It’s been 25 years since New Hampshire finally recognized Martin Luther King’s birthday as a holiday—16 years after it was declared a federal holiday. But that doesn’t mean we weren’t celebrating the civil rights leader. Local organizations and communities have been marking the day for over 40 years. That tradition continues. There are MLK celebrations throughout this state this month. Here are five of them:
MERRIMACK VALLEY
“60 Years: His Dreams Continues,” New Hampshire’s oldest annual tribute to King’s legacy will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 6 p.m. at Nashua Baptist Church, 121 Manchester St., Nashua. The event is free and open to the public and will include performances by The First Baptist Church Choir, The Nashua Interfaith Chorus, Olga Tines-Peters The New Fellowship Baptist Gospel Choir, and the NH Gay Men’s Chorus.
The Martin Luther King Coalition of New Hampshire’s 42nd Annual MKL Jr. Community Celebration will be held Monday, Jan. 15, from 1-4 p.m. at Memorial High School, 1 Crusader Way, Manchester. This year the event will not feature a speaker but will have representatives from six organizations that help people “connect for action and justice,” according to organizers.
A Community Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 15, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Currier Museum of Art, a free celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, 150 Ash St., Manchester. There will be a variety of free programming and community building and spoken word performances by The Racial Unity Team of NH, as well as a screening of Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
SEACOAST
Town of Stratham Community-Wide MLK Celebration Jan. 11-18. A coalition of Stratham organizations is organizing this year’s week-long, town-wide program which includes a kickoff event on Thursday, Jan. 11, 5:30 – 7 p.m., Stratham Memorial School, 39 Gilford Farm Rd., Stratham, a screening of “John Lewis: Good News Trouble,” 1 p.m., Wiggin Memorial Library, 10 Bunker Hill Ave., Stratham. Visit here for a full listing.
MONADNOCK
MLK Celebration Jaffrey – Rindge, Sunday, Jan. 14, 1 p.m., Cathedral of the Pines, 10 Hall Hill Rd., Rindge. For reservations call 603-899-3300 or info@cathedralofthepines.org
