Friday, January 13, 2006

Here is a list of events to mark the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 77th birthday:

Today

THE DISTRICT

National Park Service Ceremony The keynote speaker will be Wendall T. Fisher of YMCA Loudoun County. Other speakers include Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton and Virginia Williams, mother of D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams. The Alice Deal Junior High School Choir will perform. 11 a.m. Department of Interior's Sidney Yates Auditorium, 1849 C St. NW. Schoolchildren will lay wreaths at 1 p.m. on the spot at the Lincoln Memorial where King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. 202-619-7400.

MARYLAND

Awards Dinner The 18th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Dinner will feature a keynote speech by the Rev. Benjamin Hooks, former national executive director of the NAACP. 6 p.m. La Fontaine Bleu, 7514 S. Ritchie Hwy., Glen Burnie. Tickets are $40. Proceeds will go toward the first permanent memorial to King in Maryland. 410-760-4115.

School Program Takoma Park Middle School will have performances by its step dancers, the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Youth Group and Columbia Union College's Black Student Union Gospel Choir and a multimedia presentation on the civil rights movement. 7 p.m. 7611 Piney Branch Rd. Free. 301-891-7290.

Community Celebration All ages are welcome. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Rollingcrest-Chillum Community Center, 6120 Sargent Rd., Chillum. Free. 301-853-2005.

King Play "Free at Last," a play about what it means to be free. 7:30 p.m. Peppermill Community Center, 610 Hill Rd., Landover. Free. 301-350-8410.

Interfaith Service Beth Shalom Congregation will have its ninth annual Martin Luther King Jr./Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel Interfaith Service, with the Rev. John Wright, pastor of First Baptist Church of Guilford and the Rev. Carletta Allen, minister of Locust United Methodist Church. 8 p.m. Beth Shalom, 8070 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia. 410-531-5115.

Shabbat Service Temple Emanuel will have its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Shabbat service, with Del. Herman L. Taylor II (D-Montgomery). 8 p.m. 10101 Connecticut Ave., Kensington. 301-942-2000.

VIRGINIA

Youth Tribute Free song and dance celebration. 7:30 p.m. Departmental Progressive Club, 411 Gibbon St., Alexandria. 703-549-9518.

Tomorrow

THE DISTRICT

Youth Symposium Speakers, discussions, entertainment and lunch. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thurgood Marshall Academy, 2427 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. Free. 202-345-4006.

MARYLAND

Prayer Breakfast Annual program will have the Rev. Renee Cole, as keynote speaker; the Stephen Decatur Middle School Choir; musical guest Chosen; the True Victory Choir; and an awards presentation by the Rev. Harry L. Seawright. 8:30 a.m. Union Bethel Intergenerational Center, 3231 Brinkley Rd., Temple Hills. $15. 301-372-6036.

Salute to King Breakfast and program. 9 a.m. Marlow Heights Community Center, 2800 St. Clair Dr., Marlow Heights. Free, but reservations required. 301-423-0505.

King Film A documentary about King's life. Light refreshments will be served.1 p.m. Columbia Park/Kentland Community Center, 2411 Pinebrook Ave., Landover. Free. 301-386-2278.

Ice Rink Celebration There will be discounted rates during a King birthday celebration. 1:30 to 3:30 and 8 to 10 p.m. Herbert Wells Ice Rink, 5211 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park. $4 a person,

including skate rentals. 301-277-3717.

College Park Tribute Music, dance and literary reflection will honor King and Rosa Parks. Performers will include the Maryland Boy Choir, the College Park Youth Choir, SGI-USA New Century Chorus, Embry AME Church Step Team, Metropolitan Washington Baha'i Chorale and the Chinese Bible Church. 3 to 5 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Kay Theatre, University Boulevard and Stadium Drive, College Park. Free. 301-345-3518.

VIRGINIA

Lecture and Book Signing Nick Kotz, author of "Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Laws That Changed America," will be hosted by the Afro-American Historical Association of Fauquier County. 1 to 2 p.m. 4243 Loudoun Ave., The Plains. Free. 540-253-7488.

Sunday

THE DISTRICT

Edelman Speech Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund, discusses King and his hopes for the nation's children. 10:30 a.m. St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Satterlee Hall, Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues NW. Free. 202-363-8286, Ext. 202.

Citywide Bell Ringing D.C. churches will ring their bells, starting at noon, to commemorate the life and contributions of King. City officials will assemble at St. Mary, Mother of God Church, 727 5th St. NW, at 12:30 p.m. for a bell-ringing ceremony.

District Tribute The city will hold its 21st annual observance, with the Rev. Matthew L. Watley of Reid Temple AME Church as featured speaker and entertainment by the Eastern Senior High School Choir and Vanessa R. Williams of the Smallwood Singers. 4 p.m. University of the District of Columbia, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW, Building 46, main auditorium.

Gospel Concert ". . . That All Men Are Created Equal . . . " is the theme of a musical tribute. 4 to 6 p.m. Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, 4606 16th St. NW. Free. 202-829-2774.

