Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Events in Washington, DC

Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday is a day of honor and commemorative events at a variety of sites in Washington, DC. Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday is January 15th and is celebrated each year on the third Monday in January.

In 1994, to further commemorate a man who lived his life in service to others, Congress transformed the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday into a national day of community service. Here is a schedule of special events to honor this civil rights leader and to give local residents the opportunity to reach out to help those in need.

2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
January 18, 2010. Join a community service organization or create your own event to serve the DC community and make a difference.

Choral Arts Society Tribute to Martin Luther King
January 10, 2010, 7:00 p.m.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC.
The program entitled Voices: Reflections on an American Icon Through Words and Song features soloists, choruses and instrumentalists joining together to bring a message of peace throughout the world. Tickets: $20.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance
January 18, 2010, 11:00 a.m.
Department of Interior, Auditorium
18th and C Streets, NW, Washington, DC.
This ceremony commemorates the life and legacy of this great human rights leader with an honor guard presentation of colors and musical entertainment from a local school choir.

"Let Freedom Ring" at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2010 Date to be Announced, 6 p.m. The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University host a musical celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy in a free Millennium Stage concert. Tickets are required and will be distributed the day of the event in front of the Concert Hall beginning at 4 p.m.

2009 Annual Civil Rights “Film Festival”
2010 Dates to be Announced, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
1411 W Street, SE, Washington, DC
Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday viewing films featuring the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement and celebrate the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For more information, call (202)426-5961.

Lincoln Memorial
January 18, 2010, 1:00 p.m. 23rd and Independence Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The National Park Service will place a wreath at the Lincoln Memorial, on the steps where Dr. King gave his 1963 speech. The recitation of the “I Have a Dream” speech will be presented by students of Washington, DC’s Watkins Elementary School.