"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Winston-Salem and the surrounding community invite you to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at special gospel musical concerts, celebrity keynotes, and much more.
Below is a calendar of events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
To learn more about how we celebrate black heritage and the incredible accomplishments of African-Americans in Winston-Salem, visit www.VisitWinstonSalem.com/blackheritage.
Sunday, January 15
Wake Forest University Gospel Fest
Sunday, Jan. 15; 3 p.m.
Brendle Recital Hall, WFU Scales Fine Arts Center
Cost: $10/General Public, Free for WFU students
The Wake Forest University (WFU) Intercultural Center hosts its 12th Annual MLK GospelFest featuring the WFU Gospel Choir and guest artist Kierra "KiKi" Sheard at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15. Gospelfest is an annual large-scale gospel celebration, in honor of the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Tickets on sale at the door and online here.
Music at Home Concert Series
Sunday, Jan. 15; Beginning at 2 p.m.
St. Philips Heritage Center & Home Moravian Church
Cost: Free
Begin the afternoon at St. Philips Heritage Center in Old Salem, site of the oldest standing African-American Church in North Carolina. Enjoy a message by Dr. Louise Toppin at 2 p.m. Chair of the UNC Chapel Hill Music Department, Dr. Toppin is also the director of the non-profit organization Videmus, which promotes the music of African-American concert composers. Then at 3 p.m., be inspired by the joyous sounds of the Burke Singers of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) at Home Moravian Church in Old Salem.
Convenient shuttle service for guests to and from St. Philips is offered starting at 1 p.m. in front of Home Moravian Church (529 Church St., Winston-Salem, NC) For more information, call (336) 722-6171.
32nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration presented by North Carolina Black Repertory Company
Sunday, Jan. 15; 3 p.m.
Arts Council Theatre (610 Coliseum Dr NW, Winston-Salem, NC)
Cost: Free with 3 non-perishable food items
North Carolina Black Repertory Company (NCBRC), hosts of the biennial National Black Theatre Festival, bring you the 32nd annual MLKJ Birthday Celebration. A showcase of local talent, the event brings community together through song, dance, poetry, African drumming, and more.
All non-perishable food items are donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Winston-Salem.
For more information call 336.723.2266.
Monday, January 16
17th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Keynote Speech featuring D.L. Hughley
Monday Jan. 16; 7 p.m.
Winston-Salem State University, K.R. Williams Auditorium
601 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27110
Cost: Free
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) Presents "On Common Ground: A Dream Deferred," with keynote speaker, actor, author, comedian and political commentator D.L. Hughley. Guests can also enjoy Wake Forest University and WSSU Gospel Choirs, the WSSU Burke Singers and Schola Cantorum.