These young women participated in last year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. march in Daytona.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday is fast approaching.
There are plenty of events on tap locally to celebrate the holiday as well as the life, legacy and impact of Dr. King.
Events include marches, banquets, worship services, breakfasts, health fairs and festivals.
For example, there have been MLK Day marches in DeLand, New Smyrna and Daytona for more than two decades.
Dr. King was a clergyman and civil rights activists who fought racism and social injustice. Born on Jan. 15, 1929, he was shot and killed on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn.
In 1983, Dr. King’s birthday was made a federal holiday. It is observed every third Monday in January, and this year his holiday observance is on Jan. 17. MLK event organizers say it’s as important and relevant as ever that we celebrate Dr. King’s work, life, work and legacy.
“It is an honor to celebrate, honor and commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His vision of a better life for Black Americans helped to revolutionize and change the course of today’s journey. Therefore, we will continue to uplift and pay homage to one of America’s greatest leaders,” commented Dr. Andre Darby, DeLand’s MLK events coordinator.
Irma Terry City of New Smyrna Beach Community Resource Coordinator stated, “It is important that we continue to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy.
By doing it we honor his contributions to equality and social justice. His work impacted civil rights in not just the United States but the world. It has impacted everyone and inspired movements for justice and equality worldwide.”
Here is a look at some of the events scheduled around Volusia County.
DAYTONA BEACH
On Saturday, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. at the Hard Rock Hotel, 9181 N. Atlantic Ave., the MLK Banquet and Scholarship Awards takes place. Tickets are $65 each and $700 to reserve a table for 10 people.
On Sunday, Jan. 19, a 7 Words from the King worship service will be held at 4 p.m. at Master’s Domain Church of God in Christ, 511 Fremont Ave., Daytona Beach.
On Monday, Jan. 20, there will an MLK Breakfast at the Julia T. & Charles W. Cherry Cultural & Educational Center at 925 George W. Engram Blvd. The time is 8 a.m.
A walk/march follows at 10 a.m. It will be led by Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance, Daytona Beach/Volusia NAACP and the Pan Hellenic Council.
The original festival scheduled in Daisy Stocking Park at 555 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. has been canceled. No further details were provided.
DELAND
The MLK Celebration Week is titled “Mission Possible: Protecting Justice & Democracy.’’
It begins on Saturday, Jan. 18 with the 2025 Honorary Celebration Gala & Awards Banquet at the Wayne G. Sanborn Activity Center at 815 S. Alabama St. At 6 p.m.
The Unity Worship Concert is Sunday, Jan. 19 at City Sanctuary Church at 104 Taylor Road at 4 p.m.
On Monday, Jan. 20, events start with the Unity March beginning at the DeLand Museum at 600 N. Woodland Blvd. at 11 a.m.
The Unity Festival in Earl Brown Park, from noon until 5 p.m., follows the march. The festival includes music, entertainment, vendors and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
DELTONA
In Deltona on Sunday, Jan. 19, an MLK event titled “Celebrate the Man” will be held at The Center, located at 1640 MLK Blvd., from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The event will include bounce houses, sweets, vendors, shows and more.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH
There will be a screening of the film “Hidden Figures,” which depicts the contributions of three Black women to NASA being able to launch rockets and put a man on the moon. It will include light refreshments at the Alonzo “Babe” James Community Center at 201 N. Myrtle St. from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19.
The MLK Day Breakfast is on Monday, Jan. 20, at 7 a.m. at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church at 214 N. Myrtle Ave.
The breakfast is followed by a march beginning at 9 a.m. at the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum at 314 N. Duss St. It proceeds south on Myrtle Avenue to S.R. 44; east to the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge over U.S. 1 where a prayer ceremony will take place, north on Live Oak Street, and west on Canal Street. It will include remarks by Pastor Stacie Plonsky and Police Chief Eric Feldman in the Alonzo “Babe” James Community Center.
For more information, contact New Smyrna Beach Community Resource Coordinator Irma Terry at iterry@cityofnsb.com or 386-314-4849.
ORMOND BEACH
The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebration is on Monday, Jan. 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the South Ormond Neighborhood Center, 176 Division St. Contact Tina Carlyle at 386-527- 5918 or Tiara Glenn at 386-676- 3231 for details.