Events across West Volusia will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day Jan. 15, the annual commemoration of the civil rights leader’s life.
DeLand
In DeLand, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. events begin Saturday, Jan. 13, and run through Monday, Jan. 15.
Events kick off with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Gala and Award Banquet 6-8:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Rinker Field House, 602 N. Bert Fish Drive, on Stetson University’s campus.
Hosted by STAR 94.5 radio host Jo-Jo Oneal, the gala will also feature special guest Donnie McClurkin, a Grammy Award-winning gospel singer. Dinner will be catered by Stetson, and a number of local honorees, including Pastor Benjamin Heflin, Dr. Primrose Cameron and more, will receive awards.
Tickets cost $75 and can be purchased for the event in-person at The West Volusia Beacon office, 110 W. New York Ave., at Greater Union First Baptist Church, 240 S. Clara Ave., or at BDiva Beauty Supply Store, 1575 S. Spring Garden Ave., Suite 400, all in DeLand. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com/e/deland-mlk-presents-martin-luther-king-jr-celebration-gala-award-banquet-tickets-753441873927 or by calling event coordinator Andre Darby at 386-302-8740.
The celebrations continue Sunday, Jan. 14, with the noonday unity worship service at Mount Calvary Free Will Baptist Church, 710 W. Cincinnati Ave. in DeLand. The service will bring church leaders from across the area together to honor Dr. King’s legacy.
The event will feature music from the MLK Choir and special guest Master Hilton Rawls III, a 12-year-old preaching sensation, whose work as a young preacher, Darby said, has led him to meet the likes of Al Sharpton and others.
Services begin at noon.
Finally, on MLK Day, Monday, Jan. 15, preparations for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Unity March begin at 10 a.m. at the Museum of Art – DeLand, 600 N. Woodland Blvd. A breakfast from Chick-fil-A will be offered to people lined up for the march at the museum, and kickoff is at 10:45 a.m. The march will proceed through Downtown DeLand and end at Earl Brown Park, 750 S. Alabama Ave., where the MLK Day Celebration Festival take place noon to 4 p.m.
The festival will include music from the Grammy Award-winning act Trae Pierce & the T-Stones, a banner contest, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, as well as food and other vendors.
“We’re looking for a great time,” Darby said.
Deltona
In Deltona, two events honor Dr. King’s legacy. At noon Saturday, Jan. 13, at The Center at Deltona, 1640 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Deltona DreamKeepers and the African American Association of Deltona will host an event featuring a renowned speaker and more.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Marvin Dunn, has had a distinguished career as a naval officer and in higher education. Dunn is a historian and activist for racial justice, and with a concentration on the state of Florida.
The master of ceremonies will be Lake Helen Mayor Vernon J. Burton.
The theme for this event is “Share our similarities, Celebrate our differences,” and will take place until 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 per person. For more information, call Mike Williams at 386-804-6136.
Another event will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, at New Hope Baptist Church, 2855 Lake Helen Osteen Road. The song service of remembrance, titled “Remembering the dream through harmony,” will be free to the public.
A local choir will perform to “celebrate and complement the efforts of Dr. King’s dream of making the community better for everyone,” Pastor William Bradley said.
