Every year on the third Monday of January, the nation celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and his notable contributions to the civil rights movement in the United States.
This year, the federal holiday falls on Jan. 19. Here is a list of MLK Day events, parades, and celebrations happening in Southwest Florida.
Here is a list of events scheduled for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Sarasota, Lee, and Charlotte Counties for 2026:
Sarasota County
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026, at 7:30 a.m.
- Where: Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34th/John Rivers Street, Sarasota
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Walk
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026, starting at 11:00 a.m.
- Where: Begins at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex and ends at Dr. MLK Park
- Dr. MLK Medical/Wellness Fair & Park Festival
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Where: Robert L. Taylor Community Complex and Dr. MLK Park, Sarasota
Charlotte County
- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Parade & Rally Celebration
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (staging begins at 9:00 a.m.).
- Where: The parade starts at 75 Taylor St, Punta Gorda, and proceeds to the Cooper Street Recreation Center-YMCA for a rally.
- Theme: “The Struggle Continues; We Will Not Quit!”
Lee County
- Unity Breakfast
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- Where: Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Fort Myers
- Note: Organized by the Southwest Florida Alpha Educational and Leadership Foundation, proceeds benefit local scholarship programs.
- Commemorative March & Park Celebration
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Where: The march begins at Dunbar Community School, 1857 High St, Fort Myers
- MLK Jr. Legacy Weekend Voter Registration Drive
- When: Monday, January 19, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Where: Caloosa Sound Amphitheater, 2101 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers
