CenterFest is Durham’s largest cultural and community event, as well as North Carolina’s longest running street art festival. It will take place Saturday, September 16 and 17, 2023.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This event features musicians, dancers, street performers, a Creative Kids Zone, food vendors and tons of visual art. Read on for details about the performances, artists, parking, kids’ zone and more.
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 pumpkin patches, haunted trails 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 welcome, and donations are suggested.
Kids’ Zone
The Creative Kids Zone is at Ninth Street Bakery lot at the festival center.
It will feature free make-n-take art projects. Kids can explore music instruments with KidzNotes at the Family Stage from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.
There will be kids’ rides, with ticket fees of $1 to $3.
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
Saturday Performance Schedule
The North Carolina Songwriters Co-Op Stage
- 10 a.m.: Scott Orr
- 10:35 a.m.: Mike Brennan
- 11:10 a.m.: Steven Jackson
- 11:45 a.m.: Eric Sommer
- 12:20 p.m.: Kirby Heard
- 12:55 p.m.: Harold Morton
- 1:30 p.m.: Michael Melia
- 2:05 p.m: Nick Huston
- 2:40 p.m.: Paul Bogas
- 3:15 p.m.: Joanne Schultze
- 3:55 p.m.: Bobby Hunt
- 4:30 p.m.: Mike Paris
- 5 p.m.: Mike McDougal
Duke Arts Five Points Stage
- 10 a.m.: The Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs
- 11 a.m.: Tre Charles
- 12 p.m.: Simple Joy
- 1 p.m.: African American Dance Ensemble
- 2 p.m.: Couldn’t Be Happiers
- 3 p .m.: The Dan Davis Group
- 4:10 p.m.: Carrie Marshall with Carter Minor
- 5:30 p.m.: Batala Durham
Scimed Main Music Stage @ CCB Plaza
- 10:30 a.m.: NC Jazz Ensemble
- 11:20 a.m.: Choral Society of Curham
- 12 p.m.: La Fiesta Latin Jazz Quintet
- 2 p.m.: Diane Carter
- 3:4 0p.m.: The Durham Savoyards
- 5:10 p.m.: Acisse Jay
Main Dance Stage @ CCB Plaza
- 10 a.m.: Ninth Street Dance
- 11 a.m.: Laasya School of Dance
- 12 p.m.: Walltown Children’s Theatre
- 1 p.m.: Bouncing Bulldogs
- 3 p.m.: Magician Shaun Jay
- 4:40 p.m.: Natayarpana School of Dance & Music
Family Stage
- 11 a.m.: KidzNotes Instrumental Petting Zoo & Performance
- 1:30 p.m.: Willa Brigham
- 2:30 p.m.: Old Time Organ Grinder
Roaming Performers
- 2 to 4 p.m.: Durham Street Piano
- 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Old Time Organ Grinder
- All day: Silver Drummer Girl
Sunday Performance Schedule
The North Carolina Songwriters Co-Op Stage
- 11 a.m.: Walter Miller
- 11:40 a.m.: Matthews Chambers
- 12:40 p.m.: Pam Ross
- 1:30 p.m.: Will Woltz
- 2:20 p.m.: Harry Adams
- 3:10 p.m.: Richard Scher
- 4 p.m.: Hugh Willard
Duke Arts Five Points Stage
- 11 a.m.: Pippa Hoover
- 12 p.m.: Emily Musolino
- 1 p.m.: Regina Gale & Friends
- 2 p.m.: The Beautiful People Club
- 3 p.m.: Andy Coats and the BankWalkers
- 4 p.m.: Tea Cup Gin
Scimed Main Music Stage @ CCB Plaza
- 11:20 a.m.: Second Shift A Cappella
- 12:20 p.m.: Ace & Royal Straights
- 1:30 p.m.: Fair to Middlin’
- 2:30 p.m.: Ricardo Diquez
- 4:20 p.m.: Ladies First
Main Dance Stage @ CCB Plaza
- 11 a.m.: Encore Academy of Dance
- 1 p.m.: Takiri Folclor Latino
- 3:30 p.m.: Footnotes Tap Ensemble
- 4 p.m.: Visual Artist Merit Awards Ceremony
Family Stage
- 11 a.m.: KidzNotes Instrumental Petting Zoo & Performance
- 1:30 p.m.: Mad Science
- 2:30 p.m.: Sylvester the Jester
Roaming Performers
- 2:30: Sylvester the Jester
- All day: Silver Drummer Girl
Location and Parking
CenterFest takes place in downtown Durham, about one mile south of I-85 and just north of the Durham Freeway (NC 147). CenterFest will involve the closing of nearly the entire downtown Loop. Main and Chapel Hill Streets will be closed, as well as Market Street and parts of Parrish. Blockages will be placed at Morgan/Morris, Main/Great Jones, W. Chapel Hill/Ramseur, Main/Corcoran, Parrish/Corcoran, and W. Chapel Hill/Corcoran. Many municipal parking lots surround the CenterFest site, as well as neighborhood street parking. Some lots will charge a special event parking fee while others are free.
For current information on parking in Downtown Durham, visit the Park Durham website.
Bike racks are available at the Parrish St/Corcoran St gate at CenterFest.
Accessibility
All areas of the festival site are accessible to wheelchairs.
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.
More Festivals
Check out a list of fall festivals and Halloween events in the Triangle, or take a quick look at upcoming festivals:
