In the coming weeks, a number of local events will commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. 

The Martin Luther King Jr., Commission of Florida will host three big events on Jan. 20, including a Hall of Fame enshrinement, the 41st Annual MLK National Holiday Parade and holiday celebration. 

Jan. 14 

The Remembering Martin and Coretta Program will feature tributes from Mu Upsilon Omega and Iota Lambda chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Nu Eta Lambda and Theta Sigma chapters of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 

The event will happen at Dayspring Baptist Church (1945 NE 8th Ave.) at 6:30 p.m. 

Jan. 15 

A town hall symposium, “36th Year Legacy of the Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Award Panel Discussion,” will happen at Dayspring Baptist Church starting at 6:30 p.m. 

The symposium will include alumni and current recipients of the scholarship. This event will be live-streamed.  

Jan. 17 

The Fourth Annual Stephan P. Mickle Jazz Concert will kick off at 7 p.m. in Do Diddley Plaza.  

The concert will feature the When Gospel Meets Jazz band. 

Jan. 18 

The MLK Commission will present the play “Who’s in the Box—Unplugged?” At the P.K. Yonge Development Research School Performing Arts Center.  

The play is free and starts at 7 p.m.  

Jan. 20 

The Hall of Fame Enshrinement Program will start the day, awarding Albert White as the 2025 recipient.  

Santa Fe High School senior Cayden Parker will be awarded the 2025 Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship.  

The event will happen at the MLK Memorial Gardens in downtown Gainesville at 11 a.m. 

The 41st Annual MLK National Holiday Parade will follow at noon, starting on University Avenue in front of City Hall and ending at the MLK Center at Citizens Field. 

The MLK Center will host the next phase: the National Holiday Celebration. 

The celebration will include the D.R. Band & Soul Fire.