[Note: This story is from 2014.] Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Here鈥檚 a listing of observances that are happening in North Texas over the next few days:
6 p.m. Friday 鈥� downtown Plano, Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th St.
Festivities include a candle lighting ceremony, spoken word, music, and tributes from city officials and community leaders.
10 a.m. Saturday
The parade starts at Dallas City Hall and ends at Fair Park. Participants include bands, floats, community and civic groups, churches and radio broadcasts and personalities.
6 p.m. Sunday 鈥� Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Free
The program will recount Dr. King's early years, theological training, entrance into the civil rights movement, and his journey to becoming a humanitarian. Performances by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, vocalist Brenda Ellis, violinist Richmond Punch and diannetuckers' "The Upper Room -- The Martin and Mahalia Story."
8 a.m. Monday
Many decide to honor MLK by holding a day of service. One such MLK Day of Service is happening in Tarrant County and organized by the Tarrant Area Community of Churches. Online registration is closed, but at Baker Chapel A.M.E. Church in Fort Worth.
Monday -- parade starts at 10 a.m.; festival runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
About 250,000 people are expected to attend 鈥� it鈥檚 considered the largest African-American family-oriented event in Dallas and one of the top five commemorative celebrations in the country. Proceeds provide scholarships to high school students. The parade starts on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Holmes Street. A festival will also be held at the Fair Park Tower Building. Free.
11 a.m. Monday
The parade route will begin at the Fort Worth Convention Center (Ninth and Commerce streets), and end at Sundance Square plaza.
6:30 p.m. Monday, Metro Center 鈥� Fielder Road Baptist Church, 1323 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington
Art, music, dance, history and culture come together for a finale that features more than 700 area youngsters, service awards, and more.
at the Dallas City Performance Hall
鈥淔ifty years ago, in his landmark 鈥業 Have a Dream鈥� speech, Martin Luther King, Jr., said 鈥�...With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.鈥� Is that dream becoming a reality? Keynote speaker Tour茅 will be joined by panelists Rev. Peter Johnson, Lauren Embrey and Dr. Angela Ards to discuss the realities of race in America fifty years after the dream.鈥�
8 p.m. Wednesday -- Hughes Trigg Student Center Forum at SMU
The award-winning documentary Standing On My Sister's Shoulders examines the civil rights movement in Mississippi during the 1950s and 1960s from the point of view of the women who lived it. Free and open to the public.
