Carolina Theatre
Carolina Theatre
4.5
Monday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
394 within 5 kms
Attractions
112 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
173 reviews
Excellent
107
Very good
56
Average
4
Poor
4
Terrible
2
maria
Ocala, FL7 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
We did not go to the Carolina theatre. We saw the broadway musical Frozen at DPAC, watched a bulls game from the Tobacco Road restaurant, rode our bikes 22 miles on the ATT (American Tobacco Trail). There are malls, restaurants and grocery stores galore. We had dinner at the exclusive University Club. Wednesday night is family night. It was fabulous. The last thing I want to do before we leave is have a glass of wine at the Durham hotel’s rooftop bar. Oh, also, the bus is free! And the museums and gardens are all free. Great place. Go to the visitor’s center upon arrival and you will be set. Sarah P Dukes gardens is beautiful. You could spend the day there. Nashua museum is great too. Raleigh is 1/2 hour away. We’ll explore there next.
Written 2 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Will F.
1 contribution
July 2022 • Couples
First off, if you’re going here for the “sound system,” you’re totally missing the purpose of a relatively intimate performance venue. I’ve seen numerous musical performances (Richard Thomas, Bruce Hornsby, Joan Armatrading, and more)…and I’ve NEVER been disappointed in the acoustics. Now all of these musicians didn’t bring their full arsenal of sound either—-because, again, is a rather intimate old performance hall. If you want to have the most impressive sound system, go 6 blocks away to Durham’s relatively new DPAC. I’ve seen everyone from Patti LaBelle to Peter Frampton…and they had their entire band and the full sound comfortably cranked. I love both venues, but they’re indeed two distinct venues. Support The Carolina Theater’s jewel of a performance venue.
Written 21 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MongoSchwartz
Traverse City, MI667 contributions
June 2022
Went to the Robert Earl Keen concert at the Carolina.
The venue is tad dated, and the seats rather worn. Not uncomfortable, but in need of some renovation.
Although our seats were relatively close to the stage (12 rows or so), the sound system could use improvement as well.
All in all, a good, but not great, concert site.
The venue is tad dated, and the seats rather worn. Not uncomfortable, but in need of some renovation.
Although our seats were relatively close to the stage (12 rows or so), the sound system could use improvement as well.
All in all, a good, but not great, concert site.
Written 11 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harry P
Wilmington, NC95 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
The employees and volunteers are genuinely generous in sharing their obvious appreciation for this restored showpiece. The restoration has accomplished satisfying the needs of a new generation of patrons, yet they have masterfully retained the ambiance of a time past when the venue itself was as important as the entertainment offering
We're not so used life in the Artic, but if one were to be going to a Gordon Lightfoot concert to hear music, primarily set in upper Canada with a nautical slant, then this was a night in paradise. The setting in the Carolina Theater is quaint, the band was professionally tuned in to Mr. Lightfoot, but not overwhelming and with Mr. Lightfoot may have well been in a rustic old hall regaling the fishing fleet and wives, just before catching the outgoing tide to the unknowns of the frozen north Atlantic.
We're not so used life in the Artic, but if one were to be going to a Gordon Lightfoot concert to hear music, primarily set in upper Canada with a nautical slant, then this was a night in paradise. The setting in the Carolina Theater is quaint, the band was professionally tuned in to Mr. Lightfoot, but not overwhelming and with Mr. Lightfoot may have well been in a rustic old hall regaling the fishing fleet and wives, just before catching the outgoing tide to the unknowns of the frozen north Atlantic.
Written 20 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa P
Atlanta, GA21 contributions
Sept 2017
My husband and I were in Durham for the night and spontaneously decided to catch a movie at the Carolina Theater. We had a ball! The venue is beautiful and super cool. Plus, they have a great selection of old and new films. We'll definitely stop by again the next time we're in Durham.
Written 4 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
notravelsurprises
Chesapeake, VA144 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Good concerts here, but leg room makes airplane coach seem spacious. Will not come back. I am 5 ft 8 and cannot sit with my knees together.
Written 13 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cheryl h
Durham, NC57,989 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
This historic theater was built in 1926 in a Beaux-Arts style. It offers live stage performances and concerts in the beautiful theater and indi films, classic films, and foreign films in the movie theater. It also has 2 museums....a History of the Carolina Theater and a "Lest We Forget" museum on segregation. It was the first theater in Durham to allow African-Americans.
Unfortunately will will miss the Arlo concert in January because we will be at Folly Beach, SC for the month. :-(
Unfortunately will will miss the Arlo concert in January because we will be at Folly Beach, SC for the month. :-(
Written 2 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flowerchild1964
Raleigh, NC60 contributions
June 2015 • Couples
Carolina Theater is not far from DPAC. This theater has been restored. The floor seating is great the balcony seating is horrible. I am short, but we had to sit sideways in those balcony seats. The floor seats provide plenty of leg room. I don't think there is a bad seat on the floor. The staff are always inviting and warm. Love going here for events!
Written 31 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chuck K
Mountain City, TN20 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
Saw Kathleen Madigan and she put on a great show. The staff was very helpful and passionate about the theater and its history.
Written 24 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jill M
Durham, NC13 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
This was my first time here, and I loved it. There is not a bad seat in the house. Great Music and show. Very clean and everyone was super friendly. I will be visiting again.
Written 3 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the kind words!
Written 28 July 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I’m taking my husband here in May for our wedding anniversary to see Chris Botti. I need some advice on dress code and what to wear to an event here on top of seeing this performer. Thanks
Written 26 February 2020
Hello! We don't have a dress code. The building is as elegant as it is historic, so feel free to be as dressy or as casual as you'd like. We'll see you in May.
Written 27 February 2020
I was thinking about purchasing seats on Bestseatsfast but they have a star by the choice. Orchestra Left-Row P. Why is this? I am trying to get two tickets to Bianca Del Rio on Oct 26th. They want 65 dollars for them.
Written 11 October 2016
I am not sure what that means.
Suggest you call the theater box office directly.
Written 13 October 2016
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing