#blackhistorymonthdurham — Public Fediverse posts

Triangle Event Guide: Weekend Edition (Feb 27 – March 1, 2026)

Festivals, Free Museum Days, Live Music, Black History Month Celebrations & More Across the Triangle

Looking for the best things to do in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, Apex, Carrboro, Hillsborough, and beyond this weekend? The Triangle is packed with film festivals, Black History Month celebrations, live music, comedy, markets, food festivals, and dozens of FREE events.

Here’s your DoRaleigh Weekend Edition Guide for Friday, February 27 through Sunday, March 1, 2026.

🎬 All Weekend Highlights

20th Annual Carrboro Film Festival

📍 Drakeford Library Complex, Carrboro

💵 $8 | Various times

Celebrate independent cinema at the 20th Annual Carrboro Film Festival, featuring curated screenings and community-driven storytelling all weekend long.

Apex Restaurant Week

📍 Various locations

💵 $15–$30 prix-fixe menus

Explore special menus from Apex’s top restaurants throughout the weekend.

Winter Open Nursery & Garden Days

📍 Plant Delights Nursery, Raleigh

💵 FREE | 9 AM – 5 PM (Fri–Sun)

A beautiful way to explore rare plants and winter garden inspiration across Raleigh.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Art, Culture & Community

Black Expressions — Art Exhibit & Live Showcase

📍 Holly Springs Cultural Center

🎨 Reception: FREE (6–7 PM)

Live Performance: $10 (7:15 PM)

A powerful celebration of art, voice, and performance to close out Black History Month.

Final Friday Cary Art Loop

📍 Cary (Various Locations)

💵 FREE | 6–9 PM

Explore galleries, studios, and creative spaces during Cary’s monthly art walk.

Fourth Friday Fire

📍 West Point on the Eno, Durham

🔥 FREE | 6–7:30 PM

Family-friendly outdoor gathering with Durham Parks & Recreation.

Live Music & Nightlife

From Raleigh to Wendell, Friday night is stacked:

Vinyl Night — Sneaky Penguin Brewing (Raleigh)
Evenings at O’Kelly — O’Kelly Chapel (Durham)
Live Music: Jennifer Alvarado — Compass Rose Brewery (Raleigh)
#BackToThe2010s DJ Night — Wendell
Karaoke Bingo — Cary
Stand-Up Comedy — Raleigh & Durham
RuPaul’s Drag Race Watch Party — Garner

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28

🎉 Black History Month Celebrations

25th Annual African American Cultural Celebration

📍 North Carolina Museum of Art

💵 FREE | 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM

One of Raleigh’s largest Black History Month events featuring music, dance, art, food vendors, and cultural education.

Black Genius Fest

📍 Black Wall Street, Durham

💵 FREE | 11 AM – 5 PM

A high-energy celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship, and Black excellence in Durham.

Black Out Loud: Our Culture & Contributions Will Not Be Silenced

📍 Southeast Raleigh YMCA

💵 FREE | 2–5 PM

A powerful community-centered Black History Month program in Southeast Raleigh.

Markets, Makers & Family Fun

Durham Craft Market — Durham Central Park
Coffee + Craft Maker’s Market — Sir Walter
Coffee (Downtown Raleigh) Cary
Really Really Free Market — Walnut Street Park Wake Forest
Community Garden Fair Raleigh
Retro Gamer Market Kickoff — Triangle Town Center

Arts & Performance

The Willie Hinton Collection — RISE (Cary Arts Center)
Women’s History Month Poetry Reading (Carrboro)
Slasher Horror Movie Trivia (Raleigh)
Art Market & Fire Spinning Jam (Durham)
Aprés Ski Party — Boxcar Bar and Arcade

SUNDAY, MARCH 1

Free Museum & Cultural Experiences

Durham Community Day

📍 Museum of Life and Science

💵 FREE for Durham County residents | 10 AM – 5 PM

A perfect Sunday family outing.

PJ Purim at NCMA

📍 North Carolina Museum of Art

💵 FREE | 1–3 PM

Celebrate Purim with family-friendly programming.

Artspace Open Studio

📍 Artspace

💵 FREE | 1:30–3:30 PM

Meet local artists and explore open studios in downtown Raleigh.

Sunday Live Music & Open Mics

Bluegrass Open Jam — Cary
Holy Trinity Concert Series — Raleigh
Open Mic Jam — Fuquay-Varina
Sunday Open Mic — Durham
Elsewhere Shakespeare’s As You Like It Punk Theatre — Raleigh

Why This Weekend Matters

This weekend showcases what makes the Triangle special:

Independent film in Carrboro
Black History Month celebrations across Raleigh & Durham
Garden days & community farms
Live music in nearly every town
Free markets & cultural festivals
Free museum access

Whether you’re exploring Raleigh’s arts scene, Durham’s food festivals, Cary’s creative loop, or Chapel Hill’s farm visits — there’s something happening in every corner of the Triangle.

Stay connected with DoRaleigh for hyper-local coverage, civic engagement updates, and the best events across Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Wake Forest, Apex, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and beyond.

Join us in Durham NC To Celebrate Black History and Culture

The history of African Americans in Durham is as integral to the Bull City as the brick and mortar that built it. Grit, fortitude, and the unapologetic pursuit of justice define a community whose influence has helped move the nation closer to equality—locally and far beyond North Carolina.

