Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at one of these events in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary and surrounding areas, in 2025. This list will grow significantly as MLK Day approaches.
Please follow each link for the necessary details, to register, and to check for any changes.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is Monday, January 20, 2025, but not all the events take place on that day. Please scroll down for a day-by-day list of MLK Day events in the Triangle. In addition, visit Activate Good for a list of volunteer opportunities for MLK Day.
Also, please check our (soon to be updated) list of what’s open and closed on MLK Day in the Triangle.
You might also be interested in:
- Subscribing for Triangle on the Cheap’s daily emails
- Free things to do this week in the Triangle
- Free and discount museum days in the Triangle
Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee Events
Triangle Martin Luther King. Jr. Committee Events
Date: January 17 to 20, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Various
Cost: Free
Features: The organization holds several events, including a Memorial March, an Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, National Day of Racial Healing dialogues, and more.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP
On January 20, 2025, meet at the Peace and Justice Plaza, 179 E Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC, for a rally with Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP. Then the group will march to First Baptist Church for a commemoration day service at 11 a.m.
Celebrating the Legacy Through the Arts
MLK: Celebrating the Legacy Through the Arts
Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025
Time: 2 to 5 p.m.
Place: W.D. Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This free community celebration features visual art displays, open mic poetry, performances, arts and crafts, discussions and more.
Book Harvest Dream Big MLK Day Book Drive Celebration
Book Harvest Dream Big MLK Day Book Drive Celebration
Date: Sunday, January 12, 2025
Time: 1 to 4 p.m.
Place: Golden Belt Campus, 800 Taylor Street, Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Free books for kids, plus entertainment, mascots, food and more.
MLK Commemoration Weekend in Apex
MLK Commemoration Weekend in Apex
Date: January 17 to 20, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Multiple venues
Cost: Free
Features: The Town of Apex’s MLK Weekend events include a National Day of Service, Social Justice Sunday, a unity march and breakfast reception and a Black authors exhibit.
Dreamfest: Town of Cary’s MLK Celebration
Dreamfest
Date: January 17 to 20, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Varies
Cost: Many events are free
Features: The Town of Cary’s Dreamfest includes film, discussion, calls to service, a “Tellebration” for families, a celebration with live music, poetry and speakers, and more.
Town of Carrboro’s MLK Jr. Youth Celebration
Carrboro’s MLK Youth Celebration
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
Time: 1 p.m.
Place: Carrboro Century Center, 100 N Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC
Cost: Free
Features: The event is planned by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Youth Council and the Carrboro Youth Council. It features student speakers, artwork, performance and trivia.
King Day at Chavis Park
King Day: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday
Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
Time: 12 to 3 p.m.
Place: John Chavis Memorial Park, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: This celebration will showcase Dr. King’s work through service, children’s activities and more.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at Duke University
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at Duke University
Date: Sunday, January 19, 2025
Time: 3 p.m.
Place: Duke University Chapel, 401 Chapel Drive, Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Judge Jerry Blackwell, a member of the prosecution team that won a murder conviction for the killing of George Floyd, will deliver the keynote talk at Duke University’s annual MLK Commemoration.
21st Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in Fuquay-Varina
MLK Day Celebration in Fuqay-Varina
Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Place: March starts at Falcon Park, 105 Falcon Drive, Fuquay-Varina, and ends at First Baptist Church of Fuquay-Varina, 105 N West Street, where the celebration will take place.
Cost: Free
Features: The celebration includes local spoken word artists, vocalists and community partners.
MLK Day with United Way of the Greater Triangle: Day of Service
MLK Day with United Way of the Greater Triangle: Day of Service
Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Place: Boys and Girls Club of Wake County’s Teen Center, 721 N Raleigh Blvd, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Service projects and art activities for students and families
National Day of Racial Healing Event
National Day of Racial Healing Event
Date: Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Place: Chavis Community Center, 505 MLK Jr. Boulevard, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Event attendees can look forward to insightful discussions, interactive workshops, and opportunities to connect with others in your community. Free food, an interactive painting exercise, and childcare services will be provided.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration in Wake Forest
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration in Wake Forest
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 237 Friendship Chapel Road, Wake Forest,NC
Cost: Free
Features: Creative performance, writing and art.
Activate Good’s Dignity Week
Dignity Week: Volunteer Opportunities
Date: January 17 to 25, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Varies
Cost: Free
Features: Activate Good’s Dignity Week features many service opportunities throughout the Triangle.
Wilbert Stallings says
Hello to whom it may concern. The listing of historical MLK events within this web page are very educating for all especially, the new generation of whom were not born during the times of the MLK and Malcom X civil rights movement of the 60’s including Martin Luther Kings’ tragic death. We all as citizens of the United States have to continue to keep his dream alive within us because, we could not unite together in honor of his rememberance.