(Seguin) — Three well-known leaders from across the area will take to the stage at this year’s MLK Banquet in Seguin. The banquet is the only paid event during the five-day celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The fund-raising event begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Seguin Coliseum, with a social time slated for 4 p.m.
MLK Planning Committee Member Regina Lee says they have a solid line-up of speakers for this year’s event. Guest speakers include Katie Cunningham, Cibolo City Councilwoman; George Green, former New Braunfels City Councilman; and Michael Hart, Pastor of Spirit Filled Family Church in Schertz.
Lee says each speaker will bring a special message to those who attend the banquet.
“Every year, we try to do a little something new. This year, we’re going to speak on hope, love and unity, and we have three guest speakers doing that. They will not speak for 30 minutes each, I promise,” said Lee.
The Seguin MLK Day Planning Committee boasts one of the largest MLK celebrations in the state. This year, Lee says they made an effort to invite more people from outside of Seguin to the event, especially those from other parts of Guadalupe County.
“So, we are trying to not only do the city now, but we’re also trying to encompass the county and we even stole out of the next county, and we just borrowed George Green for the night,” said Lee.
Committee members are encouraging people to take note of the start times. They say that the banquet actually begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Coliseum, but they will open the doors as early as 4 p.m. for people to socialize. Cheese and crackers will be served during the social hour, with dinner served once the banquet starts.
Tickets for the MLK Banquet are $50 each and that includes a full meal during the event. Lee says its a reasonable price to pay when you consider the quality of this year’s line-up of speakers. Tickets can be purchased online at https://tinyurl.com/mwsmm9ed.
All other MLK events are free. The nearly week long celebration begins on Thursday with a church service at 7 p.m. Thursday at Second Baptist Church. The church service is sponsored by the Baptist Minister’s Union. Friday’s schedule includes the Segin ISD’s Musical Showcase in the Seguin High School Performing Arts Center, and the Black Entreprenuer’s Network in Tschoepe Hall at Texas Lutheran University. Both events begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. In addition to the banquet, Saturday’s schedule also includes “Story Time” at Pecan Town Books & Brews, starting at 10 a.m. A Gospel Fest, featuring the Seguin Community Choir and others, will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday in TLU’s Wupperman Little Theater. The festivities end with the annual MLK Day Freedom March. The march begins at 10 a.m. along Prexy Drive at TLU. The march will travel down West Court Street down to Central Park for the start of the MLK Day Program.