Get us in your inbox

Subscribe to get the latest travel articles by the North Carolina Travel Guides team straight to your inbox.

Subscribe Search

12 Fun Things To Do at Night in Durham, NC (+ Map)

Buildings in Durham at night
Durham at night

Whether you love music, entertainment, sports, or something else, there are great things to do at night in Durham, NC.

Durham is a great city to explore during the day, but the nighttime activities will surprise you for sure. From seeing a night game to playing virtual reality games to enjoying live music, there are many things to choose from!

It might be hard to decide what to do at night, so I made this Durham things to do at night guide to help you out! You can find the most fun nighttime activities in this list. I made sure to include a large variety of activities so there will be something for everyone’s liking.

Things To Do at Night in Durham, NC

See a Show at The Carolina Theatre

The Carolina Theatre and trees
Trees in front of the Carolina Theatre – KAD Photo / Shutterstock.com

Going to the Carolina Theatre of Durham is a fun activity.

This is a historic theater that was established in the year 1926. Since that year, the theater is operating and providing the city of Durham with great entertainment.

When the sun goes down in the city of Durham, there’s a lot that you can do at the theater.

For example, you can go here to attend a concert and listen to music. Or you can check out a comedy show and have a night full of laughter.

Furthermore, the theater can be great if you want to see a movie.

Whatever you want to see here, I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

Address: 309 W Morgan St, Durham, NC 27701

Enjoy Music at Pinhook

Pinhook is another great place that you can visit after the sun goes down.

Pinhook is a small and intimate live music venue where you can listen to great bands, DJs, and other performances.

It is a great place to experience nightlife in Durham and experience good music.

Also, this is a bar as well, so you can have a variety of great drinks and food at Pinhook.

Want to have fun during a karaoke night? Then, you’ll like going to Pinhook too! It is a great bar with regular karaoke nights that I’m sure you are going to like.

Address: 117 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701

See a Night Game of the Durham Bulls

Game of the Durham Bulls
Night game of the Durham Bulls – Andrea Catenaro / Shutterstock.com

Do you like baseball? Then, you’ll love this next activity.

You can see a game of the Durham Bulls.

This is a Minor League Baseball team that competes at the Durham Bull Athletic Park.

This is a ballpark with more than 10,000 seats.

There are often nighttime games at the park, so after the sun goes down you can have fun here.

Also, what’s great is that the ballpark has a very central location. So you can combine going here with other nighttime activities in downtown Durham. For example, you can combine going here with having dinner at a restaurant in the city.

Address: 409 Blackwell St, Durham, NC 27701

Play Virtual Reality Games at Augmentality Labs

You can go to the Augmentality Labs as well.

This is a place where you can do amazing virtual reality experiences.

A virtual reality experience is an experience for which you wear a special headset. This headset transports you to a different virtual world, and you can do great games here.

For example, you could play a game in which you are fighting zombies.

This is a very immersive experience and there are many different VR games to choose from.

Also, what’s fun is that there are multiplayer games that you can play. This means that you can compete against someone else in a digital world. So gather your friends and head over to Augmentality Labs!

Address: 3519 Witherspoon Blvd SUITE 104, Durham, NC 27707

Go to Clouds Brewing Durham

Sign, trees, and building at Brightleaf Square
Sign of Brightleaf Square – zimmytws / Shutterstock.com

Clouds Brewing Durham is a bar that opened in the year 2016 in Brightleaf Square.

This is a bar and restaurant with a German-inspired menu of delicious food.

For example, you can get delicious appetizers here, such as “Cauliflower Bites”.

Also, you can get delicious sandwiches and burgers at Clouds Brewing Durham.

But what makes this place especially great is the many draft beers that you can get here.

This place has 50 taps of which 30 are brews of Clouds Brewing Durham itself. These brews can be great to try when you go here!

Also, what’s nice is that there are trivia nights and weekly specials.

Address: 905 W Main St #22, Durham, NC 27701

Attend a Concert at the Motorco Music Hall

Want to listen to music? Then, going to the Motorco Music Hall is one of the best things to do at night in Durham.

This is a live music venue where many bands perform great live music.

The music venue is perfect for getting to know the local music scene of Durham, and what’s great is that you can listen to many different genres of music here.

This place also serves delicious food and there are many vegan options.

For example, you can get sandwiches, tacos, and more here.

