenth at Stagville (5828 Old Oxford Rd, 27712)

• More details to come, but in the past, tours of Historic Stagville have provided a somber and inspiring look into the history of freedom for enslaved people at the Stagville site.

• Sat, June 17 th , 11am – 4pm: Juneteenth Block Party at Boxyard RTP (900 Park Offices Dr, 27709)

  • Five hours of market featuring Black-owned small businesses, artists, and musicians co-sponsored by Triangle Pop-Up

• Sun, June 18 th – Mon, June 19 th , 1 – 9pm: Black Vegan Street Market Juneteenth Celebration at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

  • Two days of markets featuring environmentally friendly vendors and plant- based foods

• Mon, Jun 19 th , 12 – 2pm: Party in the Park Juneteenth Edition at The Experience Center (300 Park Offices Dr, RTP, 27709)

  • Food trucks, lawn games, live music, and free must-read books by Black authors (while supplies last)

Sat, June 3rd, 1 – 7pm: Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival at Rock Quarry Park (701 Stadium Dr, 27704)

The 53rd Bimbé Festival is a free, family-oriented celebration of African and African American history, culture, arts, and tradition. The event features food, a book giveaway, family fun zone, and hometown heroes. There are performances all afternoon long, culminating in headliners Petey Pablo and KRS One in the evening. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket as seating is not provided.

Sat, June 3rd , 4 – 7pm: Beaver Queen Pageant at Duke Park (106 W Knox St, 27701)

In 2005, the Duke Park neighborhood successfully stopped NC Department of Transportation from eradicating a den of beavers in wetlands north of I-85. To celebrate, The Beaver Lodge 1504 organized a formal Beaver Queen Pageant and today, the event serves as a fundraiser for the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association. The pageant is a mix of folly, pageantry, and humor, with each contestant taking on various beaver-pun personalities. There will be kid activities, food trucks, and Locopops. The event is free, but voting for contestants costs $5/vote.

Sat, June 10th , 10am – 12pm: The Durham Art Parade at Scrap Exchange (2050 Chapel Hill Rd, 27707)

Art Ain’t Innocent and Friends presents The Durham Art Parade in partnership with Durham artists. There will be community build days leading up to the event to create art for the parade. The parade itself will wind 1.7 miles around the Lakewood and Lyon Park communities, passing by art performances along the way.

Sat, June 10 th , 10am – 2pm: Great Trail Day along American Tobacco Trail

In honor of North Carolina’s Year of the Trail, Durham, Wake County, and Cary have teamed up to celebrate Great Trail Day along the American Tobacco Trail. There will be stations along the trail corridor with information on trail safety, pet safety, bike maintenance and more. Go enjoy the ATT and learn something new along the way!

Sun, June 11th , 12 – 4pm: Summer Food Truck Rodeo at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Celebrate the start of summer at Durham Central Park’s quarterly food truck rodeo. This seasonal event brings together over 35 food trucks to Durham’s living room where you can set up chairs and a blanket to enjoy the cuisine and festivities. Don’t forget to sign up to get the Rodeo Map, vendor lineup, and other info about the event.

Sun, June 18th , 8pm: RuPaul’s Drag Race Werq the World Tour at DPAC (123 Vivian St, 27701)

Experience the world’s largest drag production featuring participants from RuPaul’s Drag Race. This event is 18+ and tickets start at $49.50.

Fri, June 23rd , 3 – 10pm: Durham Summer Festival at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Durham’s Summer Wine and Food festival returns for a one-day event featuring restaurant and retail pop-ups, food trucks, live music, and family fun. The event is free, but there are paid tickets for several VIP experiences.

Sun, June 25 th , 11am – 5pm: Triangle Vegfest at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Piedmont Animal Refuge presents a family-friendly, vegan experience with Triangle Vegfest. Featuring vegan food trucks and vendors, family fun zone, face painting, and a DJ, this event is sure to feed the veg and veg-curious minds of Durham. The event is free with $5 suggested donation and there are $25 and $35 VIP tiers, which include different goody bags.

From Juneteenth to Pride, trails to art, beavers to bulls, let your interests be piqued as you explore Durham this June!