5 Free Things to do at Duke in December 2024

December 6 – The Duke Jazz Ensemble with Walter Blanding

The Duke Jazz Ensemble will perform with acclaimed saxophonist Walter Blanding at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at Baldwin Auditorium.

Since 1991, Blanding has performed or recorded with iconic musicians such as Cab Calloway, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin. A former member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Blanding is now the Professor of Jazz Saxophone at Michigan State University.

Directed by Duke Vice Provost for the Arts and Professor of the Practice of Music John V. Brown, the Duke Jazz Ensemble is comprised of roughly 20 student musicians and holds several performances throughout the year.

December 7 – Stargazing

Take a deep look into the night sky with the help of powerful telescopes and expert guidance by Duke physicists. From 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the Duke Teaching Observatory will hold an open house, giving visitors of all ages a chance to see the wonders of the cosmos.

The observatory is located in Duke Forest and features five telescopes capable of seeing details on the moon’s surface, the gaps in Saturn’s rings and distant galaxies and star clusters.

No reservations are required, though guests are encouraged to dress appropriately for the rustic outdoor location. With clear skies a necessity, the open house is weather-dependent. Head here for the latest weather updates, information on the observatory and directions to the site.

December 15 – A Concert for Climate Action

The Durham Medical Orchestra will perform “A Concert for Climate Action,” a series of works celebrating nature and voicing concern about climate change. Among the pieces will be the orchestral premiere of “The Automatic Earth,” a piece from composer Steven Bryant commissioned for this performance

Founded in 2010, the Durham Medical Orchestra is made up of volunteer musicians, many of them medical professionals affiliated with Duke, who promote wellness, cultural enrichment and community involvement through music.

December 18 – Duke University Chapel Holiday Open House

Soak in the splendor of Duke University Chapel decorated for the holidays and lit by candlelight. The campus landmark will hold a candlelight open house from 12-2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The chapel will be adorned with flowers and greenery and musicians will perform holiday music.

Throughout December – Visible Spectrum: Portraits from the World of Autism

The award-winning photography series “Visible Spectrum: Portraits from the World of Autism” by North Carolina-based photographer Mary Berridge will be on display at the Center for Documentary Studies throughout the month of December.

The photos, which are paired with narratives written by the subjects of their parents, offer an intimate glimpse into life with autism. The people and stories that greet viewers show the diverse experiences of autistic individuals and their families as they navigate a world that can be filled with challenges and misconceptions. The exhibition will be on display until Feb. 28.

The Center for Documentary Studies’ galleries are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday-Friday. The center will be closed to the public from Dec. 23 through Jan. 7.