Emancipation Day Trolley: Oberlin Village Tour
2026-01-03 10:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Pope House Museum, 511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Oberlin Village was a vibrant African American community established after the Civil War.
Celebrate Emancipation Day by joining local historian Carmen Wimberly Cauthen and Cheryl Williams for a guided tour of Oberlin Village.
Details
Time: 10 – 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Adults $15, Children $6
Register for Tickets

Fighting for Freedom: Black Civil War Reenactors
2026-01-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Pope House Museum, 511 S Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Travel back in time to see United States Colored Troops and allies as they tell stories of real-life Black soldiers and their lives in the camps and on the front lines.
Details
Location: Pope House Museum
Age: All
Cost: Free
No Registration Required

Family Fun Day New Year's!
2026-01-10 11:00 - 14:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Come and celebrate the new year with the museum!
Make magic wish wands, New Year’s resolutions, and learn about the way some of Raleigh’s residents have changed history.
Location: City of Raleigh Museum
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No Registration Required

Plant Swap!
2026-01-17 11:00 - 13:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Calling all plant lovers! Join us for an exciting plant swap event.
Bring your favorite house and garden plants or homegrown vegetables to trade with fellow plant enthusiasts. We ask that you bring only healthy, pest-free plants to ensure everyone’s enjoyment. This event is free and open to the public!
Location: City of Raleigh Museum
Date: Saturday, Jan. 17
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: Free

When Community Gathers
2026-01-18 15:00 - 18:00 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Join us on Sunday, Jan. 18, the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026, as we come together to celebrate unity and community through music, dance, and art.
In honor of our ancestors, we invite you to wear African or Afrocentric attire to show your solidarity and pride. Enjoy light refreshments and be inspired by the power of community. No registration needed – just bring yourself and your beautiful attire!
Location: John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
This event is hosted by the North Carolina Black Women Empowered 50+ Group.

John Chavis Memorial Park Presents King Day: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
2026-01-19 12:00 - 15:00 | John Chavis Community Center, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
John Chavis Memorial Park presents King Day: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 19, from noon to 3 p.m.
This special event will honor Dr. King’s legacy through meaningful service opportunities, engaging children’s activities, and community-centered experiences.
Join us as we reflect, connect, and celebrate the impact of Dr. King’s life and work. This event is free and open to all ages.
Location: John Chavis Memorial Park
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No registration is required

Drumming Showcase
2026-01-24 11:00 - 14:00 | Five Points Center for Active Adults, 2000 Noble Road, Raleigh, NC, 27608, United States
Celebrate the rhythms of Japan, Senegal, Puerto Rico, and more!
Explore different drumming traditions, enjoy hands-on crafts, and pick up something from a local food truck.
Featuring

Peaceful Forest
Diali Cissokho
Broughton High School Winter Drumline
Tambor y Alma
Triangle Taiko

This event is presented in partnership with the Japan America Society of North Carolina.
Event Details
Location: Five Point Center for Active Adults
Ages: All
Cost: Free

Dix Park Leadership Committee
2026-01-27 09:00 - 10:30 | DIX Park, 1030 Richardson Dr, Raleigh, NC, 27603

Share Your Ideas for Biltmore Hills Park
2026-01-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Biltmore Hills Park, 2615 Fitzgerald Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27610
Join Raleigh Parks for a family-friendly public workshop to explore design options for the expansion of Biltmore Hills Park.

Mental Health Check In
2026-02-02 18:30 - 21:30 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Join us for Mental Health Check-In: Food, Feelings & Connection, a preventative wellness conversation centered on how food impacts our overall well-being beyond diet culture and restriction.Empty headingEmpty heading
Globally, food is recognized as medicine, culture, and a cornerstone of community. This check-in invites us to begin approaching it in the same way, examining how our relationship with food shapes our well-being across multiple dimensions.
Guided by an interdisciplinary panel of professionals and community leaders, this conversation will explore:Empty headingEmpty heading

Food as Comfort — Without Guilt
Food as Preventative Care
Nourishment vs. Restriction
Food, Culture & Connection

This experience reflects a grassroots approach to wellness—neighbors, professionals, and organizers working side by side to ensure our community has access to holistic, non-clinical support. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Hosted by Let’s Get Social Raleigh Foundation INC and John P. Top Green African American Cultural Center
Location: John P. “Top” Greene African American Cultural Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No Registration Required

Residential Urbanity: A Modern Showcase of Triangle Skate Photographers
2026-02-06 18:00 - 21:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
In partnership with Skate Raleigh and as part of Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s First Friday events for February, we’re hosting a showcase of three local skate photographers and the backstory behind some of their favorite shots from recent years.
Starting at 6 p.m., we’ll see selections from Zorah Olivia, Chris Facey, and Clinton Perry, along with Q&A, hosted by Miguel Magallanes from Endless Grind. Due to limited space, this will be a free but ticketed event. Use this form to RSVP.
Location: City of Raleigh Museum
Ages: All
Cost: Free
RSVP for Residential Urbanity

