This weekend the Triangle kicks off plenty of family-friendly ways to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., from a holiday parade, book fair and talent show in Durham to a community expo, children’s activities and an African-American music concert in Cary. Plus, you can attend a marathon game by UNC and Duke students who are raising funds for kids or take in N.C. Symphony’s Latin Fiesta, a special kids concert featuring music of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Peru.

CarolinaParent.com’s Janice Lewine has rounded up loads of Triangle events honoring Dr. King. Check out the following activities this weekend and visit our Monthly Calendar Highlights on the Web for more MLK events later in the week.

Durham

Yesterday’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality is the theme of the 8th Annual MLK Day Holiday Parade, which marches down Fayetteville Street at noon on Jan. 16. Call 919-680-0465 for details.
Hayti Heritage Center hosts the annual Raise a Reader Bookfair and Youth Talent Showcase Jan. 16 from noon to 3 p.m. At 2 p.m., actor and playwright Mike Wiley performs his one-man show, Brown v. The Board of Education, that chronicles the desegregation of schools. Events are free. The center is at 804 Old Fayetteville St. For more information, visit www.hayti.org or call 919-683-1709.

Raleigh

On Jan. 15, a wreath-laying ceremony takes place at the Martin Luther King Memorial Gardens, at the corner of Rock Quarry Road and Martin Luther King Boulevard, at 6 p.m.

Cary

The town’s MLK Jr. Dreamfest 2010 on Jan. 16 features a community expo, children’s activities and African-American music performed by the Chamber Choir of the Concert Singers of Cary. The celebration begins at 1 p.m. at the Herbert C. Young Community Center, 101 Wilkinson Ave.

Smithfield

On Jan. 16, Johnston Community College and TheatreworksUSA present the inspiring story of Harriet Tubman and her quest to free more than 300 fellow slaves through the Underground Railroad. Freedom Train is at 3 p.m. in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium, 245 College Rd. Tickets are $10 and are available online at www.johnstoncc.edu/performingarts by calling the box office at 919-209-2099.

More weekend fun

If you’re a Blue Devils or Tar Heels fan or you simply like helping kids, don’t miss the Duke-Carolina Student Basketball Marathon. UNC and Duke students have spent the past semester raising money for the BounceBack Kids, a non-profit organization that provides athletic and recreational activities for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Now they’ve combined their love for basketball and dislike for the rival basketball team to hold a 20-hour basketball game, from Saturday to Sunday, pitting UNC students against Duke students.

On Saturday at 11 a.m., celebrate the vibrant cultures of Latin and South America as N.C. Symphony Conductor Grant Llewellyn leads a whirlwind tour of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Peru. The performance at Meymandi Concert Hall, in Raleigh, features the world-famous Mariachi Cobre, best known for their performances at Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center. This Young People's Series concert has a special hour long kid-friendly program. Arrive at 10 a.m. before the concert, and your kids can enjoy the Marbles Kids Museum Learn Your Notes and Be the Conductor activities right in Meymandi Concert Hall as well as the Instrument Zoo. Details at www. http://www.ncsymphony.org.

You’ll find more family fun in the CarolinaParent.com’s Daily Calendar and Monthly Calendar Highlights.