Several events will be held throughout the San Antonio and New Braunfels area in January to honor Martin Luther King Jr., an activist and minister who was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Four days after the assassination, Representative John Conyers introduced legislation to create a federal holiday. In 1979, the bill was re-introduced in the house on MLK’s 50th birthday, but failed by five votes. In 1983, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the bill and President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law, creating the holiday.

This list is not comprehensive. Events are subject to change.

MLK Wreath-Laying Ceremony

A wreath-laying ceremony will take place at Martin Luther King Plaza. The event will honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Ret. Captain Theresa M. Claiborne is scheduled to speak at the ceremony.
  • Jan. 19, 2 p.m.
  • Free
  • Martin Luther King Plaza, North New Braunfels Avenue, and East Houston Street, San Antonio
  • https://saspeakup.com/mlk
MLK March


The 38th Martin Luther King Jr. March will start at the Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, followed by the park celebration at Pittman-Sullivan Park with food, vendors, information booths and music. Put on by the MLK Commission, San Antonio’s MLK march is one of the largest in the nation, bringing together nearly 300,000 people. VIA will offer free bus services to the march, with pickup locations at the Freeman Coliseum and St. Phillip’s College.
  • Jan. 20, 10 a.m.
  • Free (admission)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King Drive, San Antonio; Pittman-Sullivan Park, 1101 Iowa St., San Antonio
  • www.sa.gov
SAPB MLK Kids Camp

San Antonio Plastic Bricks will be hosting a MLK kids activity workshop. SAPB sells Lego products and customers can also sell and trade Leg items. The event will have two sessions.
  • Jan. 20, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • $40.50-$81
  • San Antonio Plastic Bricks, 903 E. Bitters Road, Ste. 305, San Antonio
  • www.sapbstore.com
2025 MLK Youth Empowerment Summit

The 2025 MLK Youth Empowerment Summit is an event that celebrates innovation, education and community while honoring MLK’s legacy. The event will feature a panel discussion, flight simulator and hands-on aviation lessons. Entertainment includes free food trucks, DJ performances, video game trucks and bounce houses. To register, visit the MLK Youth Empowerment Summit’s registration formMLK lecture at Trinity University

Trinity University will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture in its Parker Chapel, where speaker Kenneth R. Kemp. Reverend Kemp will present “The Living Legacy of Dr. King: Civil Discourse through Civil Disobedience.” Members of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Choir and vocalists from the Trinity University community will provide musical selections.
  • Jan. 23, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
  • Free (admission)
  • Trinity University’s Margarite B. Parker Chapel, 1 Trinity Place, San Antonio
  • www.visitsanantonio.com
New Braunfels 10th Annual MLK March


New Braunfels MLK Association will host its 10th Annual March “Honoring the Work and Legacy” of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The march will begin at Prince Solms Park and conclude at the Civic Convention Center, 375 S. Castell Ave., with a ceremony featuring a civil tribute and musical selections.
  • Jan. 20, 9 a.m.
  • Free (admission)
  • Prince Solms Park, 100 Liebscher Drive, New Braunfels
  • https://nbmlk.com
MLK Commemoration

Attendees are encouraged to bring favorite quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. or thoughts to share on his philosophy and legacy.