Honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. at one of these events in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding areas, between January 18th and January 24th, 2019.
All are free to attend, unless a price is specified. Although these are free events, some require pre-registration. Follow each link for the necessary details, to register, and to check for any changes.
We’re listing the events by area, followed by a day by day list of events, in case that is more convenient for you.
This is a growing list!
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
Raleigh MLK Day Events
39th Annual MLK Wreath Laying Ceremony
Friday, January 18th, 2019
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Gardens
1215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Raleigh, NC
Sponsoring Partner: Raleigh Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance
39th Annual MLK Memorial March
Monday, January 21st, 2019
11:00 a.m.
Sponsoring Partner: Xi Mu Mu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Departs from State Capitol Building, Edenton Street Side, Downtown Raleigh 10:00 a.m.- March Assembly and Line up Begins
The 39th Annual Martin Luther King Noon Observation
Monday, January 21st, 2019
12 p.m.
Duke Energy Center for The Performing Arts, 2 E South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Sponsoring Partner: United Way of the Greater Triangle
39th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Evening Musical Celebration
Monday, January 21st, 2019
5:30 p.m.
Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts – Meymandi Hall, 2 E South Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
7th Annual MLK Day Breakfast
Monday, January 21st, 2019
6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Widow’s Son Lodge #4
427 S. Blount Street, Raleigh
This annual event includes a free breakfast, speakers and activities.
RTP MLK Event
39th Annual MLK, Jr. Triangle Interfaith Prayer Breakfast
Monday, January 21st, 2019
7:15 a.m.
(Doors open at 5:45 a.m., breakfast is served from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. ONLY)
Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
David Crabtree
WRAL Anchor/Reporter, Ordained Minister, Raleigh, NC
You can watch the Interfaith Prayer Breakfast on WRAL-TV at 8:00 a.m. and FOX 50 at noon.
Durham MLK Day Events
Interfaith MLK Day of Service for Teens
Sunday, January 20th, 2019
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Levin JCC
1937 W. Cornwallis, Durham
All Triangle teens are invited. Please follow the above link and register. The evening will include multiple service projects to choose from including painting new accessible parking spaces, making food for Urban Ministries, creating blankets for project Linus, and more.
The night will finish with a performance by members of the Bull City Slam Team and pizza.
Annual MLK Birthday Party at Northgate Mall
Monday, January 21st, 2019
10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Northgate Mall, 1058 West Club Boulevard, Durham
This free, family-friendly event has the theme of “Arts and the Civil Rights Movement” and will include activities and performances for the whole family, including music, dance, poetry, art and more.
Stop by the Herald Sun’s exhibit of Civil Rights photography from Durham and enjoy cake as you celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Book Harvest Dream Big MLK Book Drive Celebration
Monday, January 21st, 2019
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham
Book Harvest provides books to children who need them and engages families and communities to promote children’s lifelong literacy and academic success.
Besides the book drive there will be lots of fun family activities. You can expect to find mascots, live music, games, activities, food trucks, crafts and more.
2019 MLK Commemoration at Duke University
Sunday, January 20th, 2019
3 p.m.
Duke University Chapel, 401 Chapel Drive, Durham
Free
The theme is “Why Words Matter: From Dissent to Dialogue.” The event features speakers and musical performances.
19th Annual DCRI MLK Day Celebration
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019
1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Duke Clinical Research Institute, 200 Morris Street, Durham
Free
Keynote speaker is Pierce Freelon, professor, director, musician, Emmy-Award winning producer, and former candidate for mayor of Durham, who will deliver a talk entitled “Kings and Queens of the Movement.” Musical Performance by: DeVone Young, performing Mahalia Jackson’s “How I Got Over.”
Talk by Writer and Activist Shaun King
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019
7 .m. to 9 p.m.
Bryan Center–Reynolds Industries Theater, 125 Science Drive, Durham
Free, but tickets are required.
