For many, the upcoming weekend offers an extra day with Monday the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
It also means there are events geared toward celebrating the life and causes championed by King, including the 40th annual celebration hosted by the Newport County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
But that’s not all that’s happening.
Police and firefighters will take to the ice to help support a local family, the annual Fakes and Forgeries show returns to the Spring Bull Gallery and kids can take part in a free throw shooting competition in hopes of advancing to more contests.
Take a look at what’s happening this weekend and start making your plans.
NAACP MLK Day events
Torch Run participants make their way along Broadway in 2024.
The Newport County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will host its 40th Annual National Holiday Celebration in Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday.
This year’s theme is “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence365”
Events will begin at 9 a.m. with the Torch Run Ceremony, at Patriots Park in Portsmouth. The annual Birthday Program will take place at 9:30 a.m. at Thompson Middle School with Owen Hwang of Stages of Freedom as the guest speaker.
A noon luncheon will be held at Green Valley Country Club, Portsmouth. Seats are $55 for adults and $25 for students (ages 10-18). Jonathan Lewis, a Kingian Nonviolence Level III Trainer, will be the guest speaker.
For more information call Fern Lima at 401-846-4785, Stephanie Smythe at 401-954-7516, Orlando Peace at 860-449-3179 or the NAACP office at 401-847-5570.
From 3 to 4:30 p.m., the Martin Luther King Center, Newport, will host history, trivia, photos, a video, activities, and snacks.
The day’s events will conclude with a Worship Service at 5:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army with Captains Christopher and Kiley Williams.
Funda Fest ’27: A Celebration of Black Storytelling
The Newport Art Museum will host an afternoon of storytelling in partnership with the RI Black Storytellers during the 27th annual FUNDA FEST Celebration on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in The Cushing Building.
During Funda Fest, Rhode Island Black Storytellers (RIBS) highlight an oral art form from African and African-descended people from around the world. During this special week, RIBS shares these oral traditions with communities across the state. The result is a highly participatory and educational performance suitable for all ages. The event is free to all.
Youth Basketball Free Throw Championship
The Knights of Columbus will hold its annual Youth Basketball Free Throw Championship on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Bradley School gym Behind St. Anthony’s Church, 2820 East Main Road, Portsmouth.
All boys and girls ages 9 to 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition for the 2022 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship. Metals will be awarded to one boy and one girl of each age group who make the most free throws which also qualifies them for State Competition.
The Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local and state competitions. International champions are announced by the K of C international headquarters based on scores from state-level competitions. All boys and girls 9 to 14 years old are eligible to participate and will compete in their respective age divisions (age eligibility is determined by the contestant’s age as of Jan. 1, 2025).
All contestants on the local level are recognized for their participation in the event. Participants are required to furnish proof of age for the competition and written parental consent. Entry forms can be completed at the time of the event.
There is no charge to enter.
Fakes and Forgeries show
Spring Bull Gallery, 55 Bellevue Ave., Newport, will hold an artists reception on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. for the 34th annual Fakes and Forgeries show.
Conceived more than 30 years ago as a fun way to hone artists’ skills, this popular exhibit has become a highly anticipated Newport annual winter tradition.
This unique exhibit provides an opportunity for local beginning artists, as well as the more experienced, to challenge themselves to reproduce artwork by one of their favorite masters. Artists may submit either a faithful reproduction of an old or new master or choose to submit a parody of the original.
The show will continue on display through March 2.
Guns and Hoses
Police and firefighters donned hockey gear for the annual Guns and Hoses charity hockey game in 2024.
Firefighters from across Aquidneck Island will be taking on their counterparts in police departments when the fourth annual Guns and Hoses charity hockey game takes place Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at the St. George’s ice rink. Doors open at 3 p.m.
A suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 for a family will help benefit a young Middletown resident with a complex congenital heart defect, as well as raise funds for supporting mental health among first responders.
Raffles, kid activities and concessions will also be available.
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport County events Jan. 18-20: MLK events, Guns and Hoses, art