The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. spent his life advocating for civil rights, equality and uplifting humanity until his assassination on April 4, 1968.
To celebrate his birthday each year, we honor the activist-minister’s commitment to social justice on and around the national holiday on Jan. 20.
Citizens are challenged to turn King’s words into action by marching, volunteering with community service organizations, attending public lectures themed around King’s ideology and other means of continuing his legacy. Some institutions and businesses get creative with curated dining events, performances and film screenings leading up to the holiday.
UATL is proud to share several options for those interested in participating in events recognizing King’s legacy.
Editor’s note: With the threat of severe weather, some events may be canceled. Please check with each venue before going. This list will be updated with additional events until the end of January.
2025 King Holiday Observance
The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change has programming through the King holiday under the theme “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365.” Programs include the Beloved Community Awards, discussions, book readings, global summits and workshops. A commemoration service at Ebenezer Baptist Church will be livestreamed, followed by a service project and empowerment fair.
Through Jan. 20. The King Center. 449 Auburn Ave., Atlanta. (404) 526-8900. thekingcenter.org
The Global Footsteps of MLK: A Celebration Through Flavor with Marcus Samuelsson
Experience a menu curated by the owner and award-winning chef that pays homage to the places where King touched here and abroad. A signature dish called “King’s Jambalaya” will include jollof rice, fish curry, jambalaya and barbecue fried chicken.
Monday-Jan. 20. Marcus Bar and Grill Atlanta. 525 Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta. (470) 890-1700. instagram.com
Emory School of Law’s 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lecture
Southern Poverty Law Center senior supervising attorney Crystal McElrath is the law school’s keynote speaker for a free event concentrating on King’s fight for economic justice. A panel will feature representatives from the Arthur M. Blank Foundation, Emory University and the Atlanta Municipal Court.
Noon Wednesday. Emory University Law School. 1301 Clifton Road, Atlanta. (404) 727-6816. law.emory.edu
Southern Roots: The Beloved Table
Inspired by King’s idea of a “Beloved Community,” this ticketed event, courtesy of the wellness organization Hand, Heart and Soul Project, invites guests to engage in conversations, share personal stories and discuss efforts to create unity through community.
6-8 p.m. Jan. 16. Jonesy’s Place. 780 Main St., Forest Park. (404) 343-1919. eventbrite.com
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade
The NAACP DeKalb County Branch is having its 23rd “Still I Rise” parade, which will start at New Black Wall Street and end at Privi at the Mall of Stonecrest. Registration must be completed by Saturday on the NAACP DeKalb County Branch’s website.
8:30 a.m. Jan. 18. New Black Wall Street. 8109 Mall Parkway, Stonecrest. (404) 241-8006. naacpdekalb.org
Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Atlanta History Center
Commemorate King’s legacy through civil right trivia, a tour of the new Goizueta Children’s Experience, panels, exhibits, kids’ activities stations and curated exhibits on women in the Civil Rights Movement, which includes hats worn by women of the King family.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 18. Atlanta History Center. 130 W. Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta. (404) 814-4000. atlantahistorycenter.com
MLK Celebration Brunch featuring Antoine Gibson
Spend an afternoon listening to a fusion of live jazz and hip-hop from Atlanta-born saxophonist and bandleader Gibson. Brunch is included in the ticket price.
Noon Jan. 19. City Winery Atlanta. 650 North Ave. NE, Atlanta. (404) 946-3791. citywinery.com
Soul Cinema Sundays Film Series
The kickoff to the Black independent film series is launching with a screening of “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” which stars Danny Glover and Tichina Arnold. Screenings will take place on the second Sunday of each month and will feature postviewing discussions with artists, activists and community organizations.
4 p.m. Jan. 19. Plaza Theatre. 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. (470) 410-1939. plazaatlanta.com
City of Dunwoody 9th Annual Day of Service
In partnership with the Dunwoody-Atlanta Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Dunwoody invites the public to give back on Jan. 20 through neighborhood cleanups, a blood drive, and tree and flower plantings. Sign up on the site and report to the addresses listed. dunwoodyga.gov
Annual Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration
King’s alma mater will host several events beginning on the federal holiday. First, there’s a day of service in the Shirley Massey Executive Conference Center on Jan. 20, then guest speaker Keyon Payton will lead a Crown Forum on the morning of Jan. 23 at the Martin Luther King International Chapel. On Jan. 29 there will be a lecture and conversation series with guest speaker Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries. Finally, the Human Rights Film Festival on Jan. 30 will feature a screening of the documentary “Undivide Us.” All events are open to the public.
