Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2025 events to check out in Minnesota

January 17, 2025

Martin Luther King in Ghana in 1957 via Ghana Govt — The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah in 1957 when the late civil rights leader visited Ghana when that country became independent. Photo: Courtesy Government of Ghana

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed annually on the third Monday in January to mark the Jan. 15 birthday of King who was assassinated in April 1968 in Memphis, Tenn.

The holiday, commonly referred to as MLK Day, was first observed as a federal holiday in 1986 and around the country is celebrated by a variety of events that include breakfasts, volunteering, exhibits, panels, parades and more, and Minnesota is no exception.

This year, MLK Day falls on Inauguration Day (Jan. 20) when President Donald Trump will be inaugurated.

Here are some of the events happening in Minnesota starting as early as Sunday, Jan. 19.

44^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. at Ted Mann Concert Hall at the University of Minnesota, 128 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Free.

Sweet Potato Comfort Pie 10th Annual Martin Luther King Holiday of Service, Jan. 19 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Metropolitan Ballroom & Clubroom, 5418 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley, MN 55416. Free.

35^th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast with keynote speaker Michelle Norris, Jan. 20 from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Tickets range from $75 for individual tickets to $700 for a table of 10.

Note: Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul is partnering for the 25th year with General Mills and UNCF to bring to the greater Twin Cities communities the live broadcast feed of this breakfast at various locations in Minneapolis/St. Paul metro.

Rochester NAACP MLK Events featuring keynote speaker Prexy Nesbitt, Jan. 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Mayo Civic Center, 30 Civic Center Dr SE, Rochester, MN 55904. Free.

Official State of Minnesota MLK Celebration featuring Josie R. Johnson and Reatha Clark King, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington Street Saint Paul, MN 55102. Free.

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools and Prior Lake Rotary MLK Celebration featuring keynote speaker Alex Krafft, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St W, Savage, MN 55378. Free.

G.W. Carver Cultural Center for Innovation MLK Breakfast featuring Keynote by St. Paul Councilwoman Cheniqua Johnson, Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 781 E. 7^th St., St. Paul, MN 55106. Free.

Duluth NAACP MLK Gathering and March, Jan. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Family Freedom Center (Washington Center Gymnasium), starting at the entrance between 3rd and 4th Street on 1st Ave. West and begin on Lake St. between 3rd and 4th Avenue. A MLK Rally featuring Rebeka Ndosi of Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary will follow at DECC-Symphony Hall, 350 Harbor Dr., Duluth, from 12-1:30 p.m. Free.

Minneapolis NAACP MLK Luncheon, Jan. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ECMN Building, 1101 W Broadway Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55411. Tickets are $7.88.

27^th Annual Powderhorn Park Neighborhood MLK Celebration, Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Powderhorn Park Recreation Center, 3400 15th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407. Free.