Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with these inspiring events in Boston and the surrounding areas:
Needham MLK Day Celebration
January 20, 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Celebrate Dr. King’s legacy at Needham High School Auditorium with this family-friendly annual event hosted by the Needham Diversity Initiative. Enjoy performances, music, dance, and an inspiring combined choir of children from diverse communities.
This event promotes leadership, citizenship, and positive action, highlighting Dr. King’s enduring impact. Doors open at 9:30 AM for refreshments.
More HERE.
World of Wellesley’s 25th Annual MLK Day Program Lunch Celebration
January 20, 12 PM - 3 PM
Join the World of Wellesley for their milestone 25th annual celebration honoring Dr. King’s legacy. The event includes a lunch program fostering community, reflection, and celebration. Speaker: Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Chair of Africana Studies at Wellesley College and author of Force & Freedom and We Refuse.
Register now to reserve your spot.
MLK Day of Service - All Ages
January 20, 10 AM - 1 PM
Join the community at Allin Congregational Church for a meaningful Day of Service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Engage in service projects, connect with others, and reflect on Dr. King's legacy of compassion and action.
Lunch will be served.
Music and Performances
- Handel + Haydn Society: Crossing the Deep
January 17
Explore sacred music by Handel alongside Negro spirituals in this powerful choral drama. First premiered in 2023 to sold-out audiences, it intertwines transatlantic musical traditions. - Boston Children’s Chorus: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert
January 20, Symphony Hall
“Road to Freedom” reflects on the relationship between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X through music that honors their fight for civil rights. - BYSO: Annual MLK Celebration
January 20, Strand Theatre, Dorchester
A collaboration with the Museum of African American History featuring classical and spiritual music performed by Boston’s talented youth.
Lectures and Conversations
- 55th Annual MLK Memorial Breakfast
January 20, Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport
Under the theme "Freedom Isn't Free," this year’s event features Angela Davis as the keynote speaker.
Art and Reflection
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the MFA
January 20, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Free admission for Massachusetts residents. Enjoy exhibitions like Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore, and honor Dr. King’s legacy through art. - MLK Day: Free Admission at the ICA
January 20, Institute of Contemporary Art
Free admission with art-making activities and exhibitions that celebrate Dr. King’s vision. - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
January 20, Peabody Essex Museum
Reflect on Dr. King’s legacy with art and exhibits addressing social justice and identity across generations.
Community and Family Activities
- MLK Day at Franklin Park Zoo & Stone Zoo
January 20
Both zoos offer free admission to celebrate MLK Day. Enjoy family-friendly activities and learn about wildlife conservation. - MLK Day of Service
January 20, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Reflect on activism, explore the legacy of the Kings, and discover their ongoing impact on social justice movements. - Don’t miss The Embrace, a stunning memorial located on Boston Common, the monument celebrates Dr. King, Coretta Scott King, and the civil rights leaders who championed equality and justice alongside them.
Boston is a meaningful place to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The city was his second home, where he met Coretta Scott King, his wife, and earned his Ph.D. in Theology from Boston University while living on Massachusetts Avenue.
These events provide an opportunity to honor Dr. King’s enduring influence on civil rights and community building. Celebrate through music, art, education, and service.
