To commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 16, local towns are holding celebrations of Dr. King’s life and legacy. The celebrations will take place not just on the day itself, but in the surrounding week as well. Here’s a complete timeline of what is happening around our area:

Saturday, January 14

  • The Town of Carrboro will host a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day event from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Century Center. Guest speakers for the event include: U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, Carrboro Town Council Member Barbara Foushee, illustrator Keith Knight, local historian Danita Mason-Hogans, and Nevaeh Hodge of the Carrboro Youth Council and Chapel Hill- Carrboro NAACP Youth Council.

Sunday, January 15

  • UNC’s MLK Jr. Week of celebration will begin with a memorial banquet at the Friday Center. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will include live music and a keynote address. More information and tickets are available at go.unc.edu/MLKBanquet2023.

Monday, January 16

  • The Passmore Senior Center in Hillsborough will host a holiday program beginning at 10 a.m., co-hosted by the NC Central Alumni Association and the Orange County Department on Aging. The program includes a panel discussion with local Black business leaders.
  • Fleet Feet in Carrboro is hosting a four-mile fun run starting at 10 a.m. Runners and walkers alike are welcome to join.
  • Book Harvest will hold its annual Dream Big Book Drive from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Golden Belt Campus in Durham. Activities include a parade from Paperhand Puppet Intervention, jump-roping with the Bouncing Bulldogs, and more.
  • The UNC diversity office will host a food drive for Carolina Cupboard from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mardi Gras Bowling Center in Chapel Hill. The first 20 people to bring four or more food items to donate will get free bowling for an hour.
  • Peace advocate Medea Benjamin will speak at the Community Church of Chapel Hill at 7:30 p.m. Benjamin will discuss the war in Ukraine as part of a national tour promoting her new book. More information can be found at codepink.org.

Wednesday, January 18

  • UNC’s Week of Celebration will also include an annual lecture and awards ceremony will in Hill Hall’s Moeser Auditorium on the UNC campus. The ceremony features a keynote speech by famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

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