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Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.: A list of suburban events

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 20. Here are events, celebrations and services that pay tribute to the civil rights leader.

Monday, Jan. 20

FaithBridge’s annual MLK Interfaith Prayer Breakfast: 7:30-9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Crystal Lake Holiday Inn, 800 S. Route 31. Keynote speaker Stella Jones presents “Interpreting the Dream: In Our Time.” The Second Baptist Church Chorale Ensemble will perform. Vegetarian breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and program at 8 a.m. featuring the presentation of the Judy Engebretson Humanitarian Award and the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Award. Tickets are $25 or $15 for kids, available at faithbridgeinterfaith.org.

“Love, Justice & Joy”: 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 815 S. Washington St., Naperville. This family-friendly event features a time of prayer and music honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s call to justice and joy. At 9:30 a.m. in the church’s fellowship center, make cards and picture frames for local homebound seniors, nursing home residents and children in foster care. Get “kindness rocks” for painting and sharing. Prayer-walk guides will be available for those who would like to take a mindful prayer walk in their neighborhood after the event. oursaviours.com.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Ackerman Woods, 800 St. Charles Road, Glen Ellyn. Help the Glen Ellyn Park District improve the quality of natural areas by cutting and removing invasive brush. Gloves and tools will be provided. Volunteers younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult. This event is free, but registration is required. gepark.org/register.

MLK Day of Service Community Food & Household Essentials Drive: Drive-through from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at First Presbyterian Church, 302 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. All donations will go to local pantries. Needs include household items such as paper towels, toilet paper, dish detergent, which are not eligible for purchase with a Link card; baking mixes that only require water; canned goods with pop-top lids; olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and other spices; coffee; sugar and flour; and Velveeta macaroni and cheese. firstpresah.org/events/mlk-day-of-service-2/.

Mr. V’s Day Off: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Gorton Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. Join Mr. V. for a daylong musical sojourn, including a tribute to the legacy of Dr. King and the Civil Rights movement. For kids 4-10. $49 for 9 a.m. to noon or noon to 3 p.m.; $99 for the full day. gortoncenter.org.

An Urban Historian’s Bold Take on MLK Jr.’s Legacy: 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, and noon Friday, Jan. 24, via Zoom. Join United Way of Metro Chicago for a free exclusive conversation with Chicago urban historian Shermann "Dilla" Thomas as they explore Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy and culture. Through his tour company, Chicago Mahogany Tours, Dilla leads guests through neighborhoods on Chicago's South and West Sides to learn more about the rich history, culture, and promise of these communities. In celebration of MLK Day, learn more about his connection to Chicago and what's happening in those communities today. Register: liveunitedchicago.org/events/mlk-day-conversation-2025/

Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Gayles Memorial Baptist Church, 730 Gillette Ave., Aurora. Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance’s annual event features dedicated prayer segments followed by a complimentary breakfast. Reservations are requested as space is limited. For reservations, contact Peggy Hicks at (630) 291-7681, (630) 849-5415 or email psuehicks@sbcglobal.net, or Pastor J.E. Burch at (815) 715-6465 or pastorburch@aol.com.

Dreamers’ Breakfast Event: 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Holiday Inn Convention Center, 6161 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee. Annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. event, with this year’s theme “Character is Power!” featuring breakfast, speakers, entertainment and recognition of the 2025 Drum Major Awardees for their outstanding public service in Lake County. Free shuttle parking available to and from Gurnee Mills lot “E” (near Value City Furniture) once the convention center parking spaces are full. For tickets ($50) or event details, visit conta.cc/3DwRDby. For questions, visit waukegantownship.com or contact Cheri Pierson-White at (847) 244-9242.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Family Event: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago. Family-focused celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ongoing influence includes hands-on activities, music and opportunities to learn how to become civically engaged. Free. chicagohistory.org.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Jan. 20, at First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights, 1903 E. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. Gather in the basement of the fellowship hall for a variety of projects, including making Linus Blankets, dog biscuits for a shelter, place mats for Meals on Wheels and sandwiches for The Night Ministry; packing kits for UMCOR; coloring a “Love Boldly” banner and more. fumcah.com.

MLK Day at the Volo Museum: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Volo Auto Museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. Kids 12 and younger get free Platinum Passes to Volo Museum, Jurassic Gardens and the Titanic Museum. volocars.com.

