Celebrate Martin Luther King Day at these tributes and parades

People are forever seeking inspiration from role models — on the stage, on the screen, on the field. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has remained relevant for more than 60 years. His fight for peace, unity and equality still echoes on his birthday, Monday, Jan. 16, when three parades will be held in his honor:

GLEN COVE

33rd ANNUAL MLK BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE

The day begins with a symbolic march from the First Baptist Church of Glen Cove, where participants sing freedom songs as they walk through downtown Glen Cove along School Street up to Forest Avenue, concluding at the Finley Middle School auditorium, where a ceremony will take place.

At the event, the Glen Cove High School Select Chorale and the Glen Cove High School Drumline will perform. The audience also will hear a speech from Joselo Lucero of the Hagedorn Foundation, brother of Marcelo Lucero, victim of a fatal 2008 hate crime in Patchogue.

The program concludes with singing “We Shall Overcome” plus a prayer followed by light refreshments.

“We try to educate the community about Dr. King, his philosophy and his legacy,” says Sheryl Goodine, chairwoman for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Commemorative Commission. “Dr. King taught us to love everyone as your brother or sister and for there to be equality in everything — housing, education and economic opportunities across the board. These are things that we have to work on as a country.”

WHEN | WHERE 8:45 a.m. from First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove, 7 Continental Place, to Robert M. Finley Middle School, 1 Forest Ave.

INFO 516-320-7865, glencove-li.us

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HEMPSTEAD

24th ANNUAL MLK PARADE

The parade steps off at Kennedy Memorial Park in Hempstead, following Greenwich Street before turning onto Fulton Avenue and heading toward the Miracle Christian Center, where P.J. Anastasi of World of Life Ministries in Freeport will be the keynote speaker. Senior Pastor Jamall Jenkins of the New Vision Temple in Hempstead and Darrin Green of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department will act as grand marshals.

The overall theme of the day is unity.

“With all the racial tension today and the violence going on in society, we need to pull together and bring more unity — no matter the race, color or gender,” says Waymon Speight Jr., president of Hempstead-based United Peoples Organization. “There’s a lot of love and togetherness. It’s almost overwhelming to see how everyone can pull together, whatever their religion or background is, for the day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.”

WHEN | WHERE 9 a.m. from Kennedy Memorial Park, 335 Greenwich St. to Miracle Christian Center, 334 Fulton Ave.

INFO 516-478-6264, villageofhempstead.org

LONG BEACH

MLK 48th ANNUAL COMMEMORATIVE MARCH

In 1968, months before his assassination, King visited Long Beach to participate in a march.

“Dr. King was invited by Rev. J.J. Evans, pastor of Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church, who he was personal friends with,” says Myrnissa A. Stone-Sumair, executive director of the Long Beach MLK Center. “He came in support of the church by marching along with them to show solidarity in the community and bring a voice to the minorities.”

Since then, the Long Beach community has faithfully recreated that march every year on King’s birthday. A holiday celebration and luncheon will be held at the Long Beach MLK Center after the march.

“The event symbolizes solidarity in the community. We are aware there are challenges and issues, but we come together to celebrate our history and our culture,” Stone-Sumair says. “It’s a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going. We must stick together and stay committed to Dr. King’s vision and the task of overcoming obstacles.”

WHEN | WHERE 11 a.m. from the corner of Laurelton Boulevard and West Park Avenue to the Martin Luther King Center, 615 Riverside Blvd.

INFO 516-889-6300, lbmlk.org

OTHER MLK DAY-RELATED EVENTS

SUNDAY

CENTRAL ISLIP

MASS. Service in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., 11 a.m., St. John of God Church, 84 Carleton Ave.; free; stjohnofgodparish.org, 631-234-1884.

COMMACK

CONCERT. The Afro-Semitic Experience performs a combination of an eclectic array of styles, sophisticated musicianship, good songwriting, deep grooves and years of friendship with a simple message, 7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.), The Suffolk Y JCC, 74 Hauppauge Rd.; $15, $5 students; nwsdy.li/afro-semiticexperience, 631-462-9800.

DIX HILLS

DISPLAY. Display of King photos, books and memorabilia presented by The Mothers Club of Wheatley Heights, daily through Jan. 31, Half Hollow Hills Community Library Dix Hills Branch, 55 Vanderbilt Pkwy.; free; hhhlibrary.org, 631-421-4530.

EAST HILLS

DREAM! READ! MLK LITERACY PROJECT. A literacy volunteer project in King’s honor. Help sort, organize and assemble summer reading book bags; projects available for all age groups, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Dr.; free; sjjcc.org, 516-484-1545.

ELMONT

FILM: ‘A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.’ The documentary highlights King’s life and his importance to the conquest of rights for African-Americans in the 1950s and ’60s (1994, 52 minutes), 2 p.m., Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke.; free; elmontlibrary.org, 516-354-5280.