As Durhamites and visitors alike, we stand on the shoulders of trailblazers who planted seeds of justice and opportunity generations ago. From historic Black Wall Street to today’s thriving arts, education, and entrepreneurial scenes, Durham continues to honor Black excellence in powerful ways. Whether you’re visiting during Black History Month or planning year-round cultural experiences, here’s your guide to celebrating Black history and culture in Durham, NC.

Annual Durham Events Celebrating Black History & Culture

Kwanzaafest

January 1, 2026

On New Year’s Day, the African American Dance Ensemble presents Kwanzaafest at the Durham Armory—a joyful celebration of African American heritage, culture, and family marking the final day of the seven-day holiday. All are welcome to participate in this vibrant community gathering.

Book Harvest’s Dream Big MLK Day

January 19, 2026

Each year around MLK Day, Book Harvest hosts Dream Big, a community-wide celebration of diversity, literacy, and access to books for all children. Donations of new or gently used children’s books are accepted from December 1 through January 31, and volunteers are always welcome.

MLK Commemoration & Day of Service at Duke University

January 17, 2026

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Duke’s Page Auditorium in 1964, shortly after the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. Duke commemorates his legacy each year with a free public service and a Day of Service honoring his commitment to justice and equity.

North Carolina Central University Black History Month Celebration

February 2026

NCCU hosts a full slate of free, public events throughout February, including film screenings, lectures, panels, and performances featuring nationally recognized activists, scholars, and artists.

Opening Program & Reception: February 4, 2026 | Miller-Morgan Auditorium | 6–7:30 p.m.

pARTies on Parrish

February 1–28, 2026

104 W. Parrish St.

Weird Productions and Black Robin Ventures transform Parrish Street into a month-long celebration of Black creativity. Expect art, poetry, storytelling, food, music, and science—plus a kickoff party on February 7.

Bull City in Black: HBCU Showcase

February 7, 2026 | 12–3 p.m.

Emily K Center

This free event highlights regional HBCUs and supports prospective students and families with workshops on financial aid, first-generation student experiences, resume support, and more.

Black History Month Guided Tours at the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice

February 7 & 21, 2026 | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.

Hosted by Executive Director Angela Thorpe Mason, these guided tours focus on the life and legacy of Pauli Murray—civil rights activist, legal scholar, and trailblazer for social justice.

Black History Month Lecture at Duke University

February 17, 2026 | 6 p.m.

Penn Pavilion

Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz—author, educator, and daughter of Malcolm X—shares reflections on her father’s enduring legacy and the ongoing pursuit of liberation and human rights.

Melanated Creatives Market

February 21, 2026 | 3–8 p.m.

Durham Central Park

Support Black-owned businesses, artists, and makers while enjoying food trucks, community vibes, and local creativity.

Black Genius Fest

February 28, 2026

Black Wall Street – Parrish Street

Village of Wisdom takes over historic Black Wall Street with 20+ interactive dream stations celebrating Black genius—past, present, and future.

For the Culture Festival

February 28, 2026 | 3–10 p.m.

Durham Central Park

Live music, food trucks, family activities, Black-owned vendors, and a full day of celebration honoring Black History Month.

Durham Black History Walking Tour

Saturdays at 4 p.m. | CCB Plaza

Triangle Walking Tours guides participants through stories of Durham’s Black architects, activists, business leaders, and change-makers.

Year-Round Events Honoring Black History & Culture

Hayti Heritage Film Festival – March 6–7, 2026
Biscuits & Banjos Festival – Returning 2027
Biscuits & Banjos Presents: Rhiannon Giddens’ Beloved Community – April 27, 2026 at Durham Performing Arts Center
Beats N Bars Festival – TBD
Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival – May 16, 2026 NC
Juneteenth Celebration – June (dates vary)
Black Farmers Market – 1st & 3rd Sundays, April–November
Phoenix Fest – Fall (TBD)
NCCU Homecoming – October (TBD)
Blacktoberfest – Fall (TBD)

Historic Sites & Cultural Hubs

Historic Stagville – Preserving and teaching the lived experiences of enslaved people in North Carolina
Pauli Murray Center for History & Social Justice – Education, activism, and community engagement
Hayti Heritage Center – Celebrating 50 years of Black arts and culture
Black Wall Street (Parrish Street) – Legacy of Black entrepreneurship
Provident1898 – Coworking and innovation hub for Black entrepreneurs
Confronting Change Exhibit at the Carolina Theatre – Civil rights and desegregation history Soul Sanctuary – A creative refuge uplifting Black and BIPOC voices

Celebrating Black Artists & Storytellers

Whistle Stop Tours – Immersive performance-based Black history tours NCCU Art Museum – Dedicated to African American artists Nasher Museum of Art – Groundbreaking collections spotlighting artists of African descent

Plan Your Visit to Durham

Durham’s commitment to honoring Black history and culture is woven into its festivals, historic sites, public art, and community spaces. Whether you’re attending a February festival or exploring year-round landmarks, the Bull City offers countless opportunities to learn, reflect, and celebrate.

For more Triangle-area cultural events and local guides, keep it locked to DoRaleigh.com.

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