Celebrate the life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at area events this weekend and Monday. While Dr. King's birthday is today and the national holiday is Monday, various happenings will be taking place Saturday through Monday. Below are some of the events honoring King's legacy:
The fourth annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Parade is Monday. The parade steps off from (of course) Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Eutaw Street at noon, proceeds south on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and disbands at Baltimore Street.
Serving as grand marshal of the parade is NAACP president Kweisi Mfume. The theme of this year's parade is "Celebrating Minority Entrepreneurship." Floats include those by the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, the United Horsemen's Association and the Frederick Douglass High School Marching Band.
A reviewing stand will be at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Franklin Street. For more information, call 877-BALTIMORE or visit www.promotionandarts .com.
Port Discovery, 35 Market Place, presents its "I Have a Dream Weekend" Saturday through Monday, with games, hands-on activities and educational programs. Visitors can learn about King, create "peace" artwork, see African dancing by Olu and participate in a drumming circle. There will be live music, face painting and more. The museum will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday and 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday. Admission is $11; $10 seniors; $8.50 ages 3-12; free for ages under 3. Call 410-727-8120 or visit www.port discovery.org.
The 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast is at 8 a.m. Monday at Anne Arundel Community College, David S. Jenkins Gymnasium, 101 College Parkway, Arnold. The event includes a talk by Morris S. Dees Jr., a civil rights activist since the 1960s, and it salutes the winners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest sponsored by the Annapolis chapter of the Links Inc. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for the breakfast. Tickets are $25. Call 410-222-1821.
The American Visionary Art Museum, 800 Key Highway, honors the life and work of Dr. King Monday with a daylong celebration, including film screenings, guided tours and a poetry slam.
Gospel music will be performed by the Calvin Statham Singers, and jazz will be played by Mr. Funn and the Dunbar Jazz Ensemble. Also, Abu the Flutemaker will demonstrate the uses of his homemade and recycled musical trash instruments.
