Durham Happenings: March 2024

Tricia here! I’m glad to be back behind the keyboard and sharing with my fellow Durhamites all the incredible activities going on in our community. March is a particularly hopeful month as it marks the turning point from winter to spring, where people start emerging from cold weather hibernation. Fortunately, Durham has something for everyone to celebrate this beginning of the Spring season, from St. Patrick’s Day events to Easter egg hunts and a variety of other festive occasions!

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Whether you have Irish heritage or just enjoy an opportunity to dress in green, St. Patrick’s Day events are plentiful over the whole weekend of March 17 th . Try out a new venue and enjoy the fellowship of the holiday!

Thurs, Mar 14 th – Sun, Mar 17 th : St. Patrick’s Day and 10 th Anniversary Kickoff at Glass Jug Downtown
(545 Foster St, 27701) and RTP (5410 NC 55, 27713)
Irish beer, Irish whiskey, and Irish music! Celebrate the 10 th anniversary of the Glass Jug while
also enjoying St. Patrick’s Day staples.

Fri, Mar 15 th , 7 – 11pm: St. Patrick’s Day Silent Disco at Hi-Wire Brewing
(800 Taylor St, 27701)
I’ll never not sing the praises of a silent disco at Hi-Wire! Between its early end time, its three awesome channels of nonstop music, and its incredible energy, Hi-Wire’s silent discos are not to be missed. This month’s event asks that everyone dress in green to commemorate St. Patrick’s Day.

Sat, Mar 16 th – Sun, Mar 17 th : St. Patrick’s Day at Bull McCabe’s
(427 W. Main St, 27701)
Two full days of traditional St. Patrick’s drinks and dishes plus 11 different bands at Durham’s own Irish pub. Family-friendly until 8pm, then 21+.

Sat, Mar 16 th : St. Patrick’s Day at Blue Note Grill
(709 Washington St, 27701)
A family-friendly jam session with the NC Irish Allstars from 12-3pm then a pre-St. Patrick’s Day party band, JIVES, starting at 7:30pm.

Sat, Mar 16 th : St. Patrick’s Day at Lonerider Distillery and Taproom (708 Ramseur St, 27701)
Join Lonerider’s Durham destination for their first St. Patrick’s Day bash and raise a glass with some of their bourbon whiskey.

Sat, Mar 16 th , 12 – 6pm: St. Patrick’s Celebration at Old Mill Farm (8913 NC Hwy 751 South, 27713)
Enjoy live performers, a scavenger hunt, green beer, Irish step dancing, and goat petting all in one spot! Tickets are $13 for ages 3+ or $42 for a family four-pack.

Sun, Mar 17 th , 12 – 6pm: Celtic Cork & Ale Irish Festival at ZincHouse Winery & Brewery
(6225 Wake Forest Hwy, 27703)
This free, kid-friendly event will include local artisan vendors, several Irish bands throughout the day, and wine, beer, bourbon, and cigars for purchase from ZincHouse.

Easter Egg Hunts

Throughout March, Durham offers several opportunities to participate in the age-old tradition of Easter egg hunts. With opportunities for kids and dogs, take advantage of these delightful community events.

Sat, Mar 16 th , 11am – 3pm: Egg Hunt and Adoption Event at Boxyard RTP
(900 Park Offices Dr, 27703)The Dog Moms of Durham is hosting their inaugural egg hunt, where you and your dog will have the opportunity to sniff out eggs with prizes like dog treats and gift baskets. There will also be a Easter-themed treasure hunt for humans, dog-friendly vendors, and a professional photo booth for your pup and the Easter Bunny. The event is free, but donations are accepted for Carolina Boxer Rescue for the egg hunt and photo booth.

Sat, Mar 16 th , 3 – 5pm: Spring Egg Dive at Campus Hills Aquatic Center
(2000 S Alston Ave, 27701)
Hit up this Durham Parks & Rec family-friendly egg hunt by seeking out eggs under water at Campus Hills pool and win prizes. Children 9 years and younger require an adult in the water with them. Registration is limited.

Sat, Mar 23 rd , 10am – 12pm: 37 th Annual Egg Hunt at West Point on the Eno
(5101 N Roxboro St, 27704)
Children 12 and under can enjoy this free, annual event through Durham Parks & Rec by hunting for the golden egg at West Point on the Eno. Children are divided into age groups and begin at 10:15am. No registration required.

Sat, Mar 23 rd , 10 – 11am: Egg Hunt at Campus Hills Park
(2000 S Alston Ave, 27707)
Durham Parks & Rec hosts this second free egg hunt location with similar rules: children divided by age and seek the golden egg for an extra prize. This event is inclusive of all ability levels. Pre-registration is not required.

Sat, Mar 23 rd , 1 – 4pm: Dog-Gone Egg Hunt at Rock Quarry Park (701 Stadium Dr, 27704)
Durham Park &Rec also offers a canine style egg hunt for dogs to take part in the festivities. All ages are welcome and pre-registration is not required.

Tues, Mar 26 th – Sun, Mar 31 st : Dino Egg Hunt at Museum of Life + Science
(433 W. Murray Ave, 27704)
With a prehistoric twist on the classic Easter egg hunt, the Museum of Life and Science invites members and guests to participate in the excavation of dinosaur eggs and fossils as junior paleontologists. Exchange colorful dino eggs for a special prize and you can also enjoy an inflatable obstacle course and take selfies along the Museum’s Dinosaur Trail. Tickets cost $8/person (ages 3+) on top of Museum admission. Registration is required for a timed entry and spots are filling up, sign up soon.

