In 2021 Martin Luther King Day Monday falls on January 18th. Schools are out. Government offices and libraries are closed. It won’t be quite the same kind of “break” from school as most years, since most of us are still in a state of virtual limbo and community events are not yet a good idea. However, there are several ways to observe the holiday this year — mostly virtual and self-guided.
Events and Activities to Observe Martin Luther King Day
Sunday, January 17, 2021: University of Minnesota 40th Annual Concert: A More Excellent Way – Honoring the Legacy of John Lewis. Virtual concert. 3pm, FREE. Registration not required, but encouraged.
Monday, January 18, 2021: Powderhorn Neighborhood Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration – a family-friendly, 2-hour artist showcase featuring storytellers, visual artists and performing artists. FREE Zoom & Facebook live event. 10am-12pm. Registration required.
Monday, January 18, 2021: Minnesota Historical Society: Black History, Black Voices Acting on Dr. King’s Call. This will be a virtual event. 4:30-5:30pm, FREE.
Monday, January 18, 2021: Minneapolis Parks annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. Also a virtual event. 6:30-7:30pm, FREE.
At Your Own Pace: MCTC Self-Guided Community Unity Vigil. A self-guided tour of Minneapolis building murals to reflect on the struggle for justice, change, equity and hope.
Did You Know? Minnesota Sculptor George Bassett has made two busts of Martin Luther King, Jr. that are on display in the Twin Cities? A smaller bust at Sumner Library and a larger one at the State Capitol. The Capitol is currently closed to the public but Sumner Library is open limited hours. Find library hours and information here.
At Home MLK Fun & Learning
- Bigger Kids: Listen to the “I Have A Dream” Speech.
- Younger Kids: Bookflix – Take advantage of your library card’s access to Bookflix and read/watch these pairings together:
- Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport and Martin Luther King Jr. by Kitson Jazynka.
- Coretta Scott by Ntozake Shang and Martin Luther King Jr Day by Kitson Jazynka.
Outdoor Fun
Saturday, January 16, 2021 & Sunday, January 17, 2021: Geocaching Challenge: Honoring People Making a Difference | Eastman Nature Center, Maple Grove. All ages, FREE, but reservations required. Register for start time between 1:30 and 3pm.
Saturday, January 16, 2021 – January 18, 2021: Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend | During this weekend, Minnesotans can fish without licenses if they take children 15 or younger fishing. The DNR offers these ice thickness guidelines.
Find your nearest Twin Cities-area sledding hill or outdoor ice skating rink. We’ve listed the best of the bunch! Or head out snow tubing at some of our favorite hills.
Indoor Fun – Workshops & Camps
Monday, January 18, 2021: Bakken Museum: Innovators Workshop – Build and solder a burglar detector kit. 12:30-4:30pm, $45/participant. Ages 9+.
Monday, January 18, 2021: The Works: Mechanical Electrical Cars Virtual Camp – Learn about torque, energy transfer, and distribution. 9am-12pm, $65/$58.50 member. Independent: Ages 8-12; Needs Helper: Ages 5-7.
Monday, January 18, 2021: The Works: Simple Machine Marble Challenge Virtual camp – Learn about simple machines and put them to the test. 1-4pm, $65/$58.50 member. Independent: Ages 8-12; Needs Helper: Ages 5-7.
Monday, January 18, 2021: Snapology: MLK Day In-Person Animal Robotics Workshop – Build and code robotic animals, and then build them habitats and play games with them. 1-3pm, $15. Ages 5-12.
Do you know of any other celebrations or fun activities that we missed? Leave us the information in the comments and we’ll share with the community.
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