MLK Celebration Weekend Runs Friday Through Monday

SARATOGA SPRINGS – MLK Celebration Weekend, celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., will take place Friday, Jan. 17 – Monday, Jan. 20, at a variety of venues in Saratoga Springs. All Martin Luther King Saratoga celebration weekend events are free and open to the public. Reservations, where requested, are to ensure seating availability, and can be made via: www.mlksaratoga.org. 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

6:30 p.m.
Opening Reception at The Win Room 
Holiday Inn, Broadway

7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 
5th Annual Dr. King Challenge with Azzaam Hameed R&B Ensemble, featuring Annette Harris. Reservations Requested.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sunrise Movement Workshop & Hub Meeting 
Frederick Allen Lodge, 69 Beekman St. 
National youth-led movement to address Climate Change and political action.

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Conversations In Freedom

Black Stars and Black Diamonds with Penny Meacham, Donald “The Soul Man” Hyman, and Sister Amelia, with danceuse, Estreja Turner. 
Caffé Lena, 47 Phila St. 
An hour of story and songs quilted together for a deepening look into America’s Black working class in the early 20th century. Family Program. (Produced by The PAD).

3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Whitewashed: A Racism Project. Creative Action Unlimited
Caffé Lena, 47 Phila St.
An original documentary theater performance based on Black history, current events, and the personal experiences of the cast. Note: parental discretion advised (graphic themes and content).

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Yaddo Presents: Writing Across Boundaries: Violence, Race, Religion and Beyond, with Uwem Akpan. 
Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring St.
Uwem Akpan is the author of the acclaimed short story collection, Say You’re One of Them, which won the Commonwealth Prize, the Open Book Prize, and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award and was named an Oprah Book Club selection as well as one of Entertainment Weekly’s “Best of the Decade.” Reservations Requested. 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19

1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A Joyful Noise!
Presbyterian New England Congregational Church, 24 Circular St.
Gospel music director Garland Nelson will lead this soul-cleansing, spirit-raising program along with gospel choir, Lena’s Inspirational Voices. 

4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Workshop – Farming While Black: Ending Racism and Seeding Sovereignty 
Presbyterian New England Congregational Church, 24 Circular St.
An interactive, illuminating, and energizing program with multi-talented performance artist and farmer Amani Olugbala of Soul Fire Farm. Reservations requested. 

6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
All Are Welcome Here Community Dinner
Presbyterian New England Congregational Church, 24 Circular St. 
Join us in breaking bread together and sharing in the company of old and new friends. Bring a dish to share if you can. 

MONDAY, JANUARY 20

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Morning Of Service, Community Volunteer Projects.
Dutcher Community Room, Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St.
Registration at 9:15 a.m.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Dr. King Community Commemoration Program
Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave. 
Hosted by Garland Nelson, MLK Saratoga’s Co-chair. 

Keynote: Climate Justice: Democracy In Action Aaron Mair, Former Director of Sierra Club. 

Songs, Sharings & Social Action with Dr. Mary Nell Morgan, Kathy Johnson of Better Angels, Joseph Jakob … and more. Followed by “If It Melts, It’s Ruined!” Ice Cream Social, sponsored by Ben & Jerry’s of Saratoga Springs.