Annual Events that Celebrate Black History & Culture in Durham
The history of African Americans in Durham is as integral to our story as the mortar and brick that built the Bull City.
Grit, fortitude, and the unapologetic pursuit of justice are lasting legacies of a community that influenced the progress of Americans toward equality from coast to coast.
As Durhamites, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, strengthened by the seeds of justice and equality planted here long ago. We invite you to reflect and experience the history of Black people and celebrate Black culture through Durham events and activities.
Annual Durham Events Celebrating Black History and Culture
Kwanzaafest
Jan. 1, 2026
On New Year's Day, the African American Dance Ensemble presents Kwanzaafest, a celebration of African American heritage, culture and family on the final day of the seven-day holiday at the Durham Armory. All are invited to take part in the joyous gathering.
Book Harvest's Dream Big MLK Day
Jan. 19, 2026
Every year, 0n or near MLK Day, local nonprofit Book Harvest hosts Dream Big, a community-wide celebration of diversity, literacy, and books for all children. You can continue to donate new or gently used children’s books, and volunteer to help sort and box donations well beyond the day as well. All books donated between December 1st and January 31st count towards the Book Harvest's Dream Big Book Drive total. Visit Book Harvest's website to learn more about how you can contribute to the organizations cause..
MLK Commemoration and Day of Service at Duke
Jan. 17, 2026
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Duke in Page Auditorium on November 13, 1964. Months after President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. Duke commemorates MLK Day with a service that's free and open to the public, along with a day of service.
NCCU Black History Month Celebration
NCCU Black History Month Opening Program and Reception – Miller-Morgan Auditorium, Feb. 4, 2026, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
More events listed here.
Every year, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) observes Black History Month with a series of events that are free and open to the public. Film screenings, lectures, panel discussions, and musical and theatrical performances take place throughout February, including appearances by nationally noted activists, authors, scholars, and educators.
pARTies on Parrish
February 1-28, 2026
Kickoff Party Saturday, February 7
104 W. Parrish St.
For the entirety of Black History Month, Weird Productions and Amos Cooper Jr of Black Robin Ventures will team up to host a take over of 104 W. Parrish St. Here, you will find art, poetry, puppetry, storytelling, food, music and science all employed to tell the city’s stories through collaborative events and activations. The space will be open Wednesday through Sunday with a special kick off party on Saturday, February 7. Check the website for individual event details.
Bull City in Black: HBCU Showcase
February 7, 2026, 12 - 3 p.m.
Emily K Center, 904 W. Chapel Hill St.
This free event, held at The Emily K Center, will highlight HBCUs across the region. Prospective college students and their families are encouraged to attend. Celebrating the history and legacy of HBCUs, this event will feature workshops discussing things like "financial aid, first-gen student experience, resume support and more."
Black History Month Guided Tours at The Pauli Murray Center
February 7 and 21, 2026, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, 906 Carroll St.
Head to The Pauli Murray center on select days in February for Black History Month guided tours. Hosted by Executive Director Angela Thorpe Mason, this tour will focus on Pauli Murray's life and legacy in honor of Black History Month.
Black History Month Lecture at Duke University
February 17, 2026, 6 p.m.
Penn Pavilion at Duke University, 107 Union Dr.
Hear an inspiring Black History Month lecture from Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, award-winning author, educator, and daughter of the late Malcolm X. Dr. Shabazz will share reflections on her father’s enduring legacy, offering insight into his lifelong pursuit of justice, liberation, and human rights.
Melanated Creatives Market
February 21, 2026, 3-8 p.m.
Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St.
Celebrate Black History Month by supporting black artists, makers and entrepreneurs. All kinds of Black owned businesses will gather at Durham Central Park to offer their goods and services to the community. Expect food trucks, vendors, community connection and more.
Black Genius Fest
February 28, 2026
Black Wall Street – Parrish Street
For Black History Month's 100th anniversary, Village of Wisdom is taking over Durham's historic Black Wall Street to celebrate and honor Black genius of the past, present and future. Bring the whole family and expect over 20 interactive dream stations designed to inspire and educate.
For the Culture Festival
February 28, 2026, 3-10 p.m.
Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St.
Honoring Black History Month, Throw Down Events will host For the Culture Festival in Durham Central Park. Expect family-fun all day, with live music, horseback rides, a bounce house, face painting and more. The event will also feature over 10 food trucks, 10+ Black-owned vendors and a bar for adults.
