MLK Week Event

Candlelight Service

Each year, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County hosts its annual Candlelight Service, honoring area citizens and organizations who have dedicated themselves to the cause of social justice. The Association also recognizes outstanding youth through its Youth Celebration and Awards in the spring, and commemorates Juneteenth each summer.

The 2026 Candlelight Service was held on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 60 Church Street in Asheville, with the theme “Celebrating 45 Years of Resilience – Marching Toward the Dream.”

The keynote speaker was Mary D. Williams, a renowned gospel singer, historian, and educator who preserves the spiritual traditions of the African American South. Raised in Garner, North Carolina, she grew up immersed in the sacred music of her family and church community.