The Salisbury Rowan Human Relations Council and community members have organized events throughout the day Monday to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This yearís theme is ěUnity Works.î
Hereís the lineup of events:
The annual MLK Jr. Breakfast starts at 7:15 a.m. at the J.F. Hurley YMCA, 828 Jake Alexander Blvd. W. Tickets are required and must have been purchased in advance.
Immediately after the breakfast, the Salisbury Police Department will lead those who attended in a procession to the Oak Grove Freedmanís Cemetery at Liberty and North Church streets for a memorial service led by Dr. Grant Harrison and Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Participants in the annual parade will line up at Liberty and Church and step off the parade at 11 a.m. They will proceed along Liberty to South Main Street, turn south, then to East Bank Street where they will turn east. The parade then proceeds along East Bank to Martin Luther King Jr Avenue, where it will end at the Salisbury Civic Center.
Festivities at the Civic Center, 315 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. S., begin at noon and last until 4:30 p.m. Free family activities, food vendors, door prizes and commemorative T-shirts will be available.
Mac Arnold and the Plate Full Oí Blues Band will perform at 2:30 p.m. Arnold is a former member of the Muddy Waters Blues Band.
New at this yearís King celebration is a youth music workshop. Local youth will be given hands-on demonstrations while learning about the history of various types of music. Students who play instruments are encouraged to bring them.