Enlarge Photo

It's obvious San Diego is serious about honoring the memory of late crusader for equality, justice and civil rights Dr. Martin Luther King Junior.

While most cities have an MLK Boulevard, we have an entire freeway named after him (California Highway 94) as well as an inspirational walk along Harbor Drive downtown featuring various quotes highlighting the life, career and wisdom of the good doctor. It's only fitting that the city that honors him the rest of the year should go all out for the holiday to honor his memory.

Guide to Martin Luther King Jr. day in San Diego:

The WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park will celebrate with an annual birthday celebration, featuring African drumming, Latin Jazz, Reggae, an international food and crafts fair and a Capoiera demonstration (an Afro-Brazilian acrobatic martial art display).

Scheduled to play: Elijah Emanuel and The Revelations, Lynette White, and BlackMenSoul as well as Gospel Hip Hop, Traditional Garifuana Music, and the WorldBeat Center African Dancers and Drummers. Admission is free.

The San Diego Museum of Man in Balboa Park invites families out for African-American storytelling to honor the good Doctor King on his birthday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. The Museum celebration includes a community canvas where people can help create a painting for public display. Free with $10 museum admission.

San Diego Concourse's Golden Hall hosts its 20th annual "All People's Breakfast" lecture and concert featuring "Odetta." At 7:30am you can enjoy a $10 breakfast and lecture with "The Queen of American Folk Music" as she delivers her speech "The Harmonies of Liberty – Music That Inspired the Movement." Later on that night you can return to Golden Hall at 5pm to catch her headline a 3 hour concert. Tickets range from $10-$30.

The 28th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade on Saturday, January 19 starts at 10am in the shadow of PETCO Park (13th and Imperial) and winds through downtown ending suitably near the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade where a multi-cultural festival including exhibits, food, music, and entertainment will continue until around 5pm.

Anyway you choose to celebrate, it just goes to show: It's good to be the King.