The Maya Angelou Garden Party started in 2017, making this 2025 party the eighth! (including a couple of years in an online format during COVID!) Hosted by Wake Downtown and held at Bailey Park, this event brings together Wake Forest students, faculty, staff, and the entire Winston Salem community for an entertaining and engaging opportunity to remember the legacy of Dr. Maya Angelou.

The event is held the first Sunday in April, which tends to fall close to Dr. Angelou’s April 4th birthday! The event features speakers, musicians, and many folks reading Dr. Angelou’s poetry on stage! With activities for young and old alike, this event draws a large crowd every year and this year was no exception!

ZSR Special Collections and Archives have been present every year that the party has been held at Bailey Park. This year, we interacted with 56 folks at our table, which displayed replicas from Dr. Angelou’s Film and Theatre collection at ZSR. If you missed the party this year, mark your calendar and join us on the first Sunday in April 2026 for a wonderful day in Bailey Park!