Austin celebrates MLK Day

Austin’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march, festival and food drive will honor Dr. King’s legacy while giving Austinites an opportunity to celebrate civil rights victories with a joyous musical event. The march will start Monday, Jan. 16, at 9 a.m. at the statue of King on the UT campus, will pause at the south steps of the Texas Capitol for a rally, then continue to Huston-Tillotson University for a festival. The festival, from 11:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., features food vendors and local musical artists. Marchers are asked to bring canned goods or non-perishable food items to donate to the Central Texas Food Bank. There will be donation receptacles at several locations along the march route. Check out the march route on the MLK Celebration website, as well as more information on the food drive and parking locations. The city’s website has a full list of all MLK Day street closures. Participants are encouraged to walk, bike or take public transit to the event.