City closings, events planned for MLK Jr. Day

People walk during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration and march, Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, in Abingdon, Va. After a ceremony at the Farmers Market pavilion, those in attendance marched down Main Street to St. Thomas Episcopal Church. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP)

by: Jane Alvarez-Wertz

Posted: Jan 13, 2023 / 02:49 PM EST

Updated: Jan 13, 2023 / 04:39 PM EST

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday since 1983, falls on the third Monday of every January. This year, that date is January 16. MLK, Jr. Day is considered a holiday for the Commonwealth of Virginia and all State offices are closed on this day.

Below is a list of local closings, as well as planned events for MLK, Jr. Day.

Chesapeake

All City offices, courts, community centers, and public libraries will be closed on Monday, January 16, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Chesapeake Visitor Center will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

There will be no changes to trash collection schedules.

Hampton

Closings/Schedule Change Information

All Hampton city offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

There will be no regular recycling, refuse, bulk trash or yard waste collection on Monday, Jan. 16. Monday’s waste will be collected on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Sweeping scheduled for Monday, Jan. 16, will be done on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Sweeping scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, will be done Friday, Jan. 20.

The following will be closed Monday, Jan. 16: Yard Waste Site, City Schools, Libraries, Community Centers, Neighborhood Centers, Fort Monroe Pool, Treasurer’s Office, Commissioner of the Revenue’s Office, DMV Select, Courts, Peninsula Health District and clinics, Air Power Park, and the Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center.

MLK, Jr. Day Events

Celebrate Healthcare EnrollFest
MLK Community Health, Wellness, Medical Clinic Career and Business Resource Fair
Friday January, 13-14, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Hampton Roads Convention Center
Free event

Gamma Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. MLK Day of Service
Saturday January, 14, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Tarrant Middle School, 1435 Todds Lane
Open to the public

The sorority will be collecting t-shirts, black tights (adult sizes), deodorant, socks, feminine products, women’s underwear, bookbags, crayons, pencils, notebooks and folders during the event.

Hampton University – Celebrating the Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert
Sunday, January 15, 5 p.m.
Robert C. Ogden Auditorium
100 East Queen Street
Open to the public

Hampton University Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March and Program
Monday, January 16, 10:15 a.m.
Emancipation Oak
Open to the public

1865 Brewing Company – MLK Weekend Discount
Saturday, January 14-15
9 South Mallory Street

January 14-15, 1865 Brewing Company will have a 50% discount on their 1865 Freedom Ale. Opened in 2021, 1865 Brewing Company is the first Black-owned brewery in the Coastal Virginia area.

Newport News

City offices and libraries – closed Monday, Jan. 16
Recreation centers – open regular operating hours
Garbage, recycling and bulk waste collections – No collections on Monday, Jan. 16. All collections for the week will be delayed one day. Monday’s collections will take place on Tuesday, Tuesday’s on Wednesday, Wednesday’s on Thursday, and Thursday’s on Friday.
Recovery Operations Center (i.e., convenience/drop-off center) – closed Saturday, Jan. 14 through Monday, Jan. 16.
Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter (serves the residents of Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County) – open for adoptions 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 16; reunite lobby open daily from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Visitor Center at Newport News Park – open 9 am – 5 pm.

Norfolk

Closings/Schedule Change Information

The City of Norfolk’s offices will close on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The closures include libraries and recreation centers, the Norfolk Courthouse, Commissioner of the Revenue, Treasurer’s Office and Norfolk Department of Public Health.

Requests for bulk waste collection on Tuesday, Jan. 17, must be made before 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13. To schedule bulk waste collection, submit a service request via the MyNorfolk app, online portal or call Norfolk Cares at (757) 664-6510.

The SPSA Norfolk Transfer Station, 3136 Woodland Avenue, will be open on Jan. 16, 8:00 a.m. – noon.

Norfolk residents can drop-off unwanted E-waste Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., at the Division of Towing and Recovery located at 1188-A Lance Road.

