Take advantage of the three-day weekend to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at special events happening all around Los Angeles.
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Photo courtesy of Kidspace Children’s Museum
29th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace and Unity Parade and Celebration
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
1950 Lemon Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806
The city of Long Beach invites families to its Martin Luther King Peace and Unity Parade and Celebration on Saturday, January 14th. This year’s theme is “Love and Forgiveness” and includes a parade beginning at 10:30 am. The festival in the park is scheduled from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The park festival includes live entertainment, food booths, vendors, and a children’s area.
The Voice of Dr. King
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library
17906 S. Avalon Blvd., Carson, CA 90746
Families are invited to a special celebration of Dr. King’s life and work on Saturday, January 14th from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm. Saul Lankster, has been impersonating Dr. King for many years and will reenact some of Dr. King’s most famous speeches. (Mr. Lankster recently received the Congressional Gold Medal for his work as Dr. King). Children (and adults) will be inspired by this live performance that brings the Civil Rights leader to life.
Annual Martin Luther King Day Concert
SGI Auditorium
525 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA
The Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra is celebrating Dr. King Day with a special concert on Saturday, January 14th at 2:30 pm. The event is free, with open seating. Celebrate the legacy of a historic figure while listening to this captivating concert.
Unity Celebration
Kidspace Children’s Museum
480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103
Kidspace Children’s Museum is celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. all weekend long from Saturday, January 14th through Monday, January 16th. Festivities include building multicultural sculptures in the Imagination Workshop, adding each child’s handprints to a giant peace mural, sharing hopes for the world on a special “dream board,” and helping to create a community unity chain. (This event is included in the general admission of $13 each).
City of Culver City Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Culver City Senior Center
4095 Overland Ave., Culver City, CA 90230
The city of Culver City is hosting their own Dr. King celebration on Saturday, January 14th. The festivities begin at 11:00 am and continue until 3:00 pm. This year’s theme is “Peaceful Warriors for Positive Change.” This free event features an interfaith conversation, a film screening of King: Man of Peace in a Time of War, a presentation by the Culver City High School Black Student Union Club, and more.
Zimmer Children’s Museum
6505 Wilshire Blvd., #100, Los Angeles, CA 90048
The Zimmer Children’s Museum invites children to participate in their special event honoring Dr. King on Sunday, January 15th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Sunday’s theme is “Dreaming Our Way to a Better World.” Children will have the chance to create their own cotton cloud dreams for a better world. (Admission is $7.50 each).
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
California African American Museum
600 State Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90037
The California African American Museum is hosting a special celebration on Monday, January 16th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. A variety of activities are planned including family drop-in art projects, live music, food trucks, a marathon reading of some of Dr. King’s speeches, and more. The event is free. RSVP online or by calling 213-744-2024. Check the website for a schedule of the day’s events.
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
Pretend City Children’s Museum
29 Hubble, Irvine, CA 92618
Pretend City is honoring Dr. King with a special event on Monday, January 16th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. A variety of special events are planned to help children understand the concept of equality. Children can create their own self-portraits (discussing the differences on the outside and the similarities on the inside), construct a Dove of Peace handprint, enjoy story time, engage in a music and movement activity, and participate in an interactive activity with eggs (comparing and contrasting their similarities and differences, and just like people, no matter how eggs look on the outside, they’re the same on the inside). Check the website for a schedule of the day’s events. These events are included in general admission of $12.50 each.
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