MLK Day 2017 Around Atlanta

The King Holiday will be observed Monday, Jan. 16 and several events and celebrations are scheduled to commemorate the life and legacy of the late civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While some of the events will be held on the holiday, others are scheduled before hand. Please check the status before attending:

ATLANTA

MLK Commemorative Services at Ebenezer Baptist Church

The annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorative service will be held Monday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the historic Heritage Sanctuary, 101 Jackson Street, Atlanta. Sponsored by The King Center, this annual church service is an ecumenical endeavor, engaging members of various religious traditions and state, national, and international governments. The service features tributes to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year, Father Michael Pfleger, senior pastor at The Faith Community of Saint Sabina in Chicago will be the keynote speaker. Due to limited seating, guests are encouraged to arrive early and take MARTA. For more information, visit thekingcenter.org.

2017 MLK Commemorative March and Rally set

The 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commemorative march and rally will be held Monday, Jan. 16, 1:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. March assembly begins at 1:15 p.m. at Peachtree and Baker Streets and ends at the King Center, 449 Auburn Ave. For more information, visit atlantaga.gov or call 404-597-7795.

NAACP President Cornell William Brooks to lecture at Emory Law

Emory University’s Law School will be hosting a lecture to commemorate the legacy of Dr. King Thursday, Jan. 12, 6:30 p.m., in the Tull Auditorium, 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta. Cornell William Brooks, president and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), will be the guest speaker of the free lecture. A reception will follow. For more information, visit law.emory.edu.

King Center events

King Holiday Observance Kick-Off
Join the staff at the King Center Tuesday, Jan. 10, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for the King Holiday Observance Kick-Off Celebration at the King Center’s Freedom Hall Auditorium, 449 Auburn Ave., NE, Atlanta. The 2017 reception will include a presentation for the Dream Forward community service awards. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 404-526-8900 or visit the kingcenter.org.

Author to discuss new Coretta Scott King biography with daughter Bernice King
Meet Barbara Reynolds, author of “My Life, My Love, My Legacy,” a biography of Coretta Scott King, on Friday, Jan. 13, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the King Center, 449 Auburn Ave., NE, Atlanta. The free event will feature a candid conversation with Reynolds and Bernice King, daughter of the late Coretta Scott King. Guests will be able to purchase the book and have it signed. For more information, call 404-526-8900 or visit the kingcenter.org.

Run for freedom at the 2017 MLK Day 5K

The MLK Day Let Freedom Run 5K will take place Monday, Jan. 16, 8 a.m., at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Music starts at 8 a.m., 5k line up is at 8:45 a.m. A post race party will follow immediately after the race. The race will begin on the corner of Monroe Drive and 10^th Street. Race registration is $30 in advance, $35 on race day. Runners will run along 3.1 miles of grass, pavement, gravel, a wooden bridge and dirt paths to the beat of a live drum line alongside the race course. Runners are advised to ride MARTA or get there early. For more information, visit mlkday5k.com.

GSU to host celebration at the Civil Rights Museum

Join Georgia State University for a night of celebration Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 to 10 p.m., to celebrate the life of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Center for Civil and Human Rights, 100 Ivan Allen, Jr. Blvd. NW, Atlanta. The evening will include special performances by spoken word artists, dancers, and other artists. There also will be a special performance by the Zeta Mu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and a performance by the award-winning spoken word artist Kyla Lacey. Light refreshments will be served and guests will have access to visit the exhibits in the museum. The cost is $5 for Atlanta campus students and $10 for others.

Judge Glenda Hatchett to speak at GSU MLK commemoration

Judge Hatchett will be the keynote speaker at Georgia State University’s annual MLK symposium on Thursday, Jan. 19, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., in the Student Center Ballroom, 55 Gilmer Street, Atlanta. Nationally recognized as an authority on juvenile and social issues and an outspoken advocate for children everywhere, Judge Hatchett speaks passionately on how to save this and future generations. Her presentations are a reminder to protect our youths to ensure our future.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta to host MLK Day for Kids

The Children’s Museum of Atlanta will host a special ceremony to honor the late civil rights activist on Monday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., at the museum, 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, Atlanta. The program will include music, stories and other special performances to be performed at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

DeKalb

John Evans to serve as Grand Marshal for DeKalb NAACP parade

The DeKalb NAACP will host the 15^th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade on the King Holiday, Monday, Jan. 16.

The civil rights group’s 2017 theme is “Remembering the Dream, Honoring the Dreamer.” The grand marshal for the parade will be John Evans, founder and president of Operation LEAD and former president of the DeKalb NAACP.

Parade participants will line up at Green Pastures Ministries, 5455 Flatshoals Parkway, Decatur, at 10 a.m. The parade starts at noon and will end at Martin Luther King, Jr., High School.

DeKalb County to host 33^rd annual MLK celebration
The county’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration program, “King’s Legacy of Peace with Justice for Our World,” will be held Friday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m., in the Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur. The keynote address will be delivered by Francys Johnson, state president of the Georgia NAACP. Johnson is the senior minister at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Pembroke and Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church in Statesboro. Johnson practices criminal and civil law with the Johnson Firm P.C. Attorneys and Counselors of Law in Statesboro. The celebration is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.dekalbcountyga.gov.

Gwinnett

Gwinnett County Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration

The Gwinnett United Ebony Society’s Martin Luther King, Jr. parade will take place Monday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m. The parade will begin at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville and end at Moore Middle School, 121 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville. For more information, visit www.gwinnettmlkparade.com.

Rockdale County

Annual MLK breakfast set

The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual MLK breakfast on Monday, Jan. 16, 7:30 to 9 a.m., at Longhorn Steakhouse, 1294 Iris Dr. S.W., Conyers. The cost of breakfast is $10 and will benefit the homeless population in Conyers. Pay at the door.

CANCELED – Rockdale County to host first ever MLK parade on national holiday

The community is invited to commemorate the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a daylong festival on Monday, Jan. 16, in Olde Town, 12 to 5 p.m. Organized by the Rockdale County Think Tank, this is Rockdale County’s first MLK Parade and festival. The county’s newly-elected Board of Commissioners’ Chairman Oz Nesbitt will serve as Grand Marshal. Event organizers said attendees can expect a parade that promises a fun, festive day with food and fellowship. In addition to the parade, there will be Dr. King speech reenactments, a youth basketball game, a vendor marketplace offering food and other goods and services and a variety of family friendly games and activities. For more information, call 770-369-1507.

Henry County

Henry County to host Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

The parade will be Monday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m. at the Henry County Performing Arts Center, 37 Lemon Street, McDonough. A post parade celebration will take place at the Center at 11 a.m. Visit www.henrycountyganaacp.com/MLK_Celebrations.html for more information.

Other MLK Happenings

MLK Museum Day
Enjoy free admission to the Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House

Free Entrance at the National Parks

Find a full list of National Parks in Georgia at nps.gov