Parades & vigils celebrate Martin Luther King Day; hear the 10-year-old winner of speech competition

It's been over 40 years since the passionate words and leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. led to sweeping changes in America. This weekend his legacy will be remembered in Houston both through solemn observance and vibrant parades.

On Sunday, the Rothko Chapel will observe the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. with faith-based blues and gospel music by KM Williams, an ordained minister, who performs at 3 p.m., followed by a reception on the plaza.

Or join students and community members at Rice University as the sun sets at a 5 p.m. candlelight vigil and celebration in honor of Dr. King at the Rice Memorial Center Chapel. The event will include remarks by Rev. William Lawson of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

Just as in 2011, there will be two separate parades to commemorate the holiday. The Black Heritage Society's 34th Annual "Original" MLK Birthday Parade will take place downtown, starting by Minute Maid Park at the corner of Texas and Crawford at 10 a.m. and traveling in a square route on Texas, Caroline McKinney and Austin streets. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee will serve as the parade's grand marshal.

In Midtown, the MLK Grande Parade starts at San Jacinto and Elgin and runs north to Webster, also kicking off at 10 a.m.

After the parades, the Black Heritage Foundation is holding a party and concert downtown at Discovery Green from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

King's life will also be celebrated at the Children's Museum of Houston with a peace rally at noon Monday. It's the highlight of a daylong series of events at the museum, including a recitation of King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech by Matthias McBride, a 10-year-old student at Pleasantville Elementary School, who is this year's Gardere Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Competition winner. (Hear McBrid's winning speech, in the above video.) Museum general admission is $5.