5 Free Things to do at Duke in October 2024

Enjoy nature, music and fascinating conversations on campus this month

A collage of two authors, a farm, a garden and musicians.

With the fall semester in full swing and the fall color making campus especially picturesque, the month of October is a fun time to be part of the Duke community. Whether you want to experience nature, music or thought-provoking conversations, there’s something for you at Duke this month.

During the academic year, the Working@Duke editorial team searches the Duke Event Calendar and elsewhere to find five free things to do at Duke. Check back in November for the next batch of events.

October 10, 12 and 24 – Learn About Nature at Duke Gardens

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens have several free events that can help you connect with the plants and animals around you. At 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, visitors of all ages at the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden can learn what it takes to care for bees, chickens and plants, and meet the people who do it, at the Meet the Keepers event.

On the morning of Saturday, October 12, join Duke Gardens Education Program Coordinator and avid birder Liani Yirka for a walk around the gardens looking and listening for the birds that pass through. The event, which starts at 8 a.m., is part of the Duke Gardens’ celebration of International Migratory Bird Day.

And at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, join author and psychiatrist Sue Stewart Smith for a conversation about the science behind the mental health benefits of gardening.

October 11, 18, 25 – Duke Campus Farm Community Work Days

Finish off the work week by getting your hands dirty and meeting members of the Duke campus community. Duke students, staff, faculty and community members are welcome to participate in Duke Campus Farm’s Community Work Days, which take place from 1-4 p.m. each Friday.

You can register here to help out as an individual or group with simple gardens tasks and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the one-acre sustainable farm located a few miles from West Campus in Duke Forest.

October 18 – Ciompi Quartet Lunchtime Classics

Grab your lunch and head to Goodson Chapel at noon on  Friday, October 18 to enjoy the music of the Ciompi Quartet. The group, comprised of accomplished musicians on the faculty of the Duke Department of Music, will perform chamber music in one of West Campus’ most peaceful settings.

October 19 – Author Rachel Kushner

The keynote event for the Blackburn Literary Festival, which is a collaboration between Duke Arts and the Duke Department of English, features a reading and panel discussion with acclaimed novelist Rachel Kushner, who has been a finalist for the Booker Prize and National Book Award.

After delivering a keynote address, Kushner will be joined on a panel by fellow novelists Claire Messud, Paul Yoon and Duke English Professor Akhil Sharma.

October 29 – Author David Brooks

Join New York Times political columnist David Brooks for a conversation about his best-selling book “How to Know a Person,” which explores the barriers keeping us from understanding the people around us and rebuilding our social fabric.

Part of the David M. Rubenstein Distinguished Lecture Series, the event takes place at 5 p.m. on October 29 at Penn Pavilion.

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