Your Visit
Please consider the following suggestions in order to make your graduation weekend experience as enjoyable as possible.
What to Bring and Weather
Clothing
Business casual or business formal dress is preferred. The weather in Durham can be warm in May (average temperatures are between 55° - 78° Fahrenheit and 12.8° - 25.6° Celsius). Please plan to dress appropriately for the weather, have good walking shoes, bring water, wear sun block (Sunday's ceremony is outdoors), pack an umbrella, etc.
Walking Shoes and Weather
Since guests will need to walk to the ceremony, reception, and designated parking facilities, please wear comfortable shoes and prepare appropriately for the weather, including rain.
Where to Stay
Durham has several hotel options. We strongly recommend you book your hotel accommodations as early as possible. Many local hotels feature shuttle services for Commencement weekend.
Where to Eat
Durham won Southern Living magazine’s title of "Tastiest Town in the South," so be sure to dine at one of the the Bull City's eateries. Check out the Durham Visitor's Information Site for a list of some of the local favorites.
Please note that there is no need to eat out on Saturday afternoon. There will be a reception with plenty of food at The Fuqua School of Business following the graduation ceremony.
Things to Do
There are many things to do on Duke's campus, in Durham, in the Triangle and beyond. A few suggestions are listed below.
Duke Campus:
- Nasher Museum of Art
- Duke Gardens
- Duke Forest
- Duke Lemur Center
- Duke Performances
Durham:
- Durham Bulls
- Durham Performing Arts Center
- Golfing at Washington Duke
- Hayti Heritage Center
- Historic Sites
- Museum of Life and Science
- Brightleaf Square or Ninth Street shopping
Triangle and Beyond:
- Atlantic Coast
- Blue Ridge Mountains
- NC Sandhills area championship golf
- Raleigh, Cary, or Chapel Hill