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LIST: Events happening in Southwest, Central Virginia for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

FILE - A view of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, backdropped by the Washington Monument during the annual MLK wreath-laying ceremony in Washington, Jan. 15, 2024. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) (Jose Luis Magana, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

People across the country will come together on Monday to pay their respects to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a dedicated pioneer for civic rights who paved the way for equality, equity and peace for African Americans. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January each year, or the Monday that falls after his January 15 birthday. This year, the observance falls on the same day as the presidential Inauguration, which isn’t expected to happen again until Jan. 2053.

Here’s a list of events that will take place throughout our region on Monday to honor the life and legacy of the civil rights icon:

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27th Annual MLK Breakfast Celebration - Lynchburg

When? 8:30 a.m. at 2900 Candler’s Mountain Road, Lynchburg

The 27th Annual MLK Breakfast Celebration will be held at the Bella Vista Hotel & Suites at 8:30 a.m. Please note that tickets, which are $50 per person, must be purchased in advance by contacting Sharon Brown at lyhmlk1991@gmail.com. You will not be able to purchase them at the door. Dr. Robert L. Canida, II, Chief Inclusive Excellence Officer for the University of Lynchburg, will serve as this year’s keynote speaker. The theme for the event is “A Heart Full of Grace,” a nod to Dr. King’s “Drum Major Instinct” sermon that was delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, just two months before his assassination in 1968.

MLK Community Meal Packaging Event - Roanoke

When? 10 a.m. at North Cross School

Martin Luther King Jr., Day is often recognized as a day of service due to his unwavering commitment to serving those in need. On Monday, Rise Against Hunger will host a meal packaging event, where nearly 100 community volunteers will gather at North Cross School. They are set to package more than 20,000 nutritious meals within 2.5 hours that will then be shipped to people facing food insecurity across the world. Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization working to end hunger, aims for this event to honor Dr. King and the significant impact he made on advocating for a world without poverty.

Legal aid and Expungement event at Hotel Roanoke

When? 10 a.m.

Community members are encouraged to attend this MLK Day of Service Event to get needed assistance with past criminal records to rebuild their futures through legal assistance, business support, community engagement and educational resources.

Springhouse to host an annual event celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Vision

When? 12 p.m. at Springhouse Community School

Springhouse, an intergenerational, vitality-centered learning community in Southwest Virginia, will host “The Long Road: Building Beloved Community in the New River Valley” at 12 p.m. on Monday. This year’s event is looking to celebrate inclusivity and diversity while also paying honor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a more just and inclusive world where people aren’t “judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

This year’s event will include a community potluck meal, music and opportunities for attendees to engage in meaningful conversations. Attendees can also take home posters created by students in Sourced Press, Springhouse’s in-house print shop that reflect the values of unity and inclusivity.


The Martin Luther Jr. Day of Service Litter Cleanup in Roanoke and the MLK Parade in Lexington have been canceled due to weather conditions.


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About the Author
Jazmine Otey headshot

Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.