Schools are closed Monday, January 17, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and it’s a great opportunity to plan family activities. From commemorative virtual programming to free admission to area attractions, there is plenty to do. Check the list below to plan your family’s day to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
*UPDATE JAN. 17 – DUE TO TODAY’S MAJOR STORM, PLEASE CHECK WITH ALL EVENTS BEFORE ATTENDING!
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, events are subject to change. Please check with venues before attending events to ensure times and availability are valid and to understand health guidelines.
Through January
Beck Center for the Arts’ “Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream Vision Board.” During January, visitors to the “Side by Side: The Art of Ryan and Keira Finley” are invited to add their ideas and dreams to a community exhibition project entitled “Martin Luther King Jr’s I Have A Dream Vision Board.” These shared comments will be used for a display celebrating MLK Day at Beck Center for the Arts in January. The materials to participate will be available in the Daniels’ Lounge of the main building. Your comments could be displayed in Beck Center’s lobby, and may be shared on the Beck Center’s social media pages. Visit beckcenter.org
January 13
BLK History 365 – Dreaming in Color. Using the speeches and letters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as inspiration, craft supplies will be available for children to create their own dream world. 2:30 p.m. Cleveland Public Library, Rice Learning Center, 11535 Shaker Blvd., cpl.org
January 14
Take-and-Make Craft: “I Have a Dream.” Pick up your free craft kit and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an inspiring craft project in honor of his birthday. While supplies last. 4:30 p.m. Cleveland Public Library, Rice Learning Center, 11535 Shaker Blvd., cpl.org
January 16
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Concert. In honor of Martin Luther King Day, the Cleveland Music Settlement will present a musical tribute to the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This memorial concert will be held at the Settlement’s BOP STOP at 2920 Detroit Ave, in Ohio City. 3 p.m. The Music Settlement, themusicsettlement.org
January 15 & 17
Cleveland Public Library Honors Changemakers and partners with WOIO 19News to celebrate
the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Cleveland Public Library, in partnership with WOIO 19News, will recognize everyday Clevelanders who have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life in our city during the 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration. There are three opportunities to watch: Saturday January 15 on WUAB CW43 at 7 p.m. or Monday, January 17, WOIO 19 News at 9 a.m. or WUAB CW 43 at 11 a.m. Visit cpl.org for more info
January 17
UPDATE JAN. 17, THE MUSEUM CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER, ONLINE PROGRAMS WILL STILL BE TAKING PLACE TODAY! CHECK THEIR SITE FOR DETAILS! “Hear Our Voices” Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. The Maltz Museum honors the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an all-day celebration, including free museum admission, virtual family activities, and an online program featuring special guest Dr. Khalid el-Hakim, founder of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. All activities are free. Advance registration is required. Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, Please reserve tickets. For more info, visit maltzmuseum.org/MLK
Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Akron Zoo. Enjoy free admission for all guests and fun activities provided by the Akron Chapter of the NAACP. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org
UPDATED JAN. 17 – DUE TO THE MAJOR WINTER STORM: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Ice Fest. Hosted by the City of Cleveland and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance as part of Cleveland’s MLK Jr. Day Celebration, Ice Fest is free and open to the public and takes place along the pier and inner harbor from Nuevo Cleveland to the Great Lakes Science Center. 1 a.m.-5 p.m. North Coast Harbor, northcoastharbor.org
The Cleveland Museum of Art Honors the Life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with Free Admission and Activities. The museum opens its doors for a free daylong celebration honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who shared a wealth of wisdom on how to create a more just, humane and peaceful world. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum offers activities and meditations for visitors of all ages on the King Center’s 2022 King Holiday theme, “It Starts with Me: Shifting Priorities to Create the Beloved Community.” Visitors may enjoy free admission to the acclaimed, thought-provoking exhibition Picturing Motherhood Now. The museum also debuts its free Family Discovery Pack, a wearable waist pack filled with kid-friendly tools and activities that spark creative and insightful conversations as they reveal personal connections with artworks and artists. Visit cma.org
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Celebrates MLK Jr. Day. Join the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for a celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy, presented by The John P. Murphy Foundation. The daylong celebration on Monday, January 17, includes free virtual programming and museum admission with reserved tickets required at rockhall.com
Western Reserve Historical Society’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Virtual Event. Celebrate the history, spirit, and life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of America’s greatest heroes of social justice and equality. This year, WRHS commemorates Dr. King’s legacy by offering a unique online Martin Luther King Jr. Day resource. On this day of reflection, experience a curated collection of free digital programs, activities, and content you can safely explore from home! Visit here!
January 18
FLEX High School For the Martin Luther King Jr. Open Mic Expression Contest. Open to the Community and free to attend. All members of the public are invited to submit entries. We can’t wait to see the talent in the community. Prize drawings for participants and attendees along with free pizza, drinks and refreshments. Read essays, poetry, songs, short fiction, drawings, paintings, mixed media, sculpture and multimedia presentations and more. All art displayed during open mic event will be inspired by the legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 5 p.m. FLEX High School – Cleveland, 5222 Wilson Mills Rd.
Richmond Heights, flexhighohio.org/Cleveland
January 20
Who is Today’s MLK? Whom do you look up to? Who motivates you to be the best you can be? Who gets you excited about being a better person? As we ask ourselves these questions we will examine Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. 4 p.m. Cleveland Public Library, Collinwood Branch, 856 East 152nd St., cpl.org
January 21
Going There and Knowing There: Rev. MLK Jr. in Cleveland. The Western Reserve Historical Society will talk about Dr. King’s many visits to Cleveland in the 1960s, the purpose of those visits, the individuals and organizations that worked with him, and Cleveland’s place in the larger history of the Civil Rights Movement in America. Zoom. 11 a.m. Cuyahoga Public Library, Brookpark Branch, cuyahogalibrary.org
Editor’s Note: “Discovery Day” at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has been removed from this list and will not be taking place. We are sorry for the inconvenience this might have caused.
Are we missing your event? Please email [email protected] to be added to this list!
Maria
Hello! The Cleveland Museum of Natural History IS CLOSED to the public tomorrow. All of the MLK programming is online!