MARYLAND

Awards Banquet Alvin Thornton, a Howard University official, will be the keynote speaker. Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele will also speak. 2 p.m. Best Western College Park Inn, 8601 Baltimore Ave., College Park. $40. Reservation deadline is today. 301-773-1274.

Gospel Quartet The Sensational Nightingales will perform. 4 p.m. Union Bethel AME Church, 6810 Floral Park Rd., Brandywine. Free. 301-372-6036.

Calvert County Concert A mass choir of choir members from churches in Calvert County will perform. 6 p.m. Huntingtown High School auditorium, 4125 N. Solomons Island Rd., Huntingtown. Free. 410-535-0413.

Howard County Tribute The Howard County Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission presents its 21st annual program, with guest speaker District Court Judge Pamila J. Brown, vocalist Julie Hall and local entertainment. 4 p.m. Smith Theatre, Howard Community College, off Little Patuxent Parkway. Free. 410-313-6430.

VIRGINIA

Commemorative March "Are We Keeping the Promise?" is the march theme. 2:45 p.m. Lake Anne Plaza, off Village Road and North Shore Drive, Reston. 703-390-6161 or visit http://www.kingday.org/ .

McLean Celebration "Embracing the Dream: Celebrating Family, Youth and Community Service." Program will feature singing and dancing, with More and More Praise of Mount Olive Baptist Church of Centreville and speakers Gary T. McCollum, vice president and regional manager of Cox Communications, Northern Virginia, and Marty Smith, principal of Franklin Sherman Elementary School. 3 to 5 p.m. Alden Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave. Free, but tickets required. Those attending are asked to bring an item of nonperishable food for Share Inc. 703-790-0123 or visit http://www.mcleancenter.org/ .

Gospel Concert/Community Singalong Participants will include churches from the Reston-Herndon area; Ezra M. Hill Sr., a member of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II; and the gospel group Rafael Ross and Reconciliation. 4 p.m. Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, 1441 Wiehle Ave., Reston. Free.

Pops Concert The Reston Chamber Orchestra will perform popular songs, spirituals and selections from "Porgy and Bess," with vocalists Beverly Cosham and Ellyn Lomack Crawford. 6 p.m. Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Rd.

Arlington County Tribute Arlington's 37th annual observance will have music, dance and the spoken word, with gospel and jazz artist Kim Jordan, the vocal ensemble the Virginiaires and students reading King-themed essays. 7 p.m. Thomas Jefferson Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Rd. Free.

Alexandria Tribute Alexandria's 33rd annual observance, with the Rev. Duane Kay, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and a performance by the Gospel Truth of Meade Memorial Episcopal Church. 7:30 p.m. Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1427 W. Braddock Rd. Free.

Monday

THE DISTRICT

Memorial Breakfast Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton will be the keynote speaker for this 22nd annual event sponsored by the United Planning Organization. 7:45 a.m. Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Rd. NW. $35. 202-238-4696.

Interfaith Prayer, Peace & Praise Service The Rev. A.C. Durant will be the host pastor. 10 a.m. to noon. Tenth Street Baptist Church, 1000 R St. NW. There will be a wreath-laying ceremony immediately after the service at the African American Civil War Memorial, Vermont Avenue and 10th and U streets NW. 202-232-1685.

National Day of Service A commemoration of the Montgomery bus boycott will offer financial, health and professional development information for the homeless. The speaker will be Mike Leavitt, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 10 a.m. McKinley Technology High School, 151 T St. NE. Free.

Central Union Mission Celebration David Treadwell, executive director of the mission, will speak. There will be a reading of King's "I Have a Dream" speech and lunch for the homeless. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central Union Mission, 1350 R St. NW. Free. 202-745-7118.

Eucharist Service A sermon by Canon Missioner William Barnwell will be followed by readings every half hour of excerpts from King's sermons and speeches. Noon to 4 p.m. Washington National Cathedral, Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues NW. 202-537-6200.

Howard University Celebration The 20th annual event features musical performances, readings and dance presentations. Noon to 10 p.m. Blackburn Center, Howard University, 2400 Sixth St. NW . Free. 202-806-5983.

Family Event The Interracial Family Circle's tribute will include games and crafts, music, dancing, dramatic readings of King's works and refreshments. 1 to 3 p.m. All Souls Church, 16th Street and Columbia Road NW. Free. 301-261-9066.

Black Voices for Peace Fifth annual event will include musical performances, guest speakers and a screening of "MLK: The Making of a Holiday." 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, 5301 North Capitol St. NE. Free. 202-232-5690.

Musical Tribute "Let Freedom Ring," a concert featuring gospel artist Yolanda Adams and members of Georgetown University choirs. 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW. Free. 202-467-4600.

Lincoln Theatre Program A concert featuring local and national performers and scholarship presentations. 6 p.m. Free, but advance tickets required from Lincoln Theatre box office, 1215 U St. NW.

