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 19 (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
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with free, family-friendly performances at Severance. The Cleveland Orchestra’s 46th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Concert includes performances by soprano Latonia Moore and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Chorus, an all-volunteer community chorus. The program takes the audience on a journey through Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s evolution as a prominent servant leader. Although the concert is free, tickets are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on Saturday, January 3, at 10 a.m.
MLK Open House and Day of Music | Jan. 19
Severance Music Center is host to immersive inclusions of family, music, art and community on Monday, January 19. Festive activities celebrating Dr. King’s legacy are planned to inspire all, through dynamic performances and interactive entertainment for all ages.
Community Arts Center at Cleveland Museum of Art | Jan. 19
The Community Arts Center’s special day of programming offers a chance to participate in visual arts activities inspired by Dr. King’s legacy all day long. An opening Libation and Panel Discussion with Djapo Cultural Arts Institute will begin at 10:30 am, followed by The Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers with Michele Rudolph, Caring for Your Treasures with the Intermuseum Conservation Association, Yoga for All with Valerie Williams, Screen printing with Future Ink Graphics, and Art Making with Julia de Burgos. Guests are invited to use the University Circle Incorporated shuttle to travel between locations to explore more opportunities for engagement.
The Rock Hall | 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. More details about the “I Have a Dream” Wall, live music, educational activities, and performances will be released closer to the date.
MLK Day Celebration at The Maltz Museum | 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. The program includes an engaging treasure hunt through the galleries, hands-on craft activities and a mini-series screening of episodes of Amend: The Fight for America set to play in the theater throughout the day and explore the history of the Civil Rights Movement from the 1800s to the present.
Cleveland Museum of Art | Jan. 19
On Monday, January 19, the Cleveland Museum of Art will open its doors for a free daylong celebration honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Visitors are invited to explore how the moving passages of Dr. King’s writings and speeches shed light on the museum’s collection and create a work of art inspired by his legacy. Art, oral history and performances centered on reflection and the importance of preserving history and legacies will await visitors.
Performers include: Cleveland Classical Guitar, Cleveland Heights poet laureate Michelle R. Smith, 10K Dance Movement, Storytime with Hassan, and The Cleveland Association of Black Storytellers featuring Barbara Eady.
The Music Settlement | Jan. 19
Faculty and students of the centuries-old community music school and guest artists will present a concert, including classical, folk music, and spirituals, in memory of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. This event is free and open to the public.
Cozad-Bates House Interpretive Center | Jan. 19
This special program features two powerful performances that explore African American history, storytelling, and creative expression, alongside access to the Cozad-Bates House Interpretive Center. Presentations will include The Last Fugitive Slave: Miss Sara Lucy Bagby; and spoken word performances by Robin Pease of Kulture Kids, and Quiet Kid and Raven of The Sparrow’s Fortune. Performances will take place in the front rooms of the Cozad-Bates House, separate from the Interpretive Center. Tickets are free but reservations are required.
Shaker Schools Foundations | Jan. 17-18
Under the theme “Building the Beloved Community for Such a Time as This,” Shaker Schools Foundation invites the community to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through service and community conversation. A donation drive is scheduled for 10 am to 12 pm Saturday, January 17 at Shaker Middle School, followed by a Community Conversation and Meal from 1-3:30 pm Sunday, January 18 at St. Dominic School. The Shaker Schools Foundation is proud to present these community events in collaboration with the Shaker Heights Public Library, Shaker Heights Schools, and the Shaker Heights PTO.
Attractions Offering Free Admission | Jan. 19
Discounted Admission
Greater Cleveland Aquarium | Jan. 17, 18, 19
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