In 2027, we will celebrate the 54th anniversary of Lexington’s annual city-wide observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, making it one of the oldest such programs in the country. This storied event has been praised by media commentators and some of our illustrious speakers as “one of the best in the country for its consistent record of presenting thoughtful, timely and creatively uplifting programs”.

Follow THIS LINK below to learn more about the history of this event!

Bluegrass Community & Technical College (BCTC) and Kentucky State University (KSU), in partnership with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Planning Committee, is excited to offer the annual MLK Student Scholarships. The scholarships are open to high school seniors who plan to attend BCTC or KSU. Scholarship recipients will receive one-year of paid tuition to BCTC or KSU beginning in the Fall 2027 semester. 

For more information on this scholarship and how to apply, please see the below links:

Applications for the 2027 scholarships will be made available soon.

A Message to Our Sponsors:

Thank you for helping make Lexington’s 2026 MLK Holiday Celebration such a tremendous success! Your sponsorship helped bring thousands of people together to celebrate Dr. King’s life, legacy and vision for our nation.

We are grateful for your partnership and wanted to share just a few of the highlights YOU helped make possible: 

• More than 6,000 people participated in the Freedom March as we celebrated the 53rd year of Lexington’s annual city-wide observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday—one of the longest-running celebrations of its kind in the country.
• Rev. Devon Crawford, Senior Pastor of the Historic Third Street Baptist Church in San Francisco, delivered an inspiring keynote address.
• Aleah Duncan received a full-year scholarship to Bluegrass Community & Technical College, where she is now beginning her freshman year.
• Lexington’s own Joslyn & The Sweet Compression brought incredible energy to the celebration, while poet JR moved us with his powerful spoken-word artistry.
• Most importantly, your sponsorship helped create an opportunity for thousands of people from across our community to come together to honor Dr. King’s enduring legacy of freedom, justice, peace and equal opportunity for all.

Thank you for investing in this important Lexington tradition. Your generosity, partnership and commitment help ensure that Dr. King’s message continues to educate, inspire and bring our community together.

We hope you will join us again for the 54th Annual MLK Holiday Celebration on January 18, 2027. An exciting celebration is already in the works, so please save the date and stay tuned for more details!

With gratitude,

James Brown, Co-Chair                                                                         Kendriana L. Price, Co-Chair         

To become a sponsor, please follow THIS LINK to fill out a sponsorship form or make a credit card donation below to the MLK Holiday Committee Fund at Blue Grass Community Foundation! 

*$100 to $499 donors (MLK Allies) will also be recognized in event publication* 

MLK Holiday Committee Fund