Changes to Wilmington MLK Day celebrations this year

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee released the 2025 event schedule to commemorate Dr. King and there will be some big changes this year.   

This year, there will not be a MLK Day parade. 

Hollis Briggs, Chairman of the MLK Celebration Committee of southeastern North Carolina released this statement Monday evening, “Last year, we spoke with local officials including the WPD, and made the decision that the parade’s taking place on inauguration day would be a conflict, and potentially a security concern for law enforcement. This year, in lieu of a parade, we have put together programming for an indoor event at the Convention Center, and are looking forward to celebrating Dr. King’s legacy with the community. We plan to resume parade activities as normal next year.”

Instead, there will be a multi-cultural event held in the Wilmington Convention Center on January 20th at 11am.  

This free event will feature live performances, vendors, medical podcast, short films and more.    

Military leader and author of “Sharecropper’s Wisdom: Growing Today’s Leaders the Old Fashioned Way”, Brigadier General James R. Gorham will deliver a keynote address at the event.

This year’s theme is “Back to Basics” which focuses on core principles that Dr. King championed, community and leadership.

The full list of events is below: 

• Monday, January 13th, 2025 – Press conference to introduce activities
• Thursday, January 16th, 2025 – Fireside chat, “Mission Possible: We Still Rise” at the Harrelson Center at 6pm
• Friday, January 17th, 2025 – Ticketed MLK Awards Banquet at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church at 6:30pm
• Saturday, January 18th, 2025 – MLK Jr. Family Fun Day at Maides Park from 11am – 2pm
• Saturday, January 18th, 2025 – I Have a Dream Dance Production at the Church of the Servant at 7pm
• Sunday, January 19th, 2025 – MLK Jr. Day Interfaith Service at St. Luke AME Zion Church at 4pm
• Monday, January 20th, 2025 – MLK Jr. Day Celebration, Family, and Multi-Cultural Event at the Wilmington Convention Center at 11am