Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day at a few of these Jackson area events. Check the list

Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be observed as a federal holiday on Monday, Jan. 15, this year.

The federal holiday is set aside each year is to celebrate the life of the American Civil Rights Leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the impact he made for Black Americans.

King's legacy will be celebrated with parades, concerts, informative museum events and more throughout the nation, including the Jackson area.

We have compiled a list of some of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024 events planned in the Jackson area:

MLK Parade

James Hopkins, CEO of Reset Jackson, said he will lead Saturday’s parade according to Visit Jackson. The parade will start at Freedom Corner and end at Lanier High School.

• When: Saturday, Jan. 13

• Where: Freedom Corner, 3243 Medgar Evers Blvd., Jackson

• Admission: Free

• Time: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Free Weekend at the Two Mississippi Museums

Sponsored by FedEx, the Two Mississippi Museums will offer free admission starting Saturday, Jan. 13, to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The event promises plenty of activities for families, including the activities below:

The Two Mississippi Museums will host the 2024 MLK Night of Culture at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, in the Craig H. Neilsen Auditorium of the Two Mississippi Museums in Jackson to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Hosted by local Jackson artist and producer 5th Child, this year's Night of Culture theme honors the 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, a press release states.

Artists performing original pieces centered on freedom, voting rights, and education include:

• Musician — Tyler Greer

• African Drumming — Alkebulan

• Spoken Word — Vortex, JT The Poet, Brittany Wilson and Fran Wade

• Vocalists — Shelby Greer, Ally Durr and Samantha Morrow; Miss Black Mississippi USA Talented Teen 2024

• Dance — Mississippi Elite Dance and Cheer

• Visual Art — Al Thomas, Kira Cummings and Kevin Brown

The event is free and open to the public. In case the auditorium capacity is reached, overflow space will be open in the Trustmark Community Room and Spiro Pete Cora Classroom, according to a press release. Guests can access the free visitor parking garage from Jefferson Street between Amite and Mississippi streets.

King’s involvement in Mississippi included visiting Greenwood in support of Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964, testifying in support of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party during the 1964 Democratic National Convention, and continuing James Meredith’s March Against Fear following the assassination attempt against Meredith in 1966, according to the press release.

In addition, the press release states that the Mississippi Secretary of State Office will be at the Two Mississippi Museums from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday educating visitors about the office's duties and conducting voter registration.

Additionally, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, youth from the Jack and Jill organization will perform living history monologues featuring Mississippians from the Civil Rights Movement and Dr. King and Coretta Scott King.

For more information, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.

• When: Saturday, Jan. 13, to Monday, Jan. 15

• Where: Two Mississippi Museums, 222 North St., Jackson

• Admission: Free

• Time: 9 a.m.

Rho Xi Lambda MLK Scholarship Gala

The Stellar Venue will hold a Xi Lambda MLK Scholarship Gala for a night of celebration and giving away scholarships, while honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

• When: Saturday, Jan. 13

• Where: The Stellar Venue, 731 South Pear Orchard Road, Ridgeland

• Admission: $50

• Time: 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Mass in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman

Catholic Diocese of Jackson will host a celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day and to celebrate social justice joined by Bishop Kopacz and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman and their contributions to his legacy.

• When: Sunday, Jan. 14

• Where: Cathedral of St. Peter, 203 N West St., Jackson

• Admission: Free

• Time: 3 p.m.

Lift Every Voice: A Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

Sponsored by Opera Mississippi Experience, Operatic tenor John Christopher Adams will present a concert to share personal stories from the Civil Rights Movement and commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Some of the songs included are “Soon I Will be Done,” “Ain’t-A-Dat Good News” and more, according to a press release from Visit Jackson.

• When: Monday, Jan. 15

• Where: Mississippi Museum of Art, 380 South Lamar St., Jackson

• Admission: $38 per person.

• Time: 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

More: Where to go in Jackson area to get king cakes. See our list

More: Big Concerts to look forward to in 2024. See who is coming

Know an event coming up or have a good story idea? Reporter Kiara Fleming can be reached via email KDFleming@jackson.gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Martin Luther King Jr. Day events planned for jackson MS area