Durham Black History Walking Tour
Saturdays at 4 p.m.
CCB Plaza
Get on your feet to learn about Durham's Black history with Triangle Walking Tours historians. Discover the stories of Durham's Black architects, businessman, activists and more.
Year-Round Events Celebrating Black History and Culture
The Hayti Heritage Film Festival
March 6-7, 2026
Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St.
The Hayti Heritage Film Festival (HHFF) returns in 2026 to celebrate Durham's African American heritage and the historic Hayti community, which was a thriving enclave in the early 20th century. HHFF is one of the nations longest running Black film festivals and will feature "cinematic works from filmmakers of African descent with particular consideration given to Southern, Black stories and storytellers."
Biscuits & Banjos Festival
Returning in 2027
Held every other year, The Biscuits & Banjos Festival celebrates Black music and culture in North Carolina, specifically old time, country, Americana, folk, jazz and blues. Created by GRAMMY & Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens, this festival will features artist talks, workshops, a biscuit bake-off, community square dance and, of course, musical performances. The festival is held at multiple locations across durham, including Durham Performing Arts Center, The Armory and the Carolina Theatre.
Biscuits & Banjos Presents: Rhiannon Giddens' Beloved Community
April 27, 2026, 7 p.m.
DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St.
Beats n Bars Festival
TBD
Plan a weekend around Beats n Bars Festival, a music festival that celebrates hip hop music and culture from NC and beyond. Each spring, Beats n Bars Festival takes over a space in or around downtown Durham for a fun, diverse environment dedicated to building relationships and fostering collaboration. The 2025 festival date has yet to be announced.
Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival
May 16, 2026
The Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival was established in honor of the West African festival of harvest and celebration. After the season of harvest, entire villages would gather to give thanks through dance, praise and feasting. This family-oriented event celebrates African American history, culture, arts and traditions. Read our guide for tips on the best ways to enjoy Bimbé. The blog is updated annually a few weeks before the event.
NC Juneteenth Celebration
TBD
Juneteenth is an annual day commemorating the effective end of slavery in the United States – over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It's a day to learn, reflect and grow from our nation's history, and in Durham, it's a state-wide celebration of Black history and culture complete with multiple days of events at community centers around Durham, a parade, local makers markets, music, food trucks and kids fun zones. While the holiday falls on June 19, event dates may vary depending on the day of the week. Check our blog that compiles all Juneteenth events, which is updated annually in the spring.
Black Farmers Market
1st and 3rd Sundays, April-November
The Black Farmers Market is a space where all are welcome to support Black farmers and entrepreneurs, inspiring a self-sufficient community where healthy food is accessible for all. Visit the market for more than fresh produce – it's an inclusive, fun and community-centered marketplace where local vendors sell a range of products and DJs and musicians entertain the crowd.
Phoenix Fest
TBD
Each fall, Phoenix Fest celebrates the legacy of the Hayti Community with a free, all-day music festival with food, vendors and entertainment. Come hungry and order from some of the area's best food trucks.
NCCU's Ultimate Homecoming Experience
TBD
NCCU Eagles, this is your time to shine. Each October, thousands of alumni, students and members of the NCCU community come back to campus to celebrate with a parade, parties, class reunions, tailgating and an Eagle football game. This is an event you don't want to miss.
Blacktoberfest
TBD
Join Durham's first Black-owned brewery in celebrating Black brewing culture at this fun festival each fall. Tasting cups allow you to experience beer from Black breweries across the country. Sign up for the VIP experience for a full weekend of elevated fun, including a welcome party and closing brunch. Take a look at our guide to Blacktoberfest, which is updated yearly as the festival approaches.
Historic Sites and Community Hubs Dedicated to Black History and Culture
Historic Stagville
Historic Stagville is a state historic site that includes the remnants of one of the largest plantations in North Carolina. The Bennehan-Cameron family owned approximately 30,000 acres of land and claimed ownership of the 900 people who were enslaved on the property. Stagville is dedicated to teaching about the lives and work of enslaved people on the plantation. Visit Stagville Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. to take a guided or self-guided audio tour to learn more about the site's history and the people who were enslaved there. Admission is free and tours are just $2 per person. For more info on Stagville, check out Ronny Maye's perspective of the historic site.
The Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice
This National Historic Site is the childhood home of Pauli Murray, a human rights activist, legal scholar, teacher, feminist, author, poet, LGBTQ community member and the first Black person perceived as a woman in the U.S. to become an Episcopal priest. The Center educates visitors about Murray's life and legacy, and continues Murray's work toward a more just world. The Center is a space for activism, education and community. Enjoy your visit in the newly renovated space, learning all the valuable history the center has to share. Check the calendar for tours and events.
Hayti Heritage Center
Hayti Heritage Center is the epicenter of the Hayti community and is dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of historic Hayti and the African American experience. The building's significance in Durham's Black community dates back to its beginning as the original home of St. Joseph's AME when the cornerstone was laid in 1892. The Hayti Heritage Center opened in 1975 under the management of the St. Joseph's Historic Foundation. Today, Hayti is a place to gather, offering regular cultural and community events ranging from dance and exercise classes to concerts to the Hayti Heritage Film Festival.
This year, the Hayti Heritage Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an Inaugural Artistic Season, New Artistic Vision, and Deepened Commitment to Community. This new plan will not only commemorate the historic legacy of the center, but will also signal its rebirth as a beacon of innovation, equity and cultural sovereignty moving into the future. This season's programming will feature dialogues with special guests like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Bakari Sellers, Brit Bennett and others. Check the event calendar for details, or visit the site to learn more about its history and the community it represents.
Black Wall Street
Built on the work of John Merrick, Charles Spaulding and Aaron McDuffie Moore, Durham's Parrish Street was known as one of the epicenters of Black Wall Street. Today, you can visit Parrish Street and see the original buildings for NC Mutual, Mechanics and Farmers Bank and more. The area also has historic markers on display in the form of Black Wall Street Gardens. In the garden, you will find two sculptures dedicated to the history of the unsung heroes and heroines who helped establish Black Wall Street.
Provident1898
Housed in the old NC Mutual tower, Provident1898 provides coworking space, offices, meeting rooms and more to Durham's entrepreneurs. They also host regular events designed to bring people together for education, inspiration, and connection.
The Confronting Change Exhibit
Visit the Carolina Theatre to view their Confronting Change Exhibit, which tells the story of the protestors who advocated for desegregation of the theatre. Until 1963, Black guests at the theatre had to use a separate box office, entrance and seating area, making attendance a much different, and more difficult, experience. In 1955, a group of activists began taking steps that would lead to the desegregation of the theatre. This exhibit tells their story.
Soul Sanctuary
As an event venue and farm collective just outside of Durham proper, Soul Sanctuary offers an accessible refuge for Black arts and voices. Soul Sanctuary is committed to providing space for BIPOC and Queer community members space to hold and attend events with likeminded people. With indoor and outdoor venue space, this Durham institution allows Black artists to curate their own personalized experience.
Black History Tours and Guides
Whistle Stop Tours
Aya Shabu is a dancer, choreographer and teaching artist who trained under Baba Chuck Davis, founder of the African American Dance Ensemble. Her tours are performances that immerse participants in the lives and experiences of the Black men and women who came out of slavery and built Durham's Black Wall Street, Hayti and East End neighborhoods. The tours are moving, entertaining and educational, incorporating historic photography and encouraging each participant to get to know and embody a historic elder from the community along the way. It's truly something you have to experience to understand. Listen to our podcast episode with Aya Shabu to hear a bit of what her incredible tours offer.
A Guide to Murals in Durham that Celebrate Black History, Culture & Artists
In Durham, any blank space can become a canvas, and it is common to see murals on walls, crosswalks, and electrical boxes. Not only do these murals add vibrant colors and energy to this city, but they also tell stories that need to be told. This guide highlights public art dedicated to celebrating Durham's Black history, culture, and artists.
Institutions Dedicated to Uplifting Black Artists
NCCU Art Museum
With over 1300 pieces in its permanent collection, and five special exhibitions per year, the NCCU Art Museum is a treasured space for preserving and displaying art by African American artists and about the Black experience.
The Nasher Museum of Art
The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University has built a groundbreaking collection of contemporary art focused on historically underrepresented and excluded artists with a particular focus on artists of African descent.
African American Heritage Guide
Our African American Heritage Guide is a collaboration of Durham writers and artists that invites you to explore our history and community. Get curious about how the past has shaped the present. Experience the culture, people and businesses that make Black Durham the vibrant place it is today.
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