MARYLAND

Tribute Breakfast The Montgomery County Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity will hold its 30th annual breakfast, with keynote speaker Gwendolyn E. Boyd, former Delta Sigma Theta Sorority president. 7:45 a.m. Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Rd. $40 for adults; $30 for teenagers through college-age, $25 for those 12 and younger. 301-460-7040.

Memorial Breakfast The Rev. D. Mitchell Ford, pastor of Renaissance Baptist Church in the District, will speak, with performances by the Oxon Hill High School Advanced Ensemble and gospel artists Johnie and Debbie Steele. 8 a.m. La Fontaine Bleu, 7963 Annapolis Rd., Lanham. $25; reservations required. 301-306-0258.

Southern Maryland Prayer Breakfast Music by the St. Peter Claver Gospel Choir will be followed by a Study-Circles Orientation Seminar, part of a community-wide initiative to improve race relations in St. Mary's County. 8:30 to 10 a.m. St. Mary's College of Maryland, Great Room, Campus Center, 18952 E. Fisher Rd., St. Mary's City. $6. 240-895-4381.

Hillcrest Heights Program The tribute will include a documentary, a presentation by the community center's drama club and a discussion. All ages welcome. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hillcrest Heights Community Center, 2300 Oxon Run Drive, Hillcrest Heights. 301-505-0896.

Historic Deed Transfer The Montgomery County Planning Board will hold a deed transfer ceremony at the former home of Josiah Henson, a slave whose autobiography was a model for Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin." 11 a.m. 11420 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda. The county recently purchased the property -- including a house and attached log cabin -- and plans to restore it for public viewing. 301-495-4600.

Rockville Tribute Rockville's celebration will feature Clara L. Adams-Ender, a retired brigadier general and the author of "My Rise to the Stars: How a Sharecropper's Daughter Became an Army General"; the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Concert Choir; Tappers With Attitude; and the Soul in Motion Players. Noon. F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville. Free. 240-314-8316or visit http://www.rockvillemd.gov/events/MLKday.htm .

Volunteer-Themed Tribute Montgomery County and the cities of Takoma Park, Gaithersburg and Garrett Park will pay tribute. 12:30 p.m. Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Rd. Attendees may sign up for as many as 20 service projects. The Rev. Sandye A. Wilson, senior pastor of the Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and Holy Communion in South Orange, N.J., will give the keynote speech at 3 p.m. There will be a 6 p.m. reception. Free. 240-777-2600 or visit http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ .

King Film TV One and the American Film Institute present the documentary "King: A Filmed Record . . . Montgomery to Memphis." 1 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. Free tickets are available at the AFI Silver box office the day of the show. 301-495-6747 or visit http://www.afi.com/silver .

King Speeches Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele and Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson will speak about King's legacy. 1 p.m., Hope Christian Church, 4700 Boston Way, Lanham. Free. 240-845-0388.

Seat Pleasant Program "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- A Man of Vision" will include dramatic readings, music and dance performances. 1 to 3 p.m. Evelyn Cole Senior Center, 5720 Addison Rd., Seat Pleasant. All ages welcome. Free. 301-773-6685.

VIRGINIA

Sharing the Dream Bluemont's 14th annual observance will include a march from the Old Loudoun Courthouse to the Douglass Community Center, followed by a program featuring a keynote address by Judge Julia Taylor Cannon of Lincoln, Va., and musical and inspirational offerings by the Loudoun Baha'i youth group; the Mount Pleasant Church Youth Choir of Aldie and others. 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Old Loudoun County Courthouse green. Canned goods will be accepted for an interfaith food program. 703-777-8270.

Youth Oratorical Contest The 16th annual contest is sponsored by Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. in collaboration with the Hylton Memorial Chapel Foundation. 11 a.m. Hylton Memorial Chapel, 14640 Potomac Mills Rd., Woodbridge. 703-494-3220.

Reston Celebration There will be a keynote address by Ezra M. Hill Sr., a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, community service awards, cultural presentations and music and dance performances. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. CenterStage, Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods Shopping Center, 2310 Colts Neck Rd. Workshops on current issues will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Representatives from nonprofit groups will promote volunteer opportunities. People are encouraged to bring items for the poor, including canned food, coats, gloves, scarves and toiletry items. 703-390-6161 or visit http://www.kingday.org/ .

Media Presentation and Exhibit Sponsored by the Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage Inc. and the Alexandria Black History Museum. 1 to 3 p.m. Alexandria City Hall, 301 King St., first floor. Free.

James Madison University Annual observance will feature Freeman A. Hrabowski, president, University of Maryland Baltimore County. 7 p.m. Wilson Hall Auditorium, 800 S. Main St., Harrisonburg. Free.

Tuesday

THE DISTRICT

Spiritual Event The Rev. Al Sharpton will be among the speakers, with musical selections by the Gospel Choir of St. Augustine's Catholic Church. 7 p.m. O'Donovan Hall, Georgetown University, 37th and O streets NW.