Cary's Annual Dr. Martin L King's Dreamfest
- When: Friday, January 16, 2026 - All Day Event
- Location: Downtown Cary
- Cost: Free
Celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. January 16th-19th at Dreamfest 2026 in Cary, NC! The theme is Honoring Dignity and Uplifting Humanity. This inspiring weekend offers a vibrant mix of events, including an art exhibition, an Interfaith Service, a 5K Walk for Hope, and the Village Dining & Discussion community dinner with an interactive learning experience. Participate in an outdoor Day of Service on a working farm or watch a screening of the John Lewis documentary "Good Trouble" followed by a discussion.
Families can enjoy storytelling and crafts at the children’s program, while the Cultural Arts Celebration features captivating performances by talented artists, poets, and dancers. The Keynote speaker will be Rev. Jerome Gay of Vision Church, RDU, with ABC 11’s Kweilyn Murphy serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies. There are several charitable collections taking place at our events. Learn more at www.carync.gov/dreamfest.
Some family friendly events include:
January 17, 10AM - 12PM Dreamfest Annual Children’s Program (best for 10yrs and under)
Page-Walker Arts & History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop, Cary, NC 27513
A time of storytelling and crafts celebrating Dr. King's values.
January 17, 5PM Art Zone Crafting, 6:30PM Showtime
Dreamfest Cultural Arts Celebration (best for 5th grader and older)
Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave, Cary NC 27511
Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the 2026 Dreamfest Cultural Celebration: "The Beloved Community: Honoring Dignity, Uplifting Humanity. This exciting event promises a perfect blend of entertainment and enlightenment, featuring Keynote Speaker Rev. Jerome Gay Jr., Senior Pastor of Vision Church RDU.
January 19, 9AM –11AM and 12PM – 2PM
Volunteering for MLK Day of Service at Good Hope Farm - Registration Required
1580 Morrisville Carpenter Road, Cary, NC 27519
Volunteers aged 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Join us for MLK Day of Service at Good Hope Farm. To support food security in our region, volunteers are needed to help prepare our organic teaching farm for spring planting. As part of this day of service, we ask that all volunteers bring at least one canned/nonperishable food item for donation to the local food pantry. Volunteers can expect to perform a variety of agricultural field work. Volunteer service may include using wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, hoes, pitchforks, pruners and more as we prepare our farm for spring produce planting.
January 19, 2026 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Dr. Martin L. King 5K Walk for Hope
Parking Lot of Mt. Zion Church
316 Allen Lewis Dr., Cary, NC 27513
January 17 - 19, 2026 MLK Dreamfest Charitable Collections
- Website: www.carync.gov
- Contact Name: Kim Roberts
- Contact Phone: 9194694069
- Contact Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Category: Free
See website for additional details.
All repeats 
