Martin Luther King Day 2018: What's Open, Closed In McLean

MCLEAN, VA—If your family is off from work or school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there will be plenty of ceremonies and volunteer events.

Meanwhile Fairfax County offices and public schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 15 for the holiday. Virginia state offices will also be closed on Friday, Jan. 12 for Lee-Jackson Day. Most services will be closed, except for a select few.

Here are the openings/closings to be aware of around Martin Luther King Jr. Day, plus some local volunteer opportunities and ceremonies.

Fairfax County Offices: Closed Monday, Jan. 15

Schools and Administrative Offices: Closed Monday, Jan. 15

State Offices: Commonwealth of Virginia offices in Fairfax County will be closed Jan. 12 and 15, including Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Animal Shelter: Closed Monday, Jan. 15

Community Centers: McLean Community Center and Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) programs, activities and facilities will be closed Monday, Jan. 15.

Fairfax Connector and Fastran: Fairfax Connector bus service will operate on a holiday weekend schedule on Monday, Jan. 15. See www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connector/ for more information. Fastran will not operate.

Libraries: Closed on Monday, Jan. 15.

Metrorail: Metrorail will open 5 a.m. and close at midnight, operating on a Saturday schedule. No track work is scheduled.

Metrobus: Buses will operate on a Saturday supplemental schedule. See more information at www.wmata.com.

Parking: Parking is free at park and ride locations and Metro parking lots.

Parks: Colvin Run Mill and Sully Historic Site will be closed. All other parks are open Monday, Jan. 15. See hours at fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/holiday-hours.

Fairfax County Recreation Centers: Open

Recycling: I-66 Transfer Station (4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax) and I-95 Landfill (9850 Furnace Road, Lorton) will be open.

Trash Pickup: Contact individual Fairfax County and private service providers for holiday hours.

Events

Award-winning sports columnist William Rhoden will be speaking about activist athletes at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, at The Old Firehouse (1440 Chain Bridge Road) for the McLean Community Center's 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. A former New York Times sports journalist and author of "Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete," Rhoden will detail how those in the sports world have fought for social justice.

The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation will host the second annual March for Unity, Racial Healing, and JusticeMonday, Jan. 15 in Falls Church. The free event is a peaceful march through downtown Falls Church to speak out against violations of civil rights and to begin a conversation on tackling America's divisinessness. Immediately following will be a video tribute to Dr. King and a panel discussion.

The 33rd Annual Reston Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration brings together faith communities for special performances, community service, and the Voices of Inspiration program sponsored by the Reston Martin Luther King, Jr. Tamika D. Mallory, national organizer of 2017’s Women’s March on Washington, will deliver this year’s keynote address at noon on January 15 at RCC Hunters Woods. Audience members will enjoy a family-style community lunch at RCC Hunters Woods following Mallory’s speech. Tickets are $5 for Reston residents and employees, and $10 for all others.

Volunteer Fairfax 's 9th annual Give Together will take place on Monday, Jan. 15. In recognition of Dr. King’s message of peace and empowerment, the day has been designated as a national day of service – “a day on, not a day off.” Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day is designed to gather families with elementary school-aged children to work on service projects that support local charitable efforts. Give Together provides parents the opportunity to teach the values of volunteering and giving back to the community. This event is full, but additional opportunities are available on Volunteer Fairfax's site.

Over 250 NOVA students, faculty, staff and community members will work together with Stop Hunger Now for the MLK Day of Service. NOVA has participated in the MLK Day of Service for nine years, partnering with nonprofit organizations and encouraging students and the community to volunteer. The event will happen from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Alexandria Campus, The Center for Design, Media and the Arts. It will consist of four service projects: Food Inventory/Sorting, Baby Formula Packing, Basic Needs Hygiene/Products Drive and Laundry Supply Packing and Distribution. NOVA will work with community partners to provide resources to NOVA students and the Northern Virginia homeless population. For more information and to register, click here.

Do you know of other volunteer events happening on Martin Luther King Jr. Day around the area? Send an email to emily.leayman@patch.com.

Photo credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite