BOSTON — Boston’s Concerned Citizens Club will host a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life begins with a prayer breakfast Saturday, Jan. 18, in the Mary Thompson Community Center at 524 Johnson St. 

Club president Jimmie Bacon said the breakfast, which is open to the community, will be followed by an inspirational speaker. 

Speaker Ben Williams Jr., a Boston native and Thomas County Central High School and Valdosta State University graduate, will deliver an inspiring message about King’s dream and continuing his legacy.

The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. Tickets — $5 per person — can be purchased at the door or in advance from members of Concerned Citizens.

Vendors, who will begin setting up at 8 a.m., will be in place at 11 a.m. 

Festival food includes barbecue, wings, sweets, baked goods and more.

Voter registration will be available, and Boston Police Department will present a public safety message.

Vendors will have jewelry, hair care products, insurance coverage, among other products and businesses.

The parade begins at 11 a.m., led by grand marshals Eva Frazier, Elizabeth Hill, Hattie Hugans, Mamie Law and Willie James Ross, all residents of the Boston community.

The parade route begins on Main Street at the railroad and heads south, west on Jefferson Street, north on Stone Street, east on Garnett and culminates at North Boston Park. In addition to grand marshals, the parade will feature entries from local area churches, businesses and the Building Bridges Saddle Club from Adel. 

At noon, Spencer B. Wilson Sr., of B-Love Radio, will emcee the opening ceremony. After a welcome from Boston Mayor Danny Groover, speakers will include the Rev. Dorothy Brown, pastor of New Destiny Deliverance Ministries; the Rev. Michael Lane Jr., pastor of Trinity Missionary Baptist Church; and the Rev. Carl Washington Jr., pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. 

Between speakers, the audience will be entertained by evangelist Marcus Brown and Praise in Motion, a youth praise group from Thomasville, led by group founder Narbareaz Colson.

After the ceremony, activities in the park will include a bounce house, sponsored by Boston’s Parks and Recreation Committee, face-painting and more. Music will be provided by disc jockey Spencer B. Wilson Jr.

“Applications are still available for food vendors, arts/crafts/business vendors, activity vendors and the parade. Contact either Holly Lawrence or me,” LaWanda Nicole Jackson said.

Lawrence said the MLK Celebration Committee has a mission: “To coordinate community events which honor and expand the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by commemorating his legacy of equality, empowerment and justice for all people.”

Jackson and Lawrence are co-chairing the event committee. Committee members are Vera Clark, Pete Brooks, Kimberly Edwards Brown, Samantha Frazier Brown, Derikia Bryant, Ramona Codling, Jamal Jackson, Stacey Sanders and Robert Travis.

For more information, contact Jackson at (229) 413-3350 or Lawrence at (229) 224-5783. More information is available on Facebook at Historic Downtown Boston or Friends of Downtown Boston, or visit www.bostonga.com.