A wide range of events to celebrate the holiday will extend through the weekend. Most are free and open to the public.
Saturday
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Av., Minneapolis. The Rev. George Bentley will be the guest speaker for the eighth annual joint celebration of King's life and ministry. Kwanzaa and Westminster churches invite everyone to join them at 9:30 a.m. Call 612-332-3421 for more information.
Sunday
New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 2519 Lyndale Av. N., Minneapolis. The Minnesota State Baptist Convention will celebrate at 6 p.m. The guest speaker is Donald Parsons. For more information, call 612-522-2951.
Oakland Church UMC, 4405 Oakland Av., S., Minneapolis. TRUST, Inc., will hold its 22nd celebration at the 5 p.m. service. Yolanda Williams will sing. A soup and sandwich supper will follow the service. A free-will offering will be accepted. Call 612-827-6159 for more information.
St. Joan of Arc Church gym, 4537 3rd Av. S., Minneapolis. Celebrate with a show, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around," featuring Debbie Duncan, Dennis Spears and T. Mychael Rambo. 7 p.m. Tickets are $17 each. For more information, go to www.stjoan.com or contact Anna Vagle at 612-823-8205.
Colonial Church, 6200 Colonial Way, Edina. Honoring King at the 9 and 10:30 a.m. services with the Northwestern College Choir, the Colonial Chorale and African percussionists as special guests. Shaylee Carlson and Michael Treachler II will perform solos. For more information, visit www.colonialchurch.org or call 952-925-2711.
Congregational Church of Excelsior, 471 3rd St., Excelsior. Shane Price, executive director of the African American Men's Project, is the guest speaker at the 10 a.m. service. Call 952-474-5919 for more information.
Monday
Statewide Celebration, Central High School, Lexington and Marshall, St. Paul. The celebration begins with a 9:30 a.m. rally and a 10:35 a.m. march to the Gangelhoff Center at Concordia University on Hamline Avenue. The 11 a.m. program features keynote speaker Justice Alan Page and guest presenter Felicia Bell. The Education Fair is from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.csp.edu or call 651-642-0812.
Calvary Baptist Church, 2608 Blaisdell Av. S., Minneapolis. A soul food dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. A service of honor and challenge begins at 7 p.m. Call 612-872-7855 for more information.
Martin Luther King Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Av. S. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's annual celebration from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will include performances by the Greater Mount Vernon Inspirational Choir, the Minnesota Children's Theater and the Art of Dance Studio. The keynote speaker is Andre Fischer. Harriet Solomon is the 2009 MLK Award recipient. For more information, go to www.minneapolisparks.org or call 612-370-4908 between noon and 9 p.m.
Whittier Recreation Center, 425 W. 26th St., Minneapolis. The celebration, from 1 to 3 p.m., will include music, poetry, dance, a drum line and a special speaker. A free, light refreshment will be served. For more information, go to www.minneapolisparks.org or call 612-370-4966 between 1 and 4 p.m.
Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Av. S., Minneapolis. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Diversity Job Fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.psijobfair.com .
Southdale Library, 7001 York Av. S., Edina. 10:30 a.m. to noon. Enjoy a celebration of the life, legacy and dream of King's life through Penumbra and Guthrie actor T. Mychael Rambo. His presentation will include speeches, writings and words blended with poetry, music and song. Call 952-847-5900 for more information.
Brookdale Library, 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Watch King's "I Have a Dream" speech in the StarDome Room, replayed every hour on the hour. Call 952-847-5600 for more information.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Av. S., St. Paul. 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A communitywide interfaith gathering to discuss the crisis in Gaza and Israel and share prayers for peace .
Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church, 145 Engler Blvd., Chaska. 7 p.m. celebration and benefit concert featuring The Brothers Frantzich, jazz-gospel pianist Momoh Freeman and soloist Johnny Russell. A free-will offering will be taken for Feed My Starving Children. For more information, go to www.shepherdofthehillchurch.com . All are welcome.
Carleton College Skinner Memorial Chapel, 1 N. College St., Northfield. 7 p.m. candlelight service of remembrance and celebration, co-sponsored with the Northfield Human Rights Commission. The guest speaker is Mary Easter, Carleton Rae Schupak Nathan Professor of Dance and the Performing Arts, Emerita. The event is ASL interpreted. A reception will follow the service. For more information, visit www.carleton.edu/calendar or call 507-664-3504.
First United Methodist Church, 230 W. Skyline Pkwy., Duluth. At 7 a.m. register and enjoy a free community breakfast while watching a large-screen broadcast of Gen. Colin Powell's speech from Minneapolis. For more information, visit www.mlk-duluth.org .
2009 March and Rally, 4th St. & Lake Av., Duluth. 10:30 a.m. gathering. The march will begin at 11 a.m. The route is from Washington Center through downtown to DECC. The rally begins at 11:45 a.m. Visit www.mlk-duluth.org for more information.
Sharing and Caring Hands, 525 N. 7th St., Minneapolis. Will serve free annual dinner at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome, from children to adults. Call 612-328-4290 for more information.
Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake St., Suite 107, Minneapolis. Activities and entertainment for children and adults, including renditions of King's "I Have a Dream" speech, singing, discussions and other performances. Noon to 3:30 p.m. Free. For more information, go to www.midtownglobalmarket.org or call 612-872-4041.
Tuesday
Kay Fredericks Room, Klas Center, 1531 Taylor Av., St. Paul. Hamline University will host its 10th annual commemoration. The program, "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Remembering King's Dream, Realizing Ours," begins at 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.hamline.edu or call 651-523-2423.