Celebrate the vision and impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with these Houston MLK Day 2020 celebrations, parades, performances, and gatherings from Saturday, January 11 to MLK Day, Monday, January 20, 2020.
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Also in January 2020
Although the official day for honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. may not be until MLK Day, Monday, January 20, there are plenty of celebrations and events the week leading up to Houston MLK Day 2020.
Martin Luther King Day 2020 Celebrations in Houston
Saturday, January 11, 2020
- Pearland MKLCC Scholarship Banquet at Hilton Garden Inn Pearland – Pearland MLKCC hosts its Scholarship Banquet featuring special guest speaker CEO and Founder of PACE Youth programs, Steven Holloway at Hilton Garden Inn Pearland. Individual tickets are $60. 7pm.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
- Annual MLK Celebration: Civil Rights to Environmental Justice at Texas Southern University | FREE with RSVP – Celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Rothko Chapel, in partnership with the TSU Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, presents a conversation exploring the influence of MLK and the Civil Rights Movement on the environmental justice movement. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. 6pm.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
- 14th Annual MLK Youth Parade in Midtown Houston | FREE – Head to Midtown for the annual MLK Youth Parade featuring 10 parade floats and 20 marching bands in a celebration that has attracted more than 200,000 spectators in years past. The parade will take place near the HCC Central Campus, and originates at Elgin and San Jacinto streets. Noon to 1:30pm.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
- 19th Annual MLK Battle of the Bands Competition at Galena Park ISD Stadium – The 19th Annual MLK Battle of the Bands will feature more than 20 nationally acclaimed marching bands from across the country, including the best high school marching bands from Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Tickets are $12. 3pm to 7pm.
- Legacy: A Celebration of the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at First Methodist Houston in Downtown | FREE – Two of Houston’s oldest churches, First Methodist Downtown and Trinity United Methodist, are collaborating together on a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. Featuring the churches’ combined youth, musicians, and choirs; the program will showcase a collection of music historically connected to the Civil Rights Movement and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 4pm.
MLK Day, Monday, January 20, 2020
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Breakfast at Hilton Americas-Houston – The Greater Houston Frontiers Club hosts its 32nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Breakfast, “Challenging the Present to Live the Dream”, at Hilton Americas-Houston in Downtown. The keynote speaker is Dr. George Fraser, Chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc. Tickets are $60. 8am to 10am.
- 26th Annual MLK Grande Parade in Midtown | FREE – Watch over 30 marching bands and 15 parade floats at the 26th Annual MLK Parade in Midtown near the HCC Central Campus. The parade originates at the intersection of San Jacinto and Elgin streets. For 2020, the parade’s theme is “The Color Of Unity”. 10am to noon.
- 42nd Annual Original MLK, Jr. Parade & Celebration in Downtown | FREE – Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as The Black Heritage Society Organization presents the 42nd Original MLK Day Parade in Downtown. The parade will take place in the Downtown streets near City Hall, starting at the intersection of Smith and Lamar Streets. 10am to 12:30pm.
- MLK Day at Children’s Museum of Houston – Listen to uplifting words by Gardere’s oratory speech winner, march down Kid’s Hall in celebration of civil rights, hear the “I Have a Dream” speech and more at the Children’s Museum’s 23rd Annual MLK Day Celebration. Other activities include a performance from Providence Jazz Ensemble and a movie screening of Martin’s Big Words. Tickets are $5. Noon.
- MLK Day of Service – Suppressed: The Fight to Vote Movie Screening at University of Houston | FREE – In honor of the MLK Day of Service, Transform Houston screens Brave New Films production of Suppressed: The Fight to Vote at Agnes Arnold Hall, Auditorium #2 at the University of Houston. The film recounts efforts to prevent people of color from casting their vote in the 2018 election in Georgia and touches on efforts to suppress the vote of people of color in other states, including Texas. 6pm to 8pm.
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