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Across North Texas, Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. With Parades, Concerts, Vigils

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[Note: This story is from 2014.] Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Here’s a listing of observances that are happening in North Texas over the next few days:

Plano/Collin County MLK 2014 Candlelight Vigil “A Light of Change”

6 p.m. Friday – downtown Plano, Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th St.

Festivities include a candle lighting ceremony, spoken word, music, and tributes from city officials and community leaders.

Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Parade in Dallas

10 a.m. Saturday

The parade starts at Dallas City Hall and ends at Fair Park. Participants include bands, floats, community and civic groups, churches and radio broadcasts and personalities.

The Ministry of Dr. King From the Pulpit to the Nation

6 p.m. Sunday – Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Free

The program will recount Dr. King's early years, theological training, entrance into the civil rights movement, and his journey to becoming a humanitarian. Performances by the Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, vocalist Brenda Ellis, violinist Richmond Punch and diannetuckers' "The Upper Room -- The Martin and Mahalia Story."

MLK Day of Service

8 a.m. Monday

Many decide to honor MLK by holding a day of service. One such MLK Day of Service is happening in Tarrant County and organized by the Tarrant Area Community of Churches. Online registration is closed, but walk-ins are welcome at 8 a.m. at Baker Chapel A.M.E. Church in Fort Worth.

The 28th Annual Elite News Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade and Festival

Monday -- parade starts at 10 a.m.; festival runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

About 250,000 people are expected to attend – it’s considered the largest African-American family-oriented event in Dallas and one of the top five commemorative celebrations in the country. Proceeds provide scholarships to high school students. The parade starts on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Holmes Street. A festival will also be held at the Fair Park Tower Building. Free.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade, March and Rally in Fort Worth

11 a.m. Monday

The parade route will begin at the Fort Worth Convention Center (Ninth and Commerce streets), and end at Sundance Square plaza. 

MLK “Advancing the Dream” Youth Musical Extravaganza in Arlington

6:30 p.m. Monday, Metro Center – Fielder Road Baptist Church, 1323 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Arlington

Art, music, dance, history and culture come together for a finale that features more than 700 area youngsters, service awards, and more.

Ninth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium

7 p.m. Mondayat the Dallas City Performance Hall

The symposium’s website states: “Fifty years ago, in his landmark ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, Martin Luther King, Jr., said ‘...With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.’ Is that dream becoming a reality? Keynote speaker Touré will be joined by panelists Rev. Peter Johnson, Lauren Embrey and Dr. Angela Ards to discuss the realities of race in America fifty years after the dream.”

Film Screening: Standing On My Sister's Shoulders

8 p.m. Wednesday -- Hughes Trigg Student Center Forum at SMU

The award-winning documentary Standing On My Sister's Shoulders examines the civil rights movement in Mississippi during the 1950s and 1960s from the point of view of the women who lived it. Free and open to the public.

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.