From Daytona Beach to DeLand beyond, several Martin Luther King Jr. Day events are planned across Volusia and Flagler counties.
The country will celebrate and participate in marches and other events in remembrance of King and the impact of his nonviolent civil rights efforts. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19, is a national holiday that honors the civil rights activist who was born on Jan. 15, 1929.
While King is celebrated across the country, there is a local tie. King visited Daytona Beach, delivering the commencement address at Bethune-Cookman College in May 1958.
King was assassinated in 1968.
Here’s a look at what’s happening locally for the holiday.
MLK Day events in Daytona Beach
At 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, the public is invited to “Seven Words From the King,” an event celebrating King’s “life and legacy” with songs, speeches and more. The event will be at 511 Fremont Ave. in Daytona Beach at Master’s Domain Church of God in Christ.
At 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, the public is invited to a breakfast at the Julia T. and Charles W. Cherry Sr. Cultural and Educational Center at 925 George W. Engram Blvd. in Daytona Beach. The organizers ask for a $5 donation.
After breakfast, there will be the annual MLK Day march, which is expected to begin about 9:45 a.m. at the same location at 925 George W. Engram Blvd.
A celebration worship service will follow the march at Allen Chapel AME Church at 580 George W. Engram Blvd. in Daytona Beach.
MLK Day events in DeLand
At 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, the “Youth Explosion” event will allow young people to show off their talents, including an MLK poster and banner contest, said Andre Darby, event coordinator with the DeLand MLK Committee. The event will be at the Wayne G. Sanborn Activity Center, 815 S. Alabama Ave. in DeLand.
At 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, also at the Sanborn Center, locals will be recognized for their accomplishments at the “2026 Honoree Celebration Gala & Award Banquet,” Darby said. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the door. The event is catered.
At 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, the public is invited to a free concert at City Sanctuary Church at 401 E. Taylor Road in DeLand. The MLK Unity Choir will perform. The event features special guest Bishop Melvin Dawson & Genesis Fellowship Delegation. Doors open at 3 p.m.
A Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade will be held on Monday, Jan. 19, in DeLand. The parade will begin at about 10:45 a.m. near Stetson University and proceed to Earl Brown Park, Darby said.
From noon to 5 p.m. after the parade, a festival will be held at Earl Brown Park featuring food and product vendors, live entertainment and more.
For information, go to mlkdeland.com.
Flagler County MLK parade scheduled
A Martin Luther King Jr. Parade will be held at noon on Saturday, Jan. 17, starting at the G.W. Carver Center at 201 E. Drain St. in Bunnell. Before the parade, a prayer breakfast will be held at 10 a.m. For information, contact Mark Anderson at 386-276-0809.
At 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, Palm Coast United Methodist Church at 6500 Belle Terre Parkway in Palm Coast will “celebrate the life and legacy” of King.
New Smyrna Beach MLK Day events include film screening, march
Learn about “the U.S. Army’s only predominantly Black, all-female battalion serving overseas during World War II” by attending a screening of the film “The Six Triple Eight,” according to a city of New Smyrna Beach news release. The event will begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, in the Alonzo “Babe” James Community Center at 201 N. Myrtle Ave.
On Monday, Jan. 19, participants can attend a breakfast at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church from 7 to 8:45 a.m. At 9 a.m., a community march will start from the Mary S. Harrell Black Heritage Museum at 314 N. Duss St., according to the city.
The march will then head “south to S.R. 44, east over the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge, north on Live Oak Street, and west on Canal Street before concluding with inspiring music, youth performances, and remarks by Dr. Camesha Whittaker and Rev. Bob Brown.”
Ormond Beach to host Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast
At 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, the public is invited to attend the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast at the South Ormond Beach Neighborhood Center at 176 Division Ave. in Ormond Beach. The breakfast is free and open to all, according to the Ormond Beach Parks and Recreation Facebook page. The city and Access to Excellence Global are hosting the event.
― Michelle Del Rey of USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Martin Luther King Jr. Day events ahead in Volusia and Flagler
Reporting by Sheldon Gardner, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