Also, what’s nice is that the Motoco Music Hall has a very relaxed atmosphere.

Address: 723 Rigsbee Ave, Durham, NC 27701

Go to the Durham Performing Arts Center

Durham Performing Arts Center from the outside
Outside of the Durham Performing Arts Center – zimmytws / Shutterstock.com

The Durham Performing Arts Center is a wonderful place to see a performing arts show when you are in Durham.

Many events take place at the DPAC.

For example, there are Broadway shows that you can see here, you can listen to great music during concerts, and there are comedy events that I’m sure you are going to like.

What’s great about the center, besides the shows that take place here, is the design of DPAC.

DPAC has a very beautiful contemporary design and there are 2,700 seats in total, which makes for an impressive experience. The theater is often ranked among the best theaters in America.

Address: 123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC 27701

Go to Boxcar Bar + Arcade and Play Games

Boxcar Bar + Arcade is definitely a great place to check out when looking for nighttime activities in Durham.

This is a place that you can find in Downtown Durham at 621 Foster Street.

At Boxcar Bar + Arcade you can find a lot of arcade games that you can play to have a fun time.

But that’s not all!

There is also a bar with 24 craft beers and there is a pizza kitchen where you can get delicious pizza.

Also, what’s great is that this place is dog-friendly. So if you want to bring your dog with you, that’s possible!

You can aaslo check out the calendar of this place to see if there’s a special event you want to attend!

Address: 621 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701

Go to Northgate Stadium 10 and See a Movie

Going to the movies is a fun nighttime activity and there are many good options for this in the city of Durham.

A great place that you can check out is Northgate Stadium 10.

This is a movie theater where you can see the newest movies.

The movie theater has good sound and the video quality is great as well.

You can find the movie theater at the Northgate Mall. So you can combine shopping and seeing a movie at this place.

Also, what’s nice about this place is that there is a good concession stand to make your time at the movie theater more comfortable.

Address: 1058 W Club Blvd, Durham, NC 27701

Have Food and Drinks at Unscripted Durham

Outside of Unscripted Durham
Exterior of Unscripted Durham – Nolichuckyjake / Shutterstock.com

Unscripted Durham is a hotel in Durham that is great for a stay, but that’s not all!

You can also find several places with food at Unscripted Durham.

For example, you can go to “The Patio” here.

This is a poolside restaurant where you can enjoy great food, cocktails, and much more. Also, you can see Downtown Durham from above at this place.

You can also check out “The Studio” when you are here. This is a bar and lounge where you can have a drink and have a relaxing time!

The Pour Taproom is great as well. This is a place with more than 60 taps, and what’s unique about this place is that you (or the “Beertenders”) can pour yourself a beer here!

Address: 202 Corcoran St, Durham, NC 27701

Bowl at Bowlero Durham

A fun night of bowling can also be a lot of fun to do in Durham.

There are several bowling alleys in and near the city of Durham, and one of the best is Bowlero Durham.

This is a bowling alley with a nice atmosphere, many bowling alleys, a possibility for cosmic bowling, and great music.

Furthermore, you can get great food at Bowlero Durham.

What’s nice too is that this place is very kid-friendly. So if you’re looking for things to do in Durham at night for the whole family, this place is perfect for that.

Address: 4508 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707

Go to a Concert at the Sharp 9 Gallery

The Sharp 9 Gallery is a wonderful place if you want to listen to local jazz music. It is a jazz club where you can often enjoy great jazz concerts.

While listening to the music, you can have a drink at this place from the Ponysaurus Brewery.

What’s great about this place as well is that you can do jazz workshops here. So if you want to learn how to make great jazz music, going here can be a great experience!

Address: 4608 Industry Ln, Durham, NC 27713

More North Carolina Articles

Things to do at night in Charlotte, NC

Weekend trips from Greensboro, NC

Durham Things To Do at Night Tips

You might get hungry when you are doing the things to do in Durham at night on this list and that could make your night less fun. That’s why I recommend choosing a restaurant where you can have dinner in advance. Or you can bring some snacks with you.

View of buildings in Durham at night
Buildings in Durham at night

Things To Do in Durham at Night Map


This was my guide to the best things to do at night in Durham, NC. As you see, there are many great nighttime activities in the city!

Get us in your inbox

Subscribe to get the latest travel articles by the North Carolina Travel Guides team straight to your inbox.

Subscribe