Bay Area celebrates with dozens of events, celebrations

Bay Area residents will join others across the nation ( and beyond) in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. Here’s a look at some of the major events planned on and around that day.

San Francisco

The Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Foundation ( NorcalMLK): The organization hosts annual MLK celebrations in San Francisco. Events are free and open to the public ( unless otherwise noted). The theme for this year’s celebration is “The Urgency of Now.” Events include a 1.5- mile march/ parade beginning 11 a.m. Monday from the Caltrain station in downtown San Francisco to Yerba Buena Gardens. The event is held in honor of the famed Selma to-Montgomery marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. There will be live music following the march/ parade. MLK events also include lectures, films, an arts festival, a health fair and other events Saturday through Feb. 18. Livemusic will be performed following the march/ parade at Yerba Buena Gardens, beginning at 1: 30 p. m. More information: sfmlkday. org. MLK Day of Revelations: The daylong program, 9: 30 a. m.- 5 p. m. Saturday at the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, includes complimentary admission to the exhibition “Revelations: Art from the African American South” as well as the museum’s permanent collections, plus performances of gospel music ( at 10: 30 a. m. and 12: 30 p. m.), lectures, a screening of the film “In the Hour of Chaos: The Untold Story of Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.” ( 2: 30 p. m.) and other activities. More information: deyoung. famsf. org. Other museums: The Museum of the African Diaspora is offering free admission on Monday ( www.moadsf.org); the Contemporary Jewish Museum hosts the family event “Dreaming a World in Story and Song,” featuring stories and songs from a number of cultures ( 11: 30 a. m.- noon Sunday, free with regular museum admission, www.thecjm.org). “Through Our Voices: Get the Word Out”: The National Park Service hosts this free day of historical lectures, poetry and spoken word presentations and music; 10: 30 a. m.- 3: 30 p. m. Monday; San Francisco Maritime Historical Park, 900 Beach St., San Francisco; www. nps. gov/ safr.

East Bay

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Oratorical Festival & Poetry Slam: Students will gather to perform essays, speeches and poems in honor of King, beginning at at 10: 30 a. m. Monday at the Senior Community Center at 13909 E. 14th St. in San Leandro, sanleandro. org/ depts/ rec/ special_ events/ default. asp. In the Name of Love: The annual MLK tribute concert features singers Nicolas Bearde, Kim Nalley and Tiffany Austin, among others. Presented by Living Jazz Children’s Project. Performance is 7 p. m. Sunday at Scottish Rite Center, Oakland; $ 8-$ 40 ( proceeds benefit Living Jazz); www.livingjazz.org. The 29th Annual El Cerrito Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration: The two- day event, featuring a theme of “Keeping the Dream Alive — Resilient in our Resistance,” kicks off a free screening of the awardwinning documentary “Gina’s Journey: The Search for William Grimes” by local author Regina E. Mason at 4 p. m. Sunday at the Rialto Cinemas Cerrito Theater in El Cerrito. On Monday, participants will gather at 8: 30 a. m. at City Hall Plaza and then march to El Cerrito High School, where a rally and program begins at 11 a. m. Details: ca- elcerrito. civicplus. com/ 693/ Annual- MLKCelebration Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: The East Bay Regional Park District is hosting its 10th Annual Day of Service from 8: 30 a. m. to noon Monday, inviting volunteers to help with the restoration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Grove and Damon Marsh, www.ebparks.org. There are also Day of Service projects going in at the Richmond Greenday ( www.richmondgreenway.org/ index. php/ mlk- national- dayofservice/), among other places. Creating Sanctuaries of Love — A Musical Extravangaza: TheMLK- themed concert features the City of Refuge mass and youth choirs, First Church Berkeley Sanctuary Choir, the Radcliffe Choral Society and poet Marvin K. White, among others; 7 p. m. Monday at First Church Berkeley. Suggested donation is $ 20; firstchurchberkeley.org. Piedmont MLK Day celebration: Features Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, remarks by U. S. Rep. Barbara Lee, and more; noon Monday, Piedmont Veterans’ Hall; free; www.padc.info/mlkday2018

South Bay/ Peninsula

The Caltrain Nor-CalMLK Celebration Train: Those traveling to San Francisco for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Foundation events on Monday can get free train service. The train departs San Jose’s Diridon Station at 9: 45 a. m., making stops in Palo Alto at 10: 05 a. m. and San Mateo at 10: 20 a. m., before reaching San Francisco at 10: 55 a. m. It’s a ticketed service; you must register in advance to receive a free commemorative ticket ( which is good for a southbound Caltrain trip as well, after 1 p. m. Monday). Tickets are limited due to train capacity; www.caltrain.com/riderinfo/specialevents/CelebrationTrain. html. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: Features kids activities, performances, historical displays, volunteer activities, more at various South Bay locations Monday, including 11 a. m.- 2 p. m. at Mitchell Park Community Center, Palo Alto; 9 a. m.- noon at Joseph D. Grant Park, San Jose; 9 a. m.- noon at Santa Teresa Park, San Jose; www. eventbrite. com. Stand! A Day of Art and Solidarity: Includes dance, art and music workshops emphasizing diversity and acceptance, 10 a. m.- 1: 30 p. m. at Multicultural Arts Leadership Institute, San Jose; free, lunch will be served; www. eventbrite. com. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Luncheon: Keynote speaker is Dr. Emmett D. Carson, CEO of Silicon Valley Community Foundation; noon- 2 p. m. Monday; Holiday Inn San Jose; $ 50-$ 85 general admission, $ 50-$ 7,500 sponsorship opportunities; www. eventbrite. com. March for the Dream: NAACP’s Santa Cruz branch hosts this march beginning 10 a. m. Monday at Pacific Avenue and Cathcart Street, Santa Cruz; free; santacruzmah.org/ event/ mlk- 2018- march- foradream.

North Bay

Gospel Music Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Community Soulfood Potluck: Event runs 7- 9: 30 p. m. Saturday at Unity in Marin in Novato. Seafood gumbo is provided and attendees are asked to bring a side dish. www.marinifc.org/ gospelmusiccelebration- dr- martinluther- king- jr- and- communitysoulfood- potluck.