Every year, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the third Monday of January.
In addition to activities taking place on Monday, January 20 (the official observed MLK Day), many institutions are offering expanded opportunities on additional dates.
Come join the celebration of an amazing and impactful life at one of these events:
Severance Music Center | Jan. 19 & 20
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with free, family-friendly performances at Severance. On January 19, enjoy a concert honoring Coretta Scott King featuring The Cleveland Orchestra, the MLK Jr. Celebration Chorus, soprano Laquita Mitchell and more. The program includes powerful works such as Lift Every Voice and Sing, Ballade for Orchestra, Ain’a That Good News, O Divine Redeemer, Epitaph for a Man Who Dreamed, Umoja: Anthem of Unity and Amazing Grace. On January 20, the Open House begins at 11:30 AM with performances by local ensembles throughout the day.
Case Western Reserve University | Jan. 24
This year's keynote address will be given by the Honorable Valerie Jarrett, Chief Executive Officer of The Barack Obama Foundation, in the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Ballroom in the Tinkham-Veale University Center. A dessert reception and book signing will follow the conversation. This event is free and open to the campus community and general public, but registration is strongly encouraged.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | Jan. 20
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Rock Hall is offering free admission with advance reservations, performances and activities throughout the Rock Hall. Activities include the “I Have a Dream” Wall on Level 0, Dr. King’s speech in the Forest City Theatre, Soul Train in the Foster Theater and protest sign making. Enjoy live performances on the Indoor PNC Stage from Rainey Dance, Fleshman Singers and Esther Fitz.
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage | Jan. 20
The museum invites visitors to a free, all-day celebration honoring civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the everyday citizens who fought against discrimination. Throughout this family-friendly day, guests can explore the museum, experience the latest special exhibition, enjoy hands-on activities and watch “A Lawyer Made In Heaven: The Virgil Hawkins Story,” a documentary from Larry Dubin about the life of Virgil Hawkins as a one-man civil rights movement in the 1950s and beyond.
Cleveland Museum of Art | Jan. 20
On Monday, January 20, the Cleveland Museum of Art will host a free daylong celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Visitors can explore how Dr. King’s powerful writings and speeches connect to the museum’s collection and create artwork inspired by his legacy. Guests are also invited to experience the Picasso and Paper exhibition for free, with entry available on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required.
KeyBank State Theater | Jan. 19
Cuyahoga Community College is proud to present the 48th Annual Celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. featuring a musical performance by Pastor Marvin L. Winans. The event will honor Tri-C scholarship winners who embody the work of Dr. King and feature impassioned student presentations and inspiring performances by students from the Tri-C Creative Arts Academy.
The Music Settlement | Jan. 19
Faculty, students and guest artists will present a concert honoring MLK in The Music Settlement's Glick Recital Hall. Well-known jazz vocalist Evelyn Wright will also make a guest appearance. Among the selections will be music by Cleveland composers Dolores White and H. Leslie Adams, as well as an original composition from our piano instructor Anne Wilson. This event is free and open to the public.
Cozad-Bates House Interpretive Center | Jan. 20
The Cozad-Bates House is the only pre-Civil War home remaining in University Circle. A new interpretive center highlights this area’s history as a center of anti-slavery activism and honors those seeking freedom through indoor exhibits and outdoor installations. Enjoy special programming celebrating Dr. King on Jan. 20.
Shaker Heights Middle School | Jan. 16
This Art-Inspired Celebration event will feature photographer Donald Black and spoken word poet Ali Black performing a commissioned work; live music by Dave Gulley and the Cleveland Chorale; dance performed by the Shaker Heights High School group, Sankofa; recitations; and an intergenerational art exhibit
Saint Dominic School | Jan. 19
The Community Conversation and Catered Meal event invites the public to to “Achieving the Beloved Community: It Starts with Me.” In the spirit of Dr. King’s “beloved community,” residents are invited to share a catered meal and participate in a discussion with neighbors around the question: What can we do to make sure Shaker Heights is a beloved community?
Cleveland Public Library | Jan. 25
Join the Cleveland Public Library in unveiling the vibrant new campus dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Explore the library’s state-of-the-art facilities while as well as live entertainment, activities, books, giveaways and more.
Attractions Offering Free Admission | Jan. 20
Discounted Admission
Greater Cleveland Aquarium | Jan. 18, 19, 20
The Greater Cleveland Aquarium and the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland Inc. (UBF) are offering discounted admission to the Aquarium, with $7 per person for every person donating at least $1 to United Black Fund during MLK Day Weekend.
Dr. King in Cleveland
Let’s also recognize the history that Dr. King has with Cleveland.
Dr. King’s relationship with the City of Cleveland began during a 1956 visit as leader of the Montgomery, Ala. Bus boycott, which marked the first mass-scale protest on behalf of civil rights in the U.S. after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Ala.
Throughout his visits in the '60s, Dr. King would speak with Cleveland crowds at Antioch Baptist Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cory Methodist Church and Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. Dr. King had also attended community meetings and spoken with local leaders in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood and at the Cleveland Arena.
He visited Cleveland often during the mayoral campaign of Carl B. Stokes, the first black elected mayor of a major U.S. city. Dr. King continued to work on initiatives related to voter registration, organizing tenant unions and improving police and citizen relations while visiting Cleveland. One of Dr. King’s last public appearances here was in December of 1967 for a debate at the Cleveland Bar Association.
Cleveland is a part of Dr. King’s story, which is why we celebrate his legacy of service and leadership with a variety of creative programs, service projects, commemorative events and free admissions to local attractions throughout the city