What's Happening On MLK Jr. Day

Monday would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 80th birthday.

City offices are closed for the federal holiday. Schools are closed.

Walnut Creek has a ceremony, titled "Sowing the Seeds of Peace," scheduled for noon Monday at Civic Park.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration will be held in the Assembly Hall at Civic Park, 1365 Civic Dr. The keynote speaker is the Rev. Donna Allen, founder and pastor of New Revelation Community Church in Oakland. Music is by the Shell Ridge Ramblers. The event is sponsored by the Mount Diablo Peace and Justice Center and the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County.

In Martinez, Contra Costa County honors King with at 651 Pine St. County supervisors will honor the Humanitarian of the Year and Student Humanitarian of the Year, and Contra Costa Community College District Chancellor Dr. Helen Benjamin will deliver the keynote speech.

Patch blogger Katie Zeigler has a recommendation of a children's book that tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr.

Monday is also President Obama's inauguration for his second term.

In the Bay Area, other communities are holding events this holiday weekend to honor the slain civil rights leader who, among other things, organized boycotts against racially segregated bus systems in the South and led the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.

King was president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and was Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1963. He was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. From 1957 until his death in 1968, King traveled 6 million miles and delivered more than 2,500 speeches.

Here are some of the events being held in the East Bay on Monday in honor of Dr. King.

Berkeley

10 a.m. to Noon. Participants will walk from Jefferson Elementary School, 1400 Ada St., to King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. A celebration of King's life will be held inside the auditorium there.

Oakland

8:30 a.m. to Noon. The East Bay Regional Park District will host a day of service in honor of Dr. King. Volunteers should meet at the Oak Port Athletic Field, 5734 Oakport St. Volunteers will help park district employees with invasive plant removal.

9 a.m. A volunteer event will feature bird walks led by Golden Gate Audubon docents. It'll be held at Martin Luther King Regional Shoreline Park.

10 a.m. to Noon. A multicultural peace celebration will be held ILWU Warehouse Hall No. 6, 99 Hegenberger Road. Speakers, including Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson and the Rev. Byron Williams, will highlight the event.

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: A shoreline cleanup will be held in honor of Dr. King. Participants should meet at Garretson Point parking lot at the end of Edgewater Drive. Volunteers will clean up and help restore Damon Marsh, Damon Slough, Arrowhead Marsh and Martin Luther King Jr. Grove.

10 a.m. to Noon. A "Make The Dream Real" celebration will be held at Taylor Memorial Church, 1188 12th St. Sacred drumming will be performed along with performances from young artists.

12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. A theater matinee will be held at the African American Museum and Library, 659 14th St. A collection of films will be shown commemorating the life of Dr. King.

7:30 p.m.: A preinaugural gospel concert will be held at Star Bethel Church, 5800 San Pablo Ave. It will feature gospel artist Jonathan Nelson and local artists.