CenterFest is Durham’s largest cultural and community event, as well as North Carolina’s longest running street art festival. The 50th Anniversary CenterFest will take place Saturday, September 20, and Sunday, September 21, 2025.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CenterFest takes place in the downtown Durham loop on Main and Chapel Hill Streets in the Five Points and CCB Plaza areas.
Festival Highlights Include:
- Juried Visual Arts Marketplace: 100+ professional artists showcasing painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, glass, fiber, wood, and mixed media.
- Performing Arts Stages: Local and regional musicians, dancers, and theatre groups performing throughout the weekend.
- Food Trucks & Local Flavor: A diverse selection of culinary offerings from local vendors.
- Live Screen Printing with Super G Print Lab: Festivalgoers can take home custom, limited-edition CenterFest designs created by artist Katie Hayes.
- Family Fun: A dedicated kids’ zone featuring art-making and rides designed for young audiences.
- Parade with Paperhand Puppet Project: A colorful community procession bringing giant puppets and street theatre celebrate the 50th Anniversary of CenterFest.
- Community Sneak Peek Event: LIVE at Boxyard RTP on September 13, offering an early look at CenterFest artists and interactive experiences.
Look for updates in the Facebook event.
Fall is looking great around the Triangle, whether you’re looking for something spooky or totally kid-friendly! Check out our HUGE list of fall festivals, as well as our list of Raleigh area haunted trails and pumpkin patches, hayrides and corn mazes! We have also put together a big list of Halloween events and Trick or Treat events!
This is a free event, but donations are suggested.
Kids’ Zone
The Creative Kids Zone features kids’ rides, with small ticket price, and free art projects for kids.
Check back soon for details.
Visual Art
Explore art from a wide variety of media, including:
- Ceramics
- Digital media
- Drawing
- Fiber (decorative)
- Fiber (wearable)
- Glass
- Jewelry
- Leather
- Mixed media
- Painting
- Photography
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Wood
Stage Schedules
Saturday
The North Carolina Songwriters Co-Op Stage
- 10 a.m.: John Cashwell
- 10:45 a.m.: Walter Miller
- 11:30 a.m.: Chris Pendelton
- 12:15 p.m.: Rich Scher
- 1 p.m.: Soul-R-Fusion
- 1:45 p.m.: Michael Melia
- 2:30 p.m.: Teevum Smith
- 3:15 p.m.: Sallie Scharding
- 4 p.m.: Steven Jackson
- 4:45 p.m.: Paul Bogas
- 5:30 p.m.: The King Teen
Five Points Stage
- 10 a.m.: Pippa Hoover
- 11 a.m.: Andy Coats and the Bankwalkers
- 12 p.m.: Duo D’Antan
- 1 p.m.: Ace & The Royal Straights
- 2 p.m.: Secret Monkey Weekend
- 3 p.m.: Batala Durham
- 4 p.m.: Emily Musolino
- 5 p.m.: Busted Knuckle Blues Syndicate
Roaming Performers
- 2 to 4 p.m.: Durham Street Piano
- All day: Silver Drummer Girl
SciMed Music Stage @ CCB Plaza
- 10:30 a.m.: The Tarpeggios at UNC
- 11:30 a.m.: La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet
- 12:40 p.m.: Brett’s Open Mic ft. The Usual Suspects
- 2 p.m.: Carter Minor Blues Band
- 3:40 p.m.: Acisse Jay & The Gents
- 5 p.m.: Ricardo Diquez & The Tropic Orchestra
Main Dance Stage @ CCB Plaza
- 10 a.m.: Walltown Children’s Theatre
- 11:20 a.m.: Natayarpana School of Dance & Music
- 12:10 p.m.: Ninth Street Dance
- 1:20 p.m.: Laasya School of Dance
- 1:40 p.m.: Paperhand Puppet Parade
- 3 p.m.: Bouncing Bulldogs
Sunday
The North Carolina Songwriters Co-Op Stage
- 11 a.m.: Vito Dito
- 11:45 a.m.: Will Woltz
- 12:30 p.m.: Peter Anlyan
- 1:15 p.m.: Alan Oatley
- 2 p.m.: JF Humphrey
- 2:45 p.m.: Joe North
- 3:30 p.m.: Scott Buechler
- 4:15 p.m.: Harold Morton
Five Points Stage
- 11 a.m.: Lisa Furakawa
- 12 p.m.: Rabbi Sandra
- 1 p.m.: The Holland Brothers
- 2 p.m.: Regina Gale & Friends
- 3 p.m.: Late Night Lowlights
- 4 p.m.: Beckwith
Roaming Performers
- 2 to 4 p.m.: Old Time Organ Grinder
- All day: Silver Drummer Girl
SciMed Music Stage @ CCB Plaza
- 11 a.m.: Durham Jazz Orchestra
- 12 p.m.: Durham Savoyards
- 1 p.m.: Fair to Middlin’
- 2:20 p.m.: Tea Cup Gin
- 4 p.m.: Diane Carter Band
Main Dance Stage @ CCB Plaza
- 11:40 a.m.: Kuchipudi Brass Plate Dancing
- 12:40 p.m.: Encore Academy of Dance
- 1:40 p.m.: Takiri Folclor Latino
- 3 p.m.: Footnotes Tap Ensemble
Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Triangle on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and it’s also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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