Celebrate Black History Month at Chavis Park
2026-02-07 11:00 - 14:00 | John Chavis Community Center, 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
We invite you to join us at John Chavis Memorial Park for a dynamic event that honors the history, culture, and significant contributions of Black communities.Empty headingEmpty heading
This celebration offers a variety of activities aimed at educating, inspiring, and bringing people together. There will be food trucks, lessons for littles, Black-Owned Business Vendors, bounce houses, arts and crafts, and much more! We hope to see you there.
Location: John Chavis Community Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No registration is required

Mardi Gras Masquerade Prom for Adults
2026-02-07 20:00 - 23:00 | Dix Park Chapel, 1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27603
After the success of last year’s Holly Jolly Raleigh Prom for Adults, tickets are now available for our Mardi Gras Masquerade Prom for Adults on Feb. 7, 2026!
We’re hosting a vibrant, masquerade-style evening where adults (21+) can get glammed up and celebrate Mardi Gras in style with music, masks, and magic all night long. Attendees will dance the night away to beats from our DJ, sip on adult beverages from local vendors at our cash bar, enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and indulge in festive mocktails crafted by talented mixologists on-site.
Every registration supports the Raleigh Parks Play It Forward Financial Assistance Program, helping individuals and families play for a lifetime.
Location: The Chapel at Dix Park
Ages: 21 and older
Cost: $40
Get Tickets on RecLink

Living Legends: C.A.R.V.E. into Black Raleigh
2026-02-08 15:00 - 17:00 | John P. (Top) Greene, 401 MLK Jr Blvd, Raleigh
Living Legends: C.A.R.V.E. into Black Raleigh. Honoring Those Who are Uplifting the Black Community Now
Panel Discussion: “Living Legends of Raleigh”

Dr. Paul Baker – Art / Education/ Community
Dr. James T. Roberson Jr – Religion/ Education / Community / Veteran
Frances Lonnette Williams – Education/ Community
Rozalyn Blair-Sanders – Education / Community
SGT Patricia Harris – Veteran / Community
SFC Elree Smith – Veteran / Community

An unforgettable evening as we honor the living legends of Raleigh, North Carolina—visionaries, trailblazers, and community champions whose work has shaped the cultural, social, and economic landscape of the Black community. This powerful panel discussion will spotlight the individuals who have not only witnessed history but made history.
This celebration is a moment to give them their flowers, celebrate their resilience, and acknowledge the impact of their decades of service. Through conversation, storytelling, and shared wisdom, these icons will reflect on their journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the legacy they continue to build.
Discussion Themes

Roots & Rise: The origin stories of Raleigh’s community leaders
Breaking Barriers: How they created opportunities where none existed
Building the Future: Their hopes, advice, and continued vision for the next generation
Legacy & Love: Honoring their commitment, sacrifice, and leadership
Why This Matters in a world that often waits to honor people after they’re gone, we choose to celebrate them now—in their presence, with gratitude, respect, and joy.

Details
Location: John P. “Top” Green African American Cultural Center
Ages: All
Cost: Free
No Registration is Required

Pals & Gals Vintage Valentines Party
2026-02-13 19:00 - 21:00 | City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Make vintage-inspired cards, sip drinks, and try chocolates. Be merry!
We will provide all of the crafting supplies and the ambiance. This is a wonderful activity for couples, friends, and folks looking to build new community, all for a good cause. 100% of profits from this event go to support free educational programs at the museum.
Location: City of Raleigh Museum
Date: Friday, Feb. 13
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Age: 21 and up
Cost: $35
Register Today

Black History Trolley Tour
2026-02-21 13:00 - 15:30 | Mordecai Historic Park, 1 Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC, 27604
Join the Historic Raleigh Trolley for this special edition of our popular Black history tour highlighting Oberlin Village.
Tours will begin at Mordecai Historic Park and travel to Oberlin, where passengers will disembark for a tour of the Historic Turner House and Oberlin Cemetery and learn about the neighborhood’s history of community and freedom.
Location: Mordecai Historic Park
Tour Times: 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: $15 for adults
Get Tickets on RecLink

Black History Trolley Tour
2026-02-22 13:00 - 15:30 | Mordecai Historic Park, 1 Mimosa St, Raleigh, NC, 27604
Join the Historic Raleigh Trolley for this special edition of our popular Black history tour highlighting Oberlin Village.
Tours will begin at Mordecai Historic Park and travel to Oberlin, where passengers will disembark for a tour of the Historic Turner House and Oberlin Cemetery and learn about the neighborhood’s history of community and freedom.
Location: Mordecai Historic Park
Tour Times: 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
Ages: All
Cost: $15
Get Tickets on RecLink
