Martin Luther King Jr Day is January 16 and there are many events happening in Hampton Roads to celebrate King’s life and legacy.
He was an influential social activist and minister from Atlanta, Georgia. King bravely led the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. from the 1950s up until his assassination in 1968.
Here is a list of events broken down by area:
Chesapeake:
- Monday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Blood Drive at the Chesapeake Conference Center (700 Conference Center Drive)
Hampton:
- Monday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Food Drive put on by Newport News Mayor Price, Sheriff Morgan and Delegate Price at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, 2401 Aluminum Ave.
- Monday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m. – Hampton University Martin Luther King Jr. March and Program – March starts at Emancipation Drive, program starts at Ogden Hall
Newport News:
- Sunday, Jan. 15, 1:30 p.m. – Parade and March at New Beech Grove Baptist, 326 Tabbs Lane
- Monday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Food Drive put on by Newport News Mayor Price, Sheriff Morgan and Delegate Price at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, 2401 Aluminum Ave in Hampton
- Saturday, Jan. 21, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Gospel Music Celebration Concert at United House of Prayer For All People, 1811 Ivy Avenue
Norfolk:
- Sunday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m. – Songs for a Dreamer – A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – free concert by The Virginia Symphony at Calvary Revival Church, 5833 Poplar Hall Drive
- Monday, Jan. 16, 9:30 a.m. – Ceremony honoring Dr. King, Jr. at the Attucks Theatre, 1010 Church Street followed by a march to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial for a wreath-laying ceremony.
- Monday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m. – Barbara Hamm Lee Moderates MLK Day Discussion in the Virginia Wesleyan College Boyd Dining Center.
Portsmouth:
- Monday, Jan. 16, 11:30 a.m. – MLK Day church service – New Community Temple Church of God in Christ, 3615 Tyre Neck Road
Virginia Beach:
- Monday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Virginia Wesleyan College fourth annual MLK Jr. Day of Service at Heritage United Methodist Church, 715 Baker Road
- Monday, Jan. 16, 2 p.m. – Lift Every Voice-Standing Together program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Beth Sholom Village, 6401 Auburn Drive
