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You’ve researched and made all these great plans for how to spend your weekend in Durham. Hiking in the Eno River State Park, listening to a band at the American Tobacco Campus, enjoying the beautiful Duke Gardens, renting a bike to ride the American Tobacco Trail, drinking a local beer while watching the sunset from the rooftop of The Durham Hotel…
And then it happens … it rains, all weekend long (or it’s too hot or too cold!). Don’t cancel your trip! Don’t fret! Instead, enjoy some of these fabulous indoor activities!
Enjoy art!
Painted toy soldiers make up the flag at right.
One of the coolest exhibits at 21C – the entire flag is composed of painted toy soldiers!
Third Friday – As the name indicates, on the third Friday of every month, from 6 to 9pm, explore galleries and artists studios. If it happens to be nice out, you can walk within a 5 to 10 minute distance from the middle of town. But if the weather is uncooperative, consider the larger indoor exhibits like Golden Belt, Durham Arts Council, 21C Museum Hotel.
A map of all locations can be found here: Third Friday map.
Even if your trip doesn’t coincide with Third Friday, explore these exhibits and galleries:
Durham Arts Council
The Durham Arts Council offers art classes and exhibits work by both local and traveling artists. Whether watching a dance troupe, enjoying a photography exhibit, or seeing the children’s summer camps exhibits, there is something for everyone. Galleries are open to the public from 9am to 9pm Monday through Saturday and Sunday 1 to 6pm. There is a fee for most of the exhibits, or a suggested donation.
The bar at Counting House, 21C Hotel, Durham.
21C Museum Hotel
The public areas of the downtown 21C Museum Hotel features multiple exhibits with contemporary art. Art is even displayed at Counting House restaurant, making for a fun meal. And while the exhibits are free and open to the public every day of the year consider enjoying a guided docent tour on Wednesday and Friday at 5pm.
Nasher Museum of Art
The Nasher Museum over by Duke University Campus features many forms of art – check their website for their current exhibits. If your Durham visit includes a Thursday, definitely consider visiting during the extended 10am to 9pm hours as general admission is free all day. It is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday, noon to 5pm. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for non-Duke students with a student ID. The museum is incredibly generous with free admission for children 15 and under, active duty military and veterans and up to five family members! It is closed on major holidays, so keep that in mind.
Power Plant Gallery
If you’re in the American Tobacco Campus (or near it), you should check out this gallery sponsored by the Duke Center for Documentary Studies. Created as a lab for documentary and experimental art practices, the Power Plan shows the work of Duke students, faculty and staff. The facility features a state-of-the-art screening space. The exhibits are open 11 am to 5pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and Saturday. Shortened hours on Wednesday. Admission is free.
Catch a show!
Unfortunately, this usually takes a little advance planning but you should plan to get tickets for any weekend performance:
Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC)
Aside from the national and Broadway shows that perform at DPAC, the architecture of this building is amazing and worth the visit. Plus, I’m amazed at the job the women restroom attendants do in getting everyone through there during intermission!
Carolina Theater
This historic theater hosts concerts and national acts. In early April, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival is based here and worth a visit.
Listen to music!
Durham is known for its music scene – just about anywhere you go, there will be a live music act!
Like jazz? Beyu Caffe and The Blue Note Grill should be high on your list.
Prefer something with a little more edge? The Pinhook on Main Street hosts new and edgy acts.
Local acts regularly perform at many of the local bars and breweries, including the Bullpen.
Enjoy a drink!
While there are many fancy bars that should be tried while you’re in Durham (Alley Twenty-Six, the rooftop at The Durham, Bar Virgile), you should not miss the iconic breweries and distilleries of this area! If you want to make it easier on yourself, consider going on a craft beer tour, otherwise, checkout these top three destinations:
Fullsteam Brewing
Fullsteam’s iconic door!
Fullsteam started the craft beer movement in Durham and has spearheaded the North Carolina beer scene. They create beer that taps into the local flavors. Fullsteam features a large open space where you can sit, a kitchen provides small bites, and kids and dogs have plenty to keep them occupied.
Bull City Ciderworks
For those who don’t enjoy beer, who enjoy gluten free, or who prefer cider, will enjoy this place. While there are no tours to speak of, you’ll be able to sit inside at some picnic tables, enjoying food from a food truck. There are plenty of board games to enjoy while you sample the cider.
Durham Distillery
A relative newcomer to the Durham area, the Durham Distillery makes gin, liqueurs and vodka. You can take a tour for $15 on Saturdays, and some Friday nights. You’ll visit the back of the distillery to learn about the science and art of how the gins and liqueurs are made. After the one hour tour, taste six products and receive a souvenir shot glass. You can also take a Quick Tour which does not include a behind-the-scenes look on Friday evenings and Saturdays for $10.
Don’t despair if your trip to Durham calls for rain in the forecast! This list should give you plenty to keep you occupied during the weekend. Check out these other blogs for specifics about Durham locations we’ve reviewed: Ponysaurus and Bull City Ciderworks.
You can also read some tips on getting around Durham. You may also want to stay at the nearby Rizzo Center.
And let me know if you find something else that you enjoyed doing indoors while in Durham!
Happy travels!
Annick, The Common Traveler
Raised as a third culture kid living in South America and Europe, Annick caught the travel bug early. As an empty-nester, Annick enjoys sharing her tips for traveling for those with champagne taste and beer budgets.
I love exploring galleries and museums! And the good thing about them is of course being the fact it’s inside and it doesn’t matter if it’s raining. I’d love to watch a dance troupe at the Durham Arts Council or a show at DPAC. I’m a big cider fan – so good to know about the Ciderworks! I’d be putting that on my itinerary for sure. Between cider/beer and galleries, it doesn’t matter what the weather is doing!
It’s a fun town!
I think when you are in this city, it is cool to visit museums and galleries when it rains. You can learn a lot from many exhibits plus a good opportunity for networking. It is awesome to know that you had a great time!
Loved reading this article uts true that rains often ruin our plans especially in famous cities like Durham. Thanks for showing all the wondeful things we can do even when it rains
Always make a backup plan!
Well thre is nothing worse then a holiday where it rains and your plans go for a wash but there seems a lot you can still do here if it rains. Wasn’t aware about the city having so much of activities around art. The flag made with the soldiers is very impressive. I would love visit a performance and finally to end it a pint of the craft beer. You couldn’t ask for a better holiday even if it rains.
I’ve never been to North Carolina when in the US, so this is a good post for me. Museums are a great option when it’s raining, and clearly Durham has many to choose from! I also like a good beer, so it;s great to know about all these breweries too.
Durham is a place of my choice. It has art, theaters, music, and of course chilled beer. A complete combination of bliss. Whether it rains or not, I am completely going to visit the places you have recommended.
I did not realize Durham was big on the craft beer scene! As a fan of ciders, I would love to visit bull city cider works! The city seems like there is a ton today when it rains or doesn’t! Everything is basically shutdown here in California during the rain 🙂
This is a growing city!
This sounds like my kind of place! So much to do art/music, performance wise mixed with beer and distilleries! That flag made up of the toy soldiers is incredible. I can’t even imagine how many thousands of the toys it would have taken to make that piece of art. Love your comment about how amazed you are about how the ladies in the DPAC can get through everyone during intermission. I hate having to do during that time too as its such a long wait and I always stress I’d miss out on getting back in time!
Sometimes it’s the little things that impress!
I lived in Durham back around 1990. Looks like a lot has changed but it’s still a lovely area with fun things to do indoors and out!