Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday. Here is some Augusta-area fun for the long weekend

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Monday. It will mark what would have been Dr. King’s 95th birthday. 

The occasion will not go unnoticed as prose and parades, keynotes and opportunities to help those in need have been scheduled throughout the weekend. For many, this will also serve as a three-day weekend, a chance for relaxation and reflection.

There’s plenty to do, including the last chance to get some ice skating in, a night full of stars, and a couple of chances to see local athletes go head-to-head. 

Here’s a look at these and other fun events scheduled this weekend across the Augusta area:

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Martin Luther King Jr. festivities, give-back opportunities

The 2024 Tri-College Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is noon Friday at Augusta Technical College off Bobby Jones Expressway. This is a collaborative celebration between Augusta Tech, Augusta University and Paine College. The keynote speaker is Otis Samuel Johnson, chairman of the Racial Equity and Leadership Task Force in Savannah.

Augusta Mini Theatre’s “Telling Our Stories Through Poetry” is 8-10 p.m. Friday, 3-5 p.m. Saturday-Monday at the theatre in Augusta at 2548 Deans Bridge Rd. In tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., young performers will combine poetry, movement, songs and other skills to illustrate Black history and culture. General admission is about $10 to $15 and tickets are available at augustaminitheatre.org.

Augusta NAACP’s 50th annual Freedom Fund Banquet is 6 p.m. Friday at Good Shepherd Baptist Church Family Life Center at 1714 Olive Rd. The keynote speaker is Augusta’s Chief Judge Kellie McIntyre, the first Black female chief justice of Richmond County. Tickets start at about $75 and are available at naacpaugustaga.org.

Augusta’s 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade is Saturday starting at 1 p.m. at Dyess Park Community Center on at 902 James Brown Blvd. Participants will walk south on James Brown Boulevard, then west onto Wrightsboro Road, north onto Augusta Avenue, east onto Laney Walker Boulevard, and then north onto 11th Street to Johnson Motors.

Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson is organizing a Day of Service, but it has reached volunteer capacity, according to the mayor’s spokesperson Brennan Meagher.

Augusta’s Community Fair and 10th annual Homeless Winter Clothing Drive is 2-4 p.m. Saturday in the James Brown Arena parking lot at 601 7th St. There will be community resources, food, a bounce house and other entertainment. This is to recognize World AIDS Day.

Outdoor activities

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park’s “Eco Explorer” Day is 2-4 p.m. Friday in Augusta at 1858 Lock and Dam Rd. Guests will get to become scientists, jumping into the water, examine bugs and get a behind-the-scenes look at the research lab. The day is restricted to adults and is twice per month. Those interested can register for about $26 per person at phinizycenter.org/eco-explorers.

Hephzibah’s Food Truck Friday returns 5-9 p.m. Friday at the Hephzibah Agricultural Center at 4245 Peach Orchard Rd. There will be plenty of food to choose from plus music, shopping and face painting.

Border Bowl XI is Saturday at Burke County High School in Waynesboro at 1057 Burke Veterans Pkwy. The best high school football seniors from Georgia and South Carolina will face off with gates opening at 11 a.m. and kick off at 1 p.m. Parking will be $5 cash. Tickets are sold on-site for $15 cash and $10 pre-sale for a limited time at eventbrite.com. Programs are available for $10 cash.

Evans on Ice is open for just a few more days at Evans Towne Center Park off Washington Road. It’s open 5-10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, and noon to 9 p.m. Monday. Ice skate the night away, and when you need to warm up, there is also a fire pit. Tickets are $13 on weekdays and $17 on weekends. For more information, go to evansonice.com.

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Indoor entertainment

The Imperial Theatre in Augusta has two shows this weekend: Southern Soul and Song Series’ “Appalachian Roadshow and The Cleverlys” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” at 3 p.m. Monday. For tickets, call (706) 722-8341 or go to imperialtheatre.com.

Augusta University’s men’s basketball team faces USC Aiken’s at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Christenberry Fieldhouse in Augusta at 3109 Wrightsboro Rd. Tickets are $10 for adults, free for AU members as well as ages 6 and younger, and $5 for everyone else.

DuPont Planetarium’s “Ancient Sky Lore” is 7-8 p.m. Saturday at the Ruth Patrick Science Center in Aiken at 471 University Pkwy. Stars and constellations will be used to tell legends and stories from ancient cultures. Admission is $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for senior citizens, $4.50 for grades 4K-12, and $2 for USC Aiken members.

Aiken Bridal Show 2024 is 1-5 p.m. Sunday at the Anne and Cot Campbell Center in Aiken at 1310 East Pine Log Rd. There will be a bridal fashion show, wedding vendors, dance lessons, food trucks and door prizes. Tickets are $15 at the door and $12 in advance at eventbrite.com.