Parks & Rec

Feed your belly and your brain! Bring your lunch to the City of Raleigh Museum and listen to a captivating lecture every third Thursday of the month. Lectures will run for 30 minutes and topics vary each month. Oakwood Cemetery is known as a Cemetery Full of Life.  But what makes it so? Join the City of Raleigh Museum to discover the stories behind the stones, as well as how this active burial space operates as a museum! You'll learn about some of the Cemetery's well-loved "residents,", uncover long-buried stories, and honor heroes resting under the oaks—talk presented by Oakwood Cemetery Executive Director Robin Simonton. Location: City of Raleigh Museum Ages: All Cost: Free

John Chavis Memorial Park presents King Day A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 20, from 12 - 3 p.m. This event will celebrate Dr. King's life through service, children's activities, and more! Location: John Chavis Memorial Park Age: All Cost: Free

Don't miss out on our LGBTQIA+ Film Series screening! Join us for our monthly program on the fourth Tuesday of the month. We will be showcasing films with diverse themes around sexuality and gender. This program is co-hosted with the Carolina Aging Alliance. All folks 18 and older are welcome! January's Film is "Longtime Companion." Longtime Companion follows the lives of a small circle of friends from the first mention of the disease in the New York Times in 1981. First referred to as "Gay-Related-Immune-Disorder," we watch the effect of the disease as it devastates the lives of our protagonists. Jumping between Manhattan and Fire Island, vignettes carry us from the it-couldn't-happen-to-me mentality of the early days of the disease to the invasive effect it has had on all of our lives, today. The title of the film comes from the New York Times' refusal to acknowledge homosexual relationships in their obituary section during this period. Instead, survivors were referred to as "Longtime Companions" of the deceased. Location: Five Points Center for Active Adults Age: 18 and older Cost: Free Register on RecLink

Career opportunities and cultural exchange for new North Carolinians! Are you a newcomer looking for job opportunities in Raleigh? Join us at our job fair for new North Carolinians and connect with local employers who value your talents and experience. Explore career opportunities, network with employers, access valuable community resources and meet organizations that support refugees. Thanks to our event partners, the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Lutheran Services Carolinas, and Amplio Recruiting! There will be free food, snacks, and parking! For more information or questions, call or email, coeprogram@raleighnc.gov English: 919-996-2118 Spanish: 919-996-2120 Location: Method Community Center Ages: 18 and up Cost: Free *No Register Required

Enjoy games, crafts, and the famous Lion Dance. Featuring performances and demonstrations by Wah Lum Kung Fu of Raleigh and special partners. This event is brought to you by the Cultural Outreach and Enrichment (COE) Program, Wah Lum Kung Fu of Raleigh, and Lake Lynn Community Center. Ages: All Cost: Free

Our instructors are ready to help you feel confident and excited to learn how to improve your artistic skills! Come to this fun open house, play with materials, ideas, techniques, and meet our instructors! They will help you know where to start, and can help you sign up for future art classes. Location: Five Points Center for Active Adults Ages: 18 and up Cost: Free Register at RecLink

Get dressed up and celebrate with your favorite role model(s)! The Laurel Hills Community Center is having a night of dancing, refreshments, games, and great entertainment! It's a celebration of family in all its wonderful forms! This event is not limited to specific family dynamics! Whether you're a parent, guardian, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or cousin, everyone is invited to share in the festivities. The fee includes hors d'oeuvres and door prizes. Register early because space is limited! The cost is per person. Location: Laurel Hills Community Center Ages: 6-15 (with an adult) Cost: $25 per person Register on RecLink

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure at our first Family Fun Day celebration at the museum! Experience the thrill of a scavenger hunt, unleash your creativity with fun craft, and discover a VERY special surprise that awaits you. Join us for a day filled with excitement and make lasting memories! Location: City of Raleigh Museum Ages: All Cost: Free

Come experience the incredible talent of local Black artists and discover how their work is deeply shaped by Black history and culture. This is a unique opportunity to engage with powerful art that tells stories of resilience, identity, and heritage. Don’t miss out on this inspiring event—admission is completely free! Bring your friends and family to celebrate creativity and history in a meaningful way. This program is supported in part by North Carolina Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, www.nchumanities.org Location:  City of Raleigh Museum Age: All Cost: Free No Registration Required