Durham’s CenterFest is celebrating 50 years this weekend. What to know if you go
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- CenterFest marks 50 years by expanding across downtown Durham this weekend.
- The festival expects 40,000 visitors and features 110 artists and 60 performers.
- Durham Arts Council promotes accessibility through free entry and diverse art.
Downtown Durham will become a vibrant arts hub this weekend with the 50th anniversary of CenterFest, the city’s signature fine arts festival.
An estimated 40,000 people are expected to attend the festival Saturday and Sunday, which will feature over 100 art vendors, a parade, kids’ activities, dozens of musicians and other performers, and food trucks.
The Durham Arts Council is calling this year’s festival “special” due to an expanded lineup of performers and a footprint that now encompasses all of downtown, not just the Five Points and CCB Plaza mainstays, said Katie Wyatt, the Arts Council’s executive director.
“Festivals really bring artists together to be inspired by the community, and then also inspired by one another,” Wyatt said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to break down any walls. There might be a perception that the average person can’t buy art, or can’t think of themselves as a collector of creative goods.”
Forty of the 110 artists will be from the Triangle. Their pieces range in price, scale and style, with mediums including wood, ceramics, fiber painting, digital art, screen printing and leather.
“There’s a piece that’s available for everyone,” Wyatt said. “That is what makes festivals like CenterFest so special. It’s a bringing of community and putting artists and audience and your everyday, average person right next to each other.”
Know before you go
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: The festival is free to attend, with a suggested $5 donation to support the event and the arts community.
Parking & Street Closures: Several streets will be closed, including Main and Chapel Hill streets, Market Street, and parts of Parrish Street. Free parking is expected to be available in most city garages. Check the Park Durham website and Downtown Durham Inc. parking map for locations.
Pets: Leashed pets are allowed, but be mindful of large crowds, noise and other people’s pets. The festival will be secured by officers from the Durham Police Department.
Festival highlights
- Artists & performers: The festival will feature 60 performers, including musicians, dancers and street artists.
- Family Fun Zone: The area outside Ninth Street Bakery on East Chapel Hill Street will feature crafts, face painting, rides and slushies for kids.
- Food & drinks: Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub is providing a Beer Garden and smash burgers in the Food Zone.
- Commemorative merchandise: The Arts Council commissioned local artist Katie Hayes to design 50th anniversary merchandise, including T-shirts, sweatshirts and notebooks.
For maps, accessibility information, and a full list of vendors and performers, visit durhamarts.org/centerfest or check the Durham Arts Council’s social media pages.
This story was originally published September 18, 2025 at 3:32 PM.