#Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Taking place each year on the third Monday in January, the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service (MLK Day) is the only federal holiday that is also designated by Congress as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off." By participating in service projects, we can bridge divides, heal wounds, and create lasting change that will benefit our community for years to come. The service project might meet a tangible need, such as fixing up a school or senior center, or it might do the hard work of starting to build a sense of community or mutual responsibility.
"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Please note: All Jacksonville Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The Digital Library is always open (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Learn more at jaxlibrary.org/NotSoSecretMenu.
Jacksonville Public Library also has an AMAZING collection of books featuring stories and information written by and about people from varied backgrounds, races, ethnicities, life experiences, and viewpoints. We love to share selections that demonstrate the range of our collection all year and we encourage you to explore these books with us this week.
MLK Day Events in Jacksonville
The celebration starts in Jacksonville with the 38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast presented by Florida Blue on Friday, January 17, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center at 7 a.m. The formal program, hosted by Dawn Lopez of Action News Jax and Anthony Austin of First Coast News, features a Keynote with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jonathan Eig. His book, King: A Life, has been praised by The New York Times as a "monumental" new biography of Dr. King. It was also nominated for the National Book Award.
The program will also highlight the 2025 "Tomorrow's Leaders," presented by Vystar Credit Union. This initiative honors and awards young students in our community who exemplify Dr. King's philosophies of leadership, community volunteerism, and civic responsibility.
For more info, visit JaxMLKBreakfast.com or to get tickets, visit bit.ly/MLK25tickets. Complementary parking will be provided at the Prime Osborn Convention Center West Parking Lot (1130 W. Bay St.), Bay St. Gravel Lot (1015 W. Bay St.), Emerald Trail Lot (944 W. Forsyth St.), and the Water Street Parking Garage (541 Water St.). Note: The deadline for a Reserved Table (seats 10) passed on January 10, 2025. Individual tickets may be purchased up to the event or until sold out.
The United Way of Northeast Florida is hosting a Weekend of Service to honor King’s legacy and keep his spirit of unity alive. They are seeking volunteers for various opportunities in Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties from January 17-20. Click here to volunteer in Duval County.
The 44th annual MLK Holiday Grand Parade is set to start at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 20. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. from Everbank Stadium and goes through downtown to the Prime Osborn Convention Center, featuring an array of floats and marching bands.
