BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — The City of Boca Raton will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 19, 2026, with a slate of public events that begin with a community breakfast and end with an afternoon celebration at the Mizner Park Amphitheater.
The MLK Jr. Day Ceremony and Celebration is free and open to the public. The program includes a breakfast at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, a unity march from the MLK Jr. Monument to Mizner Park, a ceremony featuring a keynote speaker and mayoral proclamation, and an outdoor celebration with rides, performances and community booths.
The day starts with a Community Breakfast scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, listed by the City at 220 Ruby Street. The theme is “A Day On, Not A Day Off.” The breakfast is sponsored by D.I.S.C. — Developing Interracial Social Change.
At 10 a.m., the Unity March is scheduled to begin at the MLK Jr. Monument at 200 Ruby Street and travel south on Federal Highway to the Mizner Park Amphitheater at 590 Plaza Real. The City said trolley service will be available for those requiring assistance.
A formal ceremony follows at 10:30 a.m. at the Mizner Park Amphitheater. The City’s program lists Dr. Keven Allen as the keynote speaker. The ceremony also includes a mayoral proclamation, community leader speeches, poetry and music, and a humanitarian award presentation.
From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the City plans a free Unity Celebration at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, with activities set up in the east lot. The City’s event listing includes amusement rides and games, a community service project, community partner booths, a photo booth, stage performances, and food and drinks available for purchase. Food trucks are expected onsite during the celebration.
For residents, the celebration also includes a tree giveaway starting at 11:30 a.m. City of Boca Raton residents can receive a free Florida native tree at Mizner Park, with distribution taking place at the amphitheater. Proof of residency is required, and eligibility is limited to residents within the City proper. The City said the available tree species include avocado, blackbead, mango and Simpson’s stopper, with one tree per household.
What to know
The City said the event will continue “rain or shine.” Restrooms are located at the Mizner Park Amphitheater.
Drivers and residents should plan for traffic impacts late morning. The City posted a traffic alert for a rolling road closure tied to the unity march, expected from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., running from Glades Road and Federal Highway to Northeast 2nd Street and up through Mizner Park.
Parking for the event is available at several nearby public lots, according to the City. Free parking is listed at City Hall (201 W. Palmetto Park Road), the Building Administration facility (200 NW 2nd Avenue), the Downtown Public Library (400 NW 2nd Avenue), and nearby city lots including 300 NW 2nd Avenue and 200 NW 2nd Avenue. The City also noted limited parking at the Mizner Park garages and metered on-street parking throughout downtown.
The City is also encouraging attendees to consider BocaConnect, its on-demand shuttle service serving Downtown Boca and the surrounding area, which is described as free and low-cost depending on the trip. For bicyclists, the City said bike racks are available at the Mizner Park Amphitheater and urged riders to use reflective clothing and materials for visibility.
City staff members will be onsite in red “EVENT STAFF” shirts to answer questions during the event.
Video from 2025 event:
