We will join thousands of people across the country collaborating to make Black history primary research materials more widely available and to celebrate Frederick Douglass’ chosen birthday: Valentine’s Day. This year, the transcriptions will focus on the Colored Conventions Project from the University of Delaware. These state and national conventions, held from the 1830s through Reconstruction, allowed Black abolitionists and leaders to work toward advancing the legal and civil rights of Black Americans in the 19th century and provided opportunities for leaders like Douglass to rise to prominence.

As winter begins to soften and the promise of spring draws near, the Lexington Lantern Festival invites the community to gather on March 1 for an evening shaped by light, hope, and shared experience. Hosted at Cary Hall, the festival is a celebration of tradition, creativity, and togetherness.

From 1:00 to 4:00 PM, Cary Hall comes alive with interactive booths, hands-on activities, and moments for reflection as visitors write wishes and create lantern-inspired keepsakes. Beginning at 4:00 PM, cultural performances and music fill the space, sharing stories through movement, sound, and tradition until 6:00 PM.

As dusk settles, the celebration flows beyond the hall. From 6:00 to 7:00 PM, participants are invited to join a lantern parade from Cary Hall to the Visitors Center, carrying light, hopes, and collective spirit into the evening. The journey concludes with a shared moment of illumination at the Visitors Center, where the glow of lanterns reflects the community’s wishes for the future.

The Lexington Lantern Festival is more than an event—it is a pause, a gathering, and a shared step forward, lighting the way together.