Jan. 20-31. Morehouse College. 830 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta. (470) 639-0999. morehouse.edu
MLK Day 5K Drum Run: Let Freedom Run
Gather at the First Baptist Church of Doraville for a walk or run on New Peachtree Road. High school drumlines will perform along the street until the Peachtree Road Race qualifier ends. Register for race packets on the official website.
8 a.m. Jan. 20. First Baptist Church of Doraville. 5935 New Peachtree Road, Doraville. (404) 889-1142. mlkday5k.com
Acworth Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Start with breakfast at the Roberts School Community and Education Center before joining a unity walk to Acworth Community Center for a program that will honor King in Tanyard Creek Overlook. The afternoon concludes with opportunities to volunteer with Mostly Mutts animal rescue group and Acworth Presbyterian Church.
8:30 a.m. Jan. 20. Roberts School Community and Education Center. 4681 School St., Acworth. signupgenius.com
2025 Bayard Rustin/Audre Lorde Breakfast
To recognize the efforts to advance civil rights from Black LGBTQ icons, this annual breakfast is held every MLK Day to educate the community on the two leaders’ contributions. Attendees are asked to meet at the corner of Peachtree and Ellis streets in advance of the march.
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 20. Loudermilk Conference Center, 40 Courtland St., Atlanta. (404) 441-4827. southernunity.org
2025 MLK Jr. Day
The celebration at St. James Alpharetta starts with a gathering and remarks from Trunell Felder, senior pastor of New Faith Baptist Church in Matteson, Illinois. The day, themed “Together We Can Make Change,” includes a walk from St. James to Alpharetta City Center and a reception and canned food drive for the St. James Food Pantry.
9:30 a.m. Jan. 20. St. James Alpharetta. 3000 Webb Bridge Road, Alpharetta. (678) 762-1543. stjamescca.org
Permaculture Volunteer Event: ArtsXchange
Join eco-friendly organization Shades of Green Permaculture as it launches a yearlong restoration project that will transform a garden near the community arts facility. Participants can sign up for free and will learn soil regeneration and how sustainability can improve the community.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 20. ArtsXchange. 2148 Newnan St., East Point. (404) 624-4211. www.eventbrite.com
2025 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
The Cobb County NAACP and county government are hosting a program that will feature dancers, musicians, spoken word poets, dramatic readings and the presentation of the “Living the Dream” award to a community member who embodies King’s ideologies.
10 a.m.-noon. Jan. 20. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. (770) 528-8490. cobbcounty.org
Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy of Service
The Mission Continues, a nonprofit that encourages veterans nationwide to participate in community service projects in underserved communities, is inviting people to register and assist with various initiatives. Those include landscaping, building indoor and outdoor wellness spaces, kitchen renovations and storage areas at the DeKalb County School District Transportation headquarters.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Jan. 20. DeKalb County School District Transportation, 2817 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur. (678) 676-1801. missioncontinues.org
United Ebony Society Annual Martin Luther King Day Parade
Going into its 21st year, the event themed “Don’t Give Up on the Dream” will begin with an hourlong ceremony at Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. Folks will line up after the program and march to Central Gwinnett High School for a two-hour celebration.
11 a.m. Jan. 20. Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville. unitedebonysociety.org
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Life and Legacy
The family-friendly afternoon features stations to create a mural, bookmarks with King’s quotes and book readings. There are two screenings of the Emmy-nominated “Our Friend, Martin,” an animated special about two friends who travel back in time and meet King at various points of his life.
1-4 p.m. Jan. 20. Sandy Springs City Hall. 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs. (770) 730-5600. sandyspringsga.gov
Palefsky Collision Project MLK Day Performance
Teens participating in theater workshops at Alliance Theatre are performing a staged reading of “Dreams Born of Chaos” through the prism of Dr. King’s philosophy. The piece is based on poet Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb,” and tickets are free with RSVP.
2 p.m. Jan. 20. Woodruff Arts Center. 1280 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. (404) 733-4600. alliancetheatre.org
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