MLK Day is Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. Leesburg's King march starts at the courthouse; in 2026 it stepped off at 10 a.m., closing East Market Street for 90 minutes.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. Leesburg holds Loudoun County’s long-running Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration, which starts on the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn downtown and walks East Market Street. The organizer, the MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation, has set Jan. 18, 2027, as its next celebration but has not posted the time or program. Questions: the foundation, 571-331-4721.

Last checked Nov. 10, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation, the Town of Leesburg’s 2026 march notice and calendar listing, and the Loudoun County calendar. The 2027 details below are marked as not yet announced; the route and closures are from 2026.

Who to call

  • MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation: 571-331-4721, themarch@mlkleesburg.org
  • Town of Leesburg main line: 703-777-2420
  • Leesburg police non-emergency: 703-771-4500

Is it on in 2027?

Yes, by the organizer’s own word. The foundation’s home page carries a countdown to Jan. 18, 2027, and its site has a page for the 2027 celebration, listed in its menu as the 36th annual. That page has no schedule yet. We will add the time, speakers and program when the foundation posts them.

The march began in 1990. The foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 2021, took over the event and calls it “one of the largest and oldest in the region.” It says individuals, families, schools, businesses, and civic and religious groups are all welcome to take part, in person or online.

How the 2026 march ran

The 35th annual “I Have a Dream” March and Celebration was on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, according to the town’s notice:

  • Start: 10 a.m. on the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn downtown.
  • Route: from the courthouse lawn onto East Market Street and east to the former Douglass High School, 407 E. Market St., now the Douglass Community Center.
  • Afterward: the foundation posted the 2026 program presentation and photos on its site.

Road closures

In 2026 the town closed East Market Street between King Street and Catoctin Circle from 9:30 to 11 a.m., rolling with the marchers, according to its calendar listing. Expect the same stretch to close again on Jan. 18, 2027, but the town has not announced it yet. We post closures on our road construction and closures page when the town issues them.

Parking

The courthouse is in the middle of downtown, so plan to park and walk. The county government garage on Loudoun Street and the Town Hall Garage are the closest decks; rules, prices and free lots are in our getting around guide. Arrive before the 9:30 a.m. closure if you are parking east of King Street.

What is open and closed

  • Loudoun County government offices: closed. The county calendar closed administrative offices for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
  • Loudoun County Public Schools: Jan. 18, 2027, is a holiday on the district’s 2026-27 calendar; see our schools page.
  • Trash and recycling: check the town’s holiday schedule on our trash and recycling guide in early January.

What this means for you

  • Hold the morning of Monday, Jan. 18, for the march; in 2026 it stepped off at 10 a.m.
  • Avoid East Market Street east of King Street from about 9:30 to 11 a.m. if the town repeats its 2026 closures.
  • Running an MLK Day service project or breakfast in Leesburg? Send us the details and we will list it here.

Related: history and landmarks, historic downtown Leesburg and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Leesburg MLK march in 2027?

The MLK Diversity-Engagement Foundation lists its next MLK Day celebration for Monday, Jan. 18, 2027. It had not posted the start time or program on Nov. 10, 2026. In 2026 the march began at 10 a.m. on the courthouse lawn.

Where does the Leesburg MLK march go?

In 2026 marchers went from the Loudoun County Courthouse lawn along East Market Street to the former Douglass High School at 407 E. Market St., according to the Town of Leesburg’s notice.

Which roads close for the MLK march in Leesburg?

In 2026 the town closed East Market Street between King Street and Catoctin Circle from 9:30 to 11 a.m. as rolling closures for the march. The 2027 closures have not been announced.

Are Loudoun County offices open on MLK Day?

No. Loudoun County government administrative offices closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, according to the county calendar, and the day is a federal holiday.