Get Your Free Tickets to the Celebration
The MLK Day Celebration is free and open to the community. Registration is required.
Click the button above to reserve your free tickets.
Celebration Details
Community Gathering
The Community Gathering marks the beginning of the MLK Day Celebration, bringing together community members, organizers, artists, and leaders at the Utah State Capitol. This time is dedicated to connection, reflection, and grounding ourselves in the shared purpose of honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and continuing the work of Building the Beloved Community.
The gathering includes a formal welcome, opening remarks, artistic expression through spoken word, and the ceremonial Calling of the Drums. Together, we set the tone for a day centered on unity, justice, and collective responsibility.
MLK Day Celebration Program
The MLK Day Celebration Program honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through reflections, music, youth voices, and remarks from community leaders and elected officials. The program highlights how Dr. King’s work and the Civil Rights Movement continue to shape movements for racial equity, healthcare access, education, economic opportunity, worker rights, and justice for underserved communities.
The program features the Black National Anthem, a youth reading of I Have a Dream, community reflections, and a keynote address that calls us forward in the ongoing work of equity and unity.
Celebration Walk
Following the MLK Day Celebration Program, community members are invited to take part in the Celebration Walk from the Utah State Capitol to downtown Salt Lake City. This walk symbolizes our shared commitment to unity, justice, and continued action in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The walk will conclude at the Regent Street Black Box at Eccles Theater, where the afternoon programming continues. This collective movement through the city serves as a visible reminder that the work of Building the Beloved Community extends beyond a single day.
Sign Up Your Group for the MLK Day Celebration Walk
Organizations, community groups, faith groups, student organizations, and teams are invited to participate in the MLK Day Celebration Walk as a visible show of unity and collective commitment to justice.
Groups are encouraged to walk together and wear their organization’s T-shirts, jackets, or colors as we move from the Utah State Capitol to the Regent Street Black Box at Eccles Theater. This is an opportunity to stand in solidarity, honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and be seen as part of the ongoing work of Building the Beloved Community.
Individuals and families are also welcome to participate in the Celebration Walk. Registration is only required for organized groups so we can plan accordingly and ensure a smooth, welcoming experience for all participants.
Celebration Walk Group Registration
Walking as an individual? No sign-up needed - just show up and walk with us.
Community Service Project
Service is a core pillar of the MLK Day Celebration. The Community Service Project focuses on caring for Utah’s unhoused community through the collection of donations and the assembly of winter care packages.
Participants are encouraged to contribute by donating essential items or supporting the effort financially. This project reflects Dr. King’s call to action and reminds us that building the Beloved Community requires compassion, service, and tangible support for those most impacted by inequity.
Ways to Contribute
- Drop off items during the celebration at the Regent Street Black Box Theater
- Drop off items ahead of time at one of our community drop-off locations
- Order items online and have them shipped directly
- Make a monetary donation to support the purchase and assembly of care packages
Drop-Off Locations
Indy Square
141 East 5600 South, Suite 300
Murray, UT 84107South Salt Lake Community Center
2531 South 400 East
South Salt Lake, UT 84115Additional Drop-off Location Details coming soon
Items Needed
High-quality wool socks
Gloves
Knit hats
Thermal layers
Hand warmers
Underwear
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Electrolyte packets
Individually packaged snacks
Bottled water
Your contributions provide warmth, comfort, and dignity during the winter months and offer a meaningful way to put Dr. King’s call to service into action.
Looking to serve at a location outside of downtown Salt Lake City? Explore our Serve Across Utah opportunities below.
Community Choir Concert
The Community Choir Concert will be held at the Regent Street Black Box at Eccles Theater, offering a powerful and intimate setting to close the day. Featuring revival-style performances by local musicians, the concert honors the role of music in the Civil Rights Movement and its ongoing power to inspire unity and hope.
This concert provides a space for reflection, celebration, and collective joy as the community comes together through song.
This year’s musical guests include:
- Calvary Baptist Church Choir
- Kourel Touba Salt Lake
- Gather to Zion Choir
- Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir
- Chloe Flowers
- Yahosh Bonner
Presenters and Performers
The Utah MLK Day Celebration features community leaders, speakers, and performers who are contributing their voices and talents throughout the day. We invite you to click on each image to learn more about the individuals and groups participating.
Deja Brown
Emmy Award-Winning Journalist
Deja Brown
Emmy Award-Winning Journalist
Rep. Sandra Hollins
Utah House of Representatives
Rep. Sandra Hollins
Utah House of Representatives
Stanley Ellington
Utah Black Roundtable
Stanley Ellington
Utah Black Roundtable
Pastor Oscar T. Moses
Calvary Baptist Church
Pastor Oscar T. Moses
Calvary Baptist Church
Igor Limansky
Utah Div. of Multicultural Affairs
Igor Limansky
Utah Div. of Multicultural Affairs
Katie Wright
Utah Donor Collaborative
Katie Wright
Utah Donor Collaborative
James Sheppard
Veterans of Foreign Wars
James Sheppard
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Efren Corado Garcia
Beloved Community
Efren Corado Garcia
Beloved Community
Abi Goddey
365 Poetry
Abi Goddey
365 Poetry
Chloe Flowers
Soloist
Chloe Flowers
Soloist
Yahosh Bonner Family
"I Have a Dream" Speech
Yahosh Bonner Family
"I Have a Dream" Speech
Everett Lavell Spencer
Performer
Everett Lavell Spencer
Performer
Serve Across Utah
Additional Community Service Project Opportunities
In addition to the Community Service Project taking place during the MLK Day Beloved Community Celebration in downtown Salt Lake City, community members will have the opportunity to serve at partner organizations across Utah.
These service opportunities are offered in partnership with local organizations and are designed to ensure meaningful, well-coordinated service experiences. Advance sign-up will be required for each location, as space is limited and capacity varies by site.
Partner Service Locations
- The Genesis Project - Utah County
- Christian Center of Park City
- Murray Food Pantry - Salt Lake County
- Christensen Office of Service & Sustainability - Cache County (USU)
- WAB Warming Center - Cache County
Please use the sign-up link below to view available service opportunities and register for the location that works best for you. Each listing includes details about the service activity, location, and any additional instructions.
Please note:
Service opportunities hosted at Utah State University through the Christensen Office of Service and Sustainability use a separate registration system. If you plan to serve at Utah State, please use the Utah State–specific sign-up link provided below.
Volunteer as Event Support for the Utah MLK Day Celebration
Each year, this event brings our community together to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The celebration is made possible by the support of volunteers who help create a meaningful and inspiring experience for everyone.
Individuals, organizations, and community groups are all welcome to volunteer. Whether you’re signing up on your own or coordinating volunteer support for your organization, your time and presence help ensure a welcoming, well-organized, and impactful day for our community.
Volunteers may assist with event logistics, hospitality, community service activities, or general event support throughout the day.
Community Partners
We are grateful to the organizations and businesses that have helped make the Utah MLK Day Celebration possible through their participation and support.
