What events will honor Martin Luther King Jr. in Sacramento area? What to know

People in the Sacramento area will celebrate the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday with a week-long series of marches, expos and awards.

The civil rights leader was born Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta and assassinated April 4, 1968, in Memphis. The federal holiday in his honor falls on Monday, Jan. 19, this year.

Here’s what to know:

What community events are planned in Sacramento?

A number of marches, celebrations and other events are planned to mark the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

MLK 365 March for the Dream: The free 44th annual march runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19. The 6-mile march begins at Sacramento City College at 3835 Freeport Blvd. and ends at the Sacramento Convention Center at 1401 K St., where a diversity expo begins at 10 a.m.

Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Sacramento: The free event with keynote speaker Bishop Parnell Lovelace begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. It will be hosted in the Sacramento State University Ballroom in the University Union at 6000 J St. The event also will feature performances, essay contest winners and presentation of the Robert T. Matsui Community Service Award. Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are $100 and up.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Call to Action: An assembly and symbolic march will start at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19. The event, which also will feature a resource fair, lunch and strategy session, will be held at Grant Union High School at 1400 Grand Ave. in Sacramento.

MLK Community Breakfast: The event featuring food, speakers, performances and drum major honorees, begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. The event will be held at The Center at District56 at 8230 Civic Center Drive, Suite #100, in Elk Grove. Tickets are $17.85.

8th Annual Placer County Dr. MLK, Jr. Family March and Celebration: The free march runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19. It begins at Johnson-Springview Park at 5460 5th St. in Rocklin. Food trucks, vendors and entertainment are planned.

MLK Expo & Legacy Awards Luncheon: The free expo runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16 with a legacy awards luncheon from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets for the luncheon are $81.88 and up. It will be held at the Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova at 11211 Point East Drive. It will feature exhibits and seminars.

MLK Freedom Run: The event features 5K and 10K runs plus a half-marathon at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. The runs begin at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park at 20 28th St. in midtown Sacramento. Tickets are $32.80 to $64.60.

Sacramento Community Trash Clean-Up: A day of service honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19. Participants will meet in front of Valley High School at 6300 Ehrhardt Ave. in the Valley Hi neighborhood.

What other events are planned in Sacramento?

Some local businesses also planned events to mark the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.

MLK Roller Skating: Roller King Skating Center at 889 Riverside Ave. in Roseville is offering an afternoon “school’s out” skate session from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19. The event will feature music, games and open skating. Tickets are $10 to $15.

Daydream: R&B + Throwback Party: A music party will be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. while people are off work for the holiday. The event will take place at Maya Cantina at 455 Bercut Drive in Sacramento. Tickets range from free to $87.21.

This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 6:00 AM.