Emancipation Day, a long-standing North Carolina tradition, is a commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation. Historically, this was celebrated on January 1st, and included a parade and program, followed by singing, poetry reading, and speeches by both black and white leaders.
Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum and the City of Raleigh are presenting several events from January 2 to 7, 2024, to mark Emancipation Day. Please follow the link for each event for details.
Emancipation Day Tours at Pope House Museum
January 2 to 5, 2024
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Pope House Museum
511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC
Free
Come and learn about one of Raleigh’s most prominent Black families and one of North Carolina’s first licensed African-American doctors. No reservations required. Just drop by.
Storytime with the Popes
Thursday, January 4, 2024
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Pope House Museum
511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC
Free
Storyteller Patty Cake will weave imagery and songs to tell the story of Black emancipation and determination.
Emancipation Day Trolley Tours
January 5 and 6, 2024
11 a.m.
John P “Top” Greene Community Center
401 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Raleigh, NC
$10 for adults; $4 for children (follow above link to register)
Back by popular demand, author and local historian Carmen Wimberly Cauthen will be doing her trolley tour of Historic Black Neighborhoods for Emancipation Day! Join Cauthen to explore some of Raleigh’s Historic Black Neighborhoods.
Slavery to Freedom: 35th US Colored Infantry Regiment Encampment
Saturday, January 6, 2024
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
John P “Top” Greene Community Center
401 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Raleigh, NC
Free
Travel back in time to see the 35th USCT as they tell stories of real-life Black soldiers and their lives in the camp and the front lines.
