7 events to celebrate MLK Day in Birmingham

MLK Day is right around the corner on Monday, January 16 and there are many ways to celebrate the leader of the civil rights movement. From service opportunities to fun events, here’s how you can remember Martin Luther King Jr. in The Magic City.

1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration 

UAB Keynote Speaker Dr. Paulette Dilworth leads a commemoration to touch on the importance of MLK’s thoughts through the theme “Together we can be the dream”. There will also be a performance by the Miles College choir, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). 

• When: Friday, January 13 | 11:30AM-1PM
• Where: Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium | 620 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35233
• Cost: Free 
• Register

2. 7th Annual MLK Day 5K Drum Run

Start your MLK weekend by participating in the 5K Drum Run race. Proceeds go to the Leftover Energy Foundation, which supports communities specializing in music and art. Need some motivation while you run? There’s a playlist available to inspire you to get your best 5K time ever! 

• When: Saturday, January 14 | 8AM
• Where: 1700 4th Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Cost: $45
• Register

3. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s King’s Day Festivities

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute honors Martin Luther King Jr. with FREE engaging and educational activities on MLK Day. You can expect to see:

• A live reenactment of the “Letter From Birmingham Jail” from inside the actual jail cell
• Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir
• Galleries Alive
• Greetings from Birmingham Mayor, Randall Woodfin, BCRI Leadership + FedEx Partners
• Scavenger hunts + quizzes

• When: Monday, January 16 | 9AM-5PM
• Where: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute | 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
• Cost: Free
• Register

4. MLK Unity Breakfast

The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast is on Monday, January 16. This years Keynote Speaker is Attorney Corey Minor Smith. For more information reach out the contact below.

• When: Monday, January 16 | 7AM
• Where: Boutwell Auditorium | 1930 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL
• Cost: $60
• For more info: 205-585-6463 | breakfast4unity@gmail.com

5. MLK Indoor Track Meet

The Birmingham Crossplex Track is known for being one of the fastest indoor tracks in the world. This MLK Day, watch as people from Alabama race around the track while trying to set new records.

• When: Monday, January 16 | 8AM-7:30PM
• Where: Birmingham Metro Crossplex | 2340 Crossplex Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35208
• Website | Instagram | Facebook

6. MLK Meet a Mentor Day

Negro Southern League Museum leadership is thrilled to honor the legacy of MLK by hosting Meet a Mentor Day. The museum will be open for viewing alongside different booths from the community, a Q&A session and a chance to win Birmingham Squadron game tickets. The whole family is invited to take advantage of the valuable resources and opportunities from local mentoring organizations.

“When guests finish touring here, we want each of them to thrive in their own way. We also want them to return to their respective communities and share how the men and women of the Negro Leagues broke through racial barriers and limiting beliefs with both tenacity and talent during their baseball careers.”

 Alicia Johnson-Williams, Executive Director, NSLM

• When: Monday, January 16 | 10AM-2PM
• Where: Negro Southern League Museum | 120 16th St. South, Birmingham, AL 35233
• Website | Instagram | Facebook

7. BPL MLK Day events

Looking for something more low-key and available all week? Multiple branches of the Birmingham Public Library are hosting MLK activities. The Springville Road Regional Branch will be showing a movie on Martin Luther King’s historic march from Selma to Montgomery. Won’t be able to catch the movie, there are many other fun activities such as:

• Bingo
• Crafts
• Painting
• Trivia
• Word Search

• When: All month
• Where: Various BPL locations
• Website

For more MLK events across Alabama check this article from Bama Buzz. For MLK Day in Huntsville, visit this article from Hville Blast.

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