Durham Happenings: May 2024

In the immortal words of *NSYNC, it’s gonna be MAY! It’s the time of year when the pollen falls back and makes way for warmer, yet bearable temps. So give your gardening a rest and gear up for a frenzy of festivals, merry Mother’s Day moments, bunches of baseball, and over a dozen other ah-MAY-zing activities.

Festivals

They don’t call May “Festival Season” for nothing. Tis the season to celebrate all things outdoors, from food to culture to music, all of which come together at these various festivals in Durham this month.

  • Sat, May 4th , 11am – 3pm: Strawberry Festival at Old North Durham Park (310 W Geer St, 27701)
    Join Central Park School for Children for their popular annual fundraiser. Think all things strawberry plus carnival-like games, arts and crafts for kids, and live music all afternoon long.

  • Fri, May 10th – Sat, May 11th : Beats N Bars Festival in Downtown Durham (27701)
    A combination music festival and conference, Beats N Bars brings hip hop culture to the forefront through music, talks, and party vibes. Taking place across three venues downtown (Lot 20, Self Help Building, and American Underground, this event promises to highlight hip hop music, fashion, lifestyle, and more.

  • Sat, May 11th , 11am – 3pm: National Dog Mom Day Festival at Boxyard RTP (900 Park Offices Dr, 27703)
    Celebrated the day before Mother’s Day, National Dog Mom Day is a time to celebrate the mommas of canine kiddos and Dog Moms of Durham has just the event. This festival will host a “pup-up” market of local vendors, doggie and me mini photo sessions, floral bouquets, mimosas, and a raffle benefitting Hope Animal Rescue.

 

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  • Sat, May 18th , 11am – Sun, May 19th, 7pm: Greek Festival at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church (8306 NC Hwy 751, 27713)
    I look forward to this FREE event every year, mostly for their spanakopita, but also for their array of delicious authentic Greek food and desserts. In addition to food, they host a Greek market as well as live entertainment and a 50/50 raffle. It truly is a delight for the whole family!

  • Sat, May 18th , 1-7pm: Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival at Rock Quarry Park (701 Stadium Dr, 27704)
    Created in honor of the West African festival of harvest and celebration, Bimbé is celebrating its 54th year. Bringing together culture and arts, food and music, this year’s headliner will be Grammy-winning singer Monica!

  • Sat, May 18th , 5-10pm: Durham Blues + Brews Festival at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)
    Benefitting the Exchange Club Family Center, Durham Blue + Brews unites 20 of NC’s best breweries with bluesy bands and tasty food trucks for a wonderful evening under the stars.

 

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  • Fri, May 31st – Sat, Jun 1st : Good Moon Festival at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (409 Blackwell St, 27701)
    Electronic pop duo and pride of Durham, Sylvan Esso, have launched what they hope will become an annual music festival called Good Moon. Featuring two evenings of music at the Bulls stadium, you can purchase single or two-day passes, general admission or VIP sponsored by VooDoo Ranger Hard Charged Tea.

Mother’s Day

Celebrate our moms and mother figures this May with an array of dining and hands-on activity options. I highly recommend booking early, though, since both Duke and UNC have their commencement ceremonies on Mother’s Day, so venues will be busy! I’ve tried to note more food-based events at the top of the list and more activity-based events at the bottom, though several offer both.

 

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  • Sat, May 11th & Sun, May 12th 10:30am – 2pm: Mother’s Day Brunch at The Durham Hotel (315 E Chapel Hill St, 27701)
    This highly coveted and highly delicious brunch option offers a prix fixe brunch menu now available BOTH Saturday and Sunday (which is important since it looks like Sunday is already sold out!). Sign up for your timeslot, then enjoy a two-course brunch forb $45/person, plus optional add-on bellini flight and mimosas.

  • Sun, May 12th 11:30am – 2pm: Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet at Parizade (2200 W Main St, 27705)
    Score one of the few remaining reservations for this full buffet brunch. Enjoy French toast, waffles, corn beef hash, as well as more traditional Mediterranean fare such as braised lamb leg, grilled swordfish, shrimp scampi, and caprese pasta salad. At $65/person, you’re sure to leave with a full belly and a smile.

  • 11am – 5pm: Mother’s Day Celebration at Old Mill Farm (8913 NC 751, 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 is an option to upgrade with beverages, picnic baskets, wine, and gift baskets. Tickets are discounted for the last entry time of 3:30pm.