MLK, Jr. Day Norfolk Events

MLK, Jr. Day Ceremony and Unity March: Attucks Theatre

Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. with a ceremony at Attucks Theatre followed by a march to the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument.
The ceremony will include special messages from members of Norfolk City Council, WAVY’s own recently retired news anchor Don Roberts and NPD Assistant Chief Michelle Naughton.
Free and open to the public.

A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will present its annual concert paying homage to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Sunday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m. at Calvary Revival Church.
Free and open to the public.

Portsmouth

The City of Portsmouth’s municipal offices, libraries, and museums will be closed on Monday, January 16, in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday.

Trash Collection – There will be no trash, recycling, or bulk collections on Monday, January 16, and all Monday routes will be collected on Wednesday, January 18.

All Portsmouth Recreation Centers will be CLOSED on Monday, Jan. 16 EXCEPT the Neighborhood Facility Recreation Center, and the Sportsplex Recreation Center.

Suffolk

In observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday, Suffolk City offices will be closed Monday, January 16, 2023.

The Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA) Transfer Station in Suffolk will be open Monday, January 16 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. The Regional Landfill will be open Monday, January 16 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m.

Suffolk Transit will operate on a normal schedule on Monday, January 16.

All Suffolk Joint Use Recreation Centers (Kings Fork, Creekside, Northern Shores, Oakland, Booker T. Washington, Mack Benn, Jr.), the East Suffolk Recreation Center and Whaleyville Recreation Center and the Suffolk Parks & Rec Admin Office will be closed Monday, January 16.

The Suffolk Art Gallery will be closed Monday, January 16.

All Suffolk City Libraries (Morgan Memorial, North Suffolk, Chuckatuck) will be closed Monday, January 16.

Virginia Beach

The following Virginia Beach facilities will be closed on Monday, Jan. 16, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day:

All Virginia Beach government administrative offices
All Virginia Beach community recreation centers
All Virginia Beach public libraries including the TCC/City of Virginia Beach Joint-Use Library
Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility
Princess Anne Athletic Complex
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts box office and administrative offices
Virginia Beach Circuit Court, General District Court, Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court and Clerk’s Offices
Virginia Beach Convention Center administrative offices
Virginia Beach Department of Public Health
Virginia Beach History Museums
Virginia Beach Visitor Information Centers at 2100 Parks Ave. and at Chesapeake Bay Center at First Landing State Park
Voter Registrar’s Office
Waste Management administrative offices and the West Neck Recycling Center (Waste Management collections and the Landfill and Resource Recovery Center do not operate on Mondays.)

MLK, Jr. Day Norfolk Events

Virginia Wesleyan University will host and partner in the following events and activities in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

On Monday, January 16, a special luncheon on campus will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., featuring Senator Aaron Rouse (7th State Senate District) as keynote speaker. The annual Mavis McKenley ’11 Award will also be presented to a VWU student who embodies the ideals of Dr. King. The private event begins at noon, and will be livestreamed on the VWU Digital Broadcasting Network.
On Saturday, January 14, over 50 volunteers from Virginia Wesleyan University, Samaritan House and Lynnhaven River Now will come together to plant trees at “The Hallow,” Samaritan House’s new shelter for trafficked youth, and at the nearby Church of the Holy Apostles. The planting sites are located in an area of Virginia Beach that is susceptible to extreme heat as identified as part of the ‘Heat Watch’ project conducted statewide by students in 2021. The study revealed urban heat islands, where there is more pavement and less green space, and made them eligible for a community tree planting project funded by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges via a grant from the Virginia Department of Forestry.
VWU will partner with Operation Blessing on Monday, January 16, to pack disaster relief kits on campus to help victims of natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other humanitarian crises. Additionally, student volunteers will make wildflower seed bombs for Hoffler Creek, and paracord lanyards for Operation Gratitude to send to deployed troops.
Members of the VWU community, in collaboration with Haygood United Methodist Church, will follow Dr. King’s example and engage in a “Walk for Peace” on Monday, January 16.