Things to do in Champaign County on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

A three-day weekend in Illinois during the month of January means that governments, many schools and the postal service stops to remember the life of Martin Luther King. Jr.

While many libraries and museums throughout the state are also closed, those in East Central Illinois that do stay open oftentimes have programming for families to learn more about King.

Festivities kick-off on Feb. 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Vineyard Church Urbana Campus, located at 1500 N. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana.

The Countywide Celebration, hosted by the cities of Champaign and Urbana, alongside Champaign County, the Village of Rantoul, Parkland College and the University of Illinois, will include Keynote Speaker Dr. Sampson Davis, who grew up in Newark, NJ and founded The Three Doctors Foundation. Davis is also the youngest African American to receive The Scroll of Merit, the National Medical Associations highest honor. 

The Nfinite Soul Band will also provide entertainment.

The Krannert Center for Performing Arts will hold its 35th Annual Dr. MLK, Jr. Service of Celebration on Jan. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Foellinger Great Hall.

Since 1988, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee has awarded more than 200 scholarships to local students attending colleges such as Parkland College, University of Illinois, and historically Black colleges and universities. 

This year, they honor the memory of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a keynote address and music from the community choir.

The Vineyard Church, Mahomet Hub will celebrate King’s birthday with the 35th Annual Unity Breakfast at the Urbana Campus from 8:30 to noon on Jan. 20. 

From 1 to 3 p.m. on Jan. 20, the Champaign County Forest Preserve will host School’s Out: Martin Luther King Celebration at the Museum of the Grand Prairie. 

Guests will have opportunities to explore the rich cultural heritage of the African American community in Champaign County. Activities, that include crafts, songs and videos, will help guests learn more about the  life of Dr. King, celebrate his legacy and how everyone can keep that mission alive in the present time. 

The fun doesn’t have to stop there, though. Other organizations provide other activities during the late afternoon and evening hours. 

The Middle Fork River Preserve will host School’s Out: Owl Prowl from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 20. 

The great horned howls begin nesting in January, providing owl-watchers will a great change to see or hear a live owl during the month of January. The CCFPD staff will begin with a presentation about native Illinois owls and dissecting owl pellets indoors. The group will then head outside to look for owls before the sun sets. Space is limited and there is a $5 per person fee.

Those looking for an adventure can grab an Illinois Heartland Library System Library Crawl card from their home library, then venture out to meet new people and discover new libraries during their time off school or work. 

The St. Joseph Township- Swearingen Memorial Library, which is participating in the Library Crawl, is hosting their Winter Book Sale until Jan. 30. Books and other library material is available with a donation. 

From 6:30 to 7 p.m. the St. Joseph library will also be telling stories to children during their regularly scheduled storytime.