Martin Luther King Jr. Day events go virtual in 2021
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated on Monday, Jan. 18, and in South Florida, a variety of activities are planned virtually and in-person on and in the days surrounding the holiday.
Many gatherings and presentations will require advance reservations with limited capacity and seating. Most of the events are being presented online this year. The federal holiday was first observed in 1986, and federal offices and most workplaces will be closed.
However, many stores and restaurants will be open for business.
Broward County
Jan. 16
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, presented by the city of Plantation on virtual platforms: YouTube: City of Plantation Parks &
Recreation and Facebook: @PlantationParks. The production will feature inspirational speeches, musical performances, professional poet Jerris Evans, among others. Call 954-4522510.
Palm Beach County
Jan. 16
Martin Luther King Jr. Jeopardy! 11-11:45 a.m., presented by the Palm Beach County Library System. Online. How much do you know about Martin Luther King Jr.? Attend this virtual jeopardy game and find out. Prizes will be awarded to the top three players. Presented by the Clarence E. Anthony Branch. Register at events. pbclibrary.org/node/16144/ register.
Jan. 18
MLK Day of Service,
a day of volunteerism and commemoration in partnership with Jewish Volunteer Center, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Jewish Community Relations Council. Virtual, contactless and small-group opportunities will include food bank pantry sorting, donation drop-offs, gleaning, a beach cleanup, caring for animals, community revitalization projects and more. All in-person opportunities will meet COVID-19 safety standards, including social distancing, mask-wearing and a mandatory wellness check. The day of giving back will be followed by a virtual program at 6 p.m. to commemorate Dr. King’s vision of diversity and equality. The ceremony will focus on Dr. King’s remarks, “From Chaos to Community, Where do we go from here?,” with words by Dr. Terriel Byrd, Palm Beach Atlantic University professor, minister and author, notably of “By This
Shall We Be Known: Interpreting the Voice and Message of Dr. King, Jr.” To register, visit jewishvolunteer.org.
Annual MLK Breakfast/ Essay Contest Awards ,8 a.m., virtual. Hosted by the Martin Luther King Coordinating Committee Palm Beach County. Celebrating the memory and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the program will also feature students and guest speakers. Visit mlkccpbc.org. Tickets are $25.
Twenty-first annual “I Have A Dream” Martin Luther King, Jr. Brunch, 10 a.m. The Spady Museum’s signature celebration of the civil rights leader’s legacy will be online. 561-279-8883 or email spadymuseum@ gmail.com. Cost is $25.
Honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., 10-11 a.m., Virtual presentation hosted by the city of Boca Raton. Featuring a special storytime at 1 p.m., and “Unity in the Community” activity bags for kids, available for pick up later in the week. The events will air on the Boca Raton Recreation Facebook page, the city’s YouTube Channel, and on Comcast Xfinity Ch. 20, AT&T Ch. 99 and Hotwire Ch. 395, featuring live musical performances, speeches by local leaders including Mayor Scott Singer, and a special presentation of the Humanitarian Award. The virtual storytime will feature “Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” by Doreen Rappaport, winner of the Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Book Awards. Visit myboca.us/specialevents or call 561-213-9263.Dr. MLK Jr. Day Celebration, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., South Florida Fair, Coca-Cola Stage, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach. Presented by the Martin Luther King Coordinating Committee Palm Beach County. Featuring performances by gospel singer Minister Janice Tipton, and the Coordinating Committee performers. Visit southfloridafair.com/ events/2021/mlk-day-celebration2 or call 561-793-0333.
2021 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Activism, Advocacy and Allyship Toward Equality, 11 a.m. virtual, presented by Palm Beach State College. Keynote speaker is award-winning journalist Yvette M. Miley, senior vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the NBCU News Group and NBC Sports. Call 561-2075707 or email holderhd@ palmbeachstate.edu. RSVP at palmbeachstate.edu/mlk/
In-person events are subject to change. Call ahead before attending.