Durham Happenings: August 2023

Let’s face it: August is kinda the black sheep of the season. There are no major holidays, you can never schedule time with friends since everyone’s out of town, and it’s also the hottest month of the year (which is hard to conceive considering how July has been!). Plus if you’re a parent or involved with schools, August is basically the Sunday of summer, building anxiety before the hectic start of the school year.

Good news is that I have the antidote to your typical haze of an August and it involves sharing all the wonderful, sunny celebrations around Durham this month. And there is no shortage of fun things to do in town!

Weekend Trip Alert

But first, if you are looking for one final summer getaway fling, consider a visit out west to North Carolina’s own wine country in Yadkin! The two final weekends in August comprise the Yadkin Summer Whites wine event featuring refreshing wines paired with yummy foods at each vineyard. Each ticket costs $25-30 and covers 4-5 vineyard pairings. Choose your weekend based on your calendar as well as the delectable menus posted on their website. And if you’re a red wine drinker, fear not as Yadkin also hosts a Winter Reds Tour every Feb. I also highly recommend the Yadkin Valley Winter Wine & Beer Passport which provides you with tastings across the Yadkin Valley craft beverage spots from Thanksgiving through March. Passports go on sale in Sept and make great stocking stuffers! But enough about Yadkin, let’s get back to Durham!

Durham Events

Thurs, Aug. 3rd, 6-8pm: Stacking Rings Class at Cecy’s Gallery (417 Foster St, 27701)

Try your hand at crafting your own, unique jewelry set. Pflora Metal Arts, which consists of Phyllis Flora and Scott Mason, run this workshop in which each participant will create three of their very own sterling silber rings, including one with a gemstone. And at $80 for three pieces of art and instruction, this class is a steal! Sign up today and bring a friend.

Fri, Aug. 4th, 6:30-10pm: PLAYlist concert with The Veldt at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Durham’s monthly concert series brings in Raleigh’s pioneering alternative soul group, The Veldt. Identical twin brothers, Daniel and Danny Chavis, are known for their innovation and reverb. Food trucks, craft beer, and other vendors will be on site, so set up your folding chair and kick off your weekend with a fun, free concert.

Sat, Aug. 5th, 10am-7pm: Hello Kitty Café Truck at The Streets at Southpoint (8030 Renaissance Pkwy, 27713)

Want to revel in the products of your youth or pass the torch to the next generation of character-loving kiddos? Then wrap yourself in a giant Sanrio hug at the Hello Kitty Café Truck when it makes its stop outside AMC Southpoint. Expect a long line and expect lots of Hello Kitty-attired fans, but if you make it through the wait, you’ll be rewarded with your choice of nostalgia-inspired food, drink, and merch for sale (credit card only).

Sat, Aug. 5th, 3-8pm: Taste of Soul NC Seafood Edition at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Durham’s monthly summer food truck gathering continues with a special seafood edition. This Saturday event will feature eight seafood-centric entrée trucks, eleven dessert and drink trucks, plus over a dozen merch vendors. As always, there will be a DJ, live performances, and bounce house, so bring your chairs, blankets, friends, and family along with your appetite.

Sat, Aug. 5th, 7pm: Bull Moon Ride and Run at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (409 Blackwell St, 27701)

If you enjoy the competition of a 5k run or an (almost) 10-mile bike ride, but would rather wait til the evening to avoid heat stroke, then the Bull Moon Ride and Run is for you. Durham’s quintessential summer evening race begins and ends at Durham Bulls Athletic Park and each course takes you through lovely downtown Durham at dusk. Enjoy the pre-race entertainment from Batala Durham and post-race beer and block party (beer and bbq dinner plate included with $47 registration) outside the Bulls stadium.

Sun, Aug. 6th, 12-4pm: Patchwork Summer Market at Durham Armory (212 Foster St, 27701)

Local makers unite at the Patchwork Summer Market! Come shop for gifts, wares, food, and all sorts of artisan treasures at the Durham Armory. This is a great way to learn about more makers in the area and support your community by shopping local. The event is free, indoors, and the first 100 shoppers will receive a free bag (usually with a special Patchwork Market design).

Thurs, Aug. 10th – Thurs Aug.17th: OUTSOUTH Queer Film Festival at Carolina Theatre (309 W Morgan St, 27701)

This annual Durham event is the second largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the Southeast and has been taking place since 1995. Renamed from the North Carolina Gay + Lesbian Film Festival in 2020, expect to celebrate a worldwide glimpse of today’s LGBTQ+ life. Tickets to individual films are $14, or you can buy a 10-film pass for $120. Visit the Carolina Theatre OUTSOUTH page or OUTSOUTH Facebook page to learn more about each of the films being shown.

Fri, Aug. 11th, 5-10:30pm: Mobile Cinema Presents Nausicaä + Twister at Durham Main Library (300 N Roxboro St, 27701)

Enjoy a free evening of indoor and outdoor cinema plus a local food truck, all brought to you by Duke Arts and Durham County Library. Mobile Cinema, of Duke Cinematic Arts, brings Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, an epic animated masterpiece from 1984, for an indoor showing. Then, food trucks, free treats, and live music will bring the audience outdoors to view Twister, the 1996 tornado classic, in the outdoor amphitheater outside the main library. Bring cushions or blankets for the hillside lawn seating.

