TYLER, Texas (KETK) – Martin Luther King Jr. Day is this Monday, Jan. 20 and people all across East Texas are getting together to celebrate the holiday.
Events being held in honor of the great American civil rights leader will start on Friday and are being held throughout this weekend heading into Monday.
To help East Texans find the event closest to them, KETK has put together the following list of MLK Jr. Day events and celebrations:
Athens
Athens will have a Martin Luther King Jr. Day Walk on Monday starting at 9:30 a.m. from the Texan Theater to the courthouse square and back to the theater. The event will continue at the Texan Theater following the walk.
Carthage
The Carthage Courtesy Club is having their Martin Luther King Jr. events on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Panola College ballroom at 1109 W. Panola St. in Carthage. They’ll be having a speech competition, an MLK panel, kids activities and burger lunches to fund scholarships.
Gladewater
The Gladewater MLK/Juneteenth Committee will host their MLK Day Celebration Brunch on Monday at 10 a.m. in the Wilson Royalty Event Center which is located at 500 W Quitman Ave. in Gladewater.
The brunch will feature guest speaker Minister Justin Sutphen from Rising Star COGIC, performances by Rising Star Kingdom Kids, DMR Music Studio student recitals and the Sassy Royale Elites dance team. Tickets to the event are $10 and will benefit the committee’s scholarship fund.
Hawkins
Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins is having their Unity in the CommUnity Prayer Breakfast on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. till 10 a.m. in the Smith-Howard Chapel Fellowship Hall on JCU’s campus. Mineola ISD Superintendent Cody Mize will be guest speaker at the breakfast. Tickets cost $10 to attend.
“This uplifting event features powerful prayers, motivational messages, and meaningful connections, promoting collaboration and shared purpose. Rooted in faith and service, the prayer breakfast celebrates the strength of community and inspires participants to work together for a brighter future.”
Jarvis Christian University
Jefferson
The Marion County Diversified Civic & Social Concerns Organization is hosting a Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet on Monday at 6 p.m. in the Jefferson Convention and Visitor Center at 305 E Austin St. The event will have speakers, fellowship and food.
The Marion County Diversified Civic & Social Concerns Organization will also have their annual MLK Parade on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The parade will head down Martin Luther King Street from Jefferson High School.
Kilgore
The Kilgore Men and Women of Alliance will be hosting entertainment and honoring community members during an event at 201 S Kilgore St. on Monday.
Arabella of Kilgore will hold a free MLK Day Celebration BBQ at 2103 Chandler Street from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday.
“We are proud to host events that bring our residents, families and the wider Kilgore community together,” said Wilda Mathis, executive director of Arabella of Kilgore.
Longview
On Friday, the City of Longview’s Office of Arts and Culture is hosting and Opening Reception and Jazz Concert starting at 6 p.m. in the Longview Community Center at 500 E. Whaley St. The free concert will feature artist Low D and Victoria Hernandez.
On Saturday, the City’s parade will head down Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. starting at Pittman Street at 10 a.m. and ending at the Broughton Recreation Center.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, a free Community Festival will be held at the Broughton Recreation Center at 801 S. MLK Jr. Blvd. They’ll have vendors, food and children’s activities at the festival. Later that night at 6:30 p.m. a Humanitarian Award will be presented at the free event.
On Sunday, a Musical Celebration will be held at Parkview Baptist Church from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The church is located at 2014 S. Green St. in Longview.
On Monday, there will be a march along MLK Jr. Blvd from Broughton Park to Mt. Olive Baptist Church starting at 11:30 a.m. and then after the march there’ll be a interfaith service.
To learn more about all of Longview’s MLK Jr. Weekend events, visit the City of Longview online.
Lufkin
D-BAT Lufkin is hosting a MLK Jr. baseball and softball camp on Monday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at their facility located at 2020 S. Redditt Dr. They’ll be doing skills drills, speed drills, agility drills and games. Tickets for non-members cost $50.
Marshall
Wiley University in Marshall will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Tuesday with their TEDxWileyUniversity: Transcendent Leadership event. They’ll have several speakers at the event including the 17th president and CEO of Wiley University Dr. Herman J. Felton, Jr.
It’s all happening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at the Julius S. Scott, Sr. Chapel on Wiley’s campus.
Texarkana
The 9th Annual Martin Luther King JR. Day Parade will be held in downtown Texarkana at 11:30 a.m. on Monday. They’ll have vendors, music and more at the parade, which is sponsored by Bridging The Gap Arkansas.
The NAACP – The Greater Texarkana Texas Branch will host their Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Program at Dunbar Elementary School from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday. The program will include music, spoken word and dances.
Tyler
The Texas African American Museum will host their Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Festival Day Celebration at 309 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their event will have free food, fun, vendors and community awards.
The 39th Annual MLK March & Program will be hosted by Tyler Together Race Relations starting at 9 a.m. near the Tyler Public Library.
