Central Florida is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with these events

Brittany Caldwell
·5 min read
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Monday would have been the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 95th birthday.

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Central Florida is celebrating his life and honoring his legacy through dozens of local events.

Read more below:

Brevard County

Saturday, Jan. 13

MLK Parade and Festival

The parade will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Wild Ocean Building on 688 S. Park Ave. and South Street. Other festivities will be at the Gibson Youth Center on 835 Sycamore St. in Titusville from noon until 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Monday, Jan. 15

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration

The celebration will be from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Joseph N. Davis Community Center in Melbourne. Admission is free.

Read: 5 things you didn’t know about Martin Luther King Jr.

Lake County

Monday, Jan. 15

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

The parade will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Waterfront Park on 100 3rd St. in Clermont.

Marion County

Monday, January 15

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration March

The march will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and begin at the Historic Downtown in Ocala, leading to Webb Field. The Dr. MLK Jr. Day in the Park will continue until 2 p.m. at the Webb Field on 1510 NW Fourth St. Click here to get tickets.

Orange County

Saturday, Jan. 13

Orlando Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

The Southwest Orlando Jaycee’s will host the 40th annual parade in downtown Orlando at 9 a.m. Jasmine Burney-Clark, the founder of the nonprofit Equal Ground Education Fund and Action Fund, will kick off the parade. This year’s theme is “It Starts With Me: Shifting the Culture Climate through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence.”

Eatonville 2024 MLK Parade Celebration

The Historic Town of Eatonville will host the parade celebration starting on East Kennedy Boulevard at 2 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 15

City of Orlando MLK Day of Service

It will be in collaboration with the U.S. Hunger and the Orange County MLK Initiative. The mission is to package 1 million healthy meals and honor the life and legacy. The day of service will be at the Orange County Convention Center. Click here to register to volunteer.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration in Ocoee

The City of Ocoee will host the parade beginning at 10 a.m. at Citrus Elementary School on North Clarke Road. It will end at the parking lot of the West Oaks Mall. There will be a post-parade celebration at the West Oaks Mall food court at 11 a.m., including a presentation of the colors, a choir performance and a sixth grader will read her award-winning essay.

Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Prayer Breakfast

Civic leaders, the faith community and Central Florida residents will gather for a tribute to Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. The breakfast will be at 7:30 a.m. at the First Orlando on 3000 South John Young Parkway.

City of Apopka Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade

This year’s parade theme is “Remembering the Dreamer.” The parade will start at 2 p.m. at 519 South Central Ave. and end at the John H. Bridges Community Center.

Friday, Jan. 19

Orlando Magic host MLK Night & Classic Night

The Magic will honor the civil rights leader as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Kia Center at 7 p.m.

Read: The Black community of West Winter Park feels a new housing project is pricing them out

<p>King at the age of 6. (Handout)</p>

King at the age of 6. (Handout)

King graduated from Morehouse College in 1948 and from Boston University in 1955. (Southern Christian Leadership Conference/Handout)
King graduated from Morehouse College in 1948 and from Boston University in 1955. (Southern Christian Leadership Conference/Handout)
<p>While in Boston, he met Coretta Scott. They married in 1953 and would eventually have four children: Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter and Bernice. (Bahnsen Negative Collection/Handout)</p>

While in Boston, he met Coretta Scott. They married in 1953 and would eventually have four children: Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter and Bernice. (Bahnsen Negative Collection/Handout)