Sat, Aug. 12th, 9pm: Sugar: The Nu-Metal Party at Motorco (723 Rigsbee Ave, 27701)

Remember in the late 90s/early 00s when the Family Values Tour provided the antithesis to the bubblegum sweetness of boyband pop? Now is your chance to relive those glory days of nu metal with a DJ spinning all the best hits from Korn, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Rage, and so many more. There even promises to a be a mosh pit to truly feel the impact of these bands. Tickets are $18 in advance.

Sun, Aug. 13th, 10am-3pm: East Fork Seconds Sale at Counter Culture Coffee (812 Mallard Ave, 27701)

In case you’ve been living under a rock the last five years or so, East Fork is a national pottery phenomenon based in Asheville, NC. Their pots, plates, and mugs are made lovingly and sport fun and funky seasonal colors, which often sell out. But it’s the company’s community-driven values that catch so much attention. And they’re bringing their “seconds” (pottery with slight, often imperceptible imperfections) to Durham at 30% off. Sadly, the Early Access event on 8/12 is already sold out, but hit up Counter Culture Coffee, (wait in a likely long line,) and see what amazing pieces you can score at a discount.

Thurs, Aug. 17th, 6:30-10pm: AfterHours: Bees, Beer, and Butterflies at Museum of Life and Science (433 W Murray Ave, 27704)

This adult-only (21+) event at the Museum of Life and Science allows us grown-ups a chance to explore the beautiful butterfly house and insectarium with activities and adult beverages for an entire evening. Focusing on insects, this event will allow participants to take part in an exclusive butterfly release, race cockroaches, and taste the premiere of MLS’s collaborative beer with Bond Brothers Brewing. Each ticket ($30 for members, $35 general admission) gets you one complimentary beverage and samples from local vendors. Cash bar and Flat Drum food truck will have additional food and drink on site for purchase.

Sat, Aug. 19th, 7-11pm: Silent Disco Taylor Swift Friends and Foes at Hi-Wire Durham (800 Taylor St, 27701)

I’m honestly shocked this event isn’t sold out already. First, these silent disco events are EPIC! Like, SO fun, plus they take place at Hi-Wire where there’s ample dancing space and such delicious beers on tap. Second, this August event will feature not only an entire channel devoted to just Taylor Swift songs, but a second channel devoted to her friends (ie – Selena Gomez, Lode, Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran, etc) and a THIRD channel just for anyone who has beef with Taylor (ie – Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Nicki Minaj, etc). Go ahead and get yourself and all your friends $12 tickets ASAP and thank me later.

Sat, Aug. 19th, 8:30-10:30pm: Rock the Park Movie feat Top Gun Maverick at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Rounding out the Durham Parks and Recreation summer Rock the Park schedule is the final outdoor movie at Durham Central Park – Top Gun: Maverick. Thirty years after the original Top Gun, this follow-up pays homage to its roots (and Tom Cruise) while paving its own way cinematically and with Miles Teller. As usual, a rotating line up of food trucks and on-site vendors will provide food and beverage options. Be sure to bring your own blanket or chairs to this free event.

Fri, Aug. 25th, 9am – 4pm: Blk Biz Summit at Chesterfield Building (701 W Main St, 27701)

Durham Tech Small Business Center and Give It To The People present the 2nd annual Blk Biz Summit, a dynamic one-day conference empowering Black Business Development. This event will feature dynamic speakers, interactive workshops, mentorship, networking, and knowledge sharing. You can also visit exhibitors and venors at the Blk Biz Market during the event. Entrepreneurs, college students, and community partners with resources for entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend this free event.

Fri, Aug. 25th – Sat, Aug. 26th: LFG Fest at Motorco (723 Rigsbee Ave, 27701)

Touted as a “microfestival” of 14 bands over 2 days, LFG (Let’s F*ing Go) Fest will feature artists who walk the lines between hip-hop, punk, and “noise.” Some groups include B L A C K I E, Snooper, Upchuck, Bonies, and Pink Siifu. Additionally, festival creators have invited local progressive groups to engage with the crowd, including Carolina Abortion Fund, Girls Rock NC, DSA NC Triangle, and NC Harm Reduction Coalition. Two-day festival passes cost $75.

Sat, Aug. 26th, 4-11pm: Black August in the Park at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)

Join this annual celebration that creatively inspires and connects people of African descent to assert their value and engage in social and cultural change. There will be music, activities, and feature organizations. This year’s theme is “We The People” and limited release merch shirts are already available. Follow the Black August in the Park website or Facebook event for more information as we get closer to the date.

Mon, Aug. 28th, 8-11pm: Views from The Durham at The Durham Hotel Rooftop (315 E Chapel Hill St, 27701)

This monthly stargazing series hosted by Morehead Planetarium provides not only incredible views of the city and the sky, but also exudes romantic energy for the ideal date night. There will be a DJ spinning from 8-10pm with stargazing from 9-11pm. Purchase incredible craft cocktails and scrumptious snacks from The Roof to truly make an evening of this free event.

Before you tromp off to do some back-to-school shopping, be sure to fill up your social calendar with all the exciting events above and truly make the most of this summery month.