How to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Riverside County, San Bernardino County and virtually

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday, Jan. 17. The federal holiday observes King's birthday on Jan. 15, honoring his activism and the progress he achieved for the Black community.

Across Riverside County and San Bernardino County, commemorative events will be held in person and virtually to honor the late civil rights leader.

Riverside County

Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Celebration will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16 outside the Coachella Library (1500 Sixth St., Coachella). The theme for this year's event, which is hosted by the City of Palm Springs Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Committee and the City of Coachella, is "Bridging the Communities of the Coachella Valley," and will feature a benediction from Deacon Martin Sullivan, a keynote speech from local attorney Anyse Smith, entertainment by singer Keisha D, Ballet Folklorico Sol De Mi Tierra dance company, and Norman and Sharon McKee on African Drums. For more information, go to bit.ly/3fgrChB.

First Community Baptist Church's Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 17 at First Community Baptist Church (66-272 First St., Desert Hot Springs). Rev. Mercedes Tudy-Hamilton will speak at the commemoration.

San Bernardino County

Gospel singer Keith Pringle will perform at Fontana's MLK event. The event, which will also feature 12-time Grammy Award-winning star Shirley Caesar, will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15 at the Jack Bulik Park Biane Pavilion (16-581 Filbert Ave., Fontana). Pringle, who was born on Aug. 6, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan, is considered one of the architects of the 1980s gospel choir sound. For ticket information, visit ephesianschurch.com and click on the MLK button or call the church office at (909) 823-2310.

The 21st Year Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast and Tribute will take place on Monday, Jan. 17 at Ontario Airport Doubletree Hotel (222 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario). The program will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m., followed by workshops from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tickets will be sold starting at $40 in advance, and $45 for limited tickets at the door. Reserve by calling Trudy Coleman at (909) 418-8530, or Alice Anderson at (909) 717-9448.

Virtual Events

Southwestern College in Chula Vista is also hosting an online event commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. At 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 14, Katrina Hasan Hamilton from the San Diego NAACP and Joi Spencer, dean at the University of San Diego, will host a free virtual presentation titled "Remembering Dr. King, Jr.: Making the Dream a True Reality." Register at bit.ly/33iroDY.

A Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service will be broadcasted on FOX5 and streamed on the social media platforms for The King Center, the Atlanta-based nonprofit/museum founded by King's late wife Coretta Scott King, and on the organization's website from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 17. For more virtual events hosted by The King Center this holiday weekend, visit thekingcenter.org.

California African American Museum presents virtual King Day 2022 will commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a series of virtual programs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m on Monday, Jan. 17. The programs will include the King Study Group, taking place 11 a.m.-noon, and a musical performance by the members of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles at noon. For more information, go to caamuseum.org.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: How to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Greater Palm Springs area