  • 1 – 5pm: Mother’s Day Paint-N-Sip Karaoke Brunch at Backyard BBQ Pit (5122 NC 55, 27713)
    Backyard BBQ Pit is back in action with a facelift and new event offerings, including an afternoon full of food and fun for mom. Paint, sip on mimosas, sing karaoke, and enjoy a delicious brunch from this famous spot for Eastern NC bbq. Tickets are $100/person.

  • 2 – 4pm or 6 – 8pm: Mother’s Day Chocolate and Bourbon Pairing Class at Mystic Farm and Distillery (1413 Stallings Rd, 27703)
    For the mom who has it all, including a taste for bourbon, snag a $30 ticket for her to sample a variety of chocolates along with Mystic’s own bourbons. Each event includes a distillery tour and lots of free samples (perhaps organizing a designated driver for mom can be part of your gift).

  • 9:30am – 12:30pm: Mother’s Day Event at The Wonder Lab (3709-A University Dr, 27707)
    The Wonder Lab provides an opportunity to celebrate mom or a special grown-up in your life by either bringing them to this crafty event for kids or letting them stay home for some quiet time while another caregiver brings the kids to create crafts for them. Each 1.5-hour session includes a DIY bouquet with flowers from Pluck Farm, a DIY card, and snacks for both kiddo and adults ($32 kid tickets with crafts and $10 adult tickets with no crafts).

  • 1 – 2pm: Mother’s Day Fairy Garden Workshop at For Garden’s Sake (9197 NC Hwy 751,27713)
    Create a magical fairy or gnome garden bowl at the Garden Center at For Garden’s Sake. Bring a bit of whimsy to your home, porch, or garden by working with your loved ones to set up an idyllic scene, including flowers, succulents, rocks, and fairies and/or gnomes. Tickets start at $55, including a beverage from the Potting Shed, and you can work on one bowl together or each have your own piece.

  • 2 – 3pm: Mother’s Day Flower Arranging Class at Weldon Mills Distillery (300 East Main St, 27701)
    Join Sweet Serendipity Flowers in learning the basics of floral design with local NC blooms. The $45 ticket includes containers and floral supplies. Feel free to grab some upscale bar food and award winning spirits from Weldon Mills itself while you’re there.

  • 2 – 4pm: Mother’s Day Vase with Bull City Woodshop (1912 E Pettigrew St, 27703)
    Want to use some power tools with your favorite mother figure or your fave kiddo? Check out Bull City Woodshop’s beginner-friendly class. You’ll use a miter saw, power drill, and power sander to build a flower vase holder with fresh cut flowers. The $50 ticket includes mother and child.

 

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  • 2 – 5pm: Boxes + Blooms Workshop at AR Workshop (2816 Erwin Rd, Ste 201, 27705)
    Get crafty with Mom by creating a personalized centerpiece box with your choice of design. Then add fresh blooms from the AR Flower bAR to complete the look. Tickets for the 3-hour experience start at $99. You can also check out their Mom + Me Open Craft time on Sat afternoon or any of their other workshops throughout the month.

Durham Bulls Home Games

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 $10. Some highlights of upcoming games include:

 

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The Other Good Stuff

Like every other month, May is jampacked full of so many events beyond the festivals, games, and celebrations listed above. Find your groove at any or all of these other fabulous festivities this month in the Bull City:

  • Fri, May 3rd , 6:30pm: Durham Playlist with John Brown + The Groove Shop Band Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)
    Kickoff the summer season and Durham Central Park’s Playlist series with John Brown + The Groove Shop Band. This funk and R+B powerhouse ensemble features a full 13-piece band. They’ll take you back to the 70s and 80s with songs from Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, and Parliament Funkadelic. Come early for food and beer from local vendors and stay late for the DJ dance party starting at 9:30pm.

  • Sat, May 4th , 3pm: Pops in the Park at Piney Wood Park (400 E Woodcroft Pkwy, 27713)
    This unique partnership between Durham Parks and Rec, Durham Arts Council, and The Durham Symphony produces an elegant yet accessible outdoor music experience for the whole family. This free concert includes young musicians from Durham’s Kidznotes performing with the Durham Symphony. Food trucks El Jefecito and Pelican’s SnoBalls will be on site for your mid-afternoon treats as well.

