Sixty years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that one day racism would end, and civil and economic rights would be realized for everyone. Since then, people have been inspired by King’s 1963 speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom to make his dream a reality.
Since 1986, Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been a federal holiday observed annually on the third Monday in January. This year, MLK Day falls on Jan. 15, the late civil rights leader’s birthday. People will gather to honor King’s life, legacy and his mission to achieve racial equality through nonviolent means. Parades, ceremonies, celebrations, concerts, speeches and a volunteer day of service will take place throughout the country.
Here are some ways to remember and honor MLK here in Broward and Palm Beach counties:
Broward County
Coral Springs
Students’ work is featured in the MLK Art & Literary Exhibit through Jan. 11 at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive. This year’s theme is “Dream of Love and Peace: In Color.” The center is open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and during performances. Free. Visit coralsprings.gov.
Davie
Davie will have its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 1 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Pine Island Multipurpose Center gymnasium, 3801 S. Pine Island Road. The ceremony will feature poetry contest readings, live performances and light refreshments. Speakers include Davie Mayor Judy Paul, town council members and poetry contest winners. Davie students can take part in this year’s poetry contest. To participate, poems must feature King’s values of peace, love, unity, concerns for humanity and nonviolence. Submit entries to the Town of Davie at by Jan. 10. Winners will be announced during the ceremony. Free. Visit davie-fl.gov.
Deerfield Beach
The city of Deerfield Beach and the African American Heritage Board’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration begins with a parade at 10 a.m. Jan. 15 at Pioneer Park, 217 NE Fifth Ave., and marches over to the Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex, 445 SW Second St. The celebration will feature guest speakers, live music and free food from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. Visit .
Fort Lauderdale
YMCA of South Florida’s 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Inspirational Celebrations kick off Jan. 12 with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at First Baptist Fort Lauderdale, 301 E. Broward Blvd. and a luncheon at 11:45 a.m. at Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami. Both events benefit the YMCA of South Florida’s “I Have a Dream” Youth Scholarship Fund. Keynote speakers are Donzaleigh Abernathy, daughter of Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy and Juanita Jones Abernathy, co-founders of the American Civil Rights Movement with Dr. King; and Ndaba Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela and co-founder and chairman of Africa Rising Foundation. Tickets are $175 per person. Visit .
The King Holiday Celebration Parade departs at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 15 from Sistrunk Boulevard and Northwest Fifth Avenue, then heads west along Sistrunk Boulevard, and then north on Northwest 15th Avenue ending at Carter Park, 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd. A Multicultural Festival will take place after the parade until 3 p.m. Free. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.
Hollywood
In partnership with Hollywood’s African American Advisory Council, the city will have two events:
- Performances & Tribute Concert will feature local artists from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 12 at ArtsPark at Young Circle. The Valerie Tyson Band will take the stage at 8 p.m. Free.
- Fun Day will have music, bounce house and food for purchase from 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 13 at Dr. MLK Community Center, 2400 Charleston St. Free.
Visit hollywoodfl.org.
Miramar
A day of events kicks off with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade at 11 a.m. Jan. 15 around Sherman Circle and heads to Lakeshore Park, 8501 S. Sherman Circle, for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Festival from noon to 3 p.m. Enjoy food, music and a Kids Zone. Bring blankets and chairs. Free. Register at MLKMiramar2024.eventbrite.com.
Oakland Park
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will honor the memory of MLK with a celebration including performances, family-style picnic and activities for the family from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 13 at Collins Community Center, 3900 NE Third Ave., Oakland Park. Free. Visit .
Parkland
The Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. will have food trucks and performances, featuring Black history through music and guest speakers from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at Pine Trails Park Amphitheatre, 10555 Trails End. Submit entries for the Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration Poetry Contest by Jan. 10 to . Free. Visit .
Pembroke Pines
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Event is 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 15 at The Charles F. Dodge City Center, 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines. There will be poetry, performances, speeches and a light breakfast. Free. Visit ppines.com.
Plantation
Speeches, musical performances, games, family activities and food (available for purchase) will be part of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 13 at Jim Ward Community Center, 301 NW 46th Ave. Free admission. Visit plantation.org.
Pompano Beach
The Pompano Beach Memorial MLK Committee and the city of Pompano Beach will wrap up a week of honoring MLK with a parade stepping off at 9 a.m. Jan. 15 from Blanche Ely High School, 1201 NW Sixth Ave. Spectators can cheer on schools, businesses, churches, community organizations, fraternities and sororities as they march to Mitchell Moore Park 901 NW 10th St. Starting at 11:30 a.m., the MLK Celebration will feature a Kid’s Zone, music and live entertainment. Food trucks and merchandise will be for sale. Free admission. Visit .
Sunrise
A Night of the Arts — Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will have an opening reception of Tracy Guiteau’s exhibit “The Power of Three: A Trifecta Exhibition—Paintings, Ceramics and Fashion” at 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at Sunrise Civic Center Art Gallery & Theatre, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Meet Guiteau, view her works, enjoy live entertainment and light refreshments until 9 p.m. Free. Visit .
Tamarac
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Health Resource Fair and Family Fun Day will include live performances, health education resources, inflatables and food trucks from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 13 at Tamarac Park, 7501 N. University Drive. Free. Visit .
