Atlanta MLK Day Weekend Activities 2015
In just a few days we will be honoring the legacy of a real giant. On Monday, January 16th the nation will be celebrating the 86th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
There are programs scheduled in cities across the country. If you are fortunate enough to be visiting or residing in the birthplace of this Civil Rights Leader & Nobel Peace Prize recipient, then you have lots of MLK Day Weekend Activities to choose from.
Among the events scheduled, Hands On Atlanta has a listing of volunteer opportunities for the 2015 Day of Service. Although most of the service projects are already filled with volunteers, I encourage you to seek out service opportunities within you own community. Invite other families to participate. And remember, King Day is a day on and not off!
The King Center has a week long program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Now that the Atlanta Street Car has just opened, you have access to all downtown attractions for absolutely no cost! During the MLK weekend the Atlanta Street Car is free and will remain free through March 2015. The Atlanta Street cars runs on Auburn and Edgewood Avenues connecting the King Center and Atlanta’s newest and most monumental attraction, the Center for Civil & Human Rights.
Atlanta MLK Day Weekend Activities 2015:
Tuesday-Thursday, January 13-January 15, 2015
10:00 am and 1:00 pm Choose Nonviolence! No Other Way! Students with King Interactive Dialogue between Students and King Family Members, as well as those who knew and worked with Dr. and Mrs. King. Moderated by various media personalities. Students from K-12 Metro Atlanta Schools Invited. The King Center Freedom Hall Auditorium FREE
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
6:30 pm Millennials Leading with Courage , Historic King District Corner of Auburn Avenue and Boulevard. Fire Station No. 6 FREE More info here.
Thursday, January 15, 2015 MLK’s 86th Birthday
11:00 am Birthday Celebration and Party Students from K-12 Metro Atlanta Schools Invited, King Center Freedom Hall Atrium FREE More info here.
11:00 am Martin Luther King Jr. Crown Forum Speaker: The Rev. Richard Willis Sr., pastor, First Baptist Church, Hampton, Va.; Author of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Image of God Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel Morehouse Contact: Samantha Elmore at (404) 653-7794 or at Samantha.elmore@morehouse.edu FREE
3:30am-4:30 pm Martin Luther King Jr. Collage Crafts – Reading Make an “I Have A Dream” collage book. Ages 7-12. Reservations required. Suggested Audiences: Elementary, Middle School Phone: 404-752-8760 Washington Park Branch Library Meeting Room1116 Martin Luther King, Jr., Dr. Atlanta, GA 30314 FREE
Friday, January 16, 2015
10:00 am State of Georgia Martin Luther King Jr. Advisory Council Program Georgia State Capitol Christine King Farris, speaker FREE
Saturday, January 17, 2015
8:00am MLK Day 5K Run 2015: Let Freedom Run Gathering the diverse groups in our beloved community to celebrate Martin Luther King Day in the spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood with fellowship and fitness. This 5K walk/run will take place entirely in Piedmont Park. The USATF certified race course and Peachtree Road Race qualifier will be run on grass, road, gravel, wooden bridge and dirt paths through the Park. We will have a 3.1 mile drum-line all along the race course. This 5K will have a vibe like no race ever run. Piedmont Park
6:00 pm Annual “Salute to Greatness” Awards Dinner STG Honorees: President Bill Clinton and Kaiser Permanente Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L Award Recipients: Mr. Aidan Hornaday and Mr. Harris Rosen The King Center Distinguished Legacy of Service Award Recipient: Dr. Christine King Farris. Hyatt Regency Hotel—Downtown Atlanta
Monday, January 19, 2015 MLK Day Holiday
9:00am/10:00 am Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. Honor the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a special celebration Monday, Jan. 19, at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre. This year’s theme is “50 Years Later: Believe It, Achieve It” and the celebration begins at 10 a.m. The Cobb County Branch of the NAACP and Cobb County Government. Call the Cobb NAACP office to confirm showtime 770-425-5757. Cobb County Civic Center Cost: FREE
10:00 am Annual Commemorative Service Keynote Speaker, Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, President, Alabama State University. Special Tribute, Mr. David Oyelowo, Actor (plays Dr. King in Selma) Special Musical Selection, Ms. Sandi Patty, Award Winning Gospel Artist Special Greetings, Mathilde Mukantabana, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to U.S. Ebenezer Baptist Church—Horizon Sanctuary FREE More info here.
