This celebration is supported in part by the Reimer/Boese Worship and Arts Endowment
Community,
Commemoration,
Celebration
A weekend of remembrance, music, prayer and community, in partnership with Hesston College, Newton Community for Racial Justice, and the Newton Public Library
Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026
Join Bethel College, Hesston College and partners across Harvey County as we remember Dr. King’s life and legacy and lean into his call to beloved community through music, story, prayer and shared experience.
Weekend Schedule at a Glance
Come for one event or journey through the full weekend together. All events are free and open to the public.
Sunday
January 18, 2026
3 p.m.
Melodies From Heaven
A choral concert event lifting up music, memory and the spirit of Dr. King’s call to beloved community. This collaborative concert with the Central Kansas Master Chorale, the Bethel College Concert Choir and the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers will feature Bethel College alumna Roz McCommon and her band. The performance explores the cultural influence of music genres and includes African, spiritual, bluegrass, blues, jazz, soul and gospel music.
Monday
January 19, 2026
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
MLK History-Themed Escape Room
Families, students and community members are invited to test their teamwork and problem-solving skills in an MLK-inspired escape room experience hosted at the Newton Public Library by Newton Community for Racial Justice.
8-9 a.m.
Prayer Breakfast
Hesston College hosts a breakfast featuring prayers from local clergy. Come share a meal, connect with neighbors and pray for our community.
6 p.m.
Historic Listening Experience
Join us in Memorial Hall to hear Dr. King’s January 1960 address delivered here at Bethel College. This rare opportunity invites our community to sit with the power of his words in the very space where they were first spoken.
7 p.m.
FeaturedBethel’s MLK Celebration Event
Our culminating program will feature alumna Roz McCommon, who will lead A Better World: The Journey of MLK, as part of an evening chronicling Dr. King’s life and continuing impact. This theatrical music performance will include the Bethel College choirs and orchestra, the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers, and local artists.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Community Partners
MLK weekend 2026 is a collaboration rooted in shared commitment to justice, equity and beloved community.
- Bethel College
- Hesston College
- Newton Community for Racial Justice
- Newton Public Library
Together, we seek to honor Dr. King’s legacy by nurturing spaces of remembrance, honest conversation, joy and collective action across Harvey County.
More Details
For updated information, registration links, and accessibility details, please contact Bethel College.
Email: swilson@bethelks.edu
Phone: 316-283-2500