Film buffs will find much to enjoy in the Triangle region, whether it’s movie locations, historic theaters or film festivals.
Durham’s most iconic film site, which also happens to be a versatile group venue, is the Historic Durham Athletic Park, where Bull Durham, starring Susan Sarandon and Kevin Costner, was filmed in 1987. While the Durham Bulls, a Minor League Baseball team, now play a mile south in the newer Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the original park, which dates to 1927 and is known for its round tower with a conical roof, is the scene of special events and baseball tournaments. It’s also home to the North Carolina Central University Eagles.
“It’s not only a piece of baseball history, but a great place for a corporate outing or picnic,” says Jennifer Johnson of the Raleigh-based Johnson Meeting Group. “We’ve done events there where groups do sack races and three-legged races or build bicycles for charities.”
Another venue that Johnson recommends is the Carolina Theater in downtown Durham. The Beaux Arts-style movie palace, which opened in 1926, offers event spaces that include the 1,014-seat main auditorium, two lobbies available for receptions and an upper-level ballroom.
The theater is also the location of several annual film festivals, including the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, which takes place in April and showcases international documentary films. Others include the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which takes place in August.
In downtown Chapel Hill, the Varsity Theater has been a downtown fixture for more than 50 years. Recently renovated, the theater shows both classic and recent movies and also offers reception and banquet space for up to 200 people. The theater is equipped with Blu-ray and computer projection for presentations and webcasts.
