TUPELO – Tupelo’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. includes a black-tie banquet, commemorative service and a birthday observance.

The weekend kicks off with an Apollo night at 6 p.m. Friday at the Tupelo Civic Auditorium.

The event includes drill dreams, praise teams, drama and free pizza for kids.

A black-tie banquet, featuring speaker Maj. Gen. James E. Donald, will be at 7 p.m. Saturday at the St. Paul Christian Life Center in Tupelo. Larry Middlebrook & the Inspirations will perform, and the Mississippi Community Service Award will be given.

The commemorative service, which features guest speaker Juanita Floyd, will be from 2:30-4 p.m. Sunday at the Tupelo Civic Auditorium.

The prestigious Drum Major award will also be given out at the service. The award is given to locals who have carried out King’s message. Past winners include Gov. William Winter, Nettie Davis, Zell Long, Jack Reed Sr. and Rev. Robert Jamison.

A birthday celebration wraps up the weekend on Monday, with a motorcade at 11 a.m., followed by a speech by Jeffrey Gladney at the St. Paul Christian Life Center at noon.

All of the events are free, except for the black-tie banquet. Tickets for the banquet are $20.

For more information on these events or tickets, visit committeeforking.com or call (662) 255-4069.

sheena.barnett@journalinc.com