Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on Monday, January 18. If you happen to have the day off, we encourage you to check out the events going on around Richmond to honor this great man.

January 16, 2010; 7:59 PM • by RVANews staff

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on Monday, January 18. If you happen to have the day off, we encourage you to check out the events going on around Richmond to honor this great man.

MLK Day 2010: Make it a Day On… Not a Day Off!

This one has been going on since Friday, but it runs through Monday, so there’s still a chance to get involved. Join the folks of HandsOn Greater Richmond in their efforts to bring Richmonders out to spend the day giving back to the community, all in honor of Dr. King. Stop by the HandsOn website to choose from a variety of service projects to volunteer your time.

Freedom Classic Festival

Enjoy live music, great food, family-friendly events (including a drumline competition), and watch as Virginia State and Virginia Union face off. Sunday, January 17, 4pm, Richmond Coliseum (601 E. Leigh Street), $20 ($25 for club seating). Stop by the website to see a schedule of events.

MLK Gospel Evensong

Celebrate the life of Dr. King with a service featuring the Concert Choir of Norfolk State University, one of the premiere African-American ensembles in the country, led by Dr. Carl W. Haywood— pre-eminent organist, conductor, composer, and editor of Lift Every Voice II, the African-American Hymnal of the Episcopal Church. Sunday, January 17, 5pm, St. James Episcopal Church (1205 W. Franklin Street), free.

MLK Day at C-Mor

As Monday is a school holiday, the Children’s Museum will be open for business. Use the day as an opportunity to talk with your kids about Dr. King’s love of learning (rather than letting them think it’s just a random day off from school). Monday, January 18, 9:30am to 5pm, Children’s Museum of Richmond (2626 W. Broad Street), $8 (kids under 1 are free).

Martin Luther King Day Commemoration

On Monday, January 18, University of Richmond has several events planned throughout the day. A University Community Gathering beginning at 2pm will include music, student performances and keynote speaker, Dr. Oliver W. Hill, Jr., professor and chair of Psychology at Virginia State University. A reception will be held in the Gottwald Science Center Atrium. University of Richmond (28 Westhampton Way), 2pm, free.

Martin Luther King Celebration

Join Boaz & Ruth for a service honoring Dr. King, including a speech given by Dr. Brian Blount, President of Union-PSCE. A candlelight walk will take place after the service, followed by a dinner at Boaz & Ruth. Monday, January 18, 6pm, service at Fresh Anointing Cathedral (3001 Second Avenue), dinner at Boaz & Ruth (3030 Meadowbridge Road), free. RSVP by phone at 804-329-4900, or by email at reservations@boazandruth.com.

As always, if you know of anything else going on around town, let us know in the comments. And feel free to reflect on the day, too.