12 Family-Friendly Boston Activities to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Posted by Deanna Greenstein

Published January 1, 2025

Updated March 29, 2025

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adult and child standing in front of Martin Luther King Jr. quote

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Small Acts, Big Impacts: A Day of Service

January 18-20
Acton

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a designated National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer within their communities. Visit the Discovery Museum, make a welcome card, and help collect “welcome basket” supplies to support the Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center. Welcome baskets provide families and individuals with essential household goods necessary for day-to-day life.

Boston Children’s Chorus 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute Concert

January 20
Boston

Join Boston Children’s Chorus as they take the stage at Symphony Hall. This concert, entitled Road to Freedom, is full of powerful music that explores the intersecting paths of two iconic figures in the fight for civil rights: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

MLK Day Open House at the MFA

January 20
Boston

For the 23rd year, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to offer free admission. Celebrate Dr. King’s legacy by participating in art-making activities, performances, and talks with community members.

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Annual MLK Jr. Tribute Concert

January 20
Boston

This tribute to Dr. King at the Strand Theater in Boston will feature classical and spiritual pieces performed by young musicians and distinguished leaders who, through remarks, readings, and spoken word, evoke the civil rights hero’s power and promise.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at the Peabody Essex Museum

January 20
Salem

Celebrate the legacy and leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the museum and explore “America, A Hymnal,” David Boxer’s “The Black Books,” Alison Saar’s “Weight,” and other works that examine social justice, identity, and freedom across the generations. The Peabody Essex Museum and many other local museums offer free admission for the day!

Institute of Contemporary Art Free Admission

January 20
Boston

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day in Boston with art-making and three acclaimed exhibitions. Free advanced tickets to the ICA are required and will be available to reserve beginning on Sunday, January 19, at 10 a.m.

Free Admission to Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo in Honor of MLK

January 20
Boston and Stoneham

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo will offer free admission! Last year at Franklin Park Zoo guests were invited to write messages of hope and peace on the mural in the tropical forest pavilion.

The 55th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast

January 20
Boston

The 55th Annual Martin Luther King Memorial Breakfast celebration will gather under the theme “Freedom Isn’t Free.” This year’s keynote speaker is professor, author, and activist Angela Davis. As part of the annual breakfast, community leaders will be recognized for their contributions, and scholarships will be given to Boston students to invest in tomorrow’s leaders!

Cambridge MLK Day of Service

January 20
Cambridge

Come lend a helping hand and honor Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. by showing up to answer his question: “What are you doing for others?” Volunteer for the afternoon or just a short time and join Cambridge neighbors to work together to help others.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

January 20
Boston

Bring your family on this free admission day and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King through storytelling, impactful conversation, soundscapes, and art making. Artists and leaders will share thoughts on social justice, equity, and empowerment.

Teen Movie Night at The Lower Mills Branch of the Boston Public Library

January 21
Dorchester

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by bringing your teens to see a screening of the movie The Hate U Give, based on the book by the same title. This is a Gripping story of a modern civil rights movement. The film will be screened at 3:30 on January 21st in the Community Room at the Lower Mills Branch of the Boston Public Library.

Annual MIT ICEO MLK Celebration

February 20
Cambridge

Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy with a series of activities and lectures by prominent speakers. The celebration will feature remarks from MIT leadership, each of the year’s MLK Leadership Awards recipients, a staff speaker nominated by the community, and a keynote speaker who is a prominent leader.

Deanna Greenstein

Deanna is a mom of five (yes, five) children, who lives in Brockton with her small circus of kids, her husband, their dog Penny, and a few cats. Her life is loud, energetic, mostly fun, often gross (did she mention four of those kids are boys?), and she wouldn't have it any other way.

In between carting kids to school, baseball, gymnastics, guitar, dance, track and field and every other kid activity known to mankind, she works as a school bus driver for the city of Brockton, and is the Director of Religious Education at the Unity Church of North Easton, a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Deanna also holds degrees in Elementary Physical Education and Dance Education, which she plans to put back into use one day.

At parties, Deanna can often be found hanging out with family pets. She follows her children around with a camera like the paparazzi, is pretty sure that 97% of her blood stream is made of coffee, and her laundry is never done. You can also find her blogging at https://eighteenmoreyearsofburpsandfarts.wordpress.com

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