How is King connected to NC + the Triangle?

• King’s first visit to Raleigh was in April 1960 to support the Students Nonviolent Coordinating Committee at Shaw University.
• The NC Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources found evidence that King delivered an early version of the famous “I Have A Dream” speech at a school gymnasium in Rocky Mount (~55 mins from Raleigh) on Nov. 27, 1962.
• King spoke to an integrated audience of ~5,000 at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh on July 31, 1966. Read about his visit here.

Does the city have a dedication to Dr. King?

• Yes — Raleigh is home to the first public park in the US solely devoted to King and the civil rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Gardens is located at 1215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. DYK: The park houses a life-size sculpture of King + more civil rights-centric public art.

What can I do to celebrate?

• MLK Dreamfest: Walk For Hope 5K | Monday, Jan. 15 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Mt. Zion Church, 316 Allen Lewis Dr., Cary | Free | Bring donations like adult jackets, men’s clothing, toiletries, and feminine products and walk to raise awareness for unhoused residents with Love from Above and Oak City Cares.
• Nicole Tadgell | We Dream a World (Storytime) | Monday, Jan. 15 | 10:30-11 a.m. | Quail Ridge Books, 4209 Ste. 100 Lassiter Mill Rd., Raleigh | Free | Artist Nicole Tadgell will read this tribute to Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr.
• 44th Annual Martin Luther King Memorial March | Monday, Jan. 15 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | State Capitol Building, Edenton Street Side, Raleigh | Free | This march will begin at the State Capitol Building — there will be a noon observation to follow at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

• Carolina Hurricanes vs. Los Angeles Kings | Monday, Jan. 15 | 3 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh | $30-$285 | Former Canes player Justin Williams will be inducted into the Hurricanes Hall of Fame before the game against one of his former teams.
• Square Dance — eight week lesson series | Monday, Jan. 15 | 7-8:30 p.m. | A Step To Gold International Ballroom, 6278 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 200, Raleigh | $64-$70 | Join the start of this eight week series to learn how to square dance with easy-to-understand moves.

• NC State Men’s Basketball vs. Wake Forest | Tuesday, Jan. 16 | 7-9 p.m. | PNC Arena, 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh | $20-$50 | Cheer on the Pack as it takes on the Demon Deacons.

• Peach Fuzz at The English Garden | Wednesday, Jan. 17 | 6:30-8 p.m. | The English Garden Raleigh Florist, 8820 Gulf Ct., Ste. A, Raleigh | $65 | Create your own Peach Fuzz arrangement to celebrate Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year.
• E’Lon JD, Elora Dash, and Donnie Deneil | Wednesday, Jan. 17 | 7 p.m. | The Pour House Music Hall, 224 S. Blount St., Raleigh | $12-$15 | Enjoy soulful music from these talented artists.

• Collaborating with local museums, arts centers, and government organizations
• Problem solving using the engineering design process
• Learning a new language through Spanish immersion

• Wake County offices, family resource centers + library branches will be closed in observance of MLK Day. Check out the City of Raleigh’s list of additional events and Activate Good’s annual Dignity Week and MLK Day of Service.

• Make a reservation for Winter Tea at the NCMA Cafe this Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you’re looking for even more shops + tea rooms offering premium leaves and blends, we’ve got you covered.

• Looking to plan a trip to the mountains? Plan your next snowy adventure with our list of 10 resorts to ski, snowboard, and tube at within five hours of the City of Oaks.

• Submissions for our RALtoday Picture of the Year contest close this Wednesday, Jan. 17. Submit a local photo that you took in 2023 + we’ll give you a discount code to shop at our online marketplace, Six & Main. Plus, the contest winner will receive a $25 Six & Main gift card.

• New name, new venues, and new events. For 77 years, Historic Charleston Foundation has celebrated houses, history, and culture through its annual spring festival — this year The Charleston Festival (formerly known as the Festival of Houses & Gardens) is happening March 14-April 14. See this year’s lineup + snag tickets.*

• Secure year-round comfort (and lower your energy bill along the way) with EASE Comfort by Air Experts. You’ll enjoy a new energy-efficient heating and cooling system + built-in maintenance, and a lifetime warranty. Bonus: Through Thursday, Feb. 15, installations come with a free programmable WiFi Thermostat and Media Filter.*

• Baby, it’s (still) cold outside. Try this potato and leek soup to warm you up.*

• Make a donation towards veterans’ and children’s charities + you could win a RAM 3500 HD truck in the Big Diesel Truck Dream Giveaway. Double your entries with code 6AMCITY.*