Durham

Nightlife & Entertainment

The revitalized downtown district of Durham is a hotspot of possibilities! The American Tobacco Historic District is housed in beautiful restored tobacco warehouses and historic buildings—and offers a wealth of restaurants, entertainment venues, and more. Stroll Main Street to find bars, art studios, pool halls and lounges, live music and nightlife, delicious restaurants, and more. Plus, Durham is home to five local breweries, appropriately earning it the nickname, “Beer City”.

Spectator Sports

Durham is home to the Durham Bulls International League baseball team, which plays at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Perhaps even more popular is the famous Duke University NCAA Division I basketball team, which competes at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Arts & Culture

Arts and culture come alive in Durham! Art, theater, music, festivals and events… There are so many ways to enjoy Durham. Numerous local galleries and studios can be found scattered throughout the downtown districts. There is plenty of outstanding local theater and music at the Carolina Theatre, and major national touring acts can be enjoyed at Durham Center for the Performing Arts.

There are also a number of annual festivals and events to be enjoyed in Durham, like the Bull Durham Blues Festival, the American Dance Festival, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Durham Art Walk, Durham CenterFest, and more. And don’t miss local favorites, like 3rd Friday art walks, local jazz and music festivals, art exhibitions at the Nasher Museum of Art, plays, concerts, and live music downtown.

Outdoor Recreation

It’s not hard to get outside in Durham! Numerous neighborhood and city parks offer plenty of options for outdoor sports, hiking, biking, walking, jogging, playing, and more. The American Tobacco Trail runs through Durham, and nearby Falls Lake offers endless hiking, camping, swimming, boating, and more. There are also plenty of options for golf throughout the city, including Croasdaile Country Club, Duke University Country Club, and Hope Valley Country Club.

Local Employment

With a location just eight miles from the Research Triangle Park, Durham is a hotspot of employment opportunities. Some of Durham’s largest employers include Duke University, Duke University Health System, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, IBM, GlaxoSmithKline, RTI International, and Fidelity Investments. However, several smaller and very successful high-tech software companies, such as Red Hat, can be found in the American Underground section of the Tobacco District.

Local Education

Durham’s local students are served by Durham Public Schools, which is comprised of 46 public schools consisting of 30 elementary, 10 middle, two secondary, and 12 high schools. There are also several magnet schools within the district, such as the Durham School of the Arts and the City of Medicine Academy. There are also several charter and private schools throughout the city.

For continuing education, Durham is home to the premier Duke University and North Carolina Central University. Also in town is Durham Technical Community College.

Shopping & Dining

There are plenty of major shopping venues throughout Durham. Besides the smaller local shops and restaurants of Downtown, Durham is also home to The Streets at Southpoint major shopping mall, and Northgate Mall, as well as several smaller strip malls and shopping plazas.