Parties For The Park

Parties For The Park: 5th Annual Brunswick Stew and Soulful Tunes

This fun-filled event has become the most highly attended of the Parties for the Park series, selling out well in advance each year. Multiple local bands will fill the brisk autumn air with cool tunes while you enjoy a bowl of freshly made, pipin’ hot Brunswick stew (yes, there’s a vegetarian option!) and an ice cold pint of beer.

Hosts: Laurie & Matt Williamson

Venue: Ponysaurus Brewing/219 Hood Street, Downtown Durham

150 Tickets – We’re nudging people towards one of two sessions (afternoon / evening) to just spread things out a bit, but rest easy knowing that you can come when you want and stay as long as you want.

Adults: $15 in advance / $20 at the door

Kids 10-18: $7.50

Kids 10 and under: Free! (no need to register them, just bring them !)

Durham Public Schools Employees: Free! (25 available) We love Durham Public Schools and a limited set of free tickets are available for DPS employees as a way to show our love and appreciation!

Menu: All you can eat, freshly-made Brunswick Stew w/ sides (and a veggie option, too), a pint of locally-brewed beer, and hours of freshly made tunes. No beer will be available for the kiddos, but we’ll have lemonade! (We’re required by law to let you know that $3 of your donation covers the cost of the beer… so consider yourself informed!)

Bands: Butcher and the Tin Man, El Jefe, Both Bands, Midnight Gladness, The Simple Joy

This event is part of the Parties for the Park fundraisers for Durham Central Park. Durham Central Park is a 5-acre city park that is managed, programmed and developed by Durham Central Park, Inc. (DCP, Inc.) a 501c3 non-profit organization. DCP, Inc. receives no direct funding from the City of Durham, all of the funds raised to operate the park come from donations, grants, sponsorships and fundraisers like these.  For more information about Parties for the Park, please check out durhamcentralpark.org/faqs/parties-for-the-park

*Cancelled*Parties for the Park: Trucks for the Park

We’ve been missing DCP’s Food Truck Rodeos, so we are thrilled that Trucks for the Park is back! Trucks for the Park is a special private, mini food truck rodeo that gives you access to easily sample the flavors of each of the truck’s rolling kitchens. This year, 10+ local food trucks will roll up to the pavilion and prepare a sample of a special menu item they wish to share with you. Walk up to the truck with your ticket and pick up your food, no long lines! Vegetarian options will be available from most trucks. Along with the yummy menu items, each ticket comes with two beers from Durham craft breweries and a cash bar. So, bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy this unique opportunity to enjoy delicious food truck cuisine – both savory and sweet – in one lovely evening in the park!
This year’s featured food trucks: Bulkogi, Gussy’s Greek, Oink & Moo, Safari Eatz, Qspresso, Baton Rouge Cuisine, Bull City Eats, Not Just Icing, Fahsyrah’s Lemonade, Glass Jug Brewery, Bull City Brewery and more to be confirmed soon!
Hosts: Becky & Mike Hacker (Pie Pushers) and Brian Bottger (Only Burger)
The Pavilion at Durham Central Park
501 Foster Street, Durham Central Park
4:00-6:00 p.m.
150 Tickets,
$50, 1 ticket can typically feed 1–2 people, depending on appetite
Dress: Picnic casual
Trucks for the Park is generously sponsored by Clancy Theys Construction Company.

Parties For The Park: LocoPops Give Back Week

Sundries @ LocoPops is giving back 10% to Durham Central Park for all online and in person purchases* the week of 11/1 through 11/7. Here’s some great ideas to making the most of this opportunity and supporting DCP:

Grab an after school treat
Nab some specialty ingredients to kick your at-home dinner scene up a notch
Stock up on essentials from your favorite local producers
Snag a great card or gift for someone special
Pick up a 6 pack or bottle of something tasty to go with dinner
Bring home a new puzzle – winter is coming!
[email protected] is open for in-person shopping Tues-Sun 1:00-7:00PM at their location at 2618 Hillsborough Rd. Or shop online at shop.ilovelocopops.com for in-store pickup or delivery.

* gift certificate purchases not included in offer

Parties For The Park: Treat Your Sweet Tooth on the Roof!

Enjoy a delicious array of sweets, dessert wines and coffees on the Church+Main Rooftop in the heart of downtown with lots of room and its 360 views of Durham!  After your Friday dinner, save room for mouthwatering desserts prepared by Monuts, Sweets By Shayda and Ninth Street Bakery.  Dessert wines provided compliments of D B Sutton & Co Wine Shop and coffees served courtesy Little Waves Coffee Roasters. It promises to be a sweet fall evening!

(If by chance, we need to make this a ‘take-out’ event because of Covid, we are making this a ‘tickets for two’ event…that way we can send you home with a bottle of wine! Hopefully this won’t happen…but just in case.)

Hosts: Ann & Lex Alexander and Charlie Witzleben

Church+Main 

130 East Main Street, Downtown Durham

October 22, 8:00 – 10:00p.m.

20 Tickets for 2

$100

Dress: Casual

Menu: A fabulous and delectable assortment of desserts accompanied by delicious dessert wines and coffees.