10:30 am – 2:30 pm Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration The Children’s Museum of Atlanta will host events celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and National Holiday. Visitors can make their own crafts and enjoy an inspirational presentation of MLK’s “I have a Dream” speech. The Children Museum Cost: FREE with Admission More info here.
1:00pm- 2:30pm National Center for Civil and Human Rights Performance Join us during Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend to commemorate the Civil Rights Movement and the legacies of Martin Luther King, Jr. On January 19, The Center is partnering with the Alliance Theatre’s Collision Project. A unique theatrical experience, the Collision Project provides teens the chance to create an original work by “colliding” with a classic text, wrestling with its themes, and discovering how these issues still resonate in their contemporary lives. Pearl Cleage, an author and playwright, will be on hand with Director, Patrick McColery for a talk-back after the show. National Center for Civil and Human Rights Cost: FREE with admission to The Center
1:45 pm Dr. MLK Jr. National Holiday Commemorative March & Rally March starts at Peachtree and Baker Streets and continues to Auburn Avenue. Rally begins at the King Center.More details and parade site plan at events.accessatlanta.com/mlk-march MLK March Committee African-American Renaissance Festival Contact: Jamida Orange 770-560-1959 mlkmarchcommittee@yahoo.com The King Center Cost: FREE
3:00-4:30 pm King Family Book Signing Featuring: The King and Farris family members. The King Center – Freedom Hall Atrium Cost: FREE
6:00pm-8:30pm SLAM:The Art of Poetry. Special Martin Luther King Jr. Day writing workshops in the High Museum of Art’s galleries take place before the SLAM in the Alliance Theatre’s Black Box Theatre. Writing in the Galleries, 6-7pm. SLAM in the Alliance Black Box Theatre, 7-8:30pm High Museum of Art Cost: FREE admission with high school I.D.
(All day) Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Free Admission at Atlanta History Center and Margaret Mitchell House Enjoy free admission to the Atlanta History Center and the Margaret Mitchell House in honor of Martin Luther King Day, featuring all-inclusive access to Margaret Mitchell House; award-winning exhibitions in the Atlanta History Museum; Meet the Past experiences at the 1928 Swan House and the 1860 Smith Family Farm; the Centennial. Atlanta History Center Cost:FREE
(All day) Free Entrance at the National Parks including the MLK Birth Home and the following:
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Visitor Center The visitor center features the permanent exhibit, “Children of Courage”. Read more.
- The King Center The King Center was dedicated on January 15, 1982. Read More.
- Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church King, his father, and grandfather, Rev. A.D. Williams preached at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Read More
For more adult activities please check out Morehouse College King Celebration 2015 and the Atlanta Fulton County Library.
MLK Day Camps:
9:30 am – 2:00 pm MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY of SERVICE CAMP at Young Chefs Academy Sandy Springs The kids have the day off of school and are looking for something fun to do while you’re tackling your to-do list … send them to us for camp! We will provide a snack and all of the food that the kids make, they’ll get to eat for lunch! This is a great opportunity for kids to get some hands-on time in the kitchen, meet new friends, and continue to learn on their day off from school! $75/day per child and $65 per sibling. Extended care is available at an added cost from 8:30-9:30 am and from 2:00-3:00 pm. Click here for more information.
9:00am-4:00pm Safari Day Camp at Zoo Atlanta “Home is Where the Heat Is” School may be out, but camp is definitely in! Zoo Atlanta offers a fun and exciting day of learning for your children even when school is not in session. $56 Members/$70 non Members. Click here for more information.
Additional family resources check out:
To add events or activities to Atlanta MLK Day Weekend Activities 2015 list please email me at katrina@mymommyflies.com