January 17, 2013 — What are you doing this weekend? Here is a list of some Orlando area events centered

Seattle Times photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

around the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on Monday, January 21. Why not get out, volunteer, get to know your neighbors and get a dose of the civil rights leader’s spirit of non-violent change and of love?

Saturday, January 19:

29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade, 10 a.m. Southwest Orlando Jaycees, along Orange Avenue, in downtown Orlando. Opportunity to volunteer for the parade and to give to a children’s coat drive.

Town of Eatonville’s MLK Parade and Celebration, 2 p.m. Town of Eatonville. Start on west Kennedy Boulevard.

Orlando Magic Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 3-4 p.m. Pine Hills Elementary School. Refurbishment on the school’s basketball court through the Orlando Magic. 1006 Ferndell Road, Orlando.

MLK Commemorative Banquet, 6 p.m. City of Sanford. Sanford Civic Center, 401 East Seminole Boulevard, Sanford, FL 32771. Speaker: The Honorable Judge Darrell E. Graham (native of Sanford), U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Cost: $30 per person.

Hands On Orlando’s 13th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Days of Service, Opportunity to Volunteer. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Contact: info@handsonorlando.com or 407.740.8652.

Sunday, January 20:

MLK Inter-Faith Religious Observance, 3 p.m. City of Sanford. Calvary Temple of Praise, 2020 McCracken Road, Sanford.

Monday, January 21:

22nd Annual Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Prayer Breakfast, 7:45 a.m. YMCA of Central Florida and the Southwest Orlando Jaycees. First Baptist Church of Orlando, 3000 S. John Young Parkway, Orlando. Tickets available at area YMCA’s and morning of breakfast. 

7th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade and Celebration, 10 a.m. City of Ocoee Human Relations Diversity Board. Starting at Citrus Elementary School, 87 N. Clarke Rd. ending with celebration at West Oaks Mall (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

MLK Parade and Rally, 10 a.m. City of Sanford. Starting at Crooms Academy of Information Technology ending at Fort Mellon Park in downtown Sanford, with the rally.

King: A Day of Reflection, 10 a.m. Pine Hills Performing Arts Center, A. Phillip Randolph Institute and Living By The Bible Community Church.  Free event, with Black History trivia, MLK speeches, exhibits and Civil Rights movies.  At the performing arts center: 5600 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 302, Orlando.

Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Vigil, 6 p.m. Rollins College, Knowles Memorial Chapel.

Compiled from online sources including the City of Orlando’s website – MLK Calendar of Events. Contact sponsoring groups for details.

© Orlando Community News, 2013