Sat, Mar 30 th , 10 – 11:30am: Spring Egg Hunt at Duke Homestead (2828 Duke Homestead Rd, 27705)
The historic home and farm of Washington Duke and his family offers several special events each year, including the Spring Egg Hunt. This free event includes eggs hidden around the property that can be turned in for prizes as well as egg-themed games, historic games, and a puppet show. There are three different times and zones for the egg hunts: 0-3 years starts at 10:15am; 4-7 years at 10:45am; and 8-12 years at 11:15am. This event is free and does not require registration.

Sat, Mar 30 th – Sun, Mar 31 st : Easter Eggstravaganza at Old Mill Farm
(8913 NC Hwy 751 South, 27713)
In addition to a classic Easter egg hunt, Old Mill Farm will have live music, photos with the Easter Bunny, crafts and games. You must pre-register for a 3-hour block (10am-1pm or 1-4pm) and prices are $13/person (ages 3+) or $42 for a family 4-pack.

Other Noteworthy Community Events

Sat, Mar 2nd , 10am – 3pm: Engineers Day at Museum of Life and Science
(433 W. Murray Ave, 27704)
Rockets, robotics, and 3D printing are only part of what makes this Engineers Day so enticing for little tykes! Celebrate UNESCO’s World Engineering Day at MLS with hands-on activities and demonstrations throughout the day. Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering (WiECE) will host a beginner-friendly session on quantum computing, geared toward children in 2 nd -5 th grade. All programs are included with museum admission, but the WiECE workshops require pre-registration.

Thurs, Mar 7 th – Sat, Mar 9 th : Hayti Heritage Film Festival at Hayti Heritage Center
(804 Old Fayetteville St, 27701)
The Hayti Heritage Film Festival brings together artists committed to preserving Black Southern culture and identity in film. On Thurs, Mar. 7 th , kick off the weekend with the opening night film, Little Richard: I Am Everything followed by the festival reception. Friday and Saturday consist of film screenings all day long at the Hayti Heritage Center with a closing night party featuring an evening with actor Omar J. Dorsey. Check the schedule to explore film topics, such as Black love, social media, horror, and relationships. You can purchase individual tickets for each event ($15-50) or there are all access ($85) and day passes ($50) available.

Thurs, Mar 7 th , 6 – 9pm: Big Night In Watch Party at PSI Theatre (120 Morris St, 27701)
Each of the county-run arts agencies across the Triangle come together for a one-night fundraiser aired on WRAL. What started as a socially distanced way to appreciate and support

the arts during COVID times in 2021, Big Night in for the Arts brings together artists to share their skills, projects, and experiences with the arts. Durham celebrities Pierce Freelon and Gabriel Eng-Goetz are among the local stars being highlighted. This year, an in-person watch party is being added to the WRAL broadcast at PSI Theatre for $75 and will include food and drinks as well as live performances.

Sat, Mar. 16 th – Sat, Mar. 23 rd : Creek Week across Durham
Since 2009, Keep Durham Beautiful has hosted its annual Creek Week to discover and clean up our local streams. You can register your cleanup or find a cleanup to participate in on their website. In addition to cleanups, there are tons of free educational events, hikes, and paid group paddles scheduled for the week. Get outside and learn about how we can better our community and the environment around us.

Sat, Mar. 23 rd , 9am – 6pm: Highland Games at Mystic Farm and Distillery
(1212 North Mineral Springs Rd, 27703)
The Scottish Cultural Organization of the Triangle presents the Mystic Highland Games, a full day of athletics, dance, and piping representing the roots of Scotland. The athletics competition consists of seven events, including caber toss, hammer throw, and stone put. Bag pipers and highland dangers will also compete throughout the day and Scottish food and vendors will be for sale as well. Tickets cost $20 per person age 21+ and parking is $20 per vehicle onsite or $10 offsite with shuttle service.

Fri, Mar 29 th , 3 – 9pm: Durham Bulls Spring Fan Fest at Durham Bulls Athletic Park
(409 Blackwell St, 27701)Let’s play ball! Kick off the Durham Bulls Spring season at Fan Fest. Wool E Bull will be posing for pics with fans. Kids and adults can practice batting and playing catch on the actual field where the National Champs play. Even if you’re little one isn’t big enough to swing a bat, there’s plenty of engaging activities for the whole family. Free tickets are available starting March 1 st for two sessions: 3-5pm and 6:30-9pm.

Sat, Mar 30 th , 10 – 11am: Drag Story Hour at Boxyard RTP
(900 Park Offices Dr, 27709)
Drag Story Hour of the Triangle has partnered with Boxyard RTP to host monthly events with drag artists reading beloved children’s books aloud. Children are able to witness people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where everyone can be their authentic selves. Children of all ages are welcome, with specific focus on ages 5-8. Event is free.

In addition to all of the above Durham-based events, please check out Triangle on the Cheap for a list of other events in March all across the Triangle. Certainly there is no shortage of events to get you out of your home and into the community as we celebrate the start of Spring in the Bull City.