Celebrate the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the Triangle. Here’s where.

Kristen Johnson

Each third Monday in January, the country commemorates the life and legacy of civil rights leader and Baptist minister the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or MLK Day, falls on his actual birthday, Jan. 15. The federal holiday is celebrated across the Triangle.

Here is a list of events that are happening. Have an event to add? Let us know at metroeds@newsobserver.com.

Martin Luther King Jr. at home with family in Atlanta in the fall of 1962
Martin Luther King Jr. at home with family in Atlanta in the fall of 1962

Saturday, Jan. 13

Apex: MLK Unity March, Prayer Rally and Youth Summit, beginning at 8 a.m.

  • Gathering for march begins at 8 a.m. at Apex First Baptist Church, 419 S. Salem St.

  • March ends at Apex Town Hall, 73 Hunter St. with outdoor program at 9:30 a.m.

  • Youth Summit begins at Apex Senior Center with a student panel and Police Chief Jason Armstrong at 10:15 a.m.

Carrboro: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., 1 to 3 p.m.

Durham: Celebrating the Legacy Through the Arts, W.D. Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville St., 2-5 p.m. dprplaymore.org

  • Hosted by Durham Parks and Recreation with poetry, art displays, performances and arts and crafts projects

Holly Springs: Memorial Breakfast, St. Mary’s Free Will Baptist Church, 9305 Holly Springs Road, Apex, 9 a.m. hsmlk.org

  • Keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Hannah Broome, director of Religious Affairs for Repairers of the Breach

Raleigh: National Day of Racial Healing, First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury St., 9 a.m. to noon ymcatriangle.org/mlk-weekend

  • Sponsored by the YMCA of the Triangle, with breakfast beginning at 8 a.m.

Raleigh: “MLK/FBI” movie showing at N.C. Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Road, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

  • “MLK/FBI” is a film by Sam Pollard about FBI surveillance and harassment of King. Free with registration at ncartmuseum.org/events

Sunday, Jan, 14

Apex: Social Justice Sunday, Apex First Baptist Church, 419 S. Salem Street, 11 a.m. apexfirst.online.church

Cary: MLK Dreamfest Interfaith Service, Christ the King Lutheran Church, 600 Walnut St., 3:30 p.m. churchthekingcary.org

  • All faiths are welcome to celebrate with guest preacher the Rev. Laura Ingersoll from Baltimore and music by the Interfaith Choir

Cary: It Takes a Village: Community Meal and Discussion, Cary First United Methodist Church, 117 S. Academy St., 5:30 p.m. firstcary.com/dreamfest

Durham: The Duke Centennial Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration, Duke Chapel, 401 Chapel Drive, 4 p.m. mlk.duke.edu

  • Keynote speaker is Duke trustee, former NBA player and alumnus Grant Hill

Garner: MLK celebration, Garner Performing Arts Center, 742 W. Garner Road, 4 p.m.

  • Keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. David Forbes, who was one of the founding members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and a leader of lunch counter sit-ins in Raleigh.

  • A Unity Walk will precede the program at GPAC. At 2:45 p.m., participants in the walk will meet in the GPAC parking lot and proceed to the Garner History Museum at the Depot. The Unity Walk begins at approximately 3 p.m. from the museum to GPAC.

Holly Springs: Memorial Walk and Community Celebration, Holly Springs Cultural Arts Center, 300 W. Ballentine St., 2:30 p.m. hsmlk.org

  • Gather for a walk at Oak Hall Shopping Center at 2:30 p.m., North Main Street

  • The celebration features Willie J. Hunter of St. Mary’s Free Will Baptist Church

Monday, Jan. 15

Apex: National Day of Service, Apex Baptist Church, 9 a.m. apexnc.org

  • Pack bagged lunches from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cary: MLK 5K Walk for Hope, Mr. Zion Church, 316 Allen Lewis Drive, 10 a.m. mtzioncary.org/walk2024

  • Donation items are requested: adult jackets and coats, men’s clothing, men’s and women’s undergarments and socks, toiletries, hair products, feminine products, household cleaners and laundry products

Cary: MLK Day of Service at Good Hope Farm, 1580 Morrisville Carpenter Road, 10 a.m. carync.gov/dreamfest

  • Volunteers are needed with Spruce and Good Hope Farm

Chapel Hill: Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day of commemoration

  • Rally begins at 10 a.m. at Peace and Justice Plaza, 179 E. Franklin St. Then march to the historic First Baptist Church for a service featuring Deborah Dicks Maxwell, president of the NC State Conference of the NAACP.

Chapel Hill: Day of Service and Hoops for Hunger, Woollen Gym, 300 South Road, 1 p.m. diversity.unc.edu

  • Non-perishable items are desired for donations

Durham: Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, Sheraton Imperial Hotel, 4700 Emperor Blvd., 7:15-9 a.m. trianglemlk.com

  • Keynote speaker is the Rev. Canon Sandye A. Wilson

Durham: Celebrating the Legacy Through the Arts, W.D. Hill Recreation Center, 1308 Fayetteville St., 2-5 p.m. tinyurl.com/3tsyyrfn

  • Visual art displays, a poetry open mic, community discussions and live performances from 2-5 p.m. Jan. 13 at W.D. Hill Recreation Center

Durham: Dream Big Book Drive, Golden Belt Campus, 800 Taylor St., 1-4 p.m. p.m. bookharvest.org/dreambig

  • Attendees are invited to bring donations of new and gently used books for children and teens up to age 18

Fuquay-Varina: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Celebration, Falcon Park, 105 Falcon Drive, 9:30 a.m. casf-v.org/upcoming-events

  • March begins at Falcon Park and ends at First Baptist Church, 105 N. West St.

  • Breakfast at 9:45 a.m. with a program and keynote speakers

Henderson: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church, 511 Orange St., 8 a.m. Info@morganforgovernor.com

  • Keynote speaker is NC Supreme Court Justice and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Morgan

Holly Springs: Day of Service Clean Up, Bass Lake Park, 900 Bass Lake Road, 9 a.m.

Raleigh: Martin Luther King Memorial March, Downtown Raleigh, 11 a.m. trianglemlk.com

  • Gathering at State Capitol Building at 10 a.m

Raleigh: Martin Luther King Noon Observation, Martin Marietta Center, noon. trianglemlk.com

  • Keynote speaker the Rev. Sharon Dean of Wake Chapel, Raleigh with music from the Martin Luther King All Children’s Choir

Raleigh: Martin Luther King Evening Musical Celebration, Martin Marietta Center, 5:30 p.m. trianglemlk.com

Thursday, Jan. 18

Wake Forest: MLK Celebration, Friendship Baptist Church, 237 Friendship Chapel Road, 6:30 p.m. wakeforestnc.gov

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