Events planned for Martin Luther King holiday
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However you plan to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. this year, there's likely to be an event in the area for you. Ice skate in Schenley Park and hear Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess speak; join in a five-hour marathon reading of King's speeches at the Children's Museum; or pledge your time helping to serve a meal to homeless veterans.
Here are some of the scheduled events:
• Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, noon, St. Paul Cathedral, 108 N. Dithridge St.
Special Mass followed by a speech by former City Council President Doug Shields, music by Epiphany Church Men's Choir, dance by Evelyn Kitchens-Stevens and awards and reading of essay winners in the annual Martin Luther King School Essay Contest.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, 2 p.m., Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children's Way, Allegheny Square.
Event features August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble. Free with museum admission; $11 for ages 2-18 and senior citizens; $12 for adults.
• 28th Annual Martin Luther King Celebration at Temple Sinai, 3:30 p.m., 5505 Forbes Ave., Squirrel Hill.
Event will feature John Jackson, president of Schott Foundation for Public Education; the Community Day School Ensemble; Tree of Life/Or L'Simcha Ensemble; Pentecostal Temple Choir; Sacred Heart School seventh- and eighth-grade chorus and choir of members of Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network. Question-and-answer session with Mr. Jackson and refreshments to follow.
• NAACP Washington branch MLK Tribute, 4 p.m., John Wesley Methodist Church, 35 Central Ave., Washington, Pa.
Program features local talent and winners of countywide student essay and poster contest. Keynote speaker is president of the Pittsburgh Coro Center for Civic Leadership and former Pittsburgh Councilman Sala Udin.
• MLK Day of Service hosted by Habitat for Humanity and Pittsburgh Cares, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., opening reception, lunch and closing reception at Braddock Community Center, 412 Library St.
Projects include painting six studios in Hill District Dance Academy, serving meals to homeless veterans, repairing flooring in a Lawrenceville community center and painting over graffiti.
• "Many Hands," all day, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, other locations Downtown. Free.
Noon -- Activities from Bike Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon's Hear Me Project, MGR Foundation and Thomas Merton Center;
2 p.m. -- Alumni Theater Company, Dreams of Hope, Hip Hop on L.O.C.K., Interplay and Visionary Dance Academy performances;
4 p.m.-- March up Highland Avenue to Union Project for activities followed by a community dinner through 8 p.m.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children's Way, Allegheny Square.
11 a.m.- 4 p.m.-- Annual "King for a Day" five-hour marathon tribute reading of King's speeches;
12:30 p.m.--"I Have a Dream: A Conversation With a Friend," one-man show featuring Greg Kenny;
1:15 and 2:15 p.m.-- Afrika Yetu drum performance.
Free with museum admission; $11 for ages 2-18 and senior citizens; $12 for adults.
• MLK Day March, Deliverance Baptist Church, 812 Swissvale Ave., Wilkinsburg.
Doors open at 9 a.m., march at 10 a.m., service at 11 a.m.
• "I Have a Dream, too!" 11 a.m.-4 p.m., August Wilson Center for African American Culture, 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown.
Event features movie, music and performances by the August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble and Theatre Ensemble. Free.
• "Written in Stone: Our Song of Hope," noon, Midland Borough School District, 173 Seventh St., Midland.
Event features lunch in the school gym followed by a stage program at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center main stage theater. Performance features local civil rights activists and actors. Donation of $10 requested.
• Carnegie Mellon Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 12:30-5 p.m., University Center.
Event features keynote speaker Bernard Franklin, a friend of the King family; high school and CMU students' personal narratives about racial discrimination; a hip-hop music video from CMU's Arts Greenhouse program; and more. Free.
• Ice Skating at Schenley Park, 1-4 p.m., 1 Overlook Drive.
Ice skating, sledding and shoesnoeing, art activities, fire pit and family-friendly disc jockey. Excerpts of King's speeches will be read; city Councilman the Rev. Ricky Burgess is guest speaker.
Free. Refreshments will be served.
• "A Night of the Arts in Honor of Martin Luther King: The Man. The Vision. The Dream," 7 p.m., Geneva College Student Center, Beaver Falls.
Event features students' original spoken word compositions, gospel mime, a reading of one of King's works, live jazz and more. Free. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.
• "Let Freedom Sing," 7 p.m., Franklin Regional High School, 3200 School Road, Murrysville.
Event features Pittsburgh Gospel Choir and a choir of singers from two local high schools and community group; Vanessa German of Homewood will give an oratory; featured guest is August Wilson Center Dance Ensemble.
Free. Donations to benefit area food banks.
• Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, normally closed on Mondays, will be open for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Regular admission rates apply: adults, $17.95; seniors 65 and older, $14.95; ages 3--18 and students with valid ID, $11.95. Children under 3 admitted free. Always free to members. Admission includes both museums.
First Published January 15, 2012 12:00 am
