Verdi’s Rigoletto ~ Jan. 26 & 28
In this fully-staged opera production sung in Italian, the court jester Rigoletto insults and humiliates all those around him for the amusement of his boss, the Duke of Mantua. But eventually, his words come back to haunt him, setting him and his innocent, love-struck daughter Gilda on a course for disaster. You will immediately recognize the parade of hit tunes from Gilda’s “Caro nome” to the Duke’s “La donna è mobile” and to the thrilling final quartet. At the heart of the story though is Rigoletto himself, a tragic title character worthy of Shakespeare, a case study that proves that nothing good ever comes from hate and a never-ending thirst for revenge.
17th Annual African American Cultural Celebration ~ Jan. 27
Join the statewide kickoff to Black History Month at the North Carolina Museum of History. Named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, the annual African American Cultural Celebration features more than 75 musicians, storytellers, dancers, chefs, historians, playwrights, authors, artists, reenactors, and more.
Chinese New Year Celebration ~ Jan. 27
Welcome the Year of the Dog at the Triangle’s largest Chinese New Year Festival! Enjoy dance and musical performances, sample authentic Chinese cuisine, and participate in fun activities for everyone in the family.
Astronomy Days ~ Jan. 27, 28
From telescope crafts to solar observing, special presentations to rocket launches, space enthusiasts of all ages will be educated and entertained at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences’ Astronomy Days. This year’s theme is Space Telescopes and Missions.
Hear about NASA Astronaut Lee Morin’s work on the International Space Station, discover the wonders of deep space, create your very own mini Hubble, experience what its like to be on the surface of Mars, discover the unknown universe, make and blast off your own bottle rocket, and meet live animals of the constellations and representatives of NASA’s Langley Research Center.
Dorothea Dix Park Community Roadshow ~ Jan. 30
Join your neighbors in a discussion about the future of Dix Park and help build a park for everyone!
In partnership with the Hillsborough Street Community Service Corporation · Hillsborough Citizens Advisory Council · Central Citizens Advisory Council · Wade Citizens Advisory Council · Southwest Citizens Advisory Council · West Citizens Advisory Council and the Blue Ridge Corridor Alliance.
Tournées Film Festival ~ Feb.1 – Mar.1
Tournées Film Festival is a program of the FACE Foundation, in partnership with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, which brings French cinema to American college and university campuses. Showcasing established and emerging talents, the festival reflects the diversity and richness of French cinema through various genres — fiction, documentary, animation and repertory films — giving audiences the opportunity to experience French cinema through a wider lens.