When is Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024? How to honor the civil rights leader in Ohio

President Ronald Reagan signed Martin Luther King Jr. Day into law in 1983, but the federal holiday's first observance didn't occur until Jan. 20, 1986. South Carolina became the last in the union to recognize as a paid holiday for state employees.

For anyone who skipped history, King was a Baptist minister and a prominent leader in the American Civil Rights movement, leading nonviolent protests for voting rights, desegregation, labor rights and against the Vietnam War. King led the Montgomery bus boycott, the 1963 March on Washington and the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965.

King won the Nobel Prize in 1965 and is also known for his speeches, including his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, and writings, including his Letter From a Birmingham Jail, which outlined his philosophy of nonviolent resistance.

King was assassinated in 1968. A 15-year battle to honor King’s legacy with a federal holiday followed.

When is MLK Day?

King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta. However, Martin Luther King Day always falls on the third Monday of January each year, so it falls on or near the civil rights leader's birthday.

The date the holiday is observed usually ranges from Jan. 15 to Jan. 21, depending on the year.

Occasionally, the holiday falls on his actual birthday, as is the case in 2024.

What's opened or closed on MLK Day?

Since it's both a state and federal holiday, all state and federal offices are closed, including courts, city halls, post offices and other government services. Also, some employers still don't recognize the holiday, so check and see if where you work will let you stay home that Monday.

When was MLK Day first recognized in Ohio?

An Ohio Senate bill signed into law by then-Gov. Jim Rhodes, on May 2, 1975, officially declared the third Monday of January Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Buckeye State. The state first observed the holiday on January 19, 1976.

MLK Day was approved as a federal holiday years later, in 1983.

Some states initially resisted the holiday by calling it different names or combining it with other holidays. Alabama and Mississippi notably combine the holiday with Robert E. Lee Day to honor the birthday of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, who was born on January 19.

2000 marked the first year that all 50 states celebrated the holiday, with South Carolina joining the fray.

How to observe Martin Luther King Day in Ohio

Martin Luther King Day is the only federal holiday designated as a “national day of service,” encouraging all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities.

Several celebrations of King’s legacy are taking place across Ohio.

The Ohio History Center in Columbus will hold an annual open house from noon to 4 p.m. The event will feature musical and theatrical performances, art activities and an art exhibition.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati will hold “a morning of music, reflection and a call to action” on MLK Day. Doors will open at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast served until 8:30 a.m. when the program begins. Tickets can be purchased online and are $50 for in-person attendance and $25 for a virtual livestream of the event.

The Cleveland Museum of Art will host a free celebration of King from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring music and art activities.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland will offer free admission virtually and in-person to a celebration of King’s Life and Legacy. Tickets must be reserved online.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition in Cincinnati will hold its 49th annual freedom march at the Freedom Center at 10:30 a.m., followed by a community celebration at noon. The event is free and open to the public in person and online.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is MLK Day 2024? How to celebrate the civil rights leader in Ohio