To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., multiple North Texas cities are hosting events and parades in the days leading up to MLK Day on January 16.
Cities hosting MLK celebrations include Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, and Garland, Fox 4 News reported.
Dallas
The City of Dallas has been hosting its 41st annual MLK Celebration Week which kicked off on January 10 and runs through January 16.
As the Dallas MLK Center shared, MLK Celebration Week not only seeks to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy and life, but also to highlight “issues of equity, diversity, and opportunity” through various events and activities.
These include “a Day of Prayer, a Day of Service, a Wreath Laying Ceremony, Job Fair, Equity Symposium, Youth Summit, and Scholarship & Awards Gala.”
The MLK Scholarship Essay Contest was open to graduating high school seniors and winners will receive a scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. The Awards Gala will be held on January 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Dallas’ Celebration Week will culminate with the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade on January 16 which starts at 10 a.m.
Also on January 16, North Texans can visit the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum for free, according to Fox 4 News. The day will include film screenings and gallery talks.
Fort Worth
On January 13, the Fort Worth Public Library’s Northwest Branch offered a program for kids from kindergarten to fifth grade to learn more about MLK’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech and make their own vision board.
The 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Parade and Rally will be held on January 16 to celebrate his life, impact, and legacy. The parade takes place downtown and lasts from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Arlington
Arlington has put on a four-day-long celebration for MLK Day from January 13 to 16, according to the City’s website. It is one of the largest of its kind in the state of Texas.
Organized by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee, this year’s theme is “Advancing the Dream: Moving Toward Unity, Justice and Peace,” the Arlington website shared.
Celebrations kicked off with a Friday night gala in the University Center’s Bluebonnet Ballroom on The University of Texas at Arlington campus.
On Saturday, January 14, the MLK Step Show and Talent Showcase will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bowie High School Auditorium. Admission is free.
For adults ages 18 and older later that same day, the MLK Poetry Meets Jazz Experience is set for 7 p.m. in the Bluebonnet Ballroom. Attendees can purchase tickets here for $20.
January 15 and January 16 offer various events including a free ecumenical service at Cornerstone Baptist Church, a festival celebrating Day of Service volunteers with face painting and local dance troupes in the City Center Plaza, and a youth musical extravaganza at the Fielder Church Metro Center.
Check the City’s website for more details about these events and more.
Garland
Garland kicks off MLK Day with the 34th Annual Garland MLK Jr. Parade and March on January 14. This year it is hosted by the Garland Unit of the NAACP.
The second annual musical “Lift Every Voice and Sing” will be hosted at the Granville Arts Center following the parade, according to Garland Arts, and is free to attend.
On January 15, the Granville Arts Center will hold an MLK Youth Extravaganza.
“Youth groups from area churches and the Garland ISD will showcase their spiritual talents in praise dance and athletic talents in step routines,” Garland Arts explains. “Admission is free, and the MLK Youth Extravaganza is open to the public.”
Carrollton and Lewisville
There will be other North Texas cities hosting MLK celebrations. These include Carrollton and Lewisville.
Carrollton will be holding a parade starting at 10 a.m. on January 14. Drew Pearson, former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal.
Lewisville will host two events on January 16. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., there will be a day of service to clean the historic Black Champion-Macedonia Cemetery, according to Fox 4 News. A celebration will also be held at Lewisville High School from 6 p.m. which will include performances, a contest, and a keynote speaker.