Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a huge impact on this nation and, today, his activism continues to inspire people to stand up for civil rights, fight racial discrimination, and rally to end war and poverty. Last August, he became the first African-American honored with a memorial on the National Mall when the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial opened to the public. Located at 1964 Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C., the address of the monument is a tribute to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, of which King played an important part. This week, Sacramento will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a number of celebrations.

Sunday, January 15, on the eve of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, the Crest Theatre will host a benefit comedy show. Featuring the Sacramento debut of comedian and motivational speaker Michael Colyar, the event benefits Peece Keepers, a nonprofit counseling organization that caters to underserved communities and at-risk youth. Cheryl the Soccer Mom, Dennis Gaxiola and Insane Wayne will also perform stand-up. 1013 K Street, 7 p.m., $25, (916) 541-5737, www.peecekeepers.org.

The Crocker Art Museum will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a screening of the PBS documentary Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness. The film, which begins at 3 p.m., highlights a town that takes action against hate crimes and addresses the problem of anti-immigrant violence in U.S. communities. There will be a post-film discussion exploring the film’s connections to King’s ideals. Additionally, regional choirs will perform throughout the day, and admission is free all day, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 216 O Street, (916) 808-7000,www.crockerartmuseum.org.

MLK365.org will host the 31st annual March for the Dream. More than 20,000 are expected to march to the Sacramento Convention Center where there will be a free celebration featuring an education village, employment vendors and a multicultural talent showcase. There will be three departure points for march participants: One group departs at 8:15 a.m. from the Oak Park Community Center, 3425 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard; a second group leaves at 8:30 a.m. from Grant Union High School, 1400 Grand Avenue; and a final group takes off at 9:30 a.m. from Sacramento City College, 3835 Freeport Boulevard. 1400 J Street, (916) 995-3882, www.mlk365.org.