"Celebrate the Legacy: A Voice in the Crowd"

The City of Columbus; Community Relations Commission proudly invites you to take part in the 2013 Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 21st.

            It will be a monumental day filled with remembrance and celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Our theme is Celebrate the Legacy: A voice in the crowd.

            The celebration will kick off with the annual Martin Luther King Day March which will begin from City Hall at 4:45 p.m.  Participants of the march are encouraged to wear warm clothing and bring banners representative of their school, organization or city department. Banners and signs are also encouraged. Music will be provided along the march and donated hot drinks and cookies will be available prior to the march.

            Then we encourage everyone to join us for the free Martin Luther King Jr. Day program at Veteran’s Memorial from 6-7 p.m.  Attendants of the program will be delighted and amazed by the actor's rendition of fundamental figures in Columbus' history, and vignettes of fundamental figures in Columbus’ history, musical performances by the the Jazz Arts Academy and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass Children’s Choir and dances performed by Ballet Met.

            This years Martin Luther King Jr. Day will also be accompanied by the 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Youth Oratorical Contest and the 6th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Call for Artists.

The Annual Call for Middle School Artists registered artwork is to be submitted by January 10th, 2012 to the Jerry Hammond Center, 1111 East Broad Street, and prizes will be awarded on February 22rd, 2012. The submitted artwork will be on display throughout the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations .

For more information about the Martin Luther King Jr. Day March, Program, Youth Oratorical Contest or the 5th Annual MLK Jr. Call for Middle School Artists, visit us on the web at http://crc.columbus.gov or call the Columbus Community Relations Commission at 614-645-1993.

The City of Columbus Dr. Martin Luther King JR. youth oratorical contest will be held Saturday, January 5th 2013 at the King Arts Complex 867 MT. Vernon Ave. Columbus, OH 43203.

The winners of the youth oratorical contest will participate in the Columbus Dr. Martin Luther King JR. memorial celebration on Monday, January and will compete in the statewide MLK youth oratorical contest.