Day of Events to Mark King’s Birthday : Holiday: Planners say the program honoring the slain civil rights leader is ‘our way of keeping the dream alive.’

Orange County residents can commemorate the 63rd birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. at special church services and community programs throughout Monday.

In honor of the slain civil rights leader, the Orange County chapter of the NAACP will hold a special celebration at Carr Intermediate School in Santa Ana at 1 p.m. The two-hour program features local gospel choirs, comments from city and county officials and a dramatic reading of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Early risers can attend a breakfast at Burrell’s Rib Cage in Irvine at 9 a.m. The Neighbors of Saddleback Valley, a social network of black families, is hosting the annual event.

“It’s our way of keeping the dream alive,” said Janice King, a member of the group. James Kippins, vice president of Orange County’s NAACP agrees: “It’s a reminder of the struggles that we’ve had in the past. It’s a chance for us to reflect on what we’re doing today and re-evaluate where we are.”

At 11 a.m. in Santa Ana, a special service will be held at Second Baptist Church, 1915 W. McFadden Ave., directed by the Rev. John McReynolds.

Financial troubles forced the cancellation this year of the Black History Month Parade, a 13-year-old tradition in Santa Ana. City officials had asked organizers to contribute $7,500 to the parade, but on Wednesday they had less than half that. The city, which has sponsored the event free of charge in the past, pulled out, citing budget problems.