Writer and civil rights activist Shaun King will deliver a talk at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Bryan Center’s Reynolds Theater. King is noted for his use of social media to promote social causes, including the Black Lives Matter movement, and is a columnist for The Intercept. Previously, he was a contributing writer for Daily Kos and a political commentator for The Young Turks. In February 2018 he co-founded the Real Justice PAC, which supports progressive candidates running for district attorney offices. This event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the Bryan Center Parking Garage. At the end of the presentation, you will receive a ticket to exit the deck.
Wreath Laying Ceremony
Saturday, January 19, 2019 – 12:00 Noon
CCB Plaza
201 Corcoran Street, Durham
Unity March & Rally
Monday, January 21, 2019
10:30 a.m.
Beginning at the NC Mutual Life Insurance Company, 411 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham
Concluding at First Presbyterian Church, 305 E. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701
Annual Religious Service
Monday, January 21, 2019
6 p.m.
Mount Level Missionary Baptist Church, 316 Hebron Road, Durham
Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough MLK Day Events
Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Friday, January 18th, 2019
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Jerry M. Passmore Senior Center
103 Meadowland Drive, Hillsborough
Annual program co-sponsored with NCCU Alumni Orange County Chapter features guest speaker, Senator Valerie Foushee. She will discuss MLK’s influence on women in politics during troubling times.
Rally, March and Observance Service with Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP
The Chapel Hill – Carrboro NAACP is commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at these free, public events on Monday, January 21st, 2019.
Rally
9 a.m.
Peace and Justice Plaza, 179 East Franklin Street
The rally will be immediately followed with a march to First Baptist Church of Chapel Hill.
Observance Service
11 a.m.
First Baptist Church of Chapel Hill, 106 N Roberson St, Chapel Hill
He Was a Poem, He Was a Song
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019
5 p.m.
Hitchcock Multipurpose Room, Stone Center, 150 South Road, Chapel Hill
Join the Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History in a celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the annual He Was a Poem, He Was a Song program. Students, faculty, staff and community members are invited to explore Dr. King’s legacy through music, dance and spoken word.
The 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Keynote Lecture and Awards Ceremony
Thursday, January 24th, 2019
7:30 p.m.
Memorial Hall, 114 E Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill
Tickets: FREE, but required. Tickets will be available at the Carolina Performing Arts/Memorial Hall Box Office beginning on January 8 at noon.
The MLK Lecture will feature Ben Jealous, former president and CEO of the NAACP, as the keynote speaker, as well as presentations for the UNC MLK Student Scholarship and Unsung Heroes awards.
Cary MLK Day Events
The Town of Cary celebrates the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with Dreamfest, a collection of events from Friday, January 18th, to Monday, January 21st, 2019.
Follow the above link for details on all the events. Please note that although these are free events, most require a ticket.
- Friday, January 18th, 9 a.m., Cary Arts Center: Building the Dream: Affordable Housing in Wake County Symposium
- Saturday, January 19th, 10 a.m., Cary Arts Center: Remembering Leaders of the Dream, with storyteller Willa Brigham. (Good for kids)
- Saturday, January 19th, 2 p.m., Cary Arts Center: The film “Wilmington on Fire.”
- Saturday, January 19th, 8 p.m., Cary Arts Center: Celebrating the Dream (live music)
- Sunday, January 20th, 2 p.m., The Cary Theater: Film “Al: My Brother”
- Monday, January 21st, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Good Hope Farm: MLk Day of Service
Wake Forest MLK Day Events
2019 Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Celebration
Thursday, January 24th, 2019
6 p.m.
Friendship Chapel Baptist Church, 237 Friendship Chapel Road, Wake Forest
Several churches and community organizations work together to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The theme is “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that! Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” There will be a light meal at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m.
[…] From Cary’s Dreamfest to a Memorial March in downtown Raleigh, there are 23 events happening all over the Triangle for Martin Luther King day. For a complete list click here. […]