5 Free Things to Do at Duke in October 2025

Celebrate the Nasher Museum’s 20th anniversary, hear classical music, listen to an author talk and more this month

a photo collage shows scenes from Duke Gardens, an animal blessing at Duke, the Nasher Museum, the Ciompi Quartet and Frank Bruni
Photos by Megan Mendenhall, Bill Snead, Duke University Communications; and courtesy of Ciompi Quartet and Sanford School of Public Policy

Celebrate a Duke University fine arts gem, have your pets receive a special benediction, hear some free classical music or a prominent author talk and take a guided stroll through Duke Gardens this month at Duke.

Each month during the academic year, the Working@Duke editorial team searches the Duke Event Calendar to find five free things to do at Duke. The selections showcase the rich variety of activities and programming available to community members. Check back in November for the next batch of events.

Oct. 5 – Blessing of the Animals at Duke University Chapel Quad

Pet owners are welcome to bring their dogs, cats and other animals to receive a blessing during the annual Blessing of the Animals worship service on the Duke University Chapel Quad at 3 p.m. The service lasts about 30 minutes and includes music from the Durham Children’s Choir, scripture readings and a sermon. Individual animal blessings take place following the service. Anyone bringing a pet is asked to bring only those that will be safe around children and other animals.

Oct. 10 – Ciompi Quartet: Ciompi on West Concert

The Ciompi Quartet will perform a one hour, lunchtime concert at Goodson Chapel at noon. The program features Alissa Firsova’s Tennyson Fantasy for String Quartet, Op. 36, described as “a vibrant work that brings poetry to life through music.” The concert also includes standout student ensembles from Chamber Music at Duke.

Oct. 18 – Nasher Museum 20th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate the Nasher Museum’s 20th anniversary with a full day of activities that includes the grand opening of the Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Sculpture Garden. Guests can also enjoy art-making stations, interactive learning experiences, hands-on activities and performances from North Carolina Central University drumline, among others, throughout the day, from noon to 7 p.m. A featured performance by Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder caps the celebration at 5 p.m. See the full schedule here.

Oct. 21 – D.I.C.E. Book Talk: “The Beauty of Dusk,” with Frank Bruni

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Duke Disability Inclusion and Community Empowerment Affinity Group (D.I.C.E.) is hosting an author talk with Duke faculty member Frank Bruni on his 2023 memoir, “The Beauty of Dusk.” In it, Bruni details the story of his 2017 stroke that left him “functionally blind” in one eye. The event takes place at 11 a.m. in the Holsti-Anderson Family Assembly Room (Rubenstein Library 153) and on Zoom, with the link provided to registrants.

Oct. 29 – Midday Meander at Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Meander through Sarah P. Duke Gardens on your lunch break as Kavanah Anderson, director of learning and community engagement at Duke Gardens, leads a conversational stroll that will deepen your relationship with plants. Meet at 12:15 p.m. at the 2000 Lewis St. entrance and dig into horticultural history and swap plant stories. Note that the Doris Duke Center and main visitor parking lots remain closed for the construction for the Garden Gateway Project.

Send story ideas, shout-outs and photographs through our story idea form or write working@duke.edu.

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