Week of Jan. 4
The 34th annual Gainesville/Alachua County Commemorative Celebration to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be held beginning Sunday through Jan. 15. The theme this year is "Back to Basics: Speaking Truth to Power." The celebration is sponsored each year by the King Commission and its community partners.
Pre-King activities
Sunday, Jan. 7
6:30 p.m.: The 33rd annual Hall of Fame Banquet, Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel, 4200 NW 97th Blvd. Tickets, $65. Speaker, the Honorable Evangelist Rodney J. Long with the "State of the Dream" address. Contact: Deadra Harvey, 352-376-2442.
Tuesday, Jan. 9
6:30 p.m.: "Remembering Martin and Coretta,” with orator contest winner Elana Rollins of PASSAGE Christian Academy, Upper Room Ministries, 3575 NE 15th St. Contact: Ann Scott, 352-376-2442.
Wednesday, Jan. 10
6:30 p.m.: Town Hall Symposium, “Know Your Rights with Law Enforcement,” King Center, 1028 NE 14th St. Contact: AuBroncee Martin, 352-214-7314.
Thursday, Jan. 11
7 p.m.: 8th annual Youth Talent Extravaganza, “Choirs on Parade,” King Center, Contact: Diyonne McGraw, 352-246-8071.
Friday, Jan. 12
6:30 p.m.: 13th annual Black History Cultural Brain Bowl and 9th annual 5th Grade Spelling Bee, King Center. Contact: Diyonne McGraw, 352-246-8071.
Holiday activities
Monday, Jan. 15
10:30 a.m.: National Holiday Press Conference, King Memorial Garden, 200 E. University Ave. Contact: Rodney J. Long, 352-376-2442.
11 a.m.: Hall of Fame Award Enshrinement Program, King Memorial Garden. Contact: Rodney J. Long, 352-376-2442.
Noon: National Holiday Kick-Off Program, Bo Diddley Community Plaza, with Edna M. Hart Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Award Recipien Samuel J. Ray of P.K. Yonge and presentation of first runner-up award to Jessica McKay of Santa Fe High School. Contact: Rodney J. Long, 352-376-244.
1 p.m.: King Celebration annual Commemorative March from King Memorial Garden to King Center. Contact: Rodney Long, 352-376-2442.
2 p.m.: National Holiday Gospel Program featuring national gospel recording artist Troy Sneed, King Center, free. Contact: Janice Nix Crews, 352-380-9119.
Post-King activities
Wednesday, Jan. 17
6 p.m.: Boys and Girls Night Out!, Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 718 SE 11th St. Contact: Rev. Dr. Marie Herring, 352-665-6314 or marie.herring@yahoo.com.
Thursday-Friday, Jan. 18-19
6 p.m.: Empowerment Revival 2018, Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 718 SE 11th St. Contact: Rev. Dr. Marie Herring, 352-665-6314 or marie.herring@yahoo.com.
Friday, Feb. 23
7 p.m.: Sadie Jackson Scholarship Program, DaySpring Baptist Church, 1945 NE Eighth Ave. Contact: Rev. Dr. Marie Herring, 352-665-6314 or marie.herring@yahoo.com.
Sunday, Feb. 25
5 p.m.: "The History of Gospel" presented by Joy Banks and Pastor Kathy Long-Richardso, Greater Love and Faith Ministries, 902 SE 10th Terrace. free. Contact: Pastor Long-Richardson, 352-281-6431.
Friday, March 9 and Sunday, March 25
7 p.m.: Celebrating Women’s History Month: “Women in Concert: A Classic Black Tie Affair,” Star Center Theatre, 11 NE 23rd Ave. Adults, $20; students/seniors, $15; Contact: Angie Terrell, 352-222-3699 or angertrrll@aol.com.
Sunday, March 18
4 p.m.: Inaugural service for new expansion of DaySpring Baptist Church, 1945 NE Eighth Ave. Contact: Rev. Dr. Marie Herring, 352-665-6314 or marie.herring@yahoo.com.
Friday, March 30
8 a.m.: 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King MLK Prayer Breakfast, Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel, 4200 NW 97th Blvd. Donation: $35, speaker, the 2017 Drum Major for Justice Award recipient, the Rev. Lewis King of Archer. Contact: Rodney J. Long, 352-376-2442.
July 2018
Time TBA: The 5th annual Jazz on the Green Festival for Education in Gainesville and Ocala. Contact: Mike Powell, 352-256-2360 or MikeP@JazzOnTheGreenTour.com.
Saturday, Oct. 20
Time TBA: 2018 Keeper of the Dream Scholarship Fair, King Center, 1028 NE 14th St. Contact: Mike Powell, 352-256-2360.
Monday-Thursday, Nov. 12-15
Time TBA: 2018 Strike Out Hunger Week, Alachua County Fairgrounds, 2900 NE 39th Ave. Contact: Rodney J. Long, 352-376-2442.