In 1955, as the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, King was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association, the organization that was responsible for the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott from 1955 to 1956. (Gene Herrick/AP)
In 1955, as the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, King was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association, the organization that was responsible for the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott from 1955 to 1956. (Gene Herrick/AP)
King's battle with the law continued. He was arrested thirty times for his participation in civil rights activities. Here he is being charged with loitering in 1958. (Charles Moore)
King's battle with the law continued. He was arrested thirty times for his participation in civil rights activities. Here he is being charged with loitering in 1958. (Charles Moore)
When he wasn't part of the civil rights struggle, King was a family man. He's seen here with his wife, Coretta, and four children (from left to right) Dexter, Yolanda, Martin Luther King III and Bernice.
When he wasn't part of the civil rights struggle, King was a family man. He's seen here with his wife, Coretta, and four children (from left to right) Dexter, Yolanda, Martin Luther King III and Bernice.
In August 1963, thousands gathered for the March on Washington where King gave his famous
In August 1963, thousands gathered for the March on Washington where King gave his famous
In 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize from the hands of Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Nobel Committee, in Oslo, Norway. At the time he was the youngest man ever to receive the prize. (File photo/AP)
In 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize from the hands of Gunnar Jahn, Chairman of the Nobel Committee, in Oslo, Norway. At the time he was the youngest man ever to receive the prize. (File photo/AP)
On July 2, 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with King and other civil rights leaders present. (File photo/AP)
On July 2, 1964, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, with King and other civil rights leaders present. (File photo/AP)
Bishop B. Jlian Smith, of the Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Church (left), King (center), and Rev. Ralph Abernathy (right) during a civil rights march in Memphis, Tenn. in 1968. (File photo/AP)
Bishop B. Jlian Smith, of the Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Church (left), King (center), and Rev. Ralph Abernathy (right) during a civil rights march in Memphis, Tenn. in 1968. (File photo/AP)
The next day, an assassin's bullet struck King as he once again stood on the balcony. In June, James Early Ray was arrested in London and charged with King's murder. (File photo/AP/Time Inc.)
The next day, an assassin's bullet struck King as he once again stood on the balcony. In June, James Early Ray was arrested in London and charged with King's murder. (File photo/AP/Time Inc.)
The family of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. walk in the funeral procession of the slain civil rights leader on April 9, 1968. (File photo)
The family of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. walk in the funeral procession of the slain civil rights leader on April 9, 1968. (File photo)
In 1983, after years of fighting, Coretta Scott King (left) was successful in getting her late husband's birthday recognized as a national holiday. Here, President Ronald Reagan signs the legislation. (File photo)
In 1983, after years of fighting, Coretta Scott King (left) was successful in getting her late husband's birthday recognized as a national holiday. Here, President Ronald Reagan signs the legislation. (File photo)

Osceola County

Saturday, Jan. 13

City of Kissimmee’s Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration

Celebrate diversity and community at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. The festival will feature live performances from Gospel and R&B artists, food trucks and craft vendors. The event will be from noon to 4 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 15

St. Cloud Annual MLK Day of Service

The City of St. Cloud will host its annual MLK Day of Service on Monday. Volunteers will meet at Hopkins Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the city will provide lunch for the volunteers.

Seminole County

Monday, Jan. 15

Sanford’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Festival in the Park

The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Crooms Academy of Information Technology High School on 2200 Historic Goldsboro Blvd. The festival will be on Seminole Boulevard, near the Civic Center from noon to 4 p.m. There will be vendors, activities and music, including a talent show. Click here for more details.

Sunday, Jan. 14

Interfaith Service

The event will be at the New Life Word Center in Sanford at 3 p.m. The Speaker for the occasion is Pastor Robert T. Bradley, Sr. of Bread of Life Christian Church.

Volusia County

Monday, January 15

Annual MLK Unity March

The community will meet outside the DeLand Museum of Art at 10 a.m. and pass through downtown DeLand. The parade will arrive at Earl Brown Park by 11:45 a.m. Admission is free.

Annual MLK Festival

Families can enjoy live performances, local business booths, food trucks and a basketball tournament at Earl Brown Park in DeLand. The event will be from noon until 3 p.m. Admission is free.

MLK Prayer Breakfast

The breakfast will be at 8 a.m. at the Cherry Cultural & Education Center in Daytona Beach. A $2 donation is requested at the door.

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