Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Join the city of Lexington in celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy

This year’s MLK Holiday Celebration will be on Jan. 15, 2024 beginning with the annual Freedom March at 1 p.m. and concluding with the powerful commemorative program held at the Central Bank Center at 2 p.m.  The March begins and ends at the Central Bank Center in downtown Lexington. 

“This storied event has been praised by media commentators and several of our illustrious speakers as ‘one of the best in the country for its consistent record of presenting thoughtful, timely and creatively uplifting programs’”, said Chester Grundy, MLK Day Event Chairperson since 1974. “We look forward to celebrating with our community and invite everyone to come together on Jan. 15.”

The MLK Holiday Observance in Lexington provides an opportunity for our community to come together to honor Dr. King’s legacy of freedom, justice, peace and equal opportunity for all Americans. The annual march and program draws participation of several thousand people from across Central Kentucky and beyond. The MLK Holiday Observance is a free public event designed to inspire the better angels of our nature as we unite as a community to elevate Dr. King’s vision and legacy. The 2023 March had a record crowd of over 8,000.

The Program keynote speaker this year is Reverend Dr. Kevin W. Cosby. The internationally renowned youth choral ensemble Uniting Voices Chicago and Uniting Voices Lexington will be the featured artists at the Commemorative Program. 

MLK Planning Committee History: Lexington’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance was founded in 1973, five years after the tragic assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in April, 1968. Mr. Jerry Stevens, the first Director of UK’s Office of Minority Student Affairs and Dr. Edgar Mack, faculty member in UK’s College of Social Work, served as founders and co-coordinators during the early days of this observance. They would later be joined by Chester Grundy, who upon his hiring, would take on the role of program coordinator in 1974. The MLK Holiday was originally established not only to elevate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. but to establish an undergraduate scholarship in his honor. More historical details can be found at https://bgcf.givingfuel.com/mlk-holiday-committee-fund. Click the link to go to the website.

Below is a list of agencies that are closed on Monday, January 15, 2024

Government Offices

Since MLK Day is a federal holiday, most government offices are closed. Generally, the only exceptions are agencies dedicated to public safety or national security, as those usually have personnel working every day of the year.

Banks and Credit Unions

Banks and credit unions typically follow the federal holiday schedule. As a result, the vast majority are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

US Stock and Bond Markets

The US stock and bond markets don’t follow the federal holiday schedule exactly. However, all are closed on MLK Day.

K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Universities

Generally, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities follow the federal holiday schedule. Since that’s the case, classes aren’t in session on MLK Day in most areas. Additionally, certain on-campus services – like bookstores on university campuses – may close for the holiday, too.

Public Libraries

Since public libraries are usually run by city or county governments, they typically follow the federal holiday schedule. As a result, public libraries are traditionally closed on MLK Day.

Garbage Services

Garbage pickup services may or may not run on MLK Day, depending on your location. As a result, you’ll want to check with your provider if you usually have garbage picked up on Mondays to see if the company is using a modified schedule due to the holiday.

Mail and Parcel Services

Since the United States Postal Service (USPS) is a government agency, the post office is closed on MLK Day 2024. Along with customer service employees not being available on January 15, there won’t be any mail delivery or pickup.

UPS also closed for MLK Day. The only service from UPS that’s guaranteed to be running is UPS Express Critical, though some (but not all) UPS Store locations may open, too.

FedEx is primarily open on MLK Day 2024. The only service that’s impacted is FedEx Ground Economy, as those rely on a partnership with USPS, and USPS is closed for the holiday.