SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and several communities will be hosting events honoring his life and legacy. What’s open and closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? This is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. The federal holiday honoring the civil rights leader was established in 1983 and was first observed nationwide in 1986. Doctor King is a notable figure of the Civil Rights movement and he played a pivotal role in the changing tide of civil rights in the United States and is widely known for his “I Have a Dream speech” where he called for better race relations in Washington, D.C. King also led several marches and events advocating for the civil and economic rights of African-Americans. Events honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Springfield The City of Springfield will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Flag Raising on Monday. The celebration will take place at noon inside of Springfield City Hall. Officer installations for the 2025 Greater Springfield NAAPC will also be recognized at the event. The flag raising is free and open to the public. Mayor Sarno states, “Mayoral Aide Shenell Ford and I are looking forward to joining with Representative Bud Williams, Springfield NAACP President Bishop Talbert Swan, Police Superintendent Akers, City Councilor Lavar Click Bruce, and other officials and religious leaders as our community celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with our annual celebration and flag raising ceremony.  It is important that Dr. King’s legacy lives on.  Special thanks to my Mayoral Aide Shenell Ford for her efforts in helping to coordinate this annual event here at City Hall.” Governor Maura Healey is expected to be in Springfield on Monday to celebrate MLK Day. She will be attending the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Collaborative Community Event. This event is happening right after the flag raising at city hall, across the street at the MassMutual Center on Monday. This year's theme is "Pursue Justice. Persist in Peace." At 2:00 p.m., The City of Springfield states that nearly 1,000 youth and supporting adult participants will manifest the theme through inspiring spoken word, dance, and music presentations featuring MLK Charter School of Excellence, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Services’ Youth & Clemente Program, Community Music School of Springfield’s Sonido Musica, String City, African Drumming, Springfield CommUnity Chorale, and Springfield Public Schools students. Amherst Canned and non-perishable foods are in need at the Amherst Survival Center Pantry. A food drive is being held on Monday, inspired by the message of Dr. King. The Amherst Survival Center provides free groceries to individuals in need every month. Donations can be brought to the center located at 138 Sunderland Road on Monday. They will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Local News Headlines Thrift store in Westfield holds grand opening this week Northampton awarded grants for substance use disorder Springfield organizations recognized for cultural grants Injured hawk rescued by Chicopee Police WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.