Parties For The Park: Hot-n-Spicy Hootenanny Swap Meet ft. Cajammers & Larry Mangum

Close your Zoom app, turn off your pad! Join Tess in the big backyard of her 1923 farmhouse for gumbo, jalapeño cornbread, dirty rice and more NOLA-inspired fare to enjoy with two glasses of craft beer or wine.
To DCP staffer Tess, a hootenanny is where folk music can mean country, soul, Cajun or hip hop, so get ready for Cajammers, live! We’re talking Cajun waltzes, two steps, zydeco, blues, and other Louisiana-inspired tunes, including songs in Cajun French. Special Guest songwriter Larry Mangum will be there too.
Throw in a swap meet and everyone goes home with unforgettable memories and a new treasure. Each ticket holder should bring 1-2 sanitized personal items to swap and the story that goes with them. A zero waste event.
Tickets: $45, tips encouraged!
Guests: 20, masks and vaccinations required

Parties For The Park: Oh Mexico!

Hosts: Plum Restaurant 

Lisa Callahan, owner, with chef Trent Shank

 

Come join us at Plum for an autumn fiesta. Chef Trenton Shank cut his culinary teeth working and eating at taco trucks around Dallas, his hometown.  The deep impression it made on him gets full expression in our dinner to benefit Durham’s Central Park.  

We will start the evening with cocktails: margaritas for sure; and some delicious sparkling wines from our local wine hero, Andre Tamers and his company; De Maison Selections.  We will pass chicharrones with lime and chili and arrange chips and salsa around the room for everyone to enjoy.  Then the feast begins with a favorite special here at Plum: aquachili; a delicious Mexican ceviche; albondigas; meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, and the addictive, delicious Mexican street corn; roasted ears of corn with queso and spices.  

The main dishes include handmade brisket tamales in a BBQ mole and a traditional chicken in cream sauce with roasted winter squash and salsa verde.  The final course will be our pastry chef; Emma Spalding’s version of pastel de tres leches.

We hope this will be a meal and an evening to remember.  Join us and help us keep our beloved Central Park growing and evolving with Durham.  We look forward to serving you this very special dinner for the park at Plum.  

501 Washington Street, Downtown Durham

6:00 cocktails, 6:40 dinner 

24 Tickets

$100

Dress: Casual

Parties For The Park Is Back!

Events

Does it feel that summer party you wanted to have never quite happened? CELEBRATE in autumn. The wait is over–we’re unveiling our Parties for the Park fundraiser series today and tickets are on sale now! We’ve got virtual parties, an outdoor party and a silent auction for a week-long stay at this fantastic Sugar Mountain vacay home:

Sugar Mountain vacation house silent auction

Parties for the Park is Durham Central Park’s annual fall fundraiser. The funds raised through Parties for the Park provides 30% of the operating budget for Durham Central Park Inc., a 501c3 not-for-profit organization.

For more than 22 years, we have built the infrastructure that makes the DCP beautiful, accessible, functional, comfortable and welcoming to the entire community. The funds raised from Parties for the Park have supported many projects over the years including continuation of our PLAYlist Concert Series, the installation of benches, tables, gardens, trees and art, Mt. Merrill and our newest feature, a larger-than-life troll sculpture and Troll Trail. Additionally, the funds help to cover the usual costs for staffing, maintaining, and programming the park.

By buying tickets to these parties, you will be helping to keep Durham Central Park a vibrant and accessible community space:

Trivia Night with Arturo Sanchez #1, Sept 30
Trivia Night with Arturo Sanchez #2, Oct. 1
A Tour of Italian Wines… From Home!, Oct 9
Deep Fried Swap Meet Hootenanny, Oct 10
Take and Bake! An Italian Meal to Warm the COVID Heart, Oct 18
Kingfisher Presents: Real Cocktails/Virtual Party, Oct 22

Read all about the parties at PartiesforthePark.org

The silent auction for the Sugar Mountain Vacation Home (pictured above) will be live from October 14-18.

If Zoom or in-person parties aren’t something you are up for right now, but you want to just have a party or picnic with close friends, family or Quaranteam and make a donation to DCP, that is also wonderful.

FAQ for Parties For The Park: Tickets on sale Friday!

Events, News

 

Parties for the Park

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Parties for the Park?

It is a series of parties and event from September to November that DCP enthusiasts host at their home, restaurant or other venues. The parties have different themes, prices, and numbers of attendees. All the parties are donated by the hosts and the ticket sales go straight to DCP, Inc.

Who gets the money from the Parties for the Park ticket sales?

All of the money from the ticket sales goes directly to Durham Central Park, Inc.

What is the money used for?

The funds raised through Parties for the Park make up about 1/3 of DCP Inc.’s annual operating budget. The money pays for DCP staff, maintenance and improvements of park structures, free programming and special projects.

What are this year’s special projects?

In 2020, we will focus our efforts on re-making the Sister Cities Grove (the area north of the Pavilion). That area has been in flux for the past 2 years with recent construction and city waterline upgrades. To make this area of the park comfortable and welcoming, we will be installing new trees, new benches & tables and updated signage. In 2020, we will also be installing plantings in the newly built terraced planting beds behind the Pavilion. In addition to supporting DCP’s operating funds, money raised through the 2019 Parties for the Park will support these special projects.

