Martin Luther King Jr. Day events from Atlanta to Athens

FILE - People attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial marking MLK Day in Washington, Jan. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

Atlanta

MLK, Jr. Beloved Community Awards 
Saturday, January 17, 2026 – 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Atlanta – 265 Peachtree Street NE
Presented by The King Center

FILE – King Center CEO Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., speaks during a news conference at the King Center in Atlanta, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Kate Brumback, File)

A ticketed awards program recognizing national and international leaders and organizations advancing Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community. The evening includes a pre-reception with entertainment and heavy hors d’oeuvres. (No seated dinner.)
Cost: $303.95 and up

Athens

Athens-Clarke County MLK Jr. Day of Service
Monday, January 19, 2026 – 8:30 a.m.–Noon
Kick-off at Lay Park Gymnasium – 297 Hoyt Street
A countywide Day of Service honoring Dr. King’s legacy as “A Day On and Not a Day Off,” followed by volunteer projects hosted by more than 30 organizations.
Cost: Free

(photo Athens-Clarke County Government)

10th Annual Athens MLK Jr. Parade & Music Fest
Monday, January 19, 2026 – Noon–3:00 p.m.
Hull & West Washington Street – 195 W. Washington Street
Organized by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, presented by United Group of Artists. A milestone parade and music festival celebrating a decade of community advocacy under the theme “A Decade of Justice, Unity, and Legacy.”
Cost: Free

College Park

Clayton County MLK Day Parade & Celebration
Monday, January 19, 2026 – 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Tracey Wyatt Recreation Center – 2300 Godby Road
Presented by the City of College Park Recreation & Cultural Arts Department
The parade runs from 10:00 a.m. to noon, followed by a post-parade celebration with live music, vendors, and family-friendly activities.
Cost: Free

Cornelia

“Brushstrokes of Change”: A Memory Mapping Workshop at The Café invites the community to reflect, remember, and reimagine shared history on MLK Day, centering Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community. (Carly McCurry / Now Habersham)

Memory Mapping Workshop @ The Cafe
Monday, January 19, 2026 – 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Miss Sally’s Cafe
Organized by Brushstrokes of Change, facilitated by Audrey Davenport
A memory mapping Workshop at The Café invites the community to reflect, remember, and reimagine shared history on MLK Day, centering Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community.
Cost: Free

Gainesville

MLK Week: “It Takes All of Us” — Upcoming Events
Hosted by Newtown Florist Club

FILE – A view of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, backdropped by the Washington Monument during the annual MLK wreath-laying ceremony in Washington, Jan. 15, 2024. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Speak Up!
Friday, January 16, 2026 – 6:00 p.m.
A youth-centered discussion on issues important to participants. Signs for the King Day March will be created during the event.

King Day March
Saturday, January 17, 2026 – 11:00 a.m.
Participants are encouraged to bring family members. The march begins at Peach State Bank.

Keep Pushing
Saturday, January 17, 2026 – 2:00 p.m.
A post-march youth program held at The Butler Center.

Martin Luther King Day Celebration
Monday, January 19, 2026
An Observance Day Program marking the National Day of Service.

The King Center Observance Program
Monday, January 19, 2026 – 10:00 a.m.
Broadcast live on FOX5 and YouTube.

Where Do We Go From Here?
Monday, January 19, 2026 – 1:00 p.m.
A red carpet premiere and screening of “We’ve Come This Far By Faith: The E.E. Butler High School Story” at Hollywood Cinemas, followed by a discussion titled “Where Do We Go From Here? A Call to Action.”
Reservation required.