There’s no school on Monday January 20th, the Seattle Public Libraries and a host of other government/federal agencies are closed, and if you’re lucky, your job is giving you the day off as well. So besides sleeping in, what are you planning to do to honor our amazing strides in civil rights?
From the Seattle Times Website, here are 21 events going on around town.
Martin Luther King Jr. holiday events 2014
Northwest events marking Martin Luther King Day begin Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014. Here’s a selected list.
KIng County Martin Luther King Day Celebration
THU Speakers including King County Councilmember Larry Gossett and King County Executive Dow Constantine; music, student essay award ceremony, 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Paramount Theater, 911 Pine St., Seattle; free (www.stgpresents.org ).
MLK Film Screenings and Dialogue at SAM
FRI Films, Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and “The Man Who Drove with Mandela,” followed by conversation on ways to volunteer in honor of Dr. King, Nelson Mandela and others who led lives of service for social change; 7 p.m. Friday, Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., Seattle; free, advance tickets available, or day of event on space-available basis starting at 6:45 p.m.; the museum, usually closed on Mondays, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday for the holiday, $12.50-$19.50, ages 12 and younger free (206-654-3121 or www.seattleartmuseum.org ).
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration
FRI Seattle community colleges host keynote speaker National Public Radio (NPR) correspondent Michele Norris, who will discuss “The Race Card Project,” people sharing their thoughts, experiences and observations about race in one six-word sentence, noon-1:30 p.m. Friday, and Tonya Mosley of the “Black in Seattle” series for KUOW, emcee of interactive program, discussion and reception, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Friday, Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave., Seattle; free (www.seattlecolleges.edu/mlk ).
Celebrate MLK Jr.’s Legacy planting
SAT Plant trees in the park, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Discovery Park, 3801 W. Government Way, Seattle; free, preregister (206-386-4236 or www.seattle.gov/parks ).
Youth march to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
SAT Seattle Parks and Recreation youth-organized march to celebrate the contribution Seattle youth make in creating a better city and to honor the work that youth do to keep Dr. King’s dream alive; march ends at Rainier Community Center for youth talent show and youth group-speak recitation, 1 p.m. Saturday, Martin Luther King Memorial Park, 2200 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Seattle; preregister online (206-233-3979 orwww.seattle.gov/parks/teens/programs/mlkprogram.htm).
Share the Dream
SUN Concert to celebrate the enduring legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. features performances by the Total Experience Gospel Choir and special guests, 3-5:30 p.m. Sunday, Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave., Seattle; free, freewill offering collected to benefit the Emergency Feeding Program of Seattle & King County (206-329-0300 orwww.emergencyfeeding.org).
MLK Unity Party
SUN KEXP hosts DJs for music, dance and celebration in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the cause of freedom and equality for all people, for ages 21 and older, 8 p.m. Sunday, Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle; $5-$7 (www.kexp.org/events/details/9176 ).
Martin Luther King Jr. Redeeming the Prophetic Vision Interfaith Service
SUN Keynote speech by Dr. Dexter Gordon, professor of African-American studies at University of Puget Sound, performances including theatrical creation, spoken word, African drumming, group singing of civil rights-era songs, awards for service toward social justice, reception with a resource fair, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Urban Grace Church, 902 Market St., Tacoma; free (redeemingmlk.blogspot.com/).
State Parks Free Day
SUN-MON Visit State Parks free, no Discover Pass required; Martin Luther King Day, Sunday-Monday (www.parks.wa.gov/events ).
National Parks Free Day
MON Visit national parks with no entrance fee in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm).
MLK Day of Service, United Way of King County
MON Preregister online for a variety of volunteer activities (www.uwkc.org/ways-to-volunteer/mlkday).
MLK Day of Service
MON National Service Blog of volunteer projects (mlkday.gov).
Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast
MON Breakfast honors Seattle leaders with award presentation and keynote speaker Ron Sims, deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, music by University Presbyterian Church Gospel Choir, 7 a.m. Monday, The Westin Seattle, 1900 Fifth Ave., Seattle; $25-$35; tickets available by phone through Friday or at the door (425-775-3362).
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Workshops, Rally, March
MON Workshops, including several geared toward youth, 9:30-10:45 a.m.; rally with speakers, poetry, music, keynote speaker Aaron Dixon, 11 a.m. Monday, Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave., Seattle; march to Westlake Park for brief outdoor rally, 12:30 p.m., rally approximately 1:45 p.m. (www.mlkseattle.org ).
Fremont MLK Day of Service
MON Celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with keynote speaker Lake Union District Council Member Ralph Frank Weathers, “I Have a Dream” speech and a tribute to the late Nelson Mandela, assemble disaster hygiene kits and welcome baskets for Patrick Place Apts., earthquake preparedness information, Community Service Volunteer Forum, for all ages, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Fremont Baptist Church, 717 N. 36th St., Seattle; free (fremontmlkday.org).
MLK Day Open House, Northwest African American Museum
MON Reading room with a selection of books about the civil-rights movement and speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, film showing of “Sing Your Song,” the life and times of singer/actor/activist Harry Belafonte, 1 p.m., Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S. Massachusetts St., Seattle; free (206-518-6000 or www.naamnw.org ).
Unity in the Community Hoop Showcase
MON High-school boys basketball tournament, Rainier Beach-O’Dea, Garfield-Franklin, Beamer-Jefferson (Portland); 3 p.m. Monday, doors open 2 p.m., Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave., Seattle; $10 (garfieldhs.seattleschools.org/).
Crossroads MLK Health Fair
MON Performances, health and community information and exhibits, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, speakers Bellevue mayor and City Council, 12:15 p.m., Market Stage and South Concourse, Crossroads Bellevue, 15600 N.E. Eighth St., Bellevue (425-644-1111 orwww.crossroadsbellevue.comCQ).
MLK Day project, Kirkland
MON Help remove invasive plants, wear waterproof shoes, tools and gloves provided, 10 a.m. Monday, Crestwoods Park, 1818 Sixth St., Kirkland; preregister (www.greenkirkland.org).
King Showcase, ShoWare Center
MON High-school girls and boys basketball MLK Day tournament, eight games, 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m., doors open 8:30 a.m., ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent; $5-$10 (253-856-6990 orwww.showarecenter.com).
University of Puget Sound Martin Luther King Day Celebration
TUE Keynote speech by leader and political activist of the Chicano civil-rights movement Carlos Munoz, other speakers, music, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Schneebeck Concert Hall, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma (www.pugetsound.edu ).
Let us know what kinds of things you do to celebrate civil rights. We would love to hear in the comments!
