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 15 (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:
The Cleveland Orchestra | Jan. 14
This year’s program will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, with music by Black, female, and immigrant composers. One highlight will be “Can You See?,” a recent work by Allison Loggins-Hull, the orchestra’s current Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow.
The 2024 program also will feature a performance of Ravel’s “Tzigane” by violinist Amaryn Olmeda, winner of the 2021 Sphinx Competition. That contest is organized by the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization, which advances young Black and Latinx classical musicians.The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 2024 Service in the Arts Awards will be presented as part of the January 14 concert.
The event will be streamed and broadcast live through Ideastream Public Media. at 7:05 p.m.
Case Western Reserve University | Jan. 19
This year's keynote address will be given by media personality and political analyst, Tiffany Cross, in the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Ballroom in the Tinkham-Veale University Center.This event is free and open to the campus community and the general public, but registration is strongly encouraged.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | Jan. 15
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Rock Hall is offering free admission with advance reservations and free virtual programming. Gospel Singer Courtney Tiara performs at 12p.m. and 1:30p.m. The programming celebration is a part of the Rock the Block Community Days presented by the John P. Murphy Foundation. Film Screenings include:
- Forest City Theater, Main Exhibit Hall (Level 0) All Day - Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech (22-minute film loop)
- Celebrating Soul Train; Foster Theater (Level 4)
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage | Jan. 15
This free event hosted by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage will feature an artificial intelligence (AI) event called Interactive Biography with Cleveland civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr. and audience members can ask questions in real time. His son, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III, is the featured keynote speaker. Galleries will be open for touring and there will be family-friendly activities.
The event includes Civil Rights storytelling with the Black Storyteller Association. Beverly Lloyd and Kwanza Brewer of the Black Storyteller Association tell stories about civil rights and discovering our past. Features a special keynote from Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize winner, journalist, and Shaker Heights native at 1pm. A book signing will follow.
Cleveland Museum of Art | Jan. 15
This free, daylong celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. includes live performances, interactive entertainment and more. The Make Your Mark art activity allows you to explore a variety of materials to create a unique portrait of your own reflection. Featured guest Future Ink Graphics will guide attendees through the screen-printing process, choosing from a selection of Dr. King’s iconic quotes, images, and symbols.
Participants can also enjoy Family Portrait Booth: Capturing Connection, where they can step into the booth to celebrate connection and capture precious family moments against a community backdrop. DJ Kristyles, music director and on-air personality at WOVU 95.9 FM, spins a curated playlist specifically for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the Ames Family Atrium.
KeyBank State Theater | Jan. 14
Help us Honor Tri C Scholarship winners who embody the work of Dr. King and enjoy impassioned student presentations and inspiring performances by the Tri C Dance Academy Performing Ensemble and The Cleveland Chorale. This year, the event features a musical performance by Bebe Winans and Band. Access a livestream of the event HERE.
The Music Settlement | Jan. 14
Faculty, students, and guest artists will present a concert honoring MLK in The Music Settlement's Glick Recital Hall. This event is free and open to the public; registration is required.
Cozad-Bates House Interpretive Center | Jan. 15, 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. 15 and 20.
Attractions Offering Free Admission | Jan. 15
Discounted Admission
Greater Cleveland Aquarium | Jan. 15, 20, 21
The Greater Cleveland Aquarium and the United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland Inc. (UBF) have once again teamed up to offer discounted admission to the Aquarium, with $5 off per person. $1 from each ticket will also be donated to UBF.
Dr. King in Cleveland
Let’s also recognize the history that Dr. King has with Cleveland.
He first visited Cleveland in 1956 on the heels of the Montgomery 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 has attended community meetings and spoken with local leaders in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.
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.