HAMPTON BAYS

CELEBRATION. Celebrate King’s life and legacy with a discussion led by Natalie Byfield, author of “Savage Portrayals: Race, Media and the Central Park Jogger Story,” 2-3 p.m., Hampton Bays Public Library, 52 Ponquogue Ave.; free; register, hbay.suffolk.lib.ny.us, 631-728-6241.

HEMPSTEAD

ECUMENICAL INTERFAITH SERVICE. King celebration includes greetings by local religious leaders, guest speakers, Scripture readings, choir performances, singing and the anthem of the civil rights movement, “We Shall Overcome,” 7 p.m., Antioch Baptist Church, 94 James L. Burrell Ave.; free; 516-485-1499.

LONG BEACH

GOSPEL CONCERT. Features a live performance by The Gospel Sons, in King’s honor, 2:30 p.m., Long Beach Library, 111 W. Park Ave.; free; longbeachlibrary.org, 516-432-7201.

UNIONDALE

CELEBRATION. King’s life and legacy are commemorated, featuring guest speaker, local resident and professor of history emeritus Natalie Naylor, followed by a craft project for children and teens, a dance performance by KG Group Entertainment and light refreshments, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Uniondale Library, 400 Uniondale Ave.; free; uniondalelibrary.org, 516-489-2220.

MONDAY

BELLPORT

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL. Dedicate this new year to King’s dream of freedom, justice and service to all; opening ceremony, panel discussion, social justice poetry workshop, arts and crafts workshop, lunch, music, volunteer fair and closing remarks, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Boys and Girls Club of Bellport, 471 Atlantic Ave.; free; donations accepted, bgcbellport.org, 631-286-9090.

COLD SPRING HARBOR

‘DREAM BIG’ WORKSHOP. Celebrate King’s legacy by learning about the diverse cultures that made up the local Cold Spring Harbor whaling crews; sew a special “My Dream” pillow to take home, for ages 7 and up, 1 p.m., The Whaling Museum and Education Center, 301 Main St. (Route 25A); $5 craft fee, plus museum admission; cshwhalingmuseum.org, 631-367-3418.

COPIAGUE

SERVICE. The Copiague Medrigal Choir and Amityville High School Jazz Band perform followed by a luncheon, 10 a.m., Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 20 Simmons St.; free; bethelamecopiague.net, 631-842-8463.

DIX HILLS

CELEBRATION. Poetry, music and songs honoring King, presented by The Mothers Club of Wheatley Heights, 2 p.m., Half Hollow Hills Community Library Dix Hills Branch, 55 Vanderbilt Pkwy.; free; bring new socks to donate to the Gerald J. Ryan Outreach Center of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Catholic Church in Wyandanch, hhhlibrary.org, 631-421-4530.

GARDEN CITY

DREAMING. Children ages 5 and older learn about King’s life, explore his legacy and make a stained-glass collage, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave. off Charles Lindbergh Boulevard; $3 with museum admission;, licm.org, 516-224-5800.

HAUPPAUGE

MEMORIAL BREAKFAST. Hosted by First Baptist Church of Riverhead, 8-10:30 a.m. (doors open at 7:30 a.m.), Hyatt Regency Long Island, 1717 Motor Pkwy.; $55; 631-727-3446.

HUNTINGTON

JUBILEE. A guest speaker honors King’s life, refreshments served., 7 p.m., Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 291 Park Ave.; free; 631-421-2433.

SOUTHAMPTON

BREAKFAST. Community breakfast to celebrate King’s life and legacy, features fellowship, food, musical offerings and more, 9:45 a.m.-noon, Rogers Memorial Library, 91 Coopers Farm Rd.; free; register, myrml.org, 631-283-0774.

UNIONDALE

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON. Benefits high school seniors seeking higher education, 11:30 a.m., Long Island Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 101 James Doolittle Blvd.; $75; register, 516-571-5977.

TUESDAY

ROSLYN

CELEBRATION. Friendship Baptist Church Pastor Victor Lewis speaks about King’s accomplishments, the values he preached and the important message he left that is still relevant today, 7 p.m. Bryant Library, 2 Paper Mill Rd., bryantlibrary.org, 516-621-2240.

WEDNESDAY

RIVERHEAD

CELEBRATION. The East End Voters Coalition celebration, in King’s honor, light refreshments served, 3-5 p.m.; free; Riverhead Library, 330 Court St., riverheadlibrary.org, 631-369-4642.

FRIDAY

FREEPORT

FILM: ‘KING: MAN OF PEACE IN A TIME OF WAR.’ Biographical documentary honoring King’s life (2007, 60 minutes, starring Obba Babatundé, Mike Douglas, Laurence Fishburne), 7 p.m., Freeport Library, 144 W. Merrick Rd.; free; freeportlibrary.info, 516-379-3274.

WEST BABYLON

FILM: ‘KING: MAN OF PEACE IN A TIME OF WAR.’ Biographical documentary honoring King’s life, (2007, 60 minutes, starring Obba Babatundé, Mike Douglas, Laurence Fishburne), 1 p.m., West Babylon Public Library, 211 Rte. 109; free; wbpl.us, 631-669-5445.

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.