PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Cities all across the region will be holding events throughout the week to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The national holiday, which falls on the third Monday of each January, was first observed in 1986, fifteen years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination on April 4, 1968, and celebrates the life and legacy of the renowned civil rights leader.
Throughout the holiday, which also happens to fall on inauguration day this year, many city buildings, banks and mail services will be closed.
A list of events throughout the seven cities, which will be updated as more come in, can be found below:
Hampton
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service — Monday, Jan. 20, all day
- Held at the KUF Marketplace Resource Center
- Dr. King Day of Service Food Drive — Monday, Jan. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Held at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank at 2401 Aluminum Avenue. Congressman Bobby Scott and Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones will be in attendance
Newport News
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade — Sunday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m.
- Parade will begin at the Newport News Police Department North Precinct and Training Center parking lot and will head towards New Beech Grove Baptist Church
- Andrew Shannon Feeding 5000 — Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2:30 p.m.
- Will take place after the parade at New Beech Grove Baptist Church
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert — Sunday, Jan. 19 at 4 p.m.
- Held at New Beech Grove Baptist Church. Keynote speaker will be Rev. Robin Scott King, niece of MLK Jr.
Norfolk
- A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. — Sunday, Jan. 19 from 7-8:30 p.m.
- Performance by Virginia Symphony Orchestra at Harrison Opera House
- MLK Day of Service on the ERT 2025 — Monday, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon
- Held at the Elizabeth River Trail in Norfolk
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Ceremony and March — Monday, Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to noon
- Held at the Attucks Theater on Church Street
- Annual MLK Day ’25 Celebration — Monday, Jan. 20 from noon to 3 p.m.
- Held at First Baptist Church of Norfolk
Portsmouth
- A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. — Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 7-8:30 p.m.
- Performance from Virginia Symphony Orchestra at IC Norcom High School
Virginia Beach
- 41st Annual MLK Celebration: The Power of Words — Thursday, Jan. 16 from 7-9 p.m.
- Proceeds from the event, held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, will go towards education, workforce development, health, housing and financial literacy
- The King Project — Friday, Jan. 17 from 7-9 p.m.
- Held at the Zeiders American Dream Theater