Honor Martin Luther King Jr. with these Central Florida events

ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is set to recognize the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with several celebrations.

The civil rights leader’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Nobel Peace Prize lecture and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” are among the most revered orations and writings in the English language, according to The King Center.

If you have an event you’d like us to add, please send an email with details to web@wkmg.com.

[SIGN UP! Get the Central Florida Happenings newsletter here | Check out more Central Florida Happenings]

Daytona Beach

MLK Prayer Breakfast - Jan. 15 at 8 a.m. at the Cherry Cultural & Education Center, located at 925 George W. Engram Blvd. in Daytona Beach

• Join us for a MLK Prayer Breakfast. Tickets are not on sale, but $2 donations are accepted at the door

MLK March - Jan. 15 at 9:45 a.m. at 925 George W. Engram Blvd. in Daytona Beach

• Join us for a community march to encourage and facilitate an honorable celebration of the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Eatonville

2024 MLK Parade Celebration - Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. in historic Eatonville on Kennedy Boulevard, from Keller Road to West Avenue

• Eatonville’s 47th Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade Embraces ‘Culture, Peace & Awareness.’ The parade will showcase a variety of participants, from local businesses and community groups, dance teams, and marching bands from across the nation, all united in honoring Dr. King’s vision of a just and inclusive society.

Kissimmee

2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration - Jan. 13 from noon until 4 p.m. at Kissimmee Lakefront Park, located at 69 Lakeview Drive

• Celebrate diversity, unity, and community at the city of Kissimmee’s Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Celebration! This energetic festival features live performances from Gospel, R&B and Soul artists, as well as food trucks, craft vendors and the KUA Kids Power Zone.

Lakeland

46th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade - Jan. 20 at 1 p.m., starts at Providence Road and West 14th Street and ends at MLK Avenue and 2nd Street.

• The Community is invited to join us as we celebrate the Dream of Martin Luther King Jr. Churches, organizations, daycares, fraternities, sororities, dance groups, bands and businesses will stroll down Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue during this community event.

Ocoee

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration - Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. at 87 N. Clarke Road in Ocoee

• The City of Ocoee’s 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade & Celebration is scheduled for Monday, January 15, 2024, at 10 a.m. – Clarke Road. The Martin Luther King Day Celebration will be held after the parade at 11 a.m. in the food court area inside the West Oaks Mall.
• The parade begins at Citrus Elementary School and ends at the West Oaks Mall with a post-parade celebration and keynote speaker.

Orlando

MLK Candlelight Vigil and March - Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Rotunda at Orlando City Hall, located at 400 S. Orange Ave.

• The City of Orlando Mayor’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will host a candlelight vigil at Orlando City Hall. At the event, participants will be greeted with a brief presentation followed by a march to First United Methodist Church for the Interfaith Multicultural Celebration.

Orlando City Council Dr. Martin Luther King., Jr. Presentation - Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. at Orlando City Council Chambers, located on the 2nd Floor of City Hall at 400 S. Orange Ave.

• Mayor Dyer and City Commissioners will proclaim January 7-15, 2024, as “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Week” in the City of Orlando.

20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Forum - Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at FAMU College of Law, located at 201 FAMU Law Lane in Orlando

• During the Leadership Forum presented by the Orlando Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, participants will take part in a moderated, interactive event with key leaders of the Orlando community to discuss this year’s theme of “Advancing the Dream: Navigating Education Equity in Today’s Landscape.”
• To register, click here.

37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Luncheon - Jan. 12 at 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Orlando, located at 3000 S. John Young Parkway

• This luncheon presented by the Orlando Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will feature keynote speaker Alpha Phi Alpha Brother Dr. Gerald Jones. At the event, students, community leaders and organizations will be recognized for their contributions with the prestigious Drum Major Award in areas of Scholastic Achievement, Civic Affairs, Social Justice, Community Service and Business.
• For event registration, click here.

40th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Downtown Orlando Parade - Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. in Downtown Orlando from Orange County Courthouse to Lake Eola Park

• Join the Southwest Orlando Jaycees for an exciting event that will feature dance, comedy, community organizations, drumlines, music, artistic expression and more. The parade theme is “It Starts with Me – Shifting the Cultural Climate Through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence”.

Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy 33rd Annual Prayer Breakfast - Jan. 15 at 7:45 a.m. at First Baptist Orlando located at 3000 S. John Young Parkway

• The annual Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Prayer Breakfast will commemorate the legacies of civil rights pioneers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy, Orlando’s first African American city council member. This year’s guest speaker will be former Congresswoman Val Demings. Held each year on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for more than three decades, this prayer breakfast traditionally brings together more than 1,000 civic leaders, pastors and Central Florida neighbors in faith, prayer and the shared commitment to strengthen the community and improve quality of life.
• To register, click here.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission’s Great Day of Service - Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. at the Orange County Convention Center, located at West Concourse at 9899 International Drive

• U.S. Hunger, in collaboration with the Orlando Mayor’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission and the Orange County MLK Initiative, will pack and distribute one million healthy meals of food relief throughout the Central Florida region while providing a high-energy, family-friendly volunteer event for 5,000 Central Florida volunteers.
• To sign up to volunteer, click here.

Seedlings for Civil Rights - Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. at Orlando’s Gilbert McQueen Park, at 650 W. Lake Mann Drive

• During the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the City of Orlando’s Green Up initiative will work with volunteers to beautify the Lake Mann Homes neighborhood by planting trees, mulching and removing litter in surrounding parks and other areas. Snacks, water and all needed supplies will be provided to volunteers. Closed-toed shoes are required.
• For more information and for volunteer opportunities, visit here.

City of Orlando MLK Gospel Concert - Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, located at Steinmetz Hall at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue

• The 9th Annual MLK Concert, presented by the City of Orlando and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, is produced and directed by Grammy Award winner, Dr. Jeffrey Redding to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Admission is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for United Against Poverty, which will be distributed to various local community and school food pantries. Special guests include Naguaanda Miller-Nobles Soprano, Benjamin Polite Bass and Shawn Welcome, the City of Orlando’s Poet Laureate. This year’s theme is “Through the storm, I need You to survive.”

Oviedo

MLK Day Parade and Celebration - Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Oviedo’s Round Lake Park, located at 891 E. Broadway Street

• City of Oviedo in partnership with the Oviedo Citizens in Action presents the annual MLK Day Celebration with a parade in the street and celebration at Round Lake Park on Monday, January 15. This event is to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the Oviedo Gym and Aquatics Center on Oviedo Blvd and will travel east on Broadway Street and ending at Round Lake Park. At the park, located at 891 East Broadway Street, there will be a Celebration until 2 p.m. with all sorts of family fun including a live DJ, Vendors, Food Trucks, Fashion Show, Skills and Drills and a Scholar Bowl!

Sanford

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Festival 2024 - Jan. 15 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the historic Goldsboro Boulevard, from Persimmon Avenue to South Holly Avenue, followed by a festival on Seminole Boulevard, near the Civic Center

• Join us for the annual “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade & Festival in the Park” followed by a festival on Seminole Boulevard, near the Civic Center, from noon – 4 p.m. with vendors, activities for children, music and more.

UCF

MLK Concert: “Through the storm, I need you to survive!” - Feb. 3 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

• Featuring UCF Choirs, Orlando Choral Society, community choirs, schools, and churches with special guest Naguaanda Miller-Nobles Soprano, Benjamin Polite Bass, and Shawn Welcome, Orlando Poet Laureate.

Winter Haven

MLK Commemorative Parade - Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. — Starts at Lake Maude Recreation Park, ends at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

• The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Parade Commission cordially invites your organization to participate in the 45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade. The 2024 theme is “Spreading Hope, Courage, and Unity.”

Winter Garden

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration: Parade, Live Concert, & Children’s Activities - Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. — Parade is in downtown Winter Garden, celebration kicks off at the downtown pavilion located at 104 S. Lakeview Ave.

• Join us at the fifth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration to commemorate the life and legacy of this civil rights legend. Hosted by the City of Winter Garden, the free celebration includes a parade through historic downtown, live entertainment, children’s activities, and more!

Winter Park

Unity Heritage Festival - Jan. 14 and 15 at Winter Park’s Hannibal Square and Martin Luther King, Jr. Park

• This annual community festival will promote family heritage and raise funds for the Educational Fulfillment Fund to benefit local economically disadvantaged youth.
• Jan. 14: 1-5 p.m. at Shady Park at Hannibal Square, located at the intersection of Pennsylvania and New England avenues. Special activities will include children’s games, career booths, food and retails vendors, as well as job training/health literacy by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Nu Iota Omega Chapter
• Jan. 15: 9:15 a.m. at the northeast corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Park at Denning Drive and Morse Boulevard. Groundbreaking for the Unity Corner that will be the future home of the “Ripple,” a larger than life-size, bronze statue of Dr. King. Just as a single drop of water creates a ripple, so too does Dr. King’s influence. The celebration continues in Shady Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below: