East Valley communities will honor Martin Luther King Jr. in a number of events this weekend, leading into Monday’s holiday.
The Mesa MLK committee will hold a dinner Saturday night after years of holding a breakfast. The dinner will be 6 p.m. at the East Valley Institute of Technology, 1601 W. Main St. Col. Richard Toliver, author of “An Uncaged Eagle,” will speak. Tickets are still available.
Leading up to the holiday, children from around the East Valley were honored for their posters and essays in Arizona State University’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. contest. The student work is on display at the Tempe campus and ASU Polytechnic through the end of the month.
Gilbert students were also honored in an art contest sponsored by the Gilbert Human Relations, Culture and Arts Promotion Commission.
Schools are closed Monday, as well as many municipal and state offices.
See the accompanying list for events taking place:
Candlelight ceremony
7 p.m., Friday
Canaan Missionary Baptist Church, 931 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa
Information: www.mesamlk.org
Chandler Multicultural Festival
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Chandler Main Public Library Courtyard, 22 South Delaware St.
Information: (480) 782-2735
Martin Luther King Jr. dinner banquet
6 p.m. Saturday
East Valley Institute of Technology, 1601 W. Main St., Mesa
Tickets required
Information: www.mesamlk.org
Tempe MLK Diversity Awards Brunch
9:30 a.m. Monday
The Buttes Resort, 2000 Westcourt Way
Tickets required
Information: (480) 350-8979
Martin Luther King Jr. Parade
11 a.m. Monday
Downtown Mesa
Information: www.mesamlk.org
Martin Luther King Jr. Festival Celebration
Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St.
Noon to 5 p.m. Monday
Information: www.mesamlk.org
Martin Luther King Jr. Student Rally
11:30 to 1 p.m. Thursday
ASU Memorial Union
301 E. Orange Mall, Tempe
Information: (480) 965-6601
CONTACT WRITER: (480) 898-6549 or mreese@evtrib.com
