Northeast Florida gears up for MLK Day with events in Jacksonville, Beaches, and St. Augustine
There are events planned in Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, and St. Augustine. King visited St. Augustine back in 1964 to lead a peaceful protest against segregation and was arrested during that time.
Sadly, just four years later, he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Yet, even 56 years later, his work continues to inspire people around the globe.
Last year, Jacksonville city leaders and the NAACP came together for a community breakfast, marking the first time since 2017. They committed to working together to tackle racial inequalities and social divisions in the city.
So, when’s the big breakfast? It’s happening at 8 a.m. on Friday, organized by the city, NAACP, Urban League, and JAX Chamber. This year’s theme is “Audacious Faith in the Future,” inspired by King’s Nobel Prize speech in 1964.
Jonathan Eig, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book “King: A Life,” will be the keynote speaker. He’ll also have a chat with Isaiah Oliver, the president of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
Plus, the breakfast will showcase VyStar Credit Union’s “2025 Tomorrow’s Leaders” winners, selected from student submissions in essays, poetry, and visual arts. The theme ties back to King’s quote about having faith in the future.
If you want to check out the winners, head over to specialevents.coj.net.
Thinking about attending the breakfast? Tickets are $70, and you can grab more info at JaxMLKBreakfast.com.
Now, what about the parade? Jacksonville’s MLK Day Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. that Monday at EverBank Stadium. It’ll wind through downtown for two miles, featuring floats, marching bands, dance groups, and decorated vehicles.
And for those at the Beaches, there’s a celebration at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Jacksonville Beach. Bishop Rudolph McKissick Jr. will be the keynote speaker, and the event is sponsored by the Rhoda L. Martin Cultural Heritage Center and Reconcile Jacksonville’s Beaches.
In St. Augustine, the 40th annual celebration starts with a sold-out breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel. Civil rights attorney Daryl Parks will be featured.
The silent march in St. Augustine will take place at 9 a.m. that Monday, starting at Saint Paul AME Church and ending at the Plaza de la Constitución. Pastor E. Chris Washington will speak at the plaza, sharing his insights as a graduate of St. Augustine High School.
Lastly, if you’re looking to give back, the United Way of Northeast Florida is hosting its annual MLK Weekend of Service on Saturday. Volunteers will work on projects in Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties to uplift King’s legacy and address urgent community needs.
For more details on the service projects, visit uwnefl.galaxydigital.com/mlk-weekend-of-service-2025.