MLK Jr. Festival: Let’s Dream Together: 10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. at Wayfarer Theaters, 1850 Second St., Highland Park. Music from a jazz trio, a free screening of “We Are The Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorial Fest” at 10:45 a.m., student presenters at 11:45 a.m. and more. Reserve a free ticket at wayfarertheaters.com.

MLK Day of Service: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, in Elmhurst Public Library’s Kossmann Room, 125 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. The library will offer hands-on activities for all ages and ability levels focused around the theme of creating warmth. Service hours will be available for students. No registration required for this drop-in program. elmhurstpubliclibrary.org.

Walk for Warmth 2025: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at First United Methodist Church, 516 Church St., Evanston. A short program at 11 a.m., followed by a choice of a two-mile walk past the many faith communities that house Interfaith Action’s overnight shelter or an around-the-block walk. Free; donations appreciated. interfaithactionofevanston.org.

MLK National Day of Service Project Drop-In: Noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Indian Prairie Public Library, 401 Plainfield Road, Darien. Make fleece tie blankets for Camden’s Comfort Project, while supplies last. Free. ippl.info.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day program: 1-3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, in the lobby of Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Join the builders of “Awesome Black Creativity,” Dave Kaleta and Richard Dryden, as they discuss the inspiration behind their artistry and interactive Lego brick exhibit, which will be on display through Feb. 27. Young people and their families can participate in the library’s brick-building workshop. Register at gailborden.info.

MLK Day Restoration: 1-3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Road, Barrington. Join the Forest Preserves of Cook County to remove invasive species. Tools will be provided. Register at fpdcc.com/event/mlk-day-restoration-2/.

MLK Day Day of Service: 1-3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Glenview Public Library, 1930 Glenview Road, Glenview. Hands-on projects led by local community organizations to serve the community. Nonperishable items can be donated to the Northfield Township Food Pantry. Free. glenviewpl.org.

Let’s Talk: Remembering MLK: 5-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Skokie Heritage Museum, 8031 Floral Ave., Skokie. Learn about the life of Martin Luther King Jr., the Chicago Freedom Movement and its ties to Skokie history, and important moments in the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. $20-$25. skokieparks.org.

MLK Pizza & Potluck Event: 5-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at First United Methodist Church gym, 1032 Maple Ave., Downers Grove. Join the church’s Mission, Justice & Community Work Area for pizza, a song and conversation. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. Free. Register: tinyurl.com/bdz7ctnk.

Michael Eric Dyson will be the keynote speaker at Aurora’s 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Ceremony Monday, Jan. 20.

Aurora’s 40th annual MLK Ceremony: 6-8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at East Aurora High School, 500 Tomcat Lane, Aurora. Annual ceremony highlights the impact of the Civil Rights leader with the theme based on his final book, “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” Keynote speaker is professor and author Michael Eric Dyson. There will be a special tribute to the ceremony’s founders, Scheketa Hart-Burns and Fred Rodgers, who both passed away in 2023. Also, remarks by dignitaries, youth and adult performances, and award presentations. Donna J. Williams MLK Service Awards will go to community leaders such as mail carrier Jaylen Lockhart, who came to the aid of a senior citizen after he fell; Aurora City Hall staffer Brian Moreno, who stepped in when a gunman entered a warming center and later performed CPR on a senior citizen at a community meeting; and the former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who founded the Jesse White Tumblers more than 65 years ago. Service Above Self MLK Youth Awards will go to 25 Aurora youth in middle school through college who are giving back to their school and community. Free, but registration is required at aurora-il.org/MLK2025.

Flutronix, featuring flutists Nathalie Joachim, left, and Allison Loggins-Hull, will perform during the Chicago Sinfonietta MLK Tribute Concerts Monday, Jan. 20. Courtesy of Erin Patrice O’Brien

Chicago Sinfonietta MLK Tribute Concert: 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. Maestra Mei-Ann Chen is dedicating the performance to Flutronix’s genre-defying musical composition “Black Being,” which gives voice to the complexities of Black womanhood. It includes newly commissioned texts by North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green. Flutronix features flutists Nathalie Joachim and Allison Loggins-Hull, composers celebrated for their fusion of classical music, hip-hop, electronic programming and soulful vocals. Tickets are $27-$82, $17 for students. chicagosinfonietta.org/january-2025-black-being/.

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