Martin Luther King Jr. departed from Charlotte for the National Baptist Convention in 1954. | Photo via Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library
July 10, 1954. It was a hot, 80 degrees, and Charlotteans had many things to celebrate. It was opening day for Douglas Municipal Airport (now known as Charlotte Douglas International Airport). Several months later, it became the backdrop for Martin Luther King Jr.'s first recorded trip to the Queen City.
Some time before the National Baptist Convention in September 1954, King departed from Charlotte’s new passenger terminal with Kelly Alexander, Sr., a Charlotte native and President of the North Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to six Black high schools in Charlotte during convocation.
Photo via Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library
The civil rights leader later returned to Charlotte, speaking at the Charlotte Park Center (now known as the Grady Cole Center) on Sept. 25, 1960. He gave an early version of the historic “I Have a Dream Speech” before speaking at a convocation of Black high schools in Charlotte in May 1963. A few months later, he delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington in 1963.
Business After Hours | 5-7 p.m. | Oaklore Distilling Co., Matthews | Free | Sip and make new connections with the Matthews Chamber of Commerce.
Food, Wine, and Flavor’s One-Year Anniversary Bash | 6:30-8 p.m. | Acqua Ragazza, Mooresville | $25 | Mingle with wine enthusiasts over savory Italian fare + tickets include one glass of wine and appetizers.
Winter Woods Watercolor | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Primal Brewery Belmont, Belmont | $36 | Cozy up with a craft brew before unleashing your inner Bob Ross.
Friday, Jan. 17
Swiftie Night - Live Music with Ellie Morgan | 5-10 p.m. | Vaulted Oak Brewing | Cost of purchase | Sip on local beers before singing along to your favorite Swiftie songs + find a new book at Trope’s Mobile Bookshop.
The Stranger: Billy Joel Tribute | 6:30 p.m. | Cain Center for the Arts, Cornelius | $35 | Come “Just The Way You Are” to see a tribute to the iconic musician.
Kevin Hart: Acting My Age | 7:30 p.m. | Ovens Auditorium | $177 | The Emmy-nominated actor and comedian will make you laugh during his three-night stay in the Queen City.
Saturday, Jan. 18
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade | 9 a.m. | Tryon Street, Uptown | Free | Celebrate the life and legacy of the civil rights leader during this annual parade.
Charlotte Symphony: Gershwin’s Magic Key | 11 a.m. | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art | $11+ | Bring the family to learn about the legendary composer and his journey through New York’s vibrant music scene.
Sunday, Jan. 19
Yoga Untapped | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Amor Artis Brewing, Fort Mill, SC | $10 | Get your stretch on before sipping on beer or wine.
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Noche Bruta will soon serve its final plates at Hex Coffee, Kitchen, & Natural Wines in Camp North End. The Mexican-inspired pop-up will continue through Saturday, Jan. 18 before hosting a Valentine’s dinner and farewell party scheduled for Feb. 15.
Edu
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools plans to raise the minimum wage for its staff, up to $20 an hour. The district confirmed 3,866 employees currently earn less than that. If approved, changes could begin next month and roll out over the next few years. (WCNC)
Job
Groninger USA, LLC is expanding its manufacturing operations into Steele Creek. The $15.1 million investment by the German company will bring 60 new jobs to the Queen City, increasing its workforce to 172 full-time employees over the next five years.
Coming Soon
A new senior living community is in the works in Indian Land. Kolter Group Acquisitions applied for zoning changes for Cresswind, a community of 800+ homes. The Lancaster County Planning Commission will receive the proposal on Tuesday, Jan. 21. (The Herald)
Biz
Nashville-based Opry Entertainment Group purchased a majority stake in Charlotte’s Southern Entertainment, the group behind Lovin’ Life Music Festival. The partnership could mean more festivals in new markets + increased activations for existing festivals. (Charlotte Business Journal)
Development
The developer of the former EpiCentre in Uptown, Afshin Ghazi, is planning a retail center near Lake Norman called Terrell Town Center Area 2. The 10-acre site at NC 150 and Sherrills Ford Road will include a grocery store, drive-through restaurant, and four retail buildings. A timeline is TBA. (The Charlotte Observer)
Announced
Discovery Place unveiled a new name for its reimagined nature museum: Charlotte Museum of Nature. Construction is underway at the site of the original Discovery Place Nature near Freedom Park. It’s expected to open in 2026.
Ranked
24. That’s what Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia ranked on the Milken Institute’s 2025 list of the country’s “Best-Performing Cities,” down 10 spots from last year. The metro area made the Tier 2 list of large cities due to job + wage growth and high-tech GDP.
Sports
After three years of hoops at the Spectrum Center, the Jumpman Invitational is ending its run in the Queen City. The Charlotte Sports Foundation confirms lead backer Jordan Brand is not extending its sponsorship of the two-night college basketball event. There’s a possibility for a similar men’s and women’s event to come later this year. (WCNC)
Listen
The NBA trade deadline is approaching — what could the Hornets do for a better season? Go beyond the locker room for the biggest stories on the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Finance
Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (It sounds wild, but it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. This is hands-down one of the best of 2025.*
Volunteer
Did you know MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service? Join AmeriCorps this MLK Day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King and help your community by volunteering on Monday, Jan. 20. Find volunteer opportunities to serve locally.*
Category
Festival
🏳️🌈 Pride in the park
Charlotte Pride festivities draw more than 200,000 to Uptown annually. | Photo by Mike Mazely, courtesy of Charlotte Pride
A major change is coming to one of Uptown’s biggest festivals. This year, Charlotte Pride Festival will take place at First Ward Park, rather than along Tryon Street, for its 25th anniversary.
“In past years, we’ve had a wonderful Neighborhood Market area, but First Ward Park will allow us to expand this from one tent with about 15 vendors under it to hopefully welcome many more small businesses and organizations, each with a larger presence,” says Meredith Thompson, Charlotte Pride Managing Director.
The new location will offer more space for nonprofits, local small businesses, artists, and artisans in the weekend-long event.
Psst... When this year’s entertainers and schedule are announced, be sure you’re subscribed to our free, daily newsletter and on social media. We’ll have you covered.
Mark your calendars, Charlotte Pride runs Aug. 16-17 and is free to attend. VIP tickets will be available — details are TBA.
A pair of 14K gold plated heart hoops. The huggie-sized earrings are hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant. Psst — they’re also the perfect Valentine’s Day accessory.
I’m so excited for the Charlotte Museum of Nature to open to the public. The museum will be in a brand new building, filled with new exhibits, a tree canopy walk, and live otters! Having worked at Discovery Place, each facet of the nonprofit has a special place in my heart. With that, check out this butterfly that landed on my hand at the former Discovery Place Nature’s butterfly pavilion.
