Here are 8+ ways to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Louisville this year

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, this year held on Jan. 16, is a time for reflection on the change King wanted to bring to America. He was the spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

Celebrate his legacy by participating in these nine events around Louisville:

Faith Communities in the Midst of the Dream: The Time is Now

WHAT: Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Celebration will include workshops and worship. Sponsored by the Kentucky Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Commission on Religion and Race.

Schedule:

• 8:15 a.m.: Registration (coffee and doughnuts)

• 9 a.m.: Workshop I - "Shattering the Stained Glass Windows," Rev. Bessie Hamilton, presenter

• 10:45 a.m.: Workshop II - "Reimagining Diversity: Building Capacity for Acceptance," Jennifer Davis and R. Dwayne Burks, presenters

• 12:15 p.m.: Lunch break

• 1 p.m.: Worship Service. Rev. Vance Ross, senior pastor of Central United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia is the guest speaker

WHERE: Crescent Hill United Methodist Church, 201 S. Peterson Ave.

WHEN: Jan. 14, 8:15 a.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Free. Registrations are only required if you plan on having lunch and is needed by 11:59 p.m., Jan. 10. Registration is not required but requested for the workshops or worship service. Register online, kyumc-reg.brtapp.com/2023MLKDayCelebration.

37th Archdiocese of Louisville's Office of Multicultural Ministry Communitywide Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

WHAT: Theme: "Breaking Every Chain." Join the Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre, the Archdiocesan Gospel Choir, and others during this celebration to honor a man who fought for all people. The service of prayer and praise will include scripture, reflective readings and songs of praise.

WHERE: Cathedral of the Assumption, 433 S. Fifth St.

WHEN: Jan. 14, 10:30 a.m.

MORE INFORMATION: The celebration will be live-streamed on the Cathedral's YouTube page; youtube.com/@cathedraloftheassumptionlo1534/streams and on the Cathedral's website: cathedraloftheassumption.org. For more information, contact the Office of Multicultural Ministry at 502-471-2146.

30th Annual Community Celebration Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

WHAT: Featuring gospel musical concert with Grammy award nominee Jason Clayborn & the Atmosphere Changers.

WHERE: Griffin Recreation Center, 1140 Griffin St., New Albany, Indiana

WHEN: Jan. 14. Concert, 2-3 p.m.; reception, 3 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Reservations are requested. 812-949-7275

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Keepers of the Dream: A Community Arts Celebration of Dr. King's Vision

WHAT: Performances by River City Drum Corp, Keen Dance, Young Prodigys, Redline Performing Arts, Courageous, Lance Newman, Miya Ford, Robin Garner, Tytianna Ringstaff, Erica Goodman, Jocelyn Camille, Derion J and Friends and Koree Jackson. Preshow performance Erica Denise in The Kentucky Center Lobby (4-4:45 p.m.).

WHERE: Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.

WHEN: Jan. 15, 5 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Free. kentuckyperformingarts.org.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Celebration

WHAT: University of Louisville's African American Theatre Program will celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., with community artists and University of Louisville African American Theatre Program representatives using artistic expression to commemorate MLK's contributions to the world. Performers include The Real Young Prodigys, Redline Performing Arts, FaithWorks Studios and more.

WHERE: University of Louisville Playhouse Theatre, 1911 S. Third St.

WHEN: Jan. 16, 1 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Free. events.louisville.edu/event/mlk_day_celebration_2023.

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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Celebration

WHAT: 50th Anniversary of Lexington's MLK Day Celebration. Beginning with the annual Freedom March at 1 p.m. and concluding with a Commemorative Program held at the Central Bank Center at 2 p.m. The march begins and ends at Central Bank Center. The commemorative program keynote speaker is Dr. David Hall, president of the University of The Virgin Islands. Hall is also a distinguished legal scholar who is recognized internationally for his contributions to legal scholarship on Race, Social Justice, Leadership and Constitutional Law.

WHEN: Jan. 16, 1 p.m.

WHERE: Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine St., Lexington

MORE INFORMATION: uky.edu/mlk.

MLK Day Party

WHAT: DJ, food and dancing

WHERE: Joe’s Palm Room, 1821 W. Jefferson St.

WHEN: Jan. 16, 4-10 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $10. eventbrite.com.

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MLK Weekend Day Party

WHAT: Celebrate with free games, DJ, drink specials and dancing.

WHERE: Sports & Social Club, 4th Street Live!, 432 S. 4th St.

WHEN: Jan. 16, 5-10 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $15. eventbrite.com; goodtimersentertainment.com.

Muhammad Ali Center Celebrates Muhammad Ali's 81st birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.

WHAT: Muhammad Ali Center Celebrates Muhammad Ali’s 81st birthday and Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.

Schedule:

• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: American Red Cross Blood Drive. Support Muhammad’s legacy of giving by donating blood.

• 11:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.: Free admission to Muhammad Ali Center.

• Noon: I Have a Dream screening, followed by a panel of seven Muhammad Ali Center Council of Students speaking on carrying forward Dr. King’s Dream and Muhammad Ali’s legacy.

• 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m.: I Have a Dream screening.

WHERE: Muhamad Ali Center, 144 N. Sixth St.

WHEN: Jan. 16, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: Muhammad Ali's birthday, Jan.17. The Center is closed to the public, but, there are still opportunities for the community to join in celebrating the day and carrying forward his life’s work. The Muhammad Ali Center education department compiled lesson plans for students K-12 that can be accessed from the Ali Center website. alicenter.org.

Louisville Urban League Kentucky State University Historically Black Colleges and Universities Indoor Classic

WHAT: This track and field meet feature teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from across the country. Presented by Humana.

WHERE: Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, 3029 W. Muhammad Ali Boulevard

WHEN: Jan. 16, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: $15, $5 for students with ID. nortonslc.com/events/detail/lul-ksu-hbcu-classic.

I Have a Dream, 1 Mile, 5K, 10K, Mini Marathon and Marathon

WHAT: Honoring Dr. King with the annual 'I Have a Dream Virtual Race.' The 2023 virtual race can be completed any time in January, from anywhere, and at your own pace. A portion of the registration fee will be donated to the Equal Justice Initiative, an organization that is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in America.

WHEN: Anytime during January

WHERE: Virtual

MORE INFORMATION: Registration includes a limited-edition medal with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that reads, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” $17.99. virtualrunevents.raceentry.com.

Did we miss an event? Reach News Clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com. 

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2023 in Louisville: How to celebrate