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach Atlantic University and the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Kohl Jewish Volunteer Center’s ninth annual MLK Day of Service will have morning and afternoon volunteer opportunities on Jan. 15. People of all faiths, races and ages can volunteer through service projects at places throughout Palm Beach County such as sorting at food banks, park cleanups, gleaning produce, organizing donations at Habitat for Humanity ReStores, community revitalization projects, animal care and serving food to those in need, among others. Register at .
Boynton Beach
The city’s inaugural MLK Classic Men’s Basketball Tournament will bring a 10-man roster, Elam Ending, double elimination format to the Ezell Hester Center Gymnasium, 1901 N. Seacrest Blvd., on Jan. 13. Doors open at 9 a.m. Free admission. Visit boynton-beach.org.
Take part in a neighborhood cleanup for a MLK Day of Service from 8 to 11 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Carolyn Sims Center, 225 NW 12th Ave. No supplies are needed and registration is not required. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided. Community service hours are available. Visit boynton-beach.org.
The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach will welcome over 300 people from Palm Beach and Broward counties to its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 15 at Indian Spring Country Club, 11501 El Clair Ranch Road, Boynton Beach. The keynote speaker is the Rev. Toby T. Philpart, senior pastor and teacher of the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in West Palm Beach. The True Worship ensemble will perform and actor Tiffany Terrell and pianist Mikael Darmanie will perform a scene from the musical theater piece “Unbought,” a Core Ensemble production, which portrays a speech by Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in the U.S. Congress and the first Black woman to run for president. Tickets are $45 per person or $500 for a table. Visit .
The 2024 Reverend Dr. MLK Jr. Celebration will bring music, history, education, food trucks, children’s activities and a nonprofit showcase to Sara Sims Park, 209 NW Ninth Court, at 1 p.m. Jan. 15. The Valerie Tyson band will kick off the entertainment from 4 to 6 p.m. with other bands to follow. Free admission. Visit boynton-beach.org.
Boca Raton
The city of Boca Raton will have several free events on Jan. 15 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Ceremony & Celebration, which is themed “Be Active, Be Involved, Be Community: Celebrating Pearl City, 1915-2024”:
- A Community Breakfast is 8 to 10 a.m. at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, 220 Ruby St. sponsored by D.I.S.C.- Developing Interracial & Social Change.
- Join the Unity March at 10 a.m. featuring the Boca Raton Community High School Band & Color Guard and the FAU Jazz Ensemble starting at the MLK Jr Monument, 200 Ruby St., and heading to Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real.
- Charles Ridley will be the keynote speaker during the Martin Luther King Jr. Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real. Community leaders also will speak and a Humanitarian Award will be presented.
- The Unity Celebration will round out the day from 11:30 to 3 p.m. at the amphitheater with amusement rides, games, crafts, stage performances and community booths. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Free. Visit.
Delray Beach
The MLK Holiday JV Championships Celebration is coming to the Pompey Park Recreation Center, 1101 NW Second St., from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 13 (last game starts at 8 p.m.) Participating high schools include Atlantic, Atlantic Christian, Boynton, Inlet Grove, Jupiter, Park Vista, Santaluces and St. John Paul. Admission is $10. Visit .
Lake Worth Beach
The music theater piece “Unbought & Unbossed!” will feature the dramatic stories of Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson’s slave and mother of five of his children, and Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in the U.S. Congress and the first Black woman to run for president, at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 100 N. Palmway. Performed by the Core Ensemble, the performance will feature actor Tiffany Terrell with musical accompaniment by cellist Ju Young Lee, Mikael Darmmanie on piano and percussion by Michael Parola. A fellowship reception will follow the program, which is presented by Arts at St. Andrew’s, the city of Lake Worth Beach Martin Luther King Jr. Committee and the Lake Worth Interfaith Network. Free. Visit eventbrite.com.
The city of Lake Worth Beach will have several events on Jan. 15 as part of the 30th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration 30 Years of Truth, Love and History:
- The Unity Interfaith Brunch will start the day from 8 to 10 a.m. at Barton Elementary School, 1700 Barton Road, with music, prayer and reflections on working for social justice. Free.
- People will gather at 4:30 p.m. for a Civil Rights Sing-Along to begin at 5 p.m. on the front steps of Lake Worth Beach City Hall, 7 N. Dixie Highway. Free.
- The Candlelight March will step off at 5:30 p.m. from Lake Worth Beach City Hall and march through downtown to the Cultural Plaza at Lake Avenue and M Street where the MLK Commemorative Program will take place following the march. Free.
- The MLK Commemorative Dinner will include food, fellowship, music and an inspirational program at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 402 N. M St. Free.
For a full list of events and information, visit .
Palm Beach State College’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration will take place at 11 a.m. Jan. 18 in the Duncan Theatre, 4200 S. Congress Ave. The keynote speaker is Leonard Marshall, a former NFL defensive lineman with the New York Giants who played 12 seasons in the league. Free. RSVP at .
Riviera Beach
Bands, dance teams and groups will march in the 40th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade at 10 a.m. Jan. 13. Lineup starts at 8 a.m. and the route is MLK Boulevard and Congress Avenue to Avenue O. After the parade, head to Dan Calloway Park, 1420 W. 10th St., for a celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. with live music, vendors and kids’ activities. Free. Visit .
Royal Palm Beach
The Caribbean American for Community Involvement in Florida Inc. and the village of Royal Palm Beach will have the 22nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Jan. 15 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way. A continental breakfast will be served from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. The program will begin at 10 a.m. Free. Visit royalpalmbeachfl.gov.
