City of Tallahassee MLK Day Community Celebration - January 20, 2025

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to the pursuit of social justice and equality. The City of Tallahassee honors his life and legacy and invites the community to celebrate his profound impact during free MLK Weekend events.

Sunday, Jan. 19

The inaugural Distinguished Black Classical Excellence Awards and Concert, a free community event, will take place on Sunday, Jan. 19, at the AC Hotel, 801 South Gadsden Street.

Hosted by the Javacya Arts Conservatory and sponsored by the City of Tallahassee, the event will celebrate the contributions of Black classical musicians and educators and honor and promote diversity within classical music.

For more information and to RSVP, visit TheDistinguishedAwards.com.

Monday, Jan. 20

Road closure details to come closer to the event.

At 12 p.m., the MLK Day Parade will kick off along North Monroe Street, beginning at Call Street and heading south.

Following the MLK Day Parade, enjoy live entertainment, local food vendors and fun with the MLK Day Festival at Cascades Park.

Ted Ellis, Director of the Civil Rights Institute at Florida State University, will lead a discussion on the role of artists in social and political movements and will use his art exhibition, Florida Civil Rights Champions, to reflect on the struggles, triumphs and progress made through the efforts of human and civil rights leaders at the local, state and national level. Mr. Ellis will also examine how the arts have been instrumental in communicating various aspects of culture and social change over the decades.

For more information, contact the City of Tallahassee's Office of Diversity and Inclusion at 850-891-8295.