 

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  • Sun, May 5th , 10am – 3pm: Spring Fling at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)
    The Durham Craft Market is hosting a special supersized Sunday market with even more local makers. Just in time for graduation and Mother’s Day, explore more than three dozen booths and find that perfect gift for yourself or a loved one.

  • Sat, May 11th , 6 – 11:30pm: Prints-4-Prince at PS37 (600 Foster St, 27701)
    Weird Productions brings artists and communities together and this event is no exception. Prints-4-Prince is an art show, music fest, and pizza party that will include even more surprises. Tickets start at $20, or upgrade to $50 VIP tickets to join the pre-party and get a t-shirt.

  • Wed, May 15th , 12 – 2pm: Adult Recess at CCB Plaza (Corcoran and Parrish St, 27701)
    Take a break from your work week to kick it old school back to your elementary school days. Durham Parks and Rec hosts Adult Recess where you can play games, make crafts, and enjoy the beautiful weather, all for FREE! No registration required.

  • Thurs, May 16th , 6:30 – 10pm: AfterHours: Science of Beer at Museum of Life and Science (433 W Murray Ave, 27704)
    Explore Durham’s Museum of Life and Science after hours at their beer-themed 21+ event: the Science of Beer. There will be lawn games, sunset train rides, crafts, and the museum’s signature beer in partnership with Bond Brothers, “Citrasaurus Wheat.” Beer, wine, and a “Butterbeer mocktail” will be available at cash bars plus food trucks will be on site for your dining needs. Tickets cost $30 for members, $35 for general public.

  • Fri, May 17th , 5 – 8pm: For Friday’s Sake at For Garden’s Sake (9197 NC Hwy 751, 27713)
    Several Fridays throughout the summer, For Garden’s Sake stays open late and hosts a food truck and live musician to wind down your Friday night. May actually boasts 3 FFS dates on the 3rd , 10th , and 17th , and will also launch their new Live Music in the Garden series on Sunday afternoons from 12-3pm, starting May 12th . Admission is free to all of these events.

  • Sun, May 19th , 4pm: Carmina Burana at Baldwin Auditorium (1336 Campus Dr, 27705)
    Again Durham Symphony makes their music even more accessible by joining forces with the Choral Society of Durham in a performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. The performance will take place at Duke University’s Baldwin Auditorium and tickets start at $5 for youth, $25 general admission.

  • Tues, May 21st , 6pm: Dancing with the Carolina Stars at Carolina Theatre (309 West Morgan St, 27701)
    Watch local celebs, like Ella West Gallery founder Linda Shropshire and President + CEO of El Centro Hispano Pilar Rocha Goldberg, dance with local professional dancers and compete for your vote. Judges will also include local celebrities Rissi Palmer and Stormie Daie. This fundraising event for the Carolina Theatre features live and silent auctions and a VIP after-hours event throughout the entire theatre. Tickets start at $135.

 

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  • Thurs, May 23rd , 5:30 – 7pm: “Shell-a-brate” World Turtle Day at Piedmont Wildlife Center (364 Leigh Farm Rd, 27707)
    World Turtle Day takes place on May 23 rd and Piedmont Wildlife Center invites you to celebrate at their facility with their resident box turtles. They’ll be unveiling their new box turtle enclosure and have several turtle activity booths and photo opps, including a chance to meet live box turtles. The event is FREE with a $10 suggested donation.

  • Sat, May 25th , 3 – 8pm: Taste of Soul at Durham Central Park (501 Foster St, 27701)
    Don’t worry about cooking this Memorial Day Weekend since Durham Central Park has you covered! Taste of Soul brings food trucks from across the Triangle to Bull City along with local vendors, a bounce house, and a DJ. Grab an app, entrée, and dessert each from a different truck and set up a blanket for dinner al fresco.

  • Sat May 25th , 10am – Sun, May 26th , 3pm: Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Event at Bennett Place State Historic Site (4409 Bennett Memorial Rd, 27705)
    Spend some time the Memorial Day at Bennett Place Historic Site, the site of the largest surrender of the American Civil War. Each year, they host a program recognizing the history and establishment of “Decoration Day,” which began after the American Civil War. Entry is $3/adult, $2/child.

Explore all that Durham has to offer by checking out these events in May. And be sure to share this blog with a friend to help them fall even more in love with our Bull City!

For more events like Trivia Nights, Yoga, Dancing, & more, check our Guide to Durham’s Recurring Events for regular weekly and monthly events.

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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