Special events for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend begin today and continue through Monday.
The MLK Unity Parade of Excellence starts at 1 p.m. today at Colin Powell Parkway in Phenix City. The parade will cross the 13th Street Bridge into Columbus and head down Broadway to Ninth Street. Expect to see bands from Carver, Spencer, Shaw and Kendrick high schools.
On Monday, the MLK Jr. Unity Awards Breakfast is set for 7 a.m. at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League and former mayor of New Orleans (1994-2002), will speak. Tickets at the door will cost $30 for adults and $20 for students.
If you don’t have to go into the office on Monday, head to Pine Mountain for a special MLK Holiday Hike at 1 p.m. Meet at the WJSP TV Tower Parking Lot off Ga. Alt 85 in FDR State Park. Bring snacks and water. The hike will be 5 miles along the Pine Mountain Trail heading to Rocky Point Parking Lot. I’m told hikers will be able to see five waterfalls along this trail. It’s free. Call 706-569-0497 or visit pinemountaintrail.org for more information.
Sunday shows
B.B. King performs at the RiverCenter at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Local favorites the Neal Lucas Band and Peggy Jenkins open the show. Tickets cost $42.50-$52.50. Call 706-256-3612 for more information.
CSU’s Schwob School of Music students present “H.M.S. Pinafore,” the Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert operetta, at 3 p.m. Sunday at the RiverCenter’s Studio Theatre. The light-hearted and funny show is perfect for folks new to opera. Tickets cost $15. For more information, call 706-256-3612.
Wow, Wednesday!
Too busy with family activities to plan a date night on the weekends? Call a baby sitter and take your significant other to one of these great Wednesday shows.
Merle Haggard plays the Columbus Civic Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets cost $38-$48 and can be purchased by calling 800-745-3000.
“The Color Purple,” the show based on Alice Walker’s novel, is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at RiverCenter’s Bill Heard Theatre. Tickets cost $39.50-$49.50. For more information, call 706-256-3612.
Register now
The Mind, Body and Spirit Retreat for Women isn’t until next Saturday, Jan. 21, but space is limited so sign up now at columbusstate.edu/ cunningham. The retreat costs $35, which includes breakfast, lunch and a gift bag. Workshops are designed to help women find ways to simplify their lives. It’s set for 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. at Columbus State’s Cunningham Center for Leadership Development, 3100 Gentian Blvd.
Dawn Minty, features editor, can be reached at dminty@ledger-enquirer.com and 706-571-8512.
