Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of DR. Martin Luther King Jr., an American civil rights leader who is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation and the fight for racial equality in the United States.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday was created in 1983 and first officially observed in 1986.   Martin Luther King Jr. Day  public holiday. State government offices are closed. The City of West Columbia City Hall will be closed Monday (Jan. 20) and Lexington Two schools will be closed.
Even with schools closed on MLK Day, students in West Columbia are involved in efforts to commemorate King before they have the day out of school.

At Saluda River Academy for the Arts, lessons related to King are incorporated into several classroom learning sessions,” said SRAA Principal Brandon Brantley.

MLK Day is also observed as a national day of service. It is presented as a day to volunteer, give back and donate service to the community. In his life, King worked toward achieving economic parity for minorities and the poor. His birthday offers the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the advancements in civil rights, economic development, and human rights that have been made in our country since his death.

Neitra Haynes is a staff member at Northside Middle School. She will make an effort to observe MLK Day with her son, Christian.

“We’ll talk about the contributions made by Dr. King,” she said, as a gesture of gratitude for what we have.”

Below is a list of events that are taking place in the area in honor of Martin Luther King:

The Columbia Urban League will hold its 27th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Keeping The Legacy Alive Breakfast” at 8 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, at the Brookland Banquet and Conference Center, 1066 Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia. The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Kim D. Moore. She is the superintendent for Richland County School District Two.

There will be an MLK Commemorative Breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 a.m. at USC’s Russell House Ballroom. Admission: Free and open to the public. The MLK breakfast will be an inspiring morning of reflection and celebration. This special event honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with music, an empowering keynote address, and the presentation of the university’s MLK Social Justice Awards, recognizing those who have made a lasting impact on the community. The event is free and open to all, advance registration is required to secure your spot. Click on this link to register

The City of Columbia will hold the 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration service at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2300 Greene St.

The Arc of South Carolina, in partnership with the University of South Carolina, is excited to announce the upcoming MLK Day of Service 2025, featuring a PB&J Sandwich-Making Competition. This community-driven event will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18, in the Russell House Ballroom No. 207 at the University of South Carolina.

Volunteers and participants will join together to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by creating hundreds of sandwiches to benefit local hunger-relief organizations in Columbia, South Carolina.

This event offers an engaging way for the community to come together and give back. Sandwiches prepared during the event will be delivered to organizations such as the 153 Project, Transitions Homeless Center, and the Washington Street Soup Kitchen, helping to alleviate food insecurity in the Columbia area.
Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
• Location: Russell House Ballroom #207 (2nd Floor), 1400 
• Address: Greene St. Columbia, SC
• Volunteer Check-In: 8:30 a.m.
• Participant Sign-In: 9:00 a.m.
• Event Start Time: 9:30 a.m.

Local organizations are encouraged to support the

 MLK Day of Service by collecting peanut butter, bread, and jelly to contribute to the event. If your organization is interested in assisting by gathering supplies, please reach out to The Arc of South Carolina at [email protected] or (803) 748-5020.
“The MLK Day of Service is a powerful reminder of Dr. King’s message of unity and compassion. We’re thrilled to bring the community together to serve those in need while honoring his legacy of service,” said Margie Williamson, Executive Director for The Arc of South Carolina.
For more information, visit the MLK Day of Service event page on Facebook here or the website at www.arcsc.org/mlk

The Arc of South Carolina is committed to promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and supporting their inclusion in the community.