Is my ticket considered a tax-deductible donation?

No. The laws surrounding this are complex. We work with the hosts to price the events close to fair market value. We will continue to explore this and may be able to change it in the future.

What is the processing fee?

In order to use ticket processing services, like Eventbrite, there are fees associated with safe processing of information. Since these events are fundraisers for DCP, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization, we truly appreciate your support in paying the processing fees in order to ensure that the funds from the ticket sales are used to support the operation, programming, and improvement of Durham Central Park!

Do I need a physical ticket for the events that I’ll be attending?

No. When you purchase your tickets through Eventbrite, your name will be added to the guest list. All of the hosts will have the guest lists and will welcome you when you arrive.

After I purchase my tickets, will I be sent any additional information?

Yes. The week of the event, we’ll send you additional info about your event, where to park, how to get there, and any other pertinent information that you may need to easily and successfully get to your event. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Erin at [email protected]

Who do I contact if I have questions about the event?

Please feel free to get in touch with Erin Kauffman, Durham Central Park’s Executive Director. She can be reached at 919-794-8194 or [email protected]

Can I host a Party for the Park next year?

Absolutely! If you are interested in learning more about hosting, please get in touch with Lee Ann Tilley, the Parties for the Park Chair at [email protected]

The FUN In Fundraising: Parties For The Park 2018

Events, News

The FUN In Fundraising: Parties For The Park

Above: Opening Splash Pool Party at The Unscripted/Below: Latin Quarter On Main

Parties for the Park, 17 exciting parties – dinner parties, pool parties, cocktail parties, and more, has been bringing the FUN to fundraising this fall! Our generous hosts invite you into their homes and businesses to enjoy a good time and raise money to support Durham Central Park. Many parties sold out in advance.

Tickets are still available for two of the six remaining parties: Under the Stars Atop the Kress (a FIVE COURSE meal, October 20) and Local Vocal: An Evening of Food, Drink & A Capella
(November 1)

 

HOW WE USE OUR FUNDS

The funds raised from Parties for the Park have supported many projects over the years including:

Additionally, the funds help to cover the usual costs for staffing, maintaining, and  programming the park. This fall, a new art installation will be installed on the east side of the park overlooking the lawn and a water fountain will be installed at Mt. Merrill.

None of this would be possible without your generous support! If your schedule doesn’t allow time to attend a party this year, consider hosting one next year, or make an online donation to DCP now! 

 

WHO WE ARE

Durham Central Park is a 5-acre city-owned park along Foster Street in the heart of downtown Durham. Our organization, DCP, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization holds a management agreement with the City of Durham. We operate, develop and sustain this invaluable community asset. DCP relies on contributions (both money and time) from the community to keep the park the open, thriving, and welcoming space that it has become over the years. DCP, Inc. is made up of a 28 member volunteer board and three staff members.

Trucks For The Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All You Need Is Love: A Beatles Pop-Up Chorus (2017)

Parties for the Park tickets ON SALE AUGUST 10!

Events, News

PARTIES FOR THE PARK

Parties for the Park is the new name for Durham Central Park’s annual fall fundraiser Meals from the Market. The new name captures the vibrancy of the park and the energy that everyone who visits the park brings. This series of fundraisers is expanded in vision yet similar in format to what we have done before. We hope that you will join in on the fun and attend a party to support Durham Central Park – a place for Durham to be Durham.

This fall, Parties for the Park is 17 exciting parties – dinner parties, pool parties, cocktail parties, dance parties and more! Our generous hosts invite you into their homes and businesses to enjoy a good time and raise money to support Durham Central Park.

WHO WE ARE

Durham Central Park is a 5-acre city-owned park along Foster Street in the heart of downtown Durham. Our organization, DCP, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization holds a management agreement with the City of Durham to operate, develop and sustain this invaluable community asset. We rely on contributions (both money and time) from the community to keep the park the open, thriving, and welcoming space that it has become over the years. DCP, Inc. is made up of a 28 member volunteer board and three staff members.

WHAT WE DO

For 20 years, we have built the infrastructure that makes the DCP beautiful, accessible, functional, comfortable and welcoming to the entire community. We provide high quality, free programming including the PLAYlist Concert Series, Food Truck Rodeos, Fourth of July Parade, Free Movies, and Free Yoga. We work closely with the city to advocate for the needs of the park as the downtown develops and changes. We also provide affordable rental space for local groups and non-profits to use, including the Durham Farmers’ Market.

HOW WE USE OUR FUNDS

The funds raised from Parties for the Park have supported many projects over the years including:

  • the expansion of  our PLAYlist Concert Series 
  • the installation of benches, tables and trees
  • the construction of Mt. Merrill

Additionally, the funds help to cover the usual costs for staffing, maintaining, and  programming the park. This fall, a new art installation will be installed on the east side of the park overlooking the lawn and a water fountain will be installed at Mt. Merrill.

None of this would be possible without your generous support!