Martin Luther King Day celebration committee announces activities

The Martin Luther King Day celebration committee unveiled activities surrounding the big day on Monday. Events begin this Thursday with a gospel concert at St. Stephen AME Church at 7 p.m. On Friday evening, there will be a community reception at Thalian Hall at 7 p.m. Saturday, NAACP will hold their annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast at 9:00 at Union Missionary Baptist Church. That afternoon, from 1:00 to 4:00, the MLK Center will host a children's event with games and activities. The Martin Luther King Jr. parade begins Monday, January 19 at 12:00 at 5th and Castle. Organizer Hollis Briggs said it has grown a lot over the years. “So the parade lasted, when I first did it, it lasted 18 minutes. Now it lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes.” The events will conclude with a speech by former astronaut Mae Jemison at UNCW on Thursday the 22nd.