Simsbury's MLK Day Ceremony To Mark King's Time In Town

SIMSBURY, CT — The Connecticut town with, perhaps, the closest ties to slain civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. is hosting a special celebration on the day in his honor.

On Monday, Jan. 19, Simsbury will again commemorate King with a special program at First Church of Christ at 2 p.m.

The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony. First Church is located at 689 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury.

This ceremony will celebrate King’s life and particularly his time in Simsbury during the summers of 1944 and 1947, and in observance of the federal holiday marking his birthday.

King was influenced by his two summers spent in Simsbury.

"His writings strongly suggest that his call to ministry crystallized during his time spent with a group of Morehouse College students, earning money for their education by working at the Culbro Tobacco Farm in town," wrote event organizers in an announcement.

The 2026 keynote speaker will be John Mills, president and founder of Alex Breanne Corp., a 501(c)(3) organization focused on promoting social clarity and informed context regarding the African American experience.

The Alex Breanne Corp. focuses on research, interrogation, and presentation of lesser-known stories representing the life experience of the American enslaved, presented from an African American perspective.

“We are delighted to continue to honor Dr. King in a meaningful way annually, celebrating his life, legacy, and deep connection to Simsbury. We are happy to partner with First Church, the Simsbury Historical Society, the Simsbury Free Library, and the MLK in CT Memorial Committee. This event has become a treasured Simsbury tradition and gets bigger and better every year. We are very excited about this year’s program,” said John K. Hampton, chairman of the MLK in Simsbury Celebration Committee.

Highlights of the ceremony will be readings from King's speeches and musical performances by the Faith Seventh-Day Adventist Church Children of Faith and the Gertrude Banks Gospel Choir, as well as the Simsbury Intonations Chorus.

There will also be a presentation by representatives from the MLK in CT Memorial Committee.

Municipal openings/closings

Simsbury's special ceremony comes on a day when all municipal departments will be closed on Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Simsbury Public Schools are also closed on Monday, Jan. 19, with classes resuming the following day